Tag: inspiration

10 Photographers Talk About the Moment They Say “I Love Photography!”

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Taya Ivanova

“At 7 years old, when my dad gave me my first canon film camera. I would run around with him and we would photograph things from different angles – his as a tall, towering, strong man and mine as a small, curious little girl.”
– Fine

“It was 4 years ago, while I made photos with a borrowed camera. I had never had a camera before, so I put all my savings together and got it. At the beginning I had many doubts, but I knew that would be the beginning of something very good. I was attracted to the idea of starting to create something and translate it, especially to gather many ideas and see what things could be.”
– Pedro

“My older sister started to get into photography when I was 12 and of course I wanted to be just like her, so I really wanted to try it. I got my first digital camera shortly after and I started posting on Deviant Art because that’s what my sister did. The community I found here encouraged me to try new things and keep going. What I love about photography is the equalizing nature of it. It’s not that photography is easy, but it’s very different from other areas of art. I enjoy drawing and other art media, but the learning curve is steep and I rarely like my creations. Whereas with photography, anyone has the ability to take a good photo so long as they have a good concept.”
– Jules

“I have always been fascinated and inspired by photography. I can’t even remember the first time I fell in love with it.
The way some photographers manage to capture life and beauty in a photo is highly admirable and marvelous. For me, good photography is about capturing a moment in a way that forces us to stop for a second. When you look at a good photo, you forget all your thoughts for a moment and are filled with awe. And all of these good pictures stand out because you can experience in them a special quality of relatedness, a connection between your existence and the piece of art.

I think it must have been this deep inner feeling that made me fall in love with photography and kept me drawn to it all along. I love taking photos myself but I also deeply enjoy looking at photos with this certain kind of quality.”
– Patrick

“I guess I didn’t discover photography as such, it was a gradual thing as I grew up with it as a child because my Father was a keen hobbyist photographer, and, so, at the age of 18 (which was some considerable time ago now!), I was given my first camera – a Ricoh KR10 Super 35mm film camera and Pentax 50mm lens, this is where it all started for me! I’m not sure I ‘fell in love’ with photography, but I remember it was something that I was keen to do, although due to its creative nature I’ve always had something of a love/hate relationship with it. I guess anyone in the creative arts struggles with their relationship to whatever they’re doing. However, I’ve been involved with photography (as a hobbyist) now for over 30 years covering both film and digital, and I also spent 14 years professionally during the golden days of film and printing in the 80’s and 90’s as a photographic lab technician serving professional photographers, I was young then, and so it was an exciting time to be in that industry, and I got to play with some awesome and strange (a 10×8 camera that ran on rails like a train!) kit over those years. So, I guess I must like photography more than not! I’m happiest with my photography when my images are published and used commercially, that gives me the greatest and biggest thrill, as it validates what I’m producing has genuine worth, is genuinely liked, and as a hobbyist means on some occasions I can compete with the pros!”
– Andy

“The first time I fell in love with photography truly was on the Christmas of 2014, where I was given my very own dslr, the 400d. With that, it didn’t leave my side all Christmas and I remember taking it for walks on the beach so I could photograph my very first sunset. From that experience, I was hooked with the photography bug!”
– Elliot

“The first time I fell in love with photography was summer of 2015 while I was living in London, England. Upon being there I met a variety of fine art photographers whose style was all so different, but so moving and incredible. I struggled a lot with self-acceptance and self-expression, being around these amazing people and seeing the wonderful creations they were capable of bringing to life once they expressed themselves gave me the motivation to do it too! I realized we are all so different and that’s the beauty of not just being an artist, but being yourself! 😃 Photography is such an impactful part of my life, it has brought many opportunities and great friendships to me. It gives me the ability to express myself and show people what I see in a very touching way.”
– Davi

