Be Simple and Tell Stories to Improve Your Photos

Valley of Fire in Nevada at sunrise.

Tip #8: Look at Nature in a Different Way

If you want to create interesting and creative nature photographs, do not look at nature as it really is. Try to look beyond what you see.

For example, for me, a tree is not a simple vegetative photographic element. It is a witness of the time passing. Its bark represents the wrinkles of time.

Flamingos on a salted lake are not only birds that come there to feed. I see them as musical notes floating above the scale of water.

Sand dunes are not only natural desert shapes. For me, these are the playful whims of the winds.

If you give an interpretation of what you see in nature, you will interest your audience. Indeed, you suggest questions and analyzes. This is what will make your photographic artistry interesting.

My best advice for this paragraph is to allow your imagination to run.

Let yourself go before you trigger your camera. Imagine what the nature scene you have in front of you can suggest or symbolize.

Tip #9: Create Photos for Yourself

Do you capture photos solely for a competition or exhibition? I think it is a great idea. Indeed, you set goals to be achieved over time. You are motivated. This is how you can move forward.

However, I recommend that you propose and present photographs that look like you. If you create a stream of random photos just for an exhibition or a contest, you will fall into a monotonous routine and you will tire.

In my case, I had the opportunity to be selected several times for some prestigious wildlife festivals. I had carefully chosen my wildlife photo collections. I wanted my images to conform to the expectations of the organizers and the judges. I had created them. I wanted to showcase them, but they were not exactly fitted to my soul and my passion, to what I wanted to show.

For two years after, I chose to propose photo series that resembled me more. In addition, these were series that had had excellent commercial success. Each time, these series were refused politely because I did not meet the editorial lines of the festivals.

Now, I participate in festivals which are more private, but which correlate more to myself. I feel a lot better because I better express what I have to say.

My advice for you is to enter contests or exhibitions that match your photographic artistry. It will be more rewarding. You will be happier and more satisfied because you will have the impression of creating something meaningful.

Tip #10: Imagine your Photos Before Shooting

Never forget that your photographs are only a translation of what you see. Of course, you must consider this in the case of artistic photography and not illustrative photography.

You must learn to view your photos before triggering your camera.

This approach requires an effort of concentration. Remember that your gaze can encompass an angle of 180 degrees even if it only sees details in 140 degrees. This is quite wide if you think that you will cover at best 110 degrees with a lens with a focal length of 14 mm.

Before putting your eye behind the view finder or your camera screen, think about the photo you want to create. Imagine the message in a few words or a few adjectives. The more you qualify your scenes, the more interesting your photos will be.

You must choose your photographic elements carefully to express your emotions.

Let me give you an example. Often when I photograph deer during the rut, I like to translate the concept of natural power. I like to show determination, as well as elegance.

Freedom is also an important aspect in my photographic and artistic approach. When I prepared my collection "The Lords of the Woods and Meadows” I was careful to photograph the red deer stags whose gaze was determined and whose stature was haughty. I always take the time to wait to seize the moment when the deer was in three quarters to show muscles, the coat, the strength of the animal.

For my décor, I found wide and open scenes with a large clearing to represent space and freedom.

Each photographic element was captured to translate values in which I believe.

If you want your photos to be interesting, I recommend this visualization technique before shooting.

Tip #11: Be Simple

The best advice I can give you to create interesting photos is to be as simple as possible.

Be simple in choosing your photographic elements. Be simple in the choice of framing. Be simple in expressing your emotions. Be simple in the story you tell.

Unfortunately, and this is one of the biggest lessons I learned in my job as a professional photographer: to learn how to be simple takes time. A lot of time.

In my case, I measure this time in years.

And even today, when I create, it is not uncommon for me to redo two or three times the processing of a photo or a collection. This does not even include the number of times I must go out into the field to express a simple message.

Being simple requires long-term learning about the use of photo gear, shooting, development, printing, and story creation. Nature photography is a complex creative and technical field.

What I recommend for you to learn simplicity is to try.

If the creation does not satisfy you, you must start again. It is through repetition that you will eventually acquire simplicity.

Tip #12: Finding a Mentor

By definition, a mentor is a wise and experienced advisor.

He is a person for whom we have special esteem and who we can follow as an example.

If you can find a mentor to help you photograph, feel free to follow his advice, as they will save you valuable time in your photographic activity.

Personally, I recognize that one of my biggest regrets in my photographic career is that I never looked for or found a mentor.

Today I regret it. It took me over 10 years to figure out how to create interesting photos. It took me a lot of time to define my photographic “why” or purpose.

I am a complete autodidact. I learned by reading books, magazines, and by following online classes. I listened to a lot of photographers who boasted that they knew the secret to great photography, only to later discover that they did not know as much as they claimed.

I have been wronged many times. I no longer count failures. If a person would have advised to avoid the many pitfalls that I had to overcome, I would have grown much faster. Who knows today what I could create in photography!

