Three new ideas to unleash your photographic creativity
Every artist needs a source of inspiration whether it be an inspirational muse, a collection of favorite photographs and images, a particular place or an element of nature.
Some days, however, not even your strongest and most significant sources of inspiration seem to be enough; and it is precisely in those days that you need more creative ideas.
One method that can prove useful is to define a photographic project that is not simply a specific theme but something more demanding that requires dedication and effort. I find that dedicating time and attention to a project for a few hours or a few days in a row is the best way to develop the creative process.
If you also have photographic projects in mind that you have never done, then now is the time to start. If, on the other hand, you would like to start one but you don’t know where to start, here are some suggestions for you.
1 – Letters Project (from A to Z)
This idea has many variations and I think it can be a lot of fun to create a project dedicated to real letters, that is to photograph objects that have the shape (or that resemble the shape) of the alphabet.
This is not a short project as it may take several weeks to find the various objects (one for each letter). Sure, if you wanted to, you could cheat a bit and assemble some objects together so that they form the letters but do you really think it would be just as fun? We rather suggest that you treat this project as a treasure hunt where the treasure, in this case, is the letters of course.
Do not photograph the actual letters, those that you might find on signs, it would not be the right spirit with which to carry out this particular project (you could however carry out a project dedicated to signs…).
To make your intent clear and direct, place the object in the center, fill the frame with your chosen subject and leave no gaps.
2 – Aerial Shooting Project
This is a project that can be very inexpensive or it can get very expensive depending on how you decide to approach it.
There are different types of aerial shooting drones, some low-end others mid-range and high-end.
The photos taken by drones for aerial shots can be truly spectacular but you have to pay attention to some factors such as the privacy and safety of other people so we suggest you prefer isolated places or places where people present know what you are doing and they agreed to be photographed.
It is also possible to take photographs from above choosing privileged positions such as a tree (making sure that it is resistant enough and only in case you are athletic enough) or from a balcony (certainly the safest solution).
If you are brave and if you have a camera that you don’t particularly care about, you can experiment with the “camera tossing” technique, ie the launch of the camera to obtain the aerial effect.
It is important to point out that this technique should never be tried unless you are ready to see your camera disintegrate on the ground into a thousand pieces. Let’s be realistic, you are throwing your camera in the air and the chances of it falling to the ground are very high.
It is also good to keep in mind that most cameras have been designed to withstand an accidental fall, that is from a maximum height of about one meter and eighty, if you practice camera tossing it is likely that the camera will fall from a ‘ high height.
Taking aerial photos with the camera tossing technique requires not only a little faith (and a camera you’re willing to give up) but also timing.
You’ll need to use the self-timer function and know exactly when the time is right to launch the camera – right before the shutter clicks. Set a wide focal length so you are more likely to frame the subject you intend to photograph.
Select the burst mode to be able to take burst photos at high speed and set a fast shutter speed (the camera will move so fast that it far exceeds the camera shake effect). You need to be coordinated enough to be able to throw the camera so that the lens is facing the subject when the shutter is released.
This technique requires a lot of practice and the interesting thing is that the more you practice the more reckless you become, because you become more confident, thus increasing the risk of destroying the poor camera.
3 – Shooting of Daily Life
And here we are at the 3rd idea, less imaginative than the previous ones, but just as creative.
You can carry out the Shooting of Everyday Life project by choosing one of your family members, your friend or yourself. Just be sure to tell the chosen person that you will take pictures of them several times during the day. This project stimulates creativity because it induces you to take moments of ordinary life that otherwise you would never think of photographing.
The idea behind this project is in fact to photograph ordinary moments that are part of the everyday routine. It is for this reason that you have to stimulate creativity to make a simple and ordinary gesture interesting and particular, through the image. Another feature of this project that will certainly improve the quality of your photographs and your technique is the fact that you always have the camera with you and always ready to shoot throughout the day.
Pay particular attention to the background of your photographs and try to make some images with the background out of focus (increasing the aperture), this technique also serves to eliminate any distraction from the frame.
This project will force you to carefully observe the light and how it affects the various elements. You will notice the difference between the same object observed and photographed in the morning and afternoon light, between the images taken indoors and those taken outdoors, between natural light and artificial light.
Light affects, perhaps more than any other factor, the general atmosphere that photographs take on. Through the skilful use of light you will be able to convey different sensations to the observer through the images you create.
These were just a few examples of photo projects you can undertake. You can get ideas and find other ideas by looking at the boards of Pinterest and Instagram or the creations of other photographers. What matters is the spirit with which you approach the project and the determination to finish it that will stimulate your creative abilities.