“I discovered photography when I was in highschool. I was a big fan of street photography and nature. At first, I just love to look at awesome pictures taken by photographers. I look at them for hours and hours thinking about how they capture that moment and be in that moment. I was inspired by it! I told myself that I wanna be in the moment too. I remember the first DSLR camera I bought. The feel and the sound of the shutter when I first hit it. It’s a surreal moment and it was a wonderful feeling. I fell in love with it. I took pictures on every single moment. Mistakes are common and you’ll learn eventually. I started to ask every photographer friends I know to learn more about it. Learning never stops, that’s true with Photography. Although I’m currently in a long hiatus because of my work, I would love to get back on track very soon for the love of photography.”
– Jem

“I discovered photography by accident in 2008. I still remember the year because I was doing a mini research about Paris (which I went the next year) and then stumbled upon a Parisian blogger who that time used flickr! Then, I explored the magic on flickr and saw many beautiful creations there and instantly loved photography. I discovered Nirrimi, Taya and many local photographers such as Bak & Umar Mita who motivated me to pursue the field.”
– Lala

“I fell in love with photography when I discovered a collection of breathtaking self-portraits on DeviantArt. I was amazed by how much effort a single photographer could put into a photoshoot. They did everything – modelling, planning the shot, placing equipment, and editing – on their own. I admired such strong independence and decided to try it out myself.”
– Taya

Maintaining Your Joy While Working as a Photographer

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Keenan Gilson

I truly believe that you will produce your best images when you sincerely have a love for photography. I feel like this principle applies in all areas of life as well. We’ve probably heard the phrase, “when you love what you do for work, it does not really work.” How can we keep the joy we had at first when it comes to working as a professional photographer? For many, photography starts off as a hobby, something they really enjoy doing in their spare time. With time though, once money gets involved, it can turn into something we don’t look forward to. Let’s consider some things we can do to make sure we never get to this point.

Take Jobs That Have Meaning

When we first picked up a camera, we were taking pictures of people and things that mattered to us; things that brought us joy. The camera was a way to express ourselves and save memories that were important to us. With time we don’t want to lose these factors. We don’t want to use a camera only for monetary gain.

In order to do this, we should set time aside in order to shoot for fun. We can do this by documenting personal trips of family and friends or even by volunteering your services for free to a cause you support.

When I was just getting into photography professionally, I quickly realized my joy was decreasing as I started working more for money. In order to counteract this, I ended up doing more photo projects with my close friends that were creatively oriented. I even volunteered my time to shoot this senior citizen prom at my local senior citizen home. It was extremely rewarding and incredibly hilarious interacting with them.

Take Time to Learn

If we feel like we are shooting a lot but never learning or growing with our craft, photography can become stale. For most of us, when we first got into photography we couldn’t get enough of Youtube tutorials and photography blogs that helped us gain more insight into improving our skill and style. If you feel like photography is no longer enjoyable, you might have to set time aside in order to learn and get inspired.

One thing that helps me is reading up to date articles on new technology or on new techniques. I also just spend time looking at photographers work that I enjoy. I then consciously think about something I want to work on and try to apply it in my next photo shoot.

Spending time with other photographers or creatives can be extremely beneficial. When we hang out with people who share our same passions were are able to build off each other’s creativity and receive encouragement. If we are talking about the money and business aspect of our job, we can start to focus on things that aren’t as important.

Teaching others about your craft is also a rewarding thing to do in two ways. The person on the receiving end feels happy that you were willing to give of your time to help them and at the same time you get reminded of why photography is something valuable to you. There is definitely happiness in giving of your time.

Take a Break

If we have gone past the point of no return and we feel like the last thing we want to do it shoot, take a break. Instead of continuing to burn yourself out, sometimes this path is the best option. Eventually, when you feel you’re ready, look at some of the previous work that you were proud of and remind yourself of why you got into photography in the first place.

Even though some may think that completely taking time off can harm your craft, I think it actually does the opposite. Sure, you can lose out on some possible jobs and money but you’ll save your client from mediocre work. If it takes some time for you to regain your joy it will be worth it because you will see it in your work. You and your clients want you to produce your best work. If that means taking some time to regain your joy, I say do it.

