What is your photographic style?
What is style?
To me, style is what defines you. It is what category you fall into. It is everything from how you dress to how you approach your work. Are you shy and introverted? Calculated and methodical? You may prefer landscape or Time lapse photography if that's the case. Are you extremely outgoing and a conversationalist? You may like portrait photography. Like dancing on tables? You may want to pursue event photography. These are basic generalizations, but I'm pretty sure if you don't like crowds or pressure, you won't like wedding photography. Your personal style helps to define the kinds of things you like to photograph (your niche). Your photographic style will define how you like to create, capture and control the images.
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style/stīl/
Noun: A manner of doing something.Verb: Design or make in a particular form. More »
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What is your photographic style?
- More specifically, what is your manner of photographic design? How do you "dress" your images? Are they punk rock or Country & western? Jazz? Classical?
The question of style is very broad and somewhat vague, often-times making it difficult for many photographers to answer. The technical aspects of photography are well defined and considerable, so much so that it is easy to get mired down in f-stops, shutter speeds, & light ratios. Style it seems, takes a back seat. But style is the single most important (or overlooked) aspect of photographic art. This tutorial is designed to help you discover or define your style, and encourage you to continually develop your photographic style.
Defining your style
I believe there are four main photographic styles; Traditional, Contemporary, Photojournalistic, and Illustrative. While many types of photography have other labels, they generally fall in to one of these four main categories. These are the basic building blocks of how you create your images, regardless of subject matter. The subject matter relates more to your personal style (or preference), how you photograph that subject is your photographic style.
Traditional
tra·di·tion·alAdjective/trəˈdiSHənl/
Contemporary
con·tem·po·rar·y/kənˈtempəˌrerē/
Photojournalistic
photojournalistic:
Illustrative
il·lus·tra·tive/iˈləstrətiv/
Develop your style
Recognize your natural photographic tendencies, intentionally and consciously label yourself - then embrace your photographic style! As you concentrate on improving your skill and technique specifically in ways that compliment your style, you will begin creating images that are unique and uniquely you. Once you know exactly what type of images you like to make, your lighting, exposure, and composition can be designed to compliment your style. Then you can use contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity in ways that strengthen your images even further. Remember; What you like to photograph is your personal style or niche - how you design and control the creation of those images is your photographic style.
If this is the first tutorial you've read (you linked from the home page), Read the next 5 tutorials in order starting with;
The big three; lighting, exposure, and composition
If you've read the first 6 tutorials, Congratulations! You now have not just the basics, but all the key elements and aspects needed to design and create great photographs. Where to go from here? Now would be a good time for me to explain the registered tutorials. I created the free membership for those who want to get into the details. Registration is only to weed out casual surfers, I'm not going to sell your email address or spam you. I am going to go into the specifics of LECCRAP one by one, suggest equipment from time to time, and post photo-shoots with lighting diagrams and exposure settings, because I'm into that sort of stuff.
Your not even asking for a donation?
If your indecisive, here's another tutorial;