Following on from “photography is hard” I have written this to balance the books ?
That title should really read, can be “Easier , If … “
A photographic life becomes much easier if you know what your trying to achieve , sounds basic but you would be surprised by the number of folk who bring a passive mentality to their pursuit of pictures , expecting python-esque herds of wildebeest to fill the frame at any moment on the local High Street !
All right so that’s a exaggeration but what I’m saying is that serendipity is unreliable , photographers need to work within approaches that are realistic but allow “LUCK” to prosper !
What does that mean ?
Leaving space to be lucky is not just a smart one-liner , it can can be a solid approach to developing a working aesthetic !
Tightly cropped well composed scenarios don’ t leave a lot of space for you to be lucky , luck needs a helping hand , leaving space within your frame and your mind for “STUFF” to occur is a huge step towards ensuring that “Lucky Stuff” does happen !!!
The infrastructure of this frame offered me the opportunity for good luck to find me , I never imagined what I actually got , more than twenty different frames also helped to ensure a “serendipitous” event occurred !
The infrastructure of your frame might be static but it is the people and other moving parts within your view that will influence the outcome of your capture most !
We should also consider that your position in this fictitious capture is not set in stone either , you are or should be a moving part too , seeking out the best view of things continuously as they unfold .
Locations with “Good Light” are always a good place to start your search for pictures , remember good light is not necessarily sunshine and shadows, the light you work with should be part of your early thought process , how do you want your pictures to look , feel ?
How will you approach the shoot , best lens , techniques , time and locations ?
The right place , time , viewpoint and light are major influences on the work you make , sadly it is rare for all of these things to occur at a convenient time within your busy day , sacrifices have to be made to ensure your ready to shoot at the best time, do not settle for second best or worse !
Shoot , fail , LEARN , repeat until your idea of success is achieved , success can only be identified if you have established firm ideas of what your idea of “Success” looks like ?
Try this , write a artists statement for your project BEFORE you even start making the pictures , this will really focus the mind and create a road map to help you measure progress or failure during production , this artists statement will probably never be shared as you will be much better informed about the series on completion of the project !
Imagine that your writing a aspirational photographic brief , addressed to yourself !
I can understand photographers thinking this image was created in bad light , I would argue that this image was made in the “RIGHT” light ?
Hard work will always out perform natural talent in the long run , its no coincidence that the togs that enjoy most success are usually blessed with a strong work ethic , persistence , commitment and a acceptance of personal sacrifice !
Working close to home on a regular basis will pay greater dividends than working “Ideal” locations now and then , create a visual narrative based on the life-style you know best , yours !
Work within your comfort zone initially , shoot portraits if your not ready to shoot candidly , shoot corner shops if your not ready to shoot people , in short shoot , shoot , shoot whatever you can , the world is in lockdown !
Look at the work of Peter Mitchel, Tom Wood and Jimmy Forsyth , the life / work connection with their everyday is tangible !
Bring a considered organised planned approach to your local project , imagine what your pictures might look like before you’ve taken the camera out ! One successful capture each week will deliver a meaningful photographic project of 52 images within year one , take your project and yourself seriously !
Build a photographic life , with a smile on your face , one shot at a time ….
Keep it real , stay safe…
Simple views from your neighborhood can grow into a significant body of work with consistency , care and commitment .
David Barrett shot the pandemic crisis during 2020, The Testing Times project can be seen by clicking above .
The State Of Britain series is complete, it explores everyday life during the Brexit era and gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations and post-truth uncertainty .....
Check out the new UK Street Shop on this site to buy Prints, Walks & More …
He is based in the South West of England .