Keep learning and have fun!

Cyprus’ Creative Beach Opportunities for Photographers

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Islands can’t help but make their visitors believe that summers are endless. This infinitely bright atmosphere can be credited to beaches, which gratefully embrace seas or oceans all year long. Even in the middle of December, a few eager tourists can be found diving into deep waters in hopes of having a brilliant and adrenaline-filled adventure. The site is fascinating and heartwarming. In general, living on a tropical island is an uplifting experience which leaves every citizen feeling occasional volcanic eruptions of butterflies in their stomach.

In this article, you’ll witness the beauty of Cyprus beaches. Cyprus is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, a region of gentle azure skies and incredibly scrumptious food. While summers there can be overwhelming due to intense heat waves, milder seasons are a joy to be a part of. Swarmed by tourists in the summers, Cyprus’ beaches can be enjoyed a little more fully in the autumn or spring. Once the hotter months are over, the sea is still warm enough to swim in, but not luxurious enough to attract a plethora of visitors. For those who enjoy photographing nature in tranquil places, the quieter seasons will prove to be satisfying.

Cyprus has many, many beaches. While a great percentage of those beaches is loved by tourists, there are lots of spots that aren’t dedicated to human relaxation. These places are surrounded by cliffs, sharp rocks, and a general atmosphere that reminds visitors of medieval castles and epic music. These slightly intimidating locations are particularly ideal for either admirer of edgy landscape photography or portrait/conceptual photographers who make the most of the complicated backdrops.

Other spots are more fitting for curious travelers; these are usually home to timid little stores where you can purchase interesting props for your shoots or just a delicious snack to enjoy during a break. If you venture into the fields nearby, you’ll encounter parks, stables, and great hiking trails. Thus, in addition to taking interesting photos of the beach, you’ll have an impressive amount of diverse locations to spend time in afterward.

The most common beaches are, quite, fortunately, located next to apartments, stores, and markets. In Limassol (a city located in the southern part of Cyprus), a welcoming beach is never too far away. Some people live right next to the sea, the beach is their daily morning view. Upon spending time in the sea, you’ll have access to cozy restaurants, calming cafés, and delicious drinks you’ll never forget. If you’re not in the mood for swimming on a particular day, you can still enjoy the smell of the sea by walking next to it. Almost every beach is decorated with smooth paths on which you can exercise, photograph, or simply take walks.

If you’re a nighttime photography enthusiast, these paths will provide you with many opportunities. Since there aren’t many people taking walks during this time, it’s possible to set up a tripod in a safe place and try out long exposure photography. The sea is never violent, so getting a perfectly composed shot of the beach won’t be an issue. If you go out a little earlier, you’re likely to catch a magnificent sunset. Even when covered by clouds, the island’s sunsets never cease to take one’s breath away. Photographing these natural phenomenon will not only give you amazing results but also provide you with an intense and fulfilling love for nature. You’ll leave the beach feeling beyond refreshed and inspired.

The aforementioned paths come in handy at night; this is when the daytime chaos of the popular island settles down. Despite the lack of light, however, safety isn’t something you have to fear. Cyprus can serve as a refuge for those who seek endless outdoor peace. Nighttime walks are a great time for meditation, inspiration, and general relaxation. If you’ve been shooting all day, you can refresh your creative mind by watching the stars from a bench or listening to the natural music of the sea. The soothing sounds of endless waves have the power to prepare you for another wonderful shooting day. Alternatively, they can make you feel grounded, calm, and completely alive.

Cyprus is adept at providing artists with picturesque locations and rejuvenation. Thanks to its many beaches, photographers have many locations they can visit and enjoy. The island preserves its beauty through nature all day long, all year long. This makes it one of an ideal spots for creative photographers of all kinds.

