With so many photographers falling into the cliche Instagram trap, how do you stay true to your original style?
What happens when everyone starts wearing fedora hats, standing on a jetty or edge of a mountain pointing towards absolutely fuck all, setting the exposure a few stops over, purposely blowing out the sky. Or better still, hanging off a toilet with only my slick sneakers in view. Why do we follow trends, even the tragically uncreative? History has proven that artists become famous for their own original style, not following trends.
Its almost the weekend so feel free to write whatever comes to mind, at least it will be interesting and original.
The Fog
10.41mm · f/22.0 · 5s · ISO 100
The idealist in me would like to believe that's just a pet divergent perspective, but the realist in my concedes that's it's probably not a gross generalization...
At least in part, it's due to education or how we were taught to photograph, and that includes influences. A personal introspective look at the first 2 or 3 years of my photography would demonstrate this idea perfectly. I was shooting how I was taught and my influences of the time- that's all I knew.
Breaking out of the herd shooter mentality isn't easy... Only in the last couple of years have I even started branching out and trying to shoot at least in a few different ways. I still find myself lighting some of my newer stuff at least loosely based on some original lighting techniques I first learned. One thing is certain, those earliest days definitely taught me how to use my gear and the importance of learning the photography basics.
I still break the most basic rules and I'm (for the most part) fine with that; again, I was taught early on that the most technically proficient shot might not be considered the best shot sometimes. I feel like I know what goes into making a great shot, so it's practice and diligence until that shot is taken. I also feel like I know the ingredients that go into making an original style, but first things first...
As for the plethora of herd shooters out there, shooting Instagram cliche's and the what-nots... Well, like you said man, it's almost the weekend.