In recent blogs I have eluded to the aspect of visual language within photography. This can be the story that we want to tell within the borders of our images; the patterns, subjects, or areas within the composition that “speak” an emotion or a theme into the picture. This is something that when developed over time, will serve us well as photographers to tell a story through these various elements. But in order to get to that place where visual language becomes “fluent” within our shooting, we need to take an internal look first. Before we can begin to effectively speak or highlight the things that we want our images to convey, we need to look at the heart of the matter, and that all begins with our heart.

When we stand back and look at our lives, we will probably find a trail of interconnected moments, hobbies, and creative pursuits that led us to picking up a camera for the very first time. I don’t think there is a single person who has picked up a camera in the beginning stages and not had some sort of nervousness or fear about starting to take pictures. In the culture and day and age that we live in, we are constantly feeling the pressure of putting our best foot forward in every given scenario and season of life, and the weight of that can be debilitating at times. Although this is felt at times behind the lens, it is so essential that this pressure be lifted so that the heart and soul we want to authentically put into our photography shines through. In a world of comparison and mimicry, our truest heart of why we do what we do can get completely quenched and silenced in the process and many people will miss out on the original work that we can produce, as well as yourself. We can focus so much on the skill aspect of the craft, placing the primary focus on our knowledge and ability, and pay no mind to where our heart is in the matter. If you are reading this and thinking, “yeah that’s me”, make the decision right now, starting today, that you want to move forward with a confidence in who you are as a person knowing that when you put your heart into your work, your skill and ability will follow suit. You will be much more content and thankful you did years down the road.

Here is what I am not saying. I am not saying that we can’t have any kind of influences from the outside, that would be almost impossible as well as entirely unhelpful to presume to be so singular in our focus that we don’t allow other photographers or artists’ work to move us. I have found it helpful to see others’ viewpoints from their spectrum behind their lens over the years as well. This isn’t a desire to copy or imitate their work but just allow it to maybe inspire me to continue with my work, or to see something through a new perspective. We are products of our generation, and despite the fact at times that we pridefully think we know it all or are reinventing the wheel through our own inginuity, the fact is that we have been influenced as well as inspired by artists before us, long before we even picked up a camera. So, while you are on your journey of capturing compelling locations, scenes, subjects, or landscapes, maybe allow another’s perspective and art to help you; you may be glad you did.

Original creativity is something I think every photographer wants to infuse into their work, and that is a great thing; but oftentimes to get to that point, we have to slow down long enough to silence the tyranny of the urgent within us, and maybe even others you may be working for. In a world that seems to be like train without brakes hurling down the tracks, being a voice and artist that exudes a peace and calm while working behind the lens is immensely beneficial. Not only will viewers of your images notice this aspect of you and your work, but they will be affected by it in a positive way as well, if they slow down long enough to take notice. If we are going to really put our heart and soul into our work, we need to slow down. As I am writing this, a quote from a movie I used to watch a lot as a kid came to mind, “You can’t rush art.” Creating something beautiful and inspiring, art, truly is at the heart of a photographer, and over the years I have seen the best works of art came from hard-working but unhurried people. When we can bring those two attributes together, I believe our photos will begin to sing with a greater quality.

One of the primary elements that I have also seen displayed within the heart of seasoned photographers is a sense of freedom. In so many different aspects of life we are taught right from wrong, left from right, up from down. You get the point. Those guiding principles shape our life, some of them from a moral perspective for our benefit, but some of them just from a place of being told “this is so.” Unfortunately, by the time we pick up a camera we are viewing photography through this same lens and trying to apply those principles to it, thinking that there is a right and wrong way of doing it. Now, while there are some elements of photography that have been time tested and effective to bringing about great photos, there are times when, with some vision, even those very things can be broken or set aside to bring forward something new and potentially innovative. The most inspirational creatives I have met in life are often those who have been willing to push the “boundaries” to see what they could do to bring something new and exciting forward, and allow people to see life through a new spectrum, a new song, or a new vision. This can only come from someone who isn’t chained to the loveless critiques and opinions of their peers, someone who takes ahold of and embodies the freedom they have.

Oftentimes, the most well received or beloved photos of mine have been those where my heart was truly invested in what I was doing in the moment. When I rewind back and reflect on those times, I am reminded that the camera had just become an extension of my heart and soul, an instrument used to collect an image in a time and place I didn’t want others to miss. When it comes to making something that will last, my hope is that my heart and passion for the stories, people, landscapes, wildlife, and adventures I am capturing display my heart, as well as those I am photographing or filming. Above all, the most important thing that I wish to display in proper focus through my work, and my life, is the heart of God. The One who not only created me in His own image, according to His likeness, but also every person born into this world. The One who spoke this vast and beautiful world into existence, and saw that it was very good. That is the heart of this photographer.