Finding spellbinding inspiration in films

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Films can be thought of as the equivalent of moving photographs. Seemingly endless, these timeless images reveal an array of interesting emotions, places, and people within just a few hours. The stories they tell often touch our hearts and remain with us for a long time, teaching us more about ourselves, the world, and what it really means to be alive. It’s not surprising, then, that the basic blocks of filmmaking – millions of stunning images – have the power to provide us with inspiration. Using movies as an opportunity to take more effective and meaningful photographs will lead you to a future filled with far more creative potential than you can imagine.

But how can you be inspired by films? Any story, whether it resides in the azure skies of a painting or in the mind-boggling plot twist of your favorite TV show, can serve as a source of valuable ideas. If you feel you’ve reached a creative block, or if you simply want to explore other ways of photographing people and places, here’s a list of things to look out for when you’re enjoying your favorite film:

Darkness and light

Since an indescribable amount of effort is put into the making of a film, each scene is guaranteed to have hints that will allow viewers to understand the story on a deeper level. Symbolism – which can be both obvious and subtle throughout a film – can be found in the way light hits the character’s face, for instance. Films revolving around mystery often include characters who are barely lit by car headlights, or who are overshadowed by a mess of clothing in a dark room. Heartwarming scenes in movies are often accompanied by light that reflects the characters’ sunny dispositions – golden light that makes their eyes glow and their hair shine.

Even if you’re not planning to take cinematic photographs, it would greatly help to understand the importance and beauty of light. The more you look at visually stunning compositions (of which there is an abundance in films), the easier it’ll be to find similar compositions during your own shoots. With time, you’ll be so accustomed to finding both unusual and striking light that you’ll find potential everywhere, even if you live in a tiny apartment in a city that barely gets any light. Even shadows and darkness will cease to intimidate you – they, too, will become your artistic tools.

Films and shows with breathtaking visuals:
The Light Between Oceans
Carol
Riverdale
Her
An Education

Angles and movements

Characters often do much more than speaking in a film. Bits and pieces of an entire story can be found in expressions, postures, angles, and more. To create a photograph with a deeper story, pay attention to your subject’s movements during a shoot. If you want to get even more creative, come up with a story beforehand to intensify the emotional aspect of your shot. This will make the shooting process fruitful in numerous ways; you’ll get brilliantly emotive results, and you’ll find your path to becoming a more advanced storyteller. The more you practice, the incredible your results will be.

If you’d like to work with more than posed photographs, go on a trip with someone, even if it’s a short walk to the local bookstore. Photograph their movements as they observe the world around them. There will be moments of oblivion – fleeting seconds when they’ll forget there’s someone photographing them – which, if captured, will result in honest and unique portraits. If you’d like to experiment with raw emotions and poses, be spontaneous during your next shoot.

Details

Close-ups are common in films. They reveal parts of a character that the viewer would’ve ignored in more distant scenes. In the movie Carol, the main character’s (Therese) love interest is often shown up close to reveal exactly how much Therese admires her. As you explore locations with or without your model, find details that catch your eye. If you go out for a morning walk, notice the way light hits a leaf, for example. Find potential everywhere, and the ideas will gracefully swim to you.

So take advantage of the many brilliant films that exist today. Take notes as you observe movements, emotions, light, and details. Inspiration could be hiding in the least likely places; it’s your job to find it and use it. Using this inspiration, you’ll be able to add an abundance of light into your portfolio and improve significantly as a photographer.

Happy shooting!

An Autumn Morning in Cyprus and Self-Reflections

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Autumns in Cyprus are a blur of fog, crunchy leaves, and rainy (self) reflections. Every autumn, my family and I would spend hours collecting refreshing water, hiking, and taking quirky photos in the mountains. Since Cyprus is a fairly humble little island free of endless traffic jams, getting to places requires no effort at all. This easiness allows the island’s inhabitants to freely explore the entire island. In the autumn, this is particularly useful.

