Shooting by The Dysania Concept (2022)
The definition of photography is ‘drawing with light.’ However, Photographer Destin Sparks describes the meaning of photography as “the art of making memories tangible.” A landscape, a face, an animal, a moment, an emotion; Photographers can capture all of these elements with an image, and all of these images tell a story. Ultimately, Photographers, like all artists, are storytellers, and in this edition of The Mindsets, we’ll explore the qualities, virtues and skills that help them create these stories through nothing more than still shots.
1. Observational Skills
Photographers trust their observational skills to identify all elements in their scope. Whether working with a landscape or a portrait, Photographers must be aware of everything inside their lens. They must manage the subject’s presence, the negative space and everything in between to achieve the balance for the story they are capturing. They must also be aware of what’s outside their lens to ensure they are incorporating everything they need. So, when focusing on an idea or a strategy, remember to observe everything within your reach to ensure you aren’t omitting anything valuable or including something that isn’t needed.
2. Patience
Photographers must be patient to create the photograph they are searching for. Especially when working with nature or on location, Photographers work with uncontrollable variables. Some examples are natural lightning, subject responsiveness, waiting for someone or something to be out of shot, etc. Similarly, even when we have everything in place and planned, sometimes we must be patient as we wait for life’s uncontrolled variables to set in the right place. However, as Photographers do, we can use this waiting time efficiently. We can review the plan, double-check for equipment, or prepare for further steps.
3. Strategic Thinking
Photographers lean on their strategic thinking to execute the desired outcome. When they’ve observed and been patient, and everything is as good as it will be, Photographers get a window to take their shot. This window is the moment their theoretical plan tests against reality. And within this window, they must strategically think and make decisions which will influence the outcome, from technical aspects, such as the composition, depth and lightning of the photograph, to storytelling aspects, such as how these elements reflect their story, capture the moment, and make a memory tangible. Equally, when we finally get that window of opportunity to execute our plan, we must always think strategically about the steps we’re taking and any changes or decisions we must make.
Photography is one of human history’s latest forms of art and storytelling. Even though the first photograph was taken in 1826, the development of technology has permitted photography to evolve as an art form. And consequently, Photographers and their mindset has evolved too. So, when building an idea, remember to observe and make decisions using the big picture. Also, be patient during waiting times, and use this time efficiently to evaluate, double-check and prepare. And most importantly, once the opportunity shows, strategically think of how the theoretical plan you created is being executed and make any changes or modifications strategically to reach your desired outcome as best as possible. So, we invite you to adopt The Photographer’s Mindset as we use their thought process to achieve what we seek.
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