9 Steps for You to Last in Photography

If you are a nature photographer, then taking photographs is your passion. You spend a lot of effort and energy to make interesting photos.

One of your wishes may be to make your photographs last over time, so that your passion for this art remains intact.

But how do you get there?

This is what I will explain in this article.

Landscape in color of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, United States.

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The Little Story of this Article

I had an interesting experience that opened my eyes to what I should not do during my career as a professional photographer artist.

I am passionate about an American photographer specializing in black and white. I will not mention his name because that is not the purpose of this article. I had already bought three of his beautiful books because they are a strong source of inspiration for me. During one weekend, having no more recent coffee books, I decide to go to a specialized bookstore with Isabelle, my wife. In the photography department, I discovered something new. A book by this photographer published two months before.

I threw myself upon it and decided to purchase it without even leafing through it once. Isabelle said to me, "You already have three books of him. At least look if he has evolved in his shots".

I opened the book and discovered that the photos and the texts were nearly like his previous books, the ones which I already owned.

Ultimately, I put the book down and decided not to buy it.

It was this event, however insignificant, that made me realize that a photographer artist must know how to regenerate himself to make his works last. It was on this day that I understood the difference between photographic styles and the photographic signature.

Many photographers, some of international renown, create collections of photographs with the same signature look. Over time, they become boring because their works are the same type of photographs.

The Definition of “Lasting Over Time”

To last over time is to occupy a defined space of time. It means that you will continue to exist, occur, persist, or maintain yourself.

It also means resisting the effects of time. It is a question of preserving all your qualities intact.

Its Application to a Photographer

For a photographer, lasting over time means continuing to take creative, meaningful, and interesting photographs for a given audience.

As far as I am concerned, this is one of my obsessions. My photographic activity is partly motivated by this need or desire to last over time.

It is for this reason that I often question myself by exploring new creative paths.

Why Would You Want to Last in Photography?

You may be like me. When you undertake an activity like photography, you fully invest yourself.

You invest all the necessary means for success into the process of making creative, interesting photographs. You may already have a loyal following of individuals who admire your work. If so, I would say that you have managed to gather a circle of people who not only follow you but encourage and motivate you to push on in your field. This audience can be physical, but it can also be virtual, which is the purpose of social networks.

It is for this audience that you realize your projects.

You want to please them.

For me, lasting over time means continuing to please those who share my moral and ethical values as well as those who trust me.

This desire of wanting to last helps me to preserve my work, so that all my efforts will not be in vain. One day, I might add a small brick to this gigantic building that is called "humanity".

I believe that this is an important and sufficient reason to justify this desire to please.

How do you last over time? The answer cannot be summarized in one sentence. It is a little more complicated.

In the rest of this article, I will give you some keys to help your work last.

Key 1: Specialize in One or Two Themes

I believe that one of the essential points for lasting in photography, is to specialize in one or two fields. This is true for all artists, not just photographers.

In fact, the more you choose different areas to invest time in, the more you will be able to capitalize on your efforts.

Photography is a complex artistic field that can be difficult to grasp. Each chosen theme requires different skills and know-how. It takes time to acquire them.

The more you disperse, the less you will venture deeper into these themes. You will fly over them. You will only glimpse the possibilities of each of them.

By specializing, you will learn to master the techniques of a theme. You will excel in your shots. You will certainly meet people who appreciate what you are doing. You will be encouraged and motivated. You will continue to progress further into your expertise.

If you choose to specialize in more than one area, try to be consistent. For me, choosing portraits and architecture would be inappropriate because the fields are so different.

If you want to last, choose one or two consistent photographic themes that complement each other. This will help you to fully express yourself.

Key 2: Have a Well-Defined Photographic Artistry

Your photographic approach, whether it is artistic or not, is a guarantee for you to not become lost when you wander down different paths of photography.

When it is well defined, your approach serves as a beacon throughout your photographic life.

You will refer to it when you doubt yourself or when you diverge down a strange path. Your photographic approach ensures that you will follow the right path to reach your goals.

