Why do artistic creative types love melancholy so much?
I’ve been asking myself this recently.
Maybe it’s because I’ve spent my entire career seeking out bright, colorful, cheery photos for brands and tourism organizations, and in contrast to this, drab, dull, depressing images are quite appealing to my artistic side and rebellious nature.
I studied fine art in college as part of a photography course and noticed then that melancholy has been the raison d'être for many artists, poets, and writers for centuries. I never paid much attention to this at the time; I considered it irrelevant in the pursuit of a commercial career.
Only in recent years, as I spend more time pursuing my own photography projects and shooting more for myself to fulfill personal artistic interests, have I been thinking about creating melancholic images and appreciating their aesthetic appeal. Is this because, as we get older, we start thinking more about the fragility of life and have experienced more sadness as life progresses?
I don’t know the answer, and maybe I don’t need to. I do, however, know there are a few good reasons we should consider embracing dreary, melancholic conditions in our photography:
1. Emotional Impact: Dreary, melancholic scenes can evoke strong emotions, such as introspection, and even create a sense of mystery. This emotional depth can make the image more compelling and memorable.
2. Atmosphere and Mood: Foggy, overcast, or rainy conditions can create a unique atmosphere and mood that sunny days can’t. The soft, diffused light can add a sense of calm and tranquility to the scene.
The best example of this is in woodland photography, where mist can turn an uninteresting scene into something incredibly atmospheric.
3. Texture and Detail: Overcast skies provide diffused lighting. The lack of strong shadows and contrast can help put the visual interest on elements with lots of texture, like rocks, trees, and water.
I find shooting in black and white adds further to this.
4. Timeless Quality: Dreary landscapes often have a timeless, almost surreal quality. They can make a scene appear otherworldly or like it exists outside of a specific time period, adding to the photograph's mystique.
This can be taken further with the use of ND filters and long exposures.
5. Storytelling: A dull, overcast aesthetic can be used to tell a story or convey a particular narrative more so than a bright sunny day. I find isolation or the passage of time are perfect themes for really dull conditions.
6. Creativity and Uniqueness: It’s a really enjoyable challenge to find beauty in unexpected or less traditionally picturesque settings. It makes us think and be more creative. Making a great photograph in what many would deem poor conditions can be a testament to a photographer’s creative vision and skill.
7. Influence of Art Movements: Artists for centuries have embraced melancholy and used it as their raison d’être. In Renaissance times, melancholy was associated with creative genius.
Appreciation for melancholic scenes is apparent in certain art movements, such as Romanticism, where the focus was on evoking emotion and creating mood rather than depicting reality.
I wish I had paid more attention to this in college. Luckily, today there are plenty of websites covering art history to sift through and find inspiration.
So, when it’s overcast and rainy, and just downright miserable, why not grab your camera, embrace the conditions, and explore the concept of melancholy?
