Style and intention in photography
I recently entered a competition by Orms and Fujifilm South Africa tied to a promo for the new Fuji camera, the X-S10. Photographers had to enter images to showcase their “signature style.”
Defining a style, I think, is one of the most challenging aspects of photography. It takes time. It’s something I’m still working on. It’s tied to aesthetics — a consistent look and feel — but also something deeper: a way of seeing and experiencing the world that translates to the viewer and helps them understand why a photographer made a particular image.
As part of the competition, Fujifilm X-photographer, Lindsey Appolis, whose work I admire, gave a workshop about crafting your signature style as a photographer (facebook video below).
Lindsey’s points on style
Lindsey gave some interesting perspectives about how he developed his own style over the years, which he linked to his childhood growing up on the Cape Flats and seeing life in a vibrant, colourful way. One thing he said really stood out to me:
“Your style is who you are as a person.” — Lindsey Appolis.
He also spoke about photographing his kids, which shows how shooting people close to you - friends and family, people who move you - can really help your style develop.
He noted that traveling helped him see things differently, which then made him see home differently. As a photographer, being able to see things from a different, or new, perspective is key to keeping your work fresh.
Intention
My photograph of a surfer entering the water at Muizenberg won the competition.
I was pleased to hear that Lindsey and the other judges thought it communicated a sense of intention. That’s something I’ve been working on over the years — making photos with a thoughtful approach.
It feels like the more intentional one’s art can be the deeper one can go with it. That’s particularly true of street photography, which requires an intentional way of seeing potential images.
With close to 600 shots entered for this competition, I feel fortunate to have won the prize.
I’m enjoying getting to know my new camera. And even though it sometimes feels like slow going, I’m going to continue working on refining a style that is my own.
