Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/2.8, 1/6
Great Photos Often Ask WHY?
Looking at the photo above, I want to know what they are doing. The more critical question is: WHY?
My mentor, Don Rutledge, talked about how photographers must approach their work like a child, asking, “Why is the sky blue?”
I have written a few times on this blog about the importance of WHY.
When I meet photography students, I like to ask what interests them other than photography. I am asking this because when I look at their portfolios, none of the photos have a passion in them. I don’t feel the photos.
We choose what we are going to photograph. If you understand WHY you like to photograph something, you are understanding what is the core emotional connection between a subject and the audience.
I recommend watching this TED talk by Simon Sinek on the importance of WHY
I like the simplicity of understanding and reversing our usual way of talking. Getting to the heart of the matter is what he is saying.
When I meet those college students, they often tell me what they like to do and how they like to do it, but they seldom tell me WHY.
This key to not just storytelling is at the core of finding the PURPOSE in your life. Once you understand why you like to do something, it is much easier to chart the course for the rest of your life.
Key to a successful story:
- Why should the audience care?
- Why does this matter to the subject?
- Why does it matter to you?
Here is the Law of Diffusion and Innovation that Simon Sinek talks about in the video