There was a certain year when autumn grandly announced its arrival and showered the island with shades of amber and brown. Everybody was in a state of perpetual awe during this enchanting time; most people were either taking snapshots all the time or simply absorbing, wide-eyed, the bountiful supply of picturesque scenes. I was amongst the former, dutifully photographing both landscapes and details with any camera I could get my hands on. It was a refreshing period of time which put us all in a world where worries concerning time and pain didn’t exist. Because every individual had the chance to experience this worry-less reality, even if temporarily, more people seemed to get along. It was as if the season had cast a spell of tranquility on us all, blocking all resentment from entering our newfound bubble of safety.

The mountains’ personality changes along with the time of day. Aware of this fact, we decided to visit the mountains before they awakened. On a cozy morning, we packed spinach pie and a thermos full of hot tea and went looking for an adventure. On our way there (a trip that takes no longer than an hour and a half), we spotted a shepherd herding a flock of sheep. The group was carefully hidden behind a timid layer of fog, a ghostly yet comforting reminder of a simpler life. Such a sight, though common in the mountains, is a rare occurrence in the city itself. This is why exploration is precious – you could visit the same location over and over again, but the creative opportunities it would provide you with would always be diverse and endless. Finding unexpected situations to photograph is an absolute joy for us all. The good news is that you needn’t go far to experience this joy.

Around 30 minutes into the trip, we stopped to grab a few snacks in our favorite store, a place that smells like the best bakery in the world mixed with the wondrous scent of forests. There, we spotted another unexpected moment: birds appearing out of nowhere like fountains in the sky. They quickly and elegantly flew around the area, leaving behind mild echoes and feather souvenirs. This, combined with Birdy’s cover of the song Skinny Love, left an unforgettable mark on me. Though the grandiosity of this moment might not have abandoned me in the years to come, I would’ve forgotten to remember it had it not been for the images I took during that experience. It is for this reason – that significant yet unpredictable moment, when documented in one form or another, stay with us forever – that I cherish photography and everything it has to offer.

Entering the heart of the mountains was, as always, akin to a sigh of relief. Our favorite spot, an outdoor space where visitors could relax and collect fresh water, was located next to an abandoned little shed surrounded by a stream. In another environment, this would’ve been a disconcerting view; in the autumnal morning mountains, it was a visually appealing comfort. We spent the rest of the morning nibbling on goodies, discussing the beauty of the chilly season, and taking comfortable walks in the area. Every moment felt strangely endless, and in a way it was. When I go through the photographs I took back then, I find myself reliving every vivid moment as if it only happened a week ago. To quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse Five: “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.”

I encourage you to visit all kinds of places, even your own backyard, and to look at them through the eyes of a curious observer. In that world of inquisitive thoughts, you will find exactly what you need, especially things you never knew you needed. There is endless value in being both present and photo-ready on this unpredictable, marvelous, colorful earth.

Photographer interview: Rhiannon K.

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Rhiannon K. is a talented photographer from Malaysia whose main focus is conceptual photography. Her self-portraits are emotional and mysterious in unique ways. In this interview, we talk about her favorite artists, what to do with creative blocks, and more. Enjoy!

What attracted you to photography?

When I first started taking photos, I was in awe of how it had the ability to capture and preserve memories. However, as I dived deeper into this hobby and passion of mine – I realized photography has enabled me to create and share a visualization on what goes on in my mind. Photography is my safe haven which I go to whenever I feel the need to express myself.

Your self-portraits are incredibly striking. How did you get into the world of self-portraiture?

Thank you so much! I knew photography was something that was meant for me, but I wasn’t quite sure on how I was able to fully express myself with it. I was on platforms like DeviantART and Flickr which helped expose me to the different photography genres. However, it took me 4 years until I stumbled upon self-portraiture which instantly stirred something inside of me that yearned to create more. As a photographer, you capture your perspective of the things in front of you. But with self-portraits, it’s different and it’s slightly more challenging. You are exposing yourself in front of a camera in a way that captures your own soul and emotion and I think that is absolutely beautiful.

Which have artists influenced you the most?

