How do you find your "style"?

[xtian]

since I've gone digital (1.5 years ago) the biggest problem for me has been "developing" the film. In a way, I can't seem to find a "style" of color/saturation/contrast etc to stick with. I end up developing the images in many different styles and shades of duotone and tritone, etc.

Before I used to shoot mostly with Kodak NC's and Fuji Velvia's... now there's so many options I end up going everywhere haha.. these are some pictures I took yesterday and today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2286448817_a9eae65ae8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2291009806_9f02403db1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2290216045_c60016552d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/2291012840_dff0f33a79.jpg

 

[Johnmcd]

Nice images, Xtian.

I think that is the beauty of digital - you can do whatever you like. You can be disciplined and set limitations. Just shoot B/W for example. Or shoot raw and see what comes out in the mix.

BTW, that's quite a collection you have 🙂

John

 

[lubitel]

the more options you have the harder it is to find your way. Thats also something I struggle with. I dont think there is a simple fix for this.

 

[kshapero]

I also had that problem. Since I went to shooting my RD-1 in BW, the problem is gone. Less choices make me focus on the moment. then post processing is easier. My BW workflow is first i read the card with ACDsee detector (do not browse images close down when done aquiring), then I postprocess in Epson Raw standalone in BW, then save to JPEG in a subfolder. Then I open Acdsee into the subfolder directly. The whole workflow allows me never to be distracted by color. BW all the way thru.

 

[MickH]

I've never spent a moment thinking about my style. I just shoot photos. I guess whatever my style is would be of interest only to others and discovered historically rather than proactively.

You definitely have a style that is most uncommon in the Gallery: All bar two of your shots are in focus.😉

 

[xtian]

You definitely have a style that is most uncommon in the Gallery: All bar two of your shots are in focus.😉

hahah

I guess I have to rethink on how to take photos, more about the "moment" than the "image" (although I know some "moments" make the "image" look amazing)

That camera collection sadly is not ALL mine, it belongs to 4 photographers including myself. We were out shooting in the mountain and came back, and we were cleaning our equipment and thought "hey, let's see what we have here all together" and it ended up being quite a lot. Photo of that one taken with a powershot sd200.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Style sneaks up when you aren't looking. Start trying to create one, and you'll either fail (most usually) or end up with something pretentious...

As Sitemistic says, just take pictures.

Oh: and don't worry about having two (or more) styles. I take very different pics with 5x7 inch than I take with a Leica.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[bmattock]

The way I wear my hat.

 

[Keith]

If I was to evaluate my own 'style' I would say that I am more of a tradesman than I am an artist! This just comes naturally as I have somewhat of a perfectionist's attitude and although I would prefer to lean the other way (artistic) a little more ... my 'style,' if you want to call it that, seems to be getting me photographic work!

 

[keithwms]

This going to sound pedantic but I'll try to say it anyway:

Style has less to do with parameter selections and equipment capabilties than actual compositional content. Whether digital or film... or crayola drawing.

There have been various ill-fated attempts to try to characterize the style of particularly successful photographers. I.e. St. Ansel and his film/dev choice and various attempts to achieve his "look." It's all baloney I tell you! The man was an explorer, foremost. His style was in the composition, not buried in all the technical parameters and famous recipes. Likewise Cartier-Bresson: what did his style have to do with all these fabulous new shooting parameters that we see with every new camera? Does anyone really believe that a Leica and clever timing will make them the next HCB? If so, good luck. Join the multitudes of people who've tried to deconstruct a successful photograph into a collection of recipes.

Yeah, yeah, I know... I am just saying.... 😉

 

[ruben]

Well you sure don't find style in collecting cameras,,,,,,,

Hi Tokek,

I am sorry, but you have a shamefull small stock of bags.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[f/stopblues]

Style sneaks up when you aren't looking. Start trying to create one, and you'll either fail (most usually) or end up with something pretentious...

As Sitemistic says, just take pictures.

Oh: and don't worry about having two (or more) styles. I take very different pics with 5x7 inch than I take with a Leica.

Cheers,

Roger

Well said, Roger. Style seems to be a function of what and how you enjoy shooting the most. It comes from your personality. It comes from your environment. Sometimes people start chasing a style that eludes them when the elements for their own are right under their noses. Just shoot what and how feels best and it will creep in all by itself.

A good example of this is how Avedon's starkly detailed portraits came to be. He didn't say, "Hey, I think a white background and revealing lighting will look cool and set me apart." He did it because he wanted the viewer to see the subject for who they are. He wanted to separate them from their environment and show them honestly. The "style" came as a result, not as a cause.

 

[Haigh]

How do you find your "style"?

Since I mostly only take pictures for myself I've never worried about a style. I don't even know if I have one. If someone wants me to take some pics I show them what I do and if they like what they see we go ahead and remain open to whatever appears. It should be clear from that alone, that I'm not a professional.

http://www.leicaboutique.com/gallery/index.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733837@N06/

Best wishes,

Gary Haigh

Down Under

 

[beausquigly]

drink more beer