Without a clear and precise photographic approach, you risk taking paths that will leave you feeling disoriented. You will lose your photographic soul. You will end up forgetting your creative goals. You will not be able to last because you will demotivate yourself.

I want to remind you that a photographic approach consists of two very distinct components:

Your photographic vision: the way you see the world around you through the scenes you photograph.
Your signature: how you present the scenes you are photographing.

When you know how you are going to show your universe, you will develop techniques that will help people to recognize your photographs, making you last in time.

Key 3: Know Why You Are Taking Photos

Do you know why you take photos? If you have not found your purpose for taking photos, it is time to begin searching.

If you do not know why you are taking photos, I guarantee that you will never manage to create interesting photos. It is as if you have not yet found meaning in your life.

Knowing why you are taking photos will allow you to set precise, simple, and clear objectives.

All your photographic activity will consist in defining and following paths to reach them.

During my photo workshops, when I meet new participants for the first time, I am always surprised by the lack of answers to this question. Sometimes the answers are elusive and general. However, this question is essential and fundamental.

If you want to last, try to find an answer to this question today. You will save a lot of time during your photo sessions. Your photographic activity will become outlined more clearly. You will also avoid taking paths in which you may lose yourself.

Key 4: Having a Real Photographic Consciousness

Why and How: Controlling the Natural Light in Nature Photography

You are a photographer. You know that you must use control with the natural light when taking your photographs.

Have you ever wondered “why” and “how” you should use natural light?

In this article, I will provide you with food for thought.

This photograph taken during the rut season shows on time I saw the "Light".

The Little Story Behind This Article
Why: Controlling Light in Nature Photography
A Little Bit of Etymology
Natural Light: Necessary Yet Insufficient
The Purpose of Natural Light in Nature Photography
The Direction of the Light Is Essential
How to Use a Camera to Capture Lights
Finally

The Little Story Behind This Article

It is always interesting to share a personal experience when explaining a point. I will now tell you my story, to further illustrate the context of natural light.

This story takes place in Dombes in June 2019. Patricia A. is a faithful participant of my nature photo workshops. She has become one of my good friends. We often understand each other before finishing our own sentences. Together we have encountered many extraordinary moments when shooting in the field.

It was 11:00 a.m. I had begun my presentation on photography, as is the custom during one of my workshops. Patricia had been gone on the field since 5 a.m. She should have returned around 10:30 am, and yet, I had no news of her arrival. I had begun my presentation for the other five photographers when suddenly, she silently walked into the common room.

She walked lightly, as if walking on air. Without saying a word, her gaze was strangely fixed on somewhere else. Nobody said anything, but we were intrigued. Usually, after being in the field, she arrives in a hurry and always heads straight for her computer. This time, she did not hurry. It was the strangest sight.

I was afraid that she had bad news to share.

I asked her how she was doing, and if she had a good morning on the pond capturing photos with a floating blind.

She turned and stared into my face, her eyes shining. I paused, expecting the worst because I believed that with such a solemn expression on her face, she might begin to cry.

Then she whispered faintly, “I saw the light!... I finally understand what you have been trying to tell me after all these years. I have made more than 2,000 photos…”

I understood her immediately. I smiled. I was incredibly happy for her. I allowed her to rest and take her time. I knew that later I could ask her to give a summary of the presentation with her personal notes. However, for a few moments, she was filled with amazement and wonder. I could not bring myself to steal that joy from her, that magical moment that so few photographers have experienced.

Patricia is one of a small number of photographers who have seen this magical light. A rare few have lived an extraordinary moment. After this experience, nothing will ever be the same when shooting.

I have been fortunate enough to experience this emotion many times in my career. Each time is a highlight that I will never forget. The moment is totally indescribable. Only people who have experienced it can understand.

I believe that it is from this moment that we understand what “photographing” means.

Why: Controlling Light in Nature Photography

In photography, light is your medium. It is for this reason that it must be understood.

Light highlights the different elements that can be used in a photograph.

Light defines shapes.
Light defines lines.
Light creates textures.
Light determines colors.

When I create a nature photograph, I strive to always control these three elements in the following order:

The décor.
The natural light.
The photographic elements.

