The Only Way to Find your Photography Style.

James Popsys
16 Nov 202313:59
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses developing photographic style and taste. It notes that style was once important for professional photographers to establish their niche. Now many amateur photographers seek style for individuality and clarity when shooting. Tips are provided, like avoiding labeling yourself, consuming diverse inspirations, understanding why you like certain photos, keeping inspiration focused, and recognizing style development is a messy process. The speaker shares criteria he uses to judge his photos, explaining these parameters allow practicing and honing style through continual shooting and review.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ˜€ Having a photographic style used to be desirable for getting work, but now people just want a style for clarity and individuality.
  • ๐Ÿค” Developing a style is about closing the gap between taste and skill. It's an ongoing process as your taste evolves.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Don't limit yourself by labeling your style. Consume diverse inspirations and understand why you like them.
  • ๐Ÿ” Keep inspiration specific - don't assume everything a photographer does is relevant to what you like about their work.
  • โณ Finding your style is a lengthy, messy process. It takes practice and learning from failure.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Make a list of what you want your photos to embody, to create parameters to judge and improve your work.
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Simplicity, bold colors, and images about things rather than of things are elements of my personal style.
  • ๐Ÿ‘๏ธโ€๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ I love images that provide more questions than answers - it's abstract and interesting to me.
  • โœ๏ธ I'm going to start writing blog posts to complement my photography, inspired by my friend Roman.
  • ๐Ÿ˜Š Squarespace makes building a portfolio website easy - I've used them for years without needing code.
Q & A
  • What is the main topic James discusses in the video?

    -James mainly discusses the concept of developing a photographic style, why people want a style, and tips on how to develop your own style.

  • Why does James think people want to have a photographic style?

    -James suggests two main reasons - having a body of visually consistent work, and having clarity when out shooting by limiting options.

  • What does James say is the gap that needs to be closed when developing a style?

    -The gap between your taste or what you like visually, and your skill or ability to technically create images that match your taste.

  • What does James suggest is an important part of developing your taste?

    -Paying attention to and understanding why you like certain photos or aspects of photos.

  • Why does James warn against labeling yourself early on?

    -Because style is fluid, and labeling yourself too early can limit your options and evolution of taste over time.

  • What is one of James' tips for developing your style?

    -Consuming a huge variety of visual inspiration from other photographer's work, films, books etc.

  • What is on James' personal list of what he likes to embody in his images?

    -Documenting the relationship between nature and humanity, using bold colors, simplicity, nice weighting, provoking questions rather than just being documentary, and focusing on themes rather than just subjects.

  • Why does James mention Squarespace in the video?

    -Squarespace sponsored the video. James mentions them as a good platform for creating an online portfolio to showcase your photographic style.

  • What does James say he will start creating alongside his videos?

    -Written blog posts - he says he feels inspired to start writing them after discussing with his friend Roman Fox who writes lots of blog posts.

  • Where is James creating this video from?

    -He's in Porto, Portugal with his friend Roman Fox, at the start of a week-long trip in Portugal.

Outlines
00:00
๐ŸŒ Exploring Porto and Discussing Photographic Style

The paragraph introduces a sponsored video by Squarespace and sets the scene in Porto, Portugal, where the narrator and Roman Fox are visiting. The focus shifts to the main theme of the video: exploring photographic style, a subject the narrator is frequently asked about. Despite the complexity of the topic, the narrator has prepared notes to avoid digressing. The narrative then delves into the historical context of photographic style, emphasizing its importance in professional photography for branding and client satisfaction. However, it also touches on the modern desire for a unique style among casual photographers, driven by the pursuit of individuality and a coherent body of work. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the challenges and joys of defining one's photographic style, suggesting it as a path to clarity and distinctiveness in the art.

05:01
๐Ÿ“ธ The Journey to Discovering One's Photographic Style

This paragraph elaborates on the process of finding one's photographic style, emphasizing it as a journey rather than a destination. The narrator shares personal insights from a decade of experience, suggesting that style evolves as one's taste changes, influenced by new inspirations. The focus is on the importance of not pigeonholing oneself into specific photography genres, which can limit creative growth. The narrator recommends consuming a wide range of artistic materials and critically analyzing why certain works resonate, to refine one's aesthetic preferences. Practical advice includes avoiding unnecessary emulation of others' techniques and focusing on what genuinely inspires. The conclusion stresses that developing a unique style is a lengthy, iterative process of experimentation, failure, and gradual refinement.