I have a list of artists that I look up to but if I were to narrow it down, I would have to say Brooke Shaden and Alex Stoddard. These two have been my pillar of inspiration and if it wasn’t through stumbling upon their amazing work, I wouldn’t have discovered conceptual photography. I adore how both Shaden and Stoddard have the ability to create stories through their timeless pieces. Each photo that they produce are well planned and creatively executed. The implementation of photo manipulation in their work proves that there are really no boundaries when it comes to creating art. It is just a joy to interpret their work and just like them, I wish my work will be able to inspire another to get out there and create.

It’s evident that creativity is one of your strongest skills. How do you come up with ideas for your shoots?

I create photos that mean something to me on a personal level; so I am most inspired by my web of emotions at the time being. If you see through my work, it flows through different stages which reflect a kind of metamorphosis of my life. I tend to take notes of the littlest details around me and try to make sense as to why it builds a certain relevant feeling. It can start off with a poem that I wrote in my notebook and then I’ll go around building an image around it or, I might have a vivid daydream I had earlier that day and I’ll go back to my notebook, sketch it out and write a poem for it. I could also be watching films and feel a certain kind of connection with the plot or a character and be inspired. Every photo is created with the intention of expressing a message or an idea – but it is conceptualized to a certain level of mystery which provides viewers a reason to further explore and interpret the photo.

In addition to being a creative individual, you’re also a very talented retoucher. What advice would you give to aspiring photographers who are new to editing programs?

Be open to the idea of starting from scratch and taking the initiative to learn at your own pace. Don’t limit yourself to following a certain kind of style that you admire but explore a bunch of them and find what represents your work best. You’ll definitely go through tons of trial and error, but the outcome of it will be incredible and worthwhile.

When faced with a creative block, what do you do?

I don’t think there is a fixed formula to this except having the constant grounds of being connected to yourself and your surroundings. When you lose this, you tend to lose your true intentions behind what you are doing and that can really affect you creatively. Spending time in solitude helps me gather my thoughts and find a new approach to things. I usually spend it with reading creative self-help books and listening to good music.

If you could meet your favorite artist and ask them only one photography-related piece of advice, what would it be?

Oh, definitely on how they keep themselves constantly inspired and motivated to create! I see some of my favorite photographers creating everyday without fail and I’d love to know what helps them jumpstart and preserve their creativity.

In your opinion, what are the 3 most important things a beginner photographer should know?

Firstly, take your time. It can be a very vexatious situation, trying to discover your style. You can spend all week, months, years doing your research on your favorite artists and imitate their creative process. But in the long run, you’re only following another person’s growth and not yours. Which comes to my second point, understand how your mind and soul works. The better you know yourself, the better you can create. After all, your work represents you. Lastly, allow yourself to grow. Embrace the idea of learning and discovering new things everyday – be it a new technique of editing or experimenting with different creative outlets.

Is there a photography genre you’d like to experiment more with?

As for now, I don’t have any photography genre that I’m particularly interested in besides conceptual photography. In spite of that, I would love to include a male subject in my photos. I realized I have never envisioned it because I create from my perspective – so that would be really interesting.

What has been the most challenging creative obstacle for you so far, and how did you overcome it?

Acknowledging the fact that I was a creative burnout for a couple of years. I placed more importance towards my education and the people around me. Needless to say, I found myself knee-deep in a creative rut. I overcame my internal struggle through simply spending time alone; realigning myself. Most importantly my goals and aspirations. I woke up the next day with a fresh perspective and eager to create again.

You can find more of Rhiannon’s work on Youpic

Photographer interview: Elliot Tratt

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Taya Ivanova

Elliot Tratt is a fine art, portrait, and event photographer who cherishes meaningful ideas and fascinating concepts. Despite his very young age, he has worked for several bands and has successfully captured the many dramatic sides of event photography. His desire to learn, improve, and endlessly persist is inspiring to photographers and other artists alike. I hope this interview opens your eyes, pushes you to try out new photography genres, and motivates you to keep going.

What inspired you to start taking photographs?