This mystery will remain one of the biggest questions of my life.

It is for this reason that I created this blog dedicated to creative photography. It allows me to spread my skills, my knowledge and a bit of my know-how. So, if you really want to progress quickly in your way of creating interesting photos, look towards someone who inspires you as an example for creating photos. You will save considerable time.

Tip #13: Tell Stories

A photo, a good collection or a good series always has a story. This story will allow you to highlight your images.

When you tell a photographic story, it should be short. It must talk about you. But be careful in the way you do it because the most important thing is that your viewer needs to find himself in the story you are telling.

Never forget that each person is only interested in their own self. If you tell stories in which a viewer cannot place himself, you will be wasting your time. Your photos will not be saved.

In my case, there is always a story when I create. This story allows me to bring to life the picture in my mind.

To create stories:

Be simple.
Be concise.
Encourage dreams.
Do not talk about technique.
Stay on a human and emotional level.

Tip #14: Choose Two or Three Photo Themes

If you choose to photograph nature, I recommend that you choose two or three themes, and nothing more. Do not disperse yourself.

The more you spread yourself thin, the less interesting your photographs will be.

The reason is simple: you will not acquire mastery of each of the photographic fields. You are not going to strive for simplicity. You will always have a hard time getting your message across to convey your emotions.

The more you specialize in certain photographic fields, the more expertise you will acquire and the more your photos will make sense.

Remember that your domains must be consistent with each other. This way, you will adapt techniques from one to the others.

Tip #15: Practice

For my last piece of advice, I would recommend that you practice as often as possible. During my photo workshops, I often repeat that:

« Knowledge without action is worthless »
« Learning without action is worthless ».

You should always practice, whether you are searching for inspiration, focusing on the creation of a photo project, participating in shooting, development, printing on paper, or the creation of stories.

The more you practice, the more you will develop your expertise. You will become better.

You do not need to go to the ends of the earth to perfect your photographic expertise. A garden, a park not far from home, a small wood, a pond, or a meadow, are all wonderful places where you can train.

Practice is unquestionably the major ally of your learning.

This training will allow you to master the technique once you are in the field. You will no longer waste time on repetitive and monotonous questions. Everything will flow naturally. Do not hesitate to take your camera and walk in nature. Make photo essays and look the results on your computer.

You will always be more disappointed by what you have not done than by the actions you have taken. Take the plunge.

Finally

To create interesting photos, do not forget:

It takes time and patience.
Never stop learning new techniques to simplify your photographic artistry.
Try to find you a guide that will help you go faster in your learning.
Go to the field to apply what you have learned.
Be empathetic, be humble.

To conclude, I would recommend that you create photos that look like you. Your stories will be even easier to tell. It is at this precise moment that you will find your audience.

To Improve Your Photos, Use Emotions

Landscape in black and white of the Sand Dunes in Death Valley.

Tip #1: Creating Photos That Look Like You

The main principle of artistic photography is to photograph what you see, but then to portray what you see in such a way that it reveals your thoughts and beliefs.

I recommend that you remember this principle so that you can return to it when in the field. It can be used as a motto.

The impact of this principle is extremely important.

When taking photos, do not try to copy what has already been done. Take pictures that resemble you, for you are unique. Take photos that reflect who you really are. Your personality should be manifested in your work.

I used to say that interesting photographs reflect the soul of their photographer.

Be yourself. Do not try to be someone you are not.

It is for this reason that I recommend that you define your artistic approach and your motto. These two elements, which are at the base of your artistry, will create a decisive path which you will follow throughout your photographic career.

Tip #2: Perfectly Mastering the Technique

As I often say during my nature photo workshops, “Technique is a necessary but not sufficient condition for creating interesting photos.”

You must first understand how your photographic equipment works and perfectly master your camera, lenses, tripod, flash, etc.

You must know all the settings of your camera and know how and when to use them in any condition that you may encounter in the field.

If you do not invest time into learning, you will question yourself and your abilities during the photo sessions. This causes you to waste time and may also miss pictures that were interesting. This is what I explained in the paragraph dedicated to the part devoted to timing (T).

Next, you need to master the techniques of photo processing. The more you master them the better your photos will be in the field. In fact, you will know the parameters for the conditions of light for achieving the desired contrast balance.

Finally, in the case of wildlife photography, you absolutely must know camouflage techniques, such as how to approach an animal without disturbance and how to use a ground blind for photographing wild animals “up close”, particularly in Europe.

Never forget that technique allows you to consolidate the foundations of your photographic building.

The more you master your technique, the more creative and productive you will be in reaching your goals for your photo collections and series.

Tip #3: Seek Inspiration

Once you have developed an impeccable technical skill, you must seek photographic inspiration. Once you are on the field, your environment will inspire you with new ideas for composing concepts, framing, and choosing your photographic element.

