Color outside the lines
I want to announce my next workshop “Autumn in France” to be next October 2nd. It will be in Bordeaux, Dordogne, and Toulouse. If you go to the top of my blog and click on the link, you can read the description. Join me for a great visual experience, seeing places that few people won’t ever be able to.
I’ve been shooting professionally for fifty-three years, teaching since 1983, teaching online with the BPSOP, and conducting my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops all over the place. In all these years I have heard what I would consider horror stories from my photographers about how they’re been indoctrinated into believing that creativity can only come from adhering to a set of rules that either their camera club president, other members of the ‘board’, camera store salesmen, social media pressure, or friends trying to persuade you to their way of thinking. Fuggetaboutit. As Ansel Adams once said, “There are no rules for good pictures, there’s just good pictures.”
I can tell you from years of experience, speaking and judging shows at camera clubs in Houston, a large majority of these photographers have no idea what they’re talking about…and their images show it.
Creativity doesn’t come from force. Creativity comes from within, and in order for your photos to speak to the viewer, you have to have something to say. Gordon Parks said it best.
The best way to achieve originality is in taking the road less traveled. Take chances, color outside the lines. Making mistakes is one of the ways to take your photography what I refer to as “up a notch”.
A great book that I highly recommend is by a man names Freeman Patterson. I’ve read it several times, and I have enjoyed it each time. I always get something new from it: https://www.amazon.com/Photography-Art-Seeing-Perception-Workshop/dp/1554079802
So, my fellow photographers, remember that rules are the shackles that hinder creativity. They will lead you down a one way path to mediocrity…photographic purgatory.
Visit my website at www.joebaraban, and follow me on Instagram. Check out my workshops at the top of this blog and come shoot with me sometime.
JoeB
