BY ROBERT FALCONER

Welcome to 2024!

At the risk of sounding cliched, I'm going to begin by trotting out one of those well-worn axioms creatives are so fond of. You probably know the one, "Creativity is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration"? Of course, these are old axioms for a reason, as they're often true. I've experienced it personally, not only in my photography, but also in my previous ventures as a screenwriter. Believe it or not, the act of doing fires synapses in the brain that aid in the creative process. Bottom line: Do. The. Work.

With that said, every once in a while you need something to kick off that enhanced level of concentration and dedication; useful hacks to keep in your back pocket for when you find yourself in a creative rut, that can stimulate you back into a place where you're committed to putting in the effort necessary to level-up.

Certainly, such impetus can come from buying that shiny new piece of gear that you've been itching to try out - but let's face it, how long does that motivation really last, before you're distracted by the next shiny new piece of gear? Yes, GAS is fun, but crafting an impactful image is better - one will get sold or traded in one day, while the other will remain with you for a lifetime.

A more meaningful dedication to the process is likely to be found through greater creative intentionality. Consider that many of the best images were not just taken, but crafted; where the photographer's heart and mind were fully engaged as the guiding force behind every frame they sought to capture.

But practically speaking, what does this really mean, and how does one get into that headspace where one truly becomes committed to putting in the work? Let's go through a few techniques...

The Power of Purpose

It's common to hear photographic educators speak of the importance of having a purpose in one's photography. It's not just about taking pictures, after all - it's about telling a story, conveying emotions, or sharing some sort of message that you wish to convey.

For example, imagine you live in a bustling city, and you decide to document the lives of street vendors. Your purpose is to shed light on their daily struggles and triumphs. As you delve into this project, you begin to connect with the vendors on a personal level, hearing their stories and sharing their laughter and tears. This deeper purpose not only fuels your creativity but also enriches your photography with a powerful narrative. Which takes us directly to...

The Human Connection

Let's say you're traveling to a remote village where the inhabitants have a rich cultural heritage. Rather than merely taking candid shots from a distance, you immerse yourself in the community. You spend time with the locals, listen to their stories, and participate in their traditions. Fostering this deeper level of human connection helps to build trust that enables you to make photographs that reflect the authenticity and spirit of the people and their culture. The two photographs below are examples of doing just that while I was visiting a remote village in Zambia. By spending an afternoon with the villagers, taking an honest interest in learning about their way of life, and respectfully asking them questions, a level of trust was secured, making them more receptive to being photographed, and more comfortable about having the camera pointed in their direction. 

Embrace the Process and be Patient

In this fast-paced world of on-demand information and social media dopamine hits, it's easy to get caught up in the desire for instant gratification. We want immediate results and often forget that the creative journey is a process, not a destination. Don't rush. Slow down and embrace your process wholeheartedly, and again, with intentionality (this word will come up again).

Suppose you're out in the wilderness in the early evening, aiming to capture a striking landscape. The sky is overcast, and the light is less than ideal. You could give up and go home, but instead, you decide to wait patiently. Two hours pass, and suddenly, a break in the clouds bathes the surroundings in a striking sunset. An animal walks past silhouetted by the day's dramatic closure. You capture a breathtaking image, one that you wouldn't have if you hadn't embraced the process of remaining patient—and observant—for that perfect moment. You can see an example of just such a tactic in the below left image, captured in Africa's Meru Park, after a cloudy, murky late afternoon nearly led me to abandon the location. Yet knowing how the weather can rapidly change there—particularly in December—prompted me to remain patient and wait. After all, you can't be everywhere at once; racing to another location in the hopes of capturing something better means you might miss something that's about to unfold in the location to which you've already committed time and resources.

The image to the right, captured in Zion National Park, Utah, meanwhile, is another such example. I found a vantage point that compositionally arranged all the elements I wanted, in the way in which I wanted. While potentially a bit pedestrian-looking in mid-afternoon, I knew that the palette of colors present at that time of year, coupled with the late afternoon sun of that location falling on The Watchman peak, could bring together just the mood I was hoping to instill in the photograph to create something reminiscent of a romantic, neoclassical landscape painting.

