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Written by Philip A. Dente
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Wednesday, 01 June 2011 13:11 |
Much of my photographing consists of filling every part of the frame. Sometimes the problem with this, when trying to fill the frame with objects, lines, people, shapes, negative spaces, etc., is running the risk of over-complicating things, leaving the viewers with no place to rest their eyes.
 Sometimes this might be my intent, but too much of such a thing might easily become an exercise of overindulgence that can unknowingly become predictable and, then, boring.
I seldom embark upon a photo adventure with a specific goal in mind. I just go out with a camera. I try to think of the whole world, and everything in it, as a subject. If something catches my eye, or grabs my attention, that is reason enough for me to photograph it. Over a period of time, as you discover the similarity among those things that draw your attention, you begin to discover the emergence of a personal style. I noticed a long time ago that among the things that attract my attention are shapes or objects that appear in “threes.” I don’t consciously set out to find these groupings, thus making it a delightful discovery every time one catches my eye.
Next time you feel like you have a photographer’s mental block, do what I sometimes do. Give yourself an assignment. Pick out a line from a poem or a song that might inspire you. Or, look for groupings of threes if need be. And, when you feel it’s time, you can then stop looking for things and just respond to the world around you.
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