Light comes second. Controlling it is essential to correctly capturing a moment in a photograph. Its goal is to highlight the centers of interest by creating contrasts and models. These will create the famous 3D effect that I continually seek out in my work.

A Little Bit of Etymology

The etymology of the word photography comes from two roots of Greek origin. The prefix of “photograph” means "who uses light". The suffix means "which results in an image".

Natural Light: Necessary Yet Insufficient

Following this etymological analysis, you would think that photography is basically an adept management of natural light.

However, I have found that in nature photography, light is insufficient.

I always place this decor in my scale when comparing the components of an image.

Light is a necessary condition for creating a beautiful nature photograph, however, it is not enough. Without a well-chosen decor with a strong impact, a nature photograph remains poor, without much interest.

This is certainly not true in other photographic fields. However, I have not mastered other fields like I have in nature photography. Therefore, I will refrain in sharing my opinion on a subject where I have less experience.

The Purpose of Natural Light in Nature Photography

Natural light sculpts and illuminates the various elements of a nature photograph.

Light is different depending on the hour of day and the season. In addition, your choice in the point of view can completely change the rendering of the natural light in the scene.

I advise you to always favor the natural light at sunrise and sunset, when the sun is low in the sky. It is at these moments that the best contrasts are obtained. The low-angle lighting creates a whimsical, magical play between the lights and the shadows. These shadows create relief around centers of the photographic elements. This is what gives depth to the photo.

In the language of photography, it is said that a zenith sun crushes the scene. The absence of contrast and modeling makes the centers of interest appear to be flat.

You must know how to harness the heat of the lights. The morning lights are often cold, while the evening lights are warmer.

Playing with lights can completely change the natural appearance of a scene.

The Direction of the Light Is Essential

The individual presence of natural light on a nature scene is insufficient. You must consider its direction.

If the sun is behind you, then the stage will be flat, lacking volume.

If the sun is facing towards you, which is the backlight technique, then the centers of interest will be in silhouettes. This is often referred to as “shadow puppets”. The scene becomes suggestive.

If the sun is on the same side as the textures, then the details and volume of your image will be better restored. The shadows provide relief for the viewer’s gaze to rest upon. You should not hesitate if it is possible to change your point of view to achieve the best result.

In nature, specifically in scenes with animals, this is the last method that I reserve for only special photos.

If the sun is cloudy then it will give more softness with lesser marked high lights and low lights.

How to Use a Camera to Capture Lights

Cameras have three main modes for measuring natural light. While other modes may appear, they are only variations of the three basic modes.

Matrix Measurement

In some camera manufacturers, this measure is known as the evaluative measurement, or matrix.

The matrix measurement considers the entire scene that will be photographed. It is an average of all the lights photographed. This is the most standard, efficient, and common mode to use.

It is not suitable for very contrasted scenes. The photographed scene must be very evenly lit.

The Central Weighted Measurement

The central weighted measurement is a valued surface close to the midpoint of the image. It is finer than the matrix measurement. It is to be used when the light is not evenly distributed over the entire image. The calculation of the measurement also considers the predominant central surface. In wildlife photography, this applies to when a large animal is photographed at the center of the image. The coat, the plumage, or the skin will be perfectly exposed. It should be noted that most cases offer the possibility of modifying the size of the central surface. This size is given in millimeters.

Spot Metering

This is the most difficult measure to manage because the analyzed area is very small. The slightest shake of your camera when the trigger is pulled can cause the scene to be either over or under exposed. This measure is particularly suitable for birds with white plumage. It is enough to measure the light on the plumage details. The rest of the scene may be dark, but the bird will be perfectly exposed.

Most cameras today perform spot metering at the point of focus. A few years ago, this measurement was automatically set in the center of the image.

Finally

A good mastery of natural light is essential for creating uniquely interesting photographs. Good management creates volume and relief, that will lend a 3D effect to your photograph. However, it takes time and experience to tame this technique of natural light and to know how to use it wisely.

My wish for you is that you might one day know the profound emotion of encountering "the Light". After that moment, nothing will ever be the same again when you shoot a scene.

Be humble, patient, constant, persevering, and persistent because the road to excellence is long.