Finding Your Photographic Voice | Authentic, Unbound, & Deeply Human
There is this notion across a lot of genres of Photography that you have to visit extraordinary places to capture extraordinary photographs, you know, those honey pot places like landscapes in Iceland, or iconic landmarks like Eiffel Tower, and many more. Well, one thing I’ve realised is that this kind of thinking is actually setting you back in your Photography journey. Let me explain with my own story.
My journey into photography began with a phase of overconsumption, where I was digesting more content online than I was creating in the real world. I'd make excuses, believing that my surroundings lacked excitement, that they were mundane. This led to a vicious cycle: I thought I needed to travel to spectacular destinations to replicate the images I admired online, causing my camera to collect dust because my immediate environment didn't seem to measure up to the wonders presented on my screen.
It's the darker aspect of social media and the consumption of digital content, it skews our perspective, making us believe that extraordinary photography is contingent upon extraordinary locations. It can also cause a dark spiral into depression which is not in the scope of this blog post.
Despite having the chance to travel and take photographs in some stunning locales, having experiences I treasure and photographs I love to look back at, I found an unexpected truth. Upon returning home, the photographs I captured in my local environment, the ones free from the glamour of famous "honey pot" sites, filled me with a deeper sense of pride.
The shift in my mindset wasn't instantaneous; it was a gradual realisation that now profoundly influences my approach to photography. Today, I limit my intake of online photography content and focus more on shooting, especially in my local area. I've learned to find joy and opportunity in the familiar surroundings.
The main epiphany from my previous way of thinking was that I was chasing an illusion, an unattainable ideal. The essence of photography isn't captured through exotic locations but through the act of capturing moments, wherever you may be. Going to a place like Patagonia and capturing the perfect light will undoubtedly yield beautiful photos, but these don't necessarily contribute to your growth as a photographer.
The real test and, indeed, the real growth come from shooting in less-than-ideal locations. It's these challenging environments that most of us encounter daily, and they are the true proving grounds for our art. It's in the mundane and the familiar that we learn to see with new eyes, to find beauty in the banality, and to tell the stories that only we can tell. This realisation has liberated me from the shackles of 'destination photography' and has allowed me to grow and appreciate the art of photography in its purest form, capturing life, as it unfolds, wherever I am.
The narrative thread of our existence cannot be confined by the restrictive labels the internet often assigns to us. I've always resisted pigeonholing myself into categories like Landscape, Travel, or Street Photographer. To me, the essence of nature, humanity, and our interaction with the world is too interwoven to be segregated.
Take, for instance, a visit to a beach with a lighthouse. If I were to strictly adhere to the label of a Landscape Photographer, would I then neglect the lighthouse that adds character to the scene? Or suppose I identify as a Nature Photographer and then find myself in an urban landscape steeped in culture, should I ignore the cityscape because it doesn't fit within the 'nature' theme?
Such considerations used to keep me awake at night. Rather than succumbing to these constraints, I turned to introspection to understand my personal tastes and styles. Growing up as a child of the postmodern era, in other words I was a nerd, so my aesthetic and narrative sensibilities are shaped by the cinematic films like "Star Wars," "Lord of the Rings," and "Indiana Jones." The rich and expansive universes of video games further honed my storytelling. These cultural influences have filled me with a unique storytelling voice that I bring to my photography.
Understanding my style and tastes liberates me to find my photographic voice in any setting, whether I'm confined to my living room or perched on a cliffside. It enables me to see beyond the conventional, to capture photographs that tell a story, my story. This is the true essence of my photography: not to capture what is simply there, but to weave a narrative that resonates with the viewer, that transcends categories and niches, and that remains authentic to the world as I perceive and experience it. Whether I'm shooting the rugged texture of an urban wall or the ethereal mist of a mountaintop, I'm not just pressing a shutter, I’m telling a tale, my tale, usually with a mysterious tone and epic style through it.
In closing, my odyssey through the world of photography has taught me that the true spirit of this art form doesn't reside in the pursuit of faraway wonders but within the intimate journey of self-discovery and expression. The camera is not just a tool to capture landscapes and landmarks; it's a conduit for our voice, our vision, and our version of the story. Stripping away the desire for 'Instagram-worthy' locations allows us to focus on what truly matters, our unique perspective. Photography should not be a chase after the extraordinary, but a celebration of the extraordinary within us, waiting to be expressed through the glass eye.
Embrace the stories that surround you, engage with the world in all its forms, and let your photographs be a testament to who you are, not just where you've been. In understanding ourselves, we unlock the ability to create images that are not just seen, but felt. Not just observed, but experienced. This is the heart of photography. Authentic, unbound, and deeply human.
Our voice and style is what sets us apart.
