Nikon D4, Nikon 85mm ƒ/1.8G, ISO 100, ƒ/1.8, 1/400
Have you ever noticed that using a technique that a famous photographer perfected and maybe even taught you doesn’t produce the same results?
Maybe you have realized that you are implementing all these techniques correctly in your photos, and you continue not to win any competitions you are entering.
A wonderful moment in Remember the Titans is about how “… attitude reflects leadership.” Here, listen to the clip:
Where is your heart?
It wasn’t what I did that made a difference–it was how I thought. I started asking myself why specific techniques worked and others didn’t. I soon noticed that when a strategy was wildly successful, it had more to do with the fact that I honored a principle than the strategy itself. When a strategy was less successful, that, too, could be directly related to a code I violated.
A principle differs from a strategy; it is about understanding the why, not the what or how. Your ability to be flexible is because you are more relaxed. Understanding these principles is important because you “GET IT,” and because you do, you can listen more and look for ways to implement them. Natural creativity can take place if you understand the principles.
The principle of the technique frees you up, whereas the method alone will freeze you up.
I remember this photo shoot I was doing to help a young actress with her headshots. I could see what I wanted to capture right before me, but it wasn’t working. I was shooting with soft boxes using strobes, and the depth of the field was too big.
I wanted to shoot at ƒ/1.4. So, always using my strobes in the studio was a technique. But unfortunately, I was letting that technology get in the way of the principle of soft lighting.
These lights are just too much, and then I relaxed and realized the modeling lights might be just enough to make it work. So I turned off the radio remote, opened the 85mm lens to ƒ/1.4, cranked the ISO to 800, and started shooting.
That is only a tiny part of why I love this photo. You see, there is another part of the creative process. I had been noticing the model’s looks and the mood they were creating. So I told her how her particular looks reminded me of some famous actresses in Hollywood.
She looked like Evil Queen/Regina Mills (Played by Lana Parrilla) on Once Upon a Time. She loved that actress and was pleased I saw her in that way.
In this photo, I told her how she reminded me of Anna May Bates (played by Joanne Froggatt) in Downton Abbey. Her mom was there and said I was mentioning all her favorites. We were connecting.
The principle of lighting and its WHY drove the creative process, not just putting the light here and looking here.
I was trying to capture her personality for the photos of the beautiful blonde. She is such a ham and loves to have fun. Not too serious at all. After a while, I connected with her like the humble kid next door.
Then, as we changed locations, I started to see how specific areas would bring out different parts of her personality. They would compliment her and create a mood. The last photo is what I think of when I think of the famous Dove Girl ads.
You see, we have been talking about the principles of portraits and not so much technique.
If you love photography because of playing with all the gear, then be ready to accept mediocrity. However, if inspiring imagery motivates you, then learn to get in touch with your heart and what moves you, and then you will create great images.
