If you’ve not heard of David DuChemin by now you need to check out his blog:  Pixelated Image.  Truly a fountain of inspiration.  He also is the genius being a relatively new publication outlet called Craft and Vision (check it out for a more extensive list) of short eBooks and articles on so many different topical areas of photography (many of which he has written himself.  These are all only $5 a piece and I’ve enjoyed every single one I’ve read.  One of the latest publications to come out of there is titled “Close to Home” by Stuart Sipahigil.  It’s no different from the rest in that the writing and photography in this particular issue is quite stunning, and for the incredibly low price of $5 – this is one you simply have to read!

Close to Home

“Follow the grain in your own wood”

Think about that statement for a minute.  What does it make you think of?  Any particular images come to mind?  Any sort of emotional response?  It brought a few images (although one in particular stood out for me) and thoughts to my mind. I’d like to share the latter part of that first.  As far as axioms go, this is probably one of the most common ones – from Mr. Thurman’s verbiage to other ones we hear, such as “find your own path”, and “beat to your own drum”, and countless others.  What makes this so common is the fact that it rings so true.  Not only is it about definition of self, but it’s also about being proud of that self.  We all may struggle with defining ourselves and our craft, but staying true to that self is of utmost importance.  It’s one thing to want to improve through critique and analysis from others, but to yield your own sense of identity to what others say is “right” or “wrong” sacrifices something important from within.

The whole purpose in becoming better at photography is to refine your craft.  The craft is still yours though, and your vision should shine through in your work.  For today, the purpose behind the post is to remind us to stay true to ourselves.  Remember why you got into photography in the first place.  Enjoy the craft and share your vision with the world, whether it be landscapes, portraits, events, or journalistic perspectives.  With that, I’d like to share my own vision that first hit me when I read the axiom from Mr. Thurman to “Follow your own grain of  wood”:

Bull Island Arms

What are your thoughts on the image?  The axiom?  Sound off in the comments – because, as always, I enjoy the discussions that arise from these hopefully thought-provoking posts.

It’s the age-old question, and if I had all the answers, well, I’d be filthy rich!  The reason this is the case is because what is compelling or inspiring for one person will be different for another, and yet another, and even a fourth or fifth person.  The truth of the matter is that there is no magical silver bullet of what to do to create compelling images…but there are some things that we, as photographers, can rely on as starting points in our search for compelling captures.  Here’s 5 compelling capture tips that I’ve come up with:

1. Color – striking colors are always noticeable.  We see the world in shades, tones and nuances of color, so seek out those types of images where color is powerful.  D0 this, and your chances of creating compelling captures increases exponentially!
2. Light – Surprise surprise!  I’ve talked about light before, and it’s influence in photography (it’s all about light in photography, even the word itself translates partially as light).  Find powerfully lit scenes and you’ve found a compelling moment.
3. Emotion – Photo journalism relies on this more than any other genre, but if you want to tell a story with your images, one way to do so is to evoke a sense of emotional connection.  Bringing out the emotion in the viewer by presenting scenes that are filled with emotionally charged elements – whether it’s a controversial image of a war zone, or the passion of a mother and her unborn child, these types of scenes stay wit us for a reason, because of the emotion tied to it.
4. Action – In the words of Joe McNally, “action trumps everything.”  Action shots also connect with the viewer because it speaks to a particular moment in time more than anything else.  That moment a soccer player connects their foot wit a ball, or the moment a bullet shatters a wine glass – it’s something that sparks interest in the viewer, and cannot be ignored as a source of compelling interest.
5. Eyes – Spoken from the rulebook of a true portraitist, when you have the faces of people or animals in an image – make sure you can see their eyes.  Remember, like the old saying goes, “The eyes are the windows to the soul”, and if you want viewers to connect with an image, one of the most compelling ways to connect with a portrait is to give a hint of what’s inside, and that is almost always done through the eyes of the subject.

So, there you have it – 5 ways to create compelling images.  These are, of course, adages, and there will be exceptions to these rules at times, but as a general rule of thumb, these tips can help you create compelling captures.  There’s also more to it than these 5 ideas, because you know that no single person can completely encompass the ideas behind what creates compelling captures.  So, I would invite you to share your own ideas for what you look to in creating those decisive moments?  Is it something here?  Is there something else you look to for inspiration or to capture something compelling?  What captures your interest when you look at pictures?  Sound off in the comments!

Don’t forget, the November contest has started and a literal bundle of prizes is at stake for some lucky participant so get your creative caps on and throw an image (or two or three) in the Flickr thread.  If you don’t play, you can’t win!  Until tomorrow then, keep on shooting those compelling images.  Thanks for stopping in and we’ll see you then!