Helicopter. Omotesando, Tokyo 2017

How to Overcome Resistance in Your Photography

Helicopter. Omotesando, Tokyo 2017
Helicopter. Omotesando, Tokyo 2017

Resistance: gravity which holds us to the earth. You are a spaceship, wanting to break free from the tyranny of gravity… expelling your powerful force to break free, to explore new creative galaxies, new horizons, and new potential futures for yourself.

Women walking in Omotesando, Tokyo 2017
Women walking in Omotesando, Tokyo 2017

In photography, resistance includes:

  1. Resistance to bringing your camera everywhere you go: Solution is to use a small or light and compact camera (use a phone, or small compact camera like RICOH GR).
  2. Resistance in photography… because of complication of making a picture. Solution: Shoot in “p” (program) mode, or the simplest automatic setting. “Set it and forget it” is our motto.
  3. Perfectionism as resistance. Solution: give yourself freedom to make shitty pictures. If you take 10,000 bad pictures, you’re bound to get at least 1 good picture (law of averages).
  4. Nervousness to take a picture of a stranger. Solution: Ask for permission… expecting to get rejected. In street photography, try the “5 yes, 5 no” challenge from STREET NOTES.
  5. Not having inspiration to shoot. Solution: Treat photography like playing. A child doesn’t need to be “forced” to play… a child plays for fun. Therefore, photography must be fun for you!
  6. Resistance to taking a picture, because of the potential stress of selecting, editing, and processing the picture. Solution: shoot JPEG, not raw.

Assignments to overcome resistance in your photography

Flash street picture and layers. Ginza, Tokyo 2017
Flash street picture and layers. Ginza, Tokyo 2017

Some assignments to try:

  1. Take 1,000 pictures in a day. Over-shoot to overcome resistance.
  2. Only use your phone to take pictures for a month (lock your fancy camera in the closet).
  3. Shoot at least 1 roll of film a day, for a week (FILM NOTES assignment).
  4. Take pictures in your own house. Practice composition by shooting the corner of the ceiling in your home.
  5. Start a self-portrait “selfie” project.

Find more creative inspiration with HAPTIC INDUSTRIES.


MOTIVATION

JUST SHOOT IT.

Just shoot it:

See all articles >