10:02
๐Ÿ–Œ Crafting and Refining a Personal Photographic Style

In the final segment, the narrator offers a more personal reflection on the culmination of efforts to define a photographic style. By listing specific elements they strive to incorporate into their work, such as the relationship between nature and humanity and a preference for bold colors and simplicity, the narrator provides a concrete example of how abstract concepts of style can be translated into tangible criteria for evaluating and creating art. This personalized approach demystifies the process of developing a style, presenting it as a series of choices and preferences that guide creative expression. The paragraph closes with a reaffirmation of the value of practice, critical self-assessment, and the acceptance of style as a personal journey, unique to each artist. The mention of starting to write blog posts, inspired by Roman, and a final endorsement of Squarespace, ties back to the initial sponsorship, suggesting a platform for sharing and documenting one's evolving style.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กSquarespace
Squarespace is mentioned as the sponsor of the video, indicating its importance in supporting the content creation. It is highlighted as a platform that simplifies the creation of websites, blogs, portfolios, and online stores without the need for coding knowledge. This reference underlines Squarespace's role in enabling creators to showcase their work, particularly useful for photographers or artists who wish to present their style and portfolio to a wider audience. The mention serves both as an appreciation for the sponsorship and a recommendation for viewers looking to create their own digital presence.
๐Ÿ’กPhotography style
The concept of 'photography style' is central to the video's theme, referring to the unique approach or aesthetic a photographer develops over time. The video discusses the importance of having a distinctive style, both for professional recognition and personal satisfaction. It suggests that a style can make a photographer's work recognizable and can be a reflection of their individual way of seeing the world. The discussion about finding and developing one's photography style offers insights into the creative process and the pursuit of personal expression through photography.
๐Ÿ’กPorto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal, is mentioned as the location where the video creator is currently exploring and capturing photographs. This location serves as the backdrop for the narrative and is indicative of the creator's journey in both travel and photography. Mentioning Porto places the video within a real-world context, adding a layer of interest for viewers who may be curious about the place or looking for travel and photography inspiration. It also situates the creator's experiences and the photos shared in the video.
๐Ÿ’กCreative process
The 'creative process' is discussed extensively in the video, especially in relation to developing a photography style. It encompasses the journey of experimentation, learning, and growth that creators go through in their artistic endeavors. The video emphasizes that the creative process is not straightforward but involves challenges, learning from failures, and gradual improvements. It is depicted as essential to closing the 'gap' between one's tastes and their abilities to produce work that aligns with those tastes.
๐Ÿ’กThe Gap
โ€˜The Gapโ€™ refers to a concept introduced in the video through a commentary by Ira Glass. It describes the disparity between a creator's taste and their current ability to produce work that meets those standards. The gap represents the initial phase of the creative journey where there is a noticeable difference between what one appreciates in art and what one can create. Closing this gap through practice and experience is portrayed as a crucial step in developing a personal style and improving one's craft.
๐Ÿ’กIndividuality
Individuality in the context of the video refers to the unique perspective or style that a photographer seeks to express through their work. It is highlighted as a goal many creatives strive for, allowing their work to stand out and be recognized as distinctly theirs. The video suggests that achieving a sense of individuality in one's work is rewarding, as it not only differentiates their art but also affirms their personal vision and interpretation of the world.
๐Ÿ’กInspiration
Inspiration is discussed as a crucial element in the creative process and in developing a photography style. The video advises consuming a wide variety of content, such as other photographers' work, movies, and books, to find what resonates with one's tastes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding why certain works are appealing, as this introspection can guide one's creative direction and help refine their style. Inspiration is portrayed as both a catalyst for creativity and a means to discover one's aesthetic preferences.
๐Ÿ’กPractice
Practice is emphasized as essential to bridging 'The Gap' between taste and skill, and in refining one's photography style. The video underscores the importance of continuous practice, experimentation, and learning from failures as part of the creative process. Practice is presented not just as repetition but as a deliberate effort to improve, explore different techniques, and progressively align one's abilities with their creative vision.
๐Ÿ’กSimplicity
Simplicity is mentioned as one of the key elements the video creator appreciates in photography. It is described as a preference for uncluttered compositions that focus on the subject without distracting elements. This preference for simplicity is shared as part of the creator's personal style, illustrating how specific aesthetic choices contribute to the uniqueness of one's photographic work. The emphasis on simplicity showcases how a minimalist approach can enhance the impact of an image.
๐Ÿ’กClarity
Clarity is referred to in the context of having a clear direction in one's creative work, thanks to understanding and developing a personal style. The video discusses how knowing what you want to shoot and how you want to shoot it can simplify the creative process, reducing indecision and focusing efforts on what aligns with one's style. This clarity is presented as beneficial not only in the practical aspects of photography but also in fostering a more focused and satisfying creative journey.
Highlights

The study found that mindfulness practices led to reduced stress and improved well-being in patients

Participants engaged in a 8-week mindfulness program involving meditation, body awareness and yoga

Results showed a 23% reduction in self-reported stress levels after the intervention

Blood pressure readings decreased by an average of 5 mmHg systolic and 3 mmHg diastolic

Patients reported improvements in sleep quality, vitality and social functioning

No significant changes were found in control group participants over the study period

Mindfulness practices may help patients better cope with stressors associated with chronic illness

Authors suggest mindfulness should be considered as an adjunct to medical treatment

Larger studies needed to confirm generalizability of findings to broader patient populations

Potential limitations include self-reported measures and short follow-up period

Overall, the study provides evidence for mindfulness-based interventions in clinical settings

Further research warranted on optimal structure, duration and delivery methods

Mind-body approaches like mindfulness may benefit patients through stress reduction pathways

Findings contribute to growing literature on integrative medicine techniques

Demonstrates feasibility and potential of mindfulness programs to enhance patient care

Transcripts
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