As the line from Shakespeare's As You Like It goes, "All the world's a stage..." Pick a promising stage and work it. 

Which leads to a vital step which will help make all of the proceeding come together more easily...

Preparation

Ok, here they come, two other clichéd axioms...

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

Self-explanatory, right? 

I don't want to get too bogged down in this section, since it isn't the primary intent of this post. Neverthless, here are a half-dozen specific tips to help you prepare before you set off to capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment:

1. Research Your Location

Whether you're shooting in your backyard or traveling to a distant land, thorough research is key. Understand the geography, climate, seasonal weather, and cultural nuances of your location. This knowledge will help you anticipate photographic opportunities and challenges, allowing you to be prepared for what lies ahead. For example, if you enjoy street photography at night, you're probably aware of the glistening, dramatic images such weather can provide, such as reflections in standing water, or the painterly effects that can be obtained when shooting subjects through condensation in a window. Below is an example of this technique in an image of fall brollies I captured in Vancouver, shot through a rain-splattered window (in the best tradition of Saul Leiter).

2. Know Your Gear Inside and Out

You bought that expensive new piece of equipment. You're excited to press it into service. But have you spent the time to really learn its capabilities and limitations? Preparation begins with knowing your gear like the back of your hand. As celebrated wedding photographer Cliff Mautner is fond of saying: "If it's not innate, you can't create." Understanding your camera's operation and settings, and working with them frequently, allows you to react quickly and effectively when the perfect opportunity presents itself. Before you venture out, take time to practice and experiment with your gear so that its operation is second nature to you and you can focus on creativity when the moment arrives.

3. Plan a Shot List

Creating a shot list can be a vital aspect of preparation. Think of it as a roadmap for your shoot; you might not necessarily follow it precisely, but it takes you in the general direction that you wish to go. Consider the specific images you want to capture, the sorts of compositions you envision, and the story you aim to tell. Having a shot list keeps you organized and ensures you don't miss any crucial images in the heat of the moment. But remember: just because you've created a shot list doesn't mean failing to recognize unexpected or spontaneous moments when they happen. Always be ready (which takes us back to point #2 above).

4. Study the Light

Light is one of the languages of photography (along with composition and moment). Before your shoot, if you can, research the volume and quality of the light in your chosen location, and leverage that to your advantage. Understand how the time of day, weather conditions, and direction of the sun can each affect your image, even more so when two or three of them are combined together. Understanding how light interacts with your subject allows you to plan for the most favorable conditions, or creatively adapt to the available light if you so choose. For example, high noon in a sunny location will give you extremes of contrast and long dramatic shadows that you can play to your advantage for street photography, whereas a soft, diffused, overcast day will almost certainly be better for portraits, particularly if you don't have a strobe with you, or aren't in an environment where its use would be appropriate.

6. Be Mindful of Timing and Remain Open to Serendipity

Obviously, timing is everything in photography. As I discussed in point #3 above, having a shot list provides a "map" of the general direction in which you wish to go. But once you get there, it doesn't mean you can't wander off for some side excursions should they present themselves. Leave room for serendipity. The unexpected and unplanned moments often yield the most remarkable photographs. Keep your eyes (and your heart) open, be flexible, and don't fear adapting your plans when an unforeseen opportunity arises.

In the world of photography, preparation is the canvas upon which your creativity paints its masterpieces. By knowing your gear, researching your location, planning your shots, and staying open to the magic of the moment, you'll be well on your way to crafting stunning photographs that tell stories, evoke emotions, and captivate the viewer's imagination. 

The Art of Seeing

I'm going to come back to that word intentionality again, because so much springs from that. I can't stress enough that to truly see, you must slow down, take your time, and be observant of the world around you.

How is this different from patience, which I covered above, you may ask? While the two certainly overlap, patience may be construed as planting yourself in a predetermined location and awaiting an anticipated moment—like a sunset for example—even if that moment fails to manifest in the way in which you want.

