Authentic Aesthetic
The world is full of photographic opportunities. Whether you are going for a walk at your favorite local park, going for a boat ride on a river or lake, or taking a hike up a steep mountainside, there are endless chances to capture some amazing moments. So what do you do in those moments? Do you jump on a social media platform immediately to try and get guidance? Do you overthink your compositions and dismiss them because you think others may not like them? I think we have all had similar thoughts of this nature at sometime or another. We often struggle with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy when comparing our work to another’s, but this is one of the most damaging things that we can do and our authentic selves unfortunately get side-lined or pushed to the background in the process. In an attempt to try and “better ourselves,” we may even feel the temptation to try and recreate the same images that others have captured, or edit our images in post-processing the same exact way as some of those who have influenced us over the years. As a creator, this will ultimately kill off all matter of genuine art that you had the potential to create. There is one piece of us that we must always seek to cultivate and not allow to be swayed by the opinions of others, and that is the subject of this blog; keeping your authentic aesthetic.
The world that we are living in has been hyper-refined as of late and the temptation to be pocketed into a certain genre of our culture even as a photographer has become more and more prominent. The main issue I have seen that arises with this, is that many people are thinking so much about a certain end state of their work to appease others, that they lose themselves almost entirely along the way to achieving that certain end state. For instance, as a landscape photographer, there was (and still is) certain moods within images that are seen to be favored over others. I’ll take the “moody” genre as an example. Some photographers and photo lovers are hooked on these minor key toned images and at times, it seems to be the only thing that they appreciate or prefer to see on their social media feeds or hanging on the walls of their homes. Having preferences is not a bad thing, we are all prone to this, but for the photographer that is either just beginning in their journey or a seasoned one looking to be reinspired to pick up their camera again, it is so important to remain authentic to who you are.
Our authenticity must shine through in our photography. Over time, the more we lean into this notion, certain things we are inclined toward doing creatively become more focused, more intentional, and the personal touch that only we can bring is interwoven into our work. Whether capturing compositions, editing in post-processing, or just the way in which we go about taking pictures in general, our genuine self should always shine through. When we are on location shooting, we should not be thinking about how another photographer would take a picture of the place that we are in, but we need to open our eyes, absorbing in the environment and elements that surround us, and allow our hands to guide our cameras to see what we are seeing and feel compelled to capture in that moment.
Pulling back from the realm of photography for a bit, take a look at your life, maybe all the way back to your childhood. Now, think about certain things that influenced you and how they impacted you back then, and how they still might, even to this very day. Whether that is the music you listened to, the way you created drawings or paintings in school, or, certain activities you had a preference to do over others. I believe these things have quite a strong bearing and influence on our lives currently, more than we may realize. So what does this have to do with the subject of authenticity? I believe these are the very things that helped to shape us into who we are today, and, into the photographer that we are today.
One of the greatest challenges for photographers, as well as human beings created in the image of God, is to lay down the act of being someone that we aren’t. American poet May Sarton stated something that I believe to be a challenge to us all, especially in this line of work, "We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that may prove to be." Some of us may be so comfortable at this point trying to be someone that we are not that it has become second nature. If this resonates with you, I challenge you to stop. Resist this. People typically can read right through us and are able to tell when we are doing something that doesn’t reflect the nature and character of who we are. So as it relates to your work in photography, here is an additional challenge. Lay down your phone. Get off social media for awhile. Allow yourself to experience the created world around you through fresh eyes, seeing its landscapes, its people, and its place in history as a moment that only you are there to capture.
In my own life, I have seen that there is a place within me where the best art has come from, and it wasn’t because I tried to mimic someone or something else, but I allowed my own mind, heart, and soul to guide my work; even at times, praying that the Lord would give me fresh vision for my photography. God did not make a mistake in how He created you, so wherever you feel most at home within your own life, create from that place. Take the need to imitate others and what they are doing, and instead, innovate something new, something that only you can do. Next time you are out with your camera, stop. Take a deep breath. Allow yourself to be present in the moment and location you are in. Open your eyes and your mind, then your lens, and then, capture it. Over time, people will begin to really appreciate your work, and I believe you will as well.
