If it’s true that imitation is the highest form of flattery then nature photographers probably flatter each other more than any other group. This is somewhat curious as many of these same photographers also celebrate creativity and personal style, often agonizing about how to define one’s own. How does one reconcile the aspiration for a unique mark with the incessant pursuit to copy others’ work? Where does theory meet practice?
Imitation is a wonderful tool for gaining skill, for opening one’s mind to new ideas, for learning the attitude, discipline, and methods of those who inspire you. But, one does not become a celebrated writer by copying someone else’s novel in their own handwriting, nor does one become a gifted painter by tracing the lines of another’s painting, or a great composer by playing an already famous score.
Certainly there are those iconic places many are likely to visit and be inspired by and return from with similar images. Still, inspiration is not the same as creativity, and even the best image of a well-known icon will not credit you with a unique style.
You will know you found your own voice when you can confidently walk into a place not knowing what to expect and looking forward to what you may discover, when you are driven as much by the mystery of the things you don’t yet know as the ones you do, and when you rise to the challenge of creating something never before seen.
The first step to develop our own personal style is to simply pursue your own personal subjects and compositions. Let go of the icon checklist and make a commitment to yourself to seek and create original images. You will be better off for it, the places you photograph will be better off for it, and the artists who deserve to have their original work associated with them will be better off for it. Everybody wins.
Wow … are you reading my mind? I suppose this question is universal but, for me, it is a bulls-eye and I can’t thank you enough. “The challenge of creating something never before seen …” Thanks for all these words of encouragement and wisdom. – Glen
You put that so clearly and succinctly and you know that I couldn’t agree with you more.
- Dan.
I believe a great part of this struggle is the journey to know oneself. Many people simply do not know, haven’t started, or are simply in the process of finding out.
[...] who would have thought he’d be such an inspiration psychologically? His latest post, titled The First Step Towards Personal Style, seems to be on topic with a lot of the things I’ve discussed lately: Developing your own [...]
Wow, it’s great to hear a professional feel the same way a novice does. Whenever I go somewhere with my camera, I go totally unknowing of what may strike my fancy. Oh, I know the place I’m going, but as to what I’ll take pictures of, how I’ll see those pictures, or if someone else has taken similar pictures before me, I’m in total ignorance.
I’m not sure a state of ignorance is the best way to go, but for me and my camera, it works.
Thank for helping me see what I’m doing is a good thing.
[...] one is by one of my favorite writers and photographers Guy Tal(check it here) on finding your own personal style. Not only is does Guy share some great insight, but he writes [...]
I love the little critter trail in the sand, in this image. I’ve always thought there were two schools of photographers – those that approach it from a scientific angle and those that approach it from an artistic one. The scientific camp are the ones that endlessly discuss the mechanics of photography (equipment, settings, etc.) while trying to replicate the masters. The artistic camp goes more by instinct and are less likely to produce mirror images of existing work.
Guy,
I’ve often thought this same way but it is almost certain that someone will unknowingly walk up to a beautiful location where we were confident as to being the first to photograph and take a similar image. It’s inevitable and it happens if people visit the same locations. Even if they’ve never viewed the image that they’re unknowingly copying, it will happen. I’ve done it, it happened months after I moved back from Colorado. I had never viewed the photo that I copied almost exact!
Know, for the ones that truly copy, well, that’s a different story! I can show you many of my images that have been taken by upcoming photographers here in the southeast that have, certainly copied my images and earlier this year one of them received a NANPA award and printed in their magazine from the summit held in NM.. I shot it many years ago in large format and it was on the cover of a past Blue Ridge calendar. It was a near perfect reproduction of my image, including the fog. Now that kind of pisses one off!
Roberta,
“those that approach it from a scientific angle and those that approach it from an artistic one. The scientific camp are the ones that endlessly discuss the mechanics of photography (equipment, settings, etc.) while trying to replicate the masters. “
Did you mean approach from a technical angle? If so then yes, I can somewhat agree with that statement. There are a number of great environmental photographers that approach photography in a very scientific manner. Just to name a couple, Frans Lanting, and James Balog, both are very “science based” photographers.
As for the artistic group, I find that they are the group that have the less guilt in manipulating the hell out of an image and tirelessly promote it as a pure photograph. They are also the first to use the “I’m an artist and not a documentary photographer” when they get busted for adding a sky from an entirely different scene just to make it more dramatic. So both sides have an issue and I really don’t see it changing at all. There will always be the ones that copy and are successful with it then we’ll have the artistic photographers that will continue to create digital composites and pass them as pure, and they will continue be successful.
Beautifully stated, Guy. I agree completely. For me it’s a constant practice in trying to release preconceived ideas and just seeing what’s there and then being able to see the scene as I want to see it. But what joy it is to see an image pull together the way you intended!
You put that so clearly and succinctly and you know that I couldn’t agree with you more.
- Dan. >>>
What I wanted to write.
Let go of the icon checklist and make a commitment to yourself to seek and create original images. You will be better off for it, the places you photograph will be better off for it, and the artists who deserve to have their original work associated with them will be better off for it. Everybody wins. >>>
What I have been trying to follow.
cheers, Prashant
Just a thought, but if someone were to walk into an area that he or she had not photographed before and make an image of a place or subject that another photographer had already shot but not knowing of that photographer or image in advance, which one deserves the credit of originality? Both? ??
On the other hand, photographers who blatently approach a subject or location simply to record an image that has already been made by another and in some cases many, well that is simply a lack of creativity and is a rather boring approach to what I consider to be a an art form and means of personal expression. Thanks for the entry! Joe
all true.
but wether one likes it or not, you can write as much about it as you wish, it will not go away. in a photographers life, copying (or imitating) is sometimes similar to immature behaviour, we probably all had at a certain age. (and probably HAVE to go through) it will go away with time, age and “wisdom”. but since there are always, everywhere beginners and aspiring young photographers – the upcoming ones, now more than ever – there will always be imitations and copies float lightweightily in the media breeze. (especially on the www)
so this is to those who wish to make a living from landscape photography:
if one has found his or her style (or the style found him – well, that “personal style” thing is a philosophy on it’s own), you have to go even further and ask yourself “could it be copied?” if it could be even copied unintentional (Delicate Arch-Syndrome f.e.) there is most likely not much personal style involved, no matter how unique each given moment in time might be.
if it can be copied just intentional (more or less) it’s a good sign. then I would go even further, trying to milk these images to the few that can not be copied at all. it’s possible. it’s the goal we should strive for.
but along the way, we do copy, we will be copied.
nice essay btw. as usual!
cheers
georg
I would agree with the most part of the article. Nowadays photographers become quite lazy. Before deciding where to go they first look for famous and popular landscape photos. And followed by herd instinct they go there and take pictures that has been taken before.
On the other hand, I think it’s Ok if you go to popular place and take photos. But the trick is how to take photos of a popular place from a new perspective. Well, it’s not so difficult. Just leave a footpath, and search for the new “jewels”. Even in the most photographed place there are many hidden views that will award you with great pictures.
Hey Guy
Am just now getting around to catching up some blogs. It’s always a treat to check in with your thoughts here. Thanks a million for your writing, bud.
Cheers
Carl