The art of seeing, meanwhile, is remaining methodically and vigilantly observant, even as one is passing through a location. The seasoned photographer will remain open to everything going on in their surroundings. This is also a bit different than serendipity. Think of this as actively hunting for serendipitous moments, as opposed to passively being open to them when they suddenly appear.

Learning to see, to really see, is a prodigious topic in and of itself, but I'll try to provide a couple of specific examples.

Picture yourself walking through the streets of a European city like Paris. There's a cacophony of sounds and a whirlwind of activity around you, overloading your senses. You slow down, take a deep breath, then look around carefully, mindfully taking stock of everything that surrounds you. You find an interesting juxtaposition of statued stairs in the foreground, a lamppost in the mid-ground, and the Eiffel tower in the background (a technique known as "layering"). Sitting atop the lamppost is a bird, observing the sea of humanity beneath it. You line up a frame with the bird at the top and wait for some human characters ("all the world's a stage..." remember) to pass beneath. The contrasting juxtaposition of man and nature—only one aware of the other—framed by the famous bustling city, draws you into the photograph. 

Or perhaps you're attending an automobile exhibition, where you notice a man and his son dreaming about Ferraris, as in the below right image.

Of course, looking for juxtapositions are merely one exercise in training the eye to see. Obviously there are many, many other techniques one can employ, each of which could warrant an entire blog post of their own. I'll attempt to delve into more of them in a future post. The point today is to always be training your eye to see these sorts of possibilities.

Cultivating Curiosity and Fertilizing the Mind's Eye

Cultivating curiosity means stepping out of your comfort zone. It's about asking questions, challenging assumptions, and staying receptive to the world's wonders. Fertilizing the mind's eye means delving into interesting aspects of life wherever one may find them: from the larger world around us when we go for a walk—even without a camera in hand—to passages and ideas explored within the pages of a novel; from taking note of the visual narrative of a motion picture or streaming series, to studying the colors and shapes of a Jackson Pollock painting. All of these activities help to build synapses in the brain that can energize creativity. And, of course, it goes without saying that one should study the works of the great photographers of the past 100 years, particularly the ones whose work one admires, or wishes to emulate. (Note: Don't be afraid to emulate others, inevitably that emulation will contain your own personal viewpoint, resulting in something new.) 

All of this expanding knowledge will help one to identify myriad aspects of the human condition. Ernest Hemingway is credited as once saying, "In order to write about life, first you must live it." A similar argument could be expressed about photography. 

For example, you could set out one day to capture the essence of "irony" - like the cancer survivor who puts a cigarette in his or her mouth but never lights it. Or you could search for "pathos." Or "contradiction." Pick a noun that describes some aspect of the human experience and search for visual examples of it. Suddenly, you'll find yourself also telling a story once again (something I'll explore in much more detail in a future post). 

Alternatively, you may simply wish to look for interesting shapes and colors and physical elements out in the world that are juxtaposed harmoniously, or that telegraph disharmony for some specific reason.

Above all, don't be afraid to experiment. After all, we typically learn more from our mistakes than our successes. Photography is no different in that respect. Regardless of whether you believe a photograph works, or doesn't work, seek to determine why. Be your own worst critic, but learn from that and press forward. Which takes us back to the beginning of this post: Do. The Work.

Have a close look at the images below, and see if you can determine what it was in each of those situations that I found interesting or compelling, and why.

Final Thoughts

The UK camera retailer, Max Spielmann, calculated in 2023 that somewhere around five billion pictures are captured around the world each and every day. That's a breathtaking number of images. Thinking carefully about what sort of message you wish to convey with your imagery, and then taking steps in advance to nurture the exploration of that message—even well before you pick up the camera—can go a long way towards capturing images that are compelling and meaningful, even if it's just to you, as opposed to merely snapshots that are quickly stored and forgotten on your hard drive.

Obviously, this is a topic of enormous breadth and depth. The objective here was merely to expose the reader to a few ideas that serve as a springboard for discovering ways of pursuing greater meaning in their images. My hope is to continue exploring ideas behind image creation in future blog posts—as time permits—so stay tuned for more...