I grew up in the household of a photographer, so I must’ve picked up a camera first when I was very young. I always remember spending time with my granddad and him not having a camera on him. So I guess I live with a similar philosophy, always have a camera with me. He first gave me a DSLR on the Christmas of 2014, and from there I have discovered and learned myself to make the best images I can.

Your gallery is filled with inspiring conceptual images. How do you come up with ideas for your shoots?

Ideas for my conceptual shots can come from anywhere, from reading a line in a book to a line in a song, to really mundane things like the weather around me. When I am walking home from school, I find inspiration in the smallest and biggest things. I take inspiration from other images and combine ideas and manipulate them to try and tell the best story I can.

What has been your most challenging creative obstacle so far, and how did you overcome it?

My most challenging creative obstacle is inspiring myself regularly with an idea that tops my last idea. I want to develop and I want to grow, so I feel bad when I produce an image and the following image is sub-par. So, I fight mentally to make every single shot I take a bit better than the last.

You shoot in many stunning locations. What’s your favorite shooting place and why?

My favorite location is a beach where I shot the band Pattern Pusher. It’s a beach and cliff on the north coast of Cornwall called Strangles. It produces so many perfect different shots and angles. It has large cliffs, a nice beach, a rock arch, and a sea mist which is truly mystical.

You’ve photographed many great musicians. Which band, famous or not, would you love to take photos of one day?

I feel I have already shot the band that I always wanted to shoot most. In fact, I will be doing a promo shoot with them soon. The band is Tiny Folds. They truly captivated me with their music right away and I just had to take photos of them, so when they invited me to shoot their EP release show last year, I went out of my way to make sure I could! This year I have some big acts lined up to shoot, but I feel none of them will have quite the same rush as photographing Tiny Folds.

Is there a photography genre you’d like to experiment with more?

I have always dabbled with the conceptual portraits, but I have never felt I have truly become involved in the genre. I wish to be able to create such arts like that of David Talley and Kyle Thompson.

What lighting advice would you give to aspiring photographers?

Almost all of my light that I have ever used is natural, with nothing to modify it. I just play with the light that I am given. I love shooting portraits at sunset because the glorious light just before sunset and the light just after it create some of the most incredible back drops.

Who are your favorite artists at the moment and why?

When it comes to photographers, people like you, Alexandra Bloch, Emily Moy, David Talley, Kyle Thompson, Adam Elmakias. They all produce the most incredible art in images.

Musically, a band called Pattern Pusher, whom I am good friends with, consistently produce art in their songs. With their new EP coming out soon, I can’t wait to see what art they produce and how they set it out on stage (hopefully with my help). They are planning to make their live shows as artistic as their music, which I’m very excited for.

Your images are very cleverly edited. What’s the best editing advice you’d give someone?

Keep practicing. Practice, practice practice…. and watch Youtube tutorials, they teach A LOT! If you keep editing and pushing yourself each time and keep doing things that are a little out of your comfort zone, you get better. You just have to keep going at it, even if it does get a little hard or it doesn’t look right.

What, in your opinion, is the most important thing a beginner photographer should know?

Similar to what I previously said, practice is the key thing. Sometimes images will not come out as you imagine and sometimes they will just look bad. But you need to keep going, even through the hard and bad images, because eventually, you will make gold. It will make you proud and keep pushing you to make gold time and time again, and that will always keep you going. Strive to produce the best you can and you can’t go wrong!

Check out more of Elliot’s work on his Facebook and website.

Inspiration Photography Tips: Bring the Muse Back into Your Life

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Sara Rodriguez Martinez

Photography is a creative craft. Taking a great photo requires a combination of several factors: you need to have good gear and know how to use it. You need to know the different photography techniques and composition. You need to have good conditions (sometimes you could control these factors and other times not). Also, you need to know how to work around the conditions you are facing and the list goes on and on. The factor I want to talk about today is a slippery one yet very important- inspiration. I think that all photographers suffer ups and downs regarding their inspiration. I have periods when I know exactly what to photograph, how it should be and which emotions I want to convey. During these periods I find myself trying new things and developing photography projects.

sleeklens-40-5 — There are periods in your photography journey that are bright and full of ideas. But these periods don’t last forever. You will suffer times without inspiration and photographer’s blockage. These ups and downs are part of the life of any creative activity.