In order to be aware of your surroundings so that you can be inspired, you must first practice a state of calm and tranquility. You must be mindful of who you are, why you want to create these photos and how you are going to accomplish your goals.

Inspiration is difficult to define. To reach this slightly ecstatic state, you must isolate yourself, reflect, and write down your ideas.

Some good advice I often give to a photographer who wants to be inspired is to read books or magazines. I recommend that you study the work of other photographers. Do not hesitate to take the time to study lesser known photographers because they have often laid the foundations of modern techniques, particularly in compositions and framing. Returning to the roots is always a good basis for inspiration.

Social networks are also an excellent support for finding inspiration. Although magazines often publish the same photographers, some of which are more interesting than others, these same magazines and publishing houses help to increase the value of photographers’ work. When a photographer’s work is accredited by being included in a publication, the value of that work or of the photographer may increase.

Another source of inspiration is to browse the work of those who are not presented in the mainstream photography world. Many lesser known photographers do interesting and exciting photographic work. They have websites and they publish their photographs on social networks. I highly recommend that you research such photographers, for they can be a unique source.

Inspiration should allow you to create your own style, to experiment, and to think differently. You should not copy. Draw your own path. Mark your own progress by recognizing similar works that others have established. You do not have to reinvent the wheel of your own creative style.

Tip #4: Create Images That Produce an Emotional Impact

Never forget that if you want to create interesting photographs thar are meaningful and which reflect your soul, you must evoke a visual response.

The essential rule I always applied on the field is to create photographic projects that reflect my emotions and my soul.

When defining your photo project, your photo collection or even your photo series, you must be guided by your photographic artistry and your motto. They are the ones who define and mark out the path of your creations.

Your photographs must have an emotional impact.

You must be able to transcribe the emotions that resonate from your core. It is for this reason that your compositions and your framing must be well constructed. All the photographic elements chosen in your scene will help convey the message you have chosen. Translate your emotions with a strong visual response.

Tip #5: Create Images Based off Your Experiences

Always keep in mind that it is your experiences that create your images and not vice versa.

I have met so many photographers who believe that their photographs validate the experiences they live. This is a serious mistake.

The more you encounter interesting experiences, the more your character and soul become different and unique. In addition, you will strengthen your motto. I believe that this is the purpose of life. But that is a debate for another day.

In conclusion, the more experiences you have, whether good or bad, the more you will be able to discuss, explain, and feel. Your photographs will be more explicit, clear, and interesting.

When I speak of experiences, I do not mean that you must travel to the ends of the earth to experience extraordinary situations. I often say that most people believe that the grass is greener in the neighbor's garden without looking at the tree they have in their own yard.

Learn to create the extraordinary out of the ordinary.

One of the most beautiful and greatest photographic experience is to transcend the ordinary and make it extraordinary. You can learn to do this little by little. You will see a noticeable upheaval in the creation of your photographs.

Tip #6: Expanding Beyond Illustrative Images

If you really want to create strong photos that appeal to an audience and above all create photos that will last over time, challenge yourself to go beyond the simple illustrative photo.

I recommend that you communicate your photographic vision with others. Talk. Express yourself. Do not hesitate to show your photos. If what you create inspires and pleases you, you will likely encounter an interested audience because you can defend your project and support its ideas.

Illustrative photographs have only one purpose: to illustrate a written statement. Nobody ever looks at the author of the picture except the one who has taken it.

99% of illustrative photographers do not exist. Nobody knows their names. The illustrative photo follows the information age. Today, as everything progresses quickly in society, illustrative photographs are forgotten as quickly as they are seen. I find that there is nothing more frustrating that trying to remember a photograph that has been forgotten.

You may be like many photographers. You probably think that because you see a certain type of image, that this is the type of photography that needs to be created. This is a serious mistake. As information is saturated in digital and paper form, illustrative photography is everywhere. Does that make it an interesting topic? I think that the answer is no.

You must certainly have within you your own universe, dreams, and desires. Translate these things into photography. Do not fall for ease. Even worse, copying what seems to be fashionable would be a fatal mistake. The right attitude to hold is to be yourself.

Tip #7: Photographing Iconic Scenes with a Single Idea

If you like to share your photographs on social networks and if you like to show that you are visiting the iconic scenes of the world, try to do so while staying within your photographic vision.

Photographing an iconic scene because it is iconic is useless. Your audience will certainly look at it. But the photograph will be forgotten as quickly as it was viewed.

The reason is simple. As I already mentioned in another article, we are all interested in only one thing: ourselves.

If looking at a photograph allows us to understand ourselves better, to situate ourselves better, to learn something new that we can take advantage of, or to learn about ourselves, we will spend time analyzing and looking at it.

I can tell you this because I myself have experienced how it feels to take the photograph of an iconic scene just to show that you were there, and to discover that it only interests your own ego. No one else will be interested because this scene does not bring anything to others.

You should always use these iconic scenes to serve your photographic artistry and your emotions.