It doesn't matter how fancy your camera is or how long you have been a photographer, if you can't see the photo opportunities in front of you then the chances of making great work becomes so much harder.
It may seem strange to think about being able to "see" as something that is a skill but it is. It's why some photographers can make amazing work in the most mundane and fruitless places, while others will struggle to find anything interesting to capture. The good news for us is that this skill can be greatly improved with practice. This week, photographer and educator Alex Kilbee of The Photographic Eye is back once again to explore the art of seeing and how photographers can improve their ability in this important area.
The video is broken down into six key steps that Kilbee explains in great detail. Everything from searching for images, ignore senses, brevity, your subject, the importance of context, and embracing unusual relationships are all discussed in this video. To go along with these explanations are some inspiring examples of images that articulate the points made perfectly. I like when Kilbee talks about the dangers of photographers going out with an image in their head and how that can make us much less receptive to other interesting opportunities that may come our way. I think many of us can probably relate to that at some point in our careers.
Regardless of how long you have been shooting or how good you think you are at being able to see the world, we all could use a refresher from time to time. Just like any other skill, the art of seeing needs constant practice if you want to master it. Add this video to your bookmarks and watch it whenever you start to struggle to see the photographic possibilities that are out there.
Lead image by Howard Bouchevereau, used under Creative Commons license.
Great. Thanks. Very well chosen photos that support the statements.