Sometimes, without any apparent reason, inspiration just slips away. My muse abandons me and I feel lost. I don’t know what to do with my camera or where to go to take photos. In fact, I don’t even feel like taking photos at all. If you have suffered one of these periods you know what I mean. The problem is that artistic muses are unpredictable and fickle, so it is difficult to know when they will come back to you or what may trigger them. Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do to bring the muse back into your life and make you run to grab your camera again.

Visit museums

Plan a visit to one or several museums located close to your place (or not so close if you feel like traveling a little). You can leave your camera at home and just focus on the museum. Any type of museum might work: paint, history, sculpture… The idea is that you see new things. You never know where inspiration is going to come from. But you will have more probabilities of recovering your muse if you increase your artistic inputs. This is because of the creative process itself. The brain collects images and information from the world and builds its own ideas. The more you experience, the more your brain will have raw material for creating.

Expose yourself to other cultures

Another way to increase your information and artistic inputs and boost your inspiration is learning about other cultures. My favorite way to do this is traveling (when I can afford it…). However, when traveling is not an option, there are other ways to learn about cultures such as books, articles, blogs, and talks. Personally, I learned a lot about other cultures thanks to friends from other countries. You can ask them to tell you about their traditions. Be curious and keep your mind open; there is a whole world out there!

sleeklens-40-1 — Meeting people from different origins is a great way to get in contact with new cultures, such as the Bedouin and Australian aborigine of these photos.

Go outdoors

When you feel out of ideas, it is easy to go online and check photography websites to see what others are doing. Although this strategy might work sometimes, it can also be a bit frustrating. You might think: “Look at this! Everybody is creative but me!”. This line of thought will increase your frustration and won’t help you to get your inspiration back. In these moments, I recommend you to go outdoors. You can organize a hike, or you can just go for a walk to a park or a nearby city. You will get two benefits from doing that. First, it will help you to disconnect and clear your head (muses usually prefer relaxed minds) and second, you never know what or who you will see out there.

Connect with family and friends

Besides the fact that friends and family are the ones who would be there for you and could give you ideas, tagging along with them and trying to do new things is always a source of new ideas. Do you have a friend that loves cooking? Join him/her! Maybe you end up discovering that you like food photography and then you will have lots of new things to photograph! This was just an example, but the possibilities of exposing yourself to new things are endless. Put attention to what your family and friends like to do and join them! You might be surprised by the result!

Join a photo community

Photo communities are a great source of new ideas. There are a lot of online communities, so you will need to do some search and decide which type of community is best for you. I find the most interesting communities offer weekly or monthly challenges or assignments because they make you grab your camera and do something. Although the challenge itself might not be an idea of your own, the experience will get while trying to achieve the goals can lead you to your own creations which is great! I also recommend joining a local community. This type of community gives you the chance to meet with other photographers and share ideas that will enrich you as an artist. They usually organize photographic walks that are not always focused on the subjects you usually photograph. Going out a little of your comfort zone is always a good way to increase the chances to get inspired.

sleeklens-40-4 — I like nature photography and portraits, so if it is up to me, these are the subjects I photograph. I decided to join a photo walk with a photography community in Barcelona and they took me to a train station. At the beginning, I didn’t know what to do with myself. But after a while, I got inspired thanks to the enthusiasm of the other photographers and I managed to take some decent photos from a subject I am not familiar with at all.

In summary, if you want your inspiration back, a good way to get it back is to expose yourself to new things. With all of this new knowledge, your brain will be able to create new ideas. If you feel blocked, keep calm and find new things to learn and do. Enjoy and your muse will find you!