More great advice Heather. I'm going to try you suggestion about reshooting your favourite shots from a different angle/lens.

keep em coming.

p.

An Important part of the character make up of a good photographer - “Inquisitiveness”

by Heather Mackenzie

You know the old saying “Inquiring minds want to know” ... this is an important part of being a good photographer, and is often overlooked because we settle to photograph the obvious.  Inquisitiveness and curiosity should always be a part of the character make up of a good photographer.

We talked last month, about the importance of being upstanding and outstanding, so now let us boil down that idea and look at an important component, not just observing but digging deeper.  I’m sure Dave Chidley will agree with me, after reading his 10 questions interview, that curiosity in photography goes deeper than reporting and recording, it’s also about discovering and the creative side of a photograph.  As you walk through the woods, stroll down a street, or sit studying a rock formation, you want your photographers curiosity to kick in and look for new ways to peak the interest of your viewers.  

Look at your subject from different angles, or look deeper behind what first caught your eye and see what else the landscape or your subject has to offer.  Follow that brook upstream, or if you are photographing a person, talk to them about their interests and include that in your image.

A photographer also needs to be inquisitive or curious because you want to create images that other folk or photographers have not noticed.  Take a look sometime at images that photographers post to galleries here and on other on-line sources, most of the images are beautiful and contain all the elements that make a good shot, but it’s the slightly out of the ordinary that catches your eye and holds you to that image.  This means the photographers inquisitiveness kicked in prior to pressing the shutter release and is hold your attention with the final result.

Being an inquisitive photographer will push you to new lengths to find other ways to photograph every day items.  You can do this by again changing your angle of view or by placing the person or persons you want to photograph in an different type of setting, also try different focal lengths.  Using different lenses will dramatically change your image.

One final thing, don’t limit your inquisitiveness to your photography, you should also from time to time pick up your camera and owners manual and explore the different features and options your camera has to offer.  We often become comfortable with one setting or one way of creating an image.  Don’t forget to check out the other options your camera has to offer.

When I was learning from my mum, who I still value as my most important resource in photography.  She would ask me to pick out my best two or three shots from a shoot, she would then pick one out and tell me to go out and capture the same subject but not from the same angle.  Guess what, they usually became the shot I used.  I have never strayed to far away from this rule, and sometimes when doing a commercial shoot, or taking shots for the enjoyment of taking photos, I go back to my computer pick my best shots and then go back and try it from a different angle or prospective.  Next time you are struggling with a shot, you know it’s there, you just can’t piece it together, give this exercise a try.  As mum would say “Words to live by, practice to create perfection”

I will sign off on this 1st of July with a Happy Birthday Wish to Canada, enjoy your Canada Day, and don’t forget to be inquisitive and let your creative side take over.