Before I go out and shoot pictures, I need to get into the zone.
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1. Think colors
I like to inspire myself before shooting to think about colors.
For example, to increase my ‘visual acuity’ or sensitivity towards colors, I look at lots of colorful images. And when I shoot, I only focus on one color at a time.
Like this picture of all pink/magenta of Cindy:
Or just the color blue:
Or Cindy made into an abstract cubist picture:
To warm up, look at colorful pictures. Look at your own most colorful pictures, study the simple color work of Piet Mondrian, the vibrant pictures of Andy Warhol or Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring.
Or for photographers, study William Eggleston, Alex Webb, Martin Parr.
To learn more, study Color Theory For Photographers.
2. Shoot pictures in your living room
To train your visual eye, just photograph stuff in your living room with your couch, lamp, and make a nice picture. Then even trace it and draw it to see all the shapes and forms.
Anything can be interesting, if you look at it closely enough.
Photograph the ceiling. Photograph towels hanging around. Photograph your partner at home.
Take pictures looking out of your apartment, from your window:
Even when you’re leaving the house or apartment, always wear your camera around your neck, or keep it on hand. You can photograph your loved ones leaving the house, which makes dynamic images:
Even ordinary things, like the food you’re making:
Document your own life, like your workspace and laptop:
There’s a ton of stuff you can photograph at home. So if you’re stuck indoors all day, this is a good way to inspire yourself, and warmup before you go out and shoot.
If you need inspiration at home, buy CREATIVE EVERY DAY.
3. Watch great cinema
I love great compositions in cinema. Whenever I watch a movie I will take screenshots of scenes or compositions or frames I like.
Akira Kurosawa is my favorite film director of all time. If you’re new to him, watch Seven Samurai and “Ran”.
Another personal favorite, the Japanese animated film: Akira:
Some of my other favorite stills from the movie:
4. Sketch pictures
Trace, use your iPad, use your phone, a piece of paper, whatever. Just keep sketching, to think visually:
To learn how to sketch and draw, buy CREATIVE EVERYDAY: Mobile Edition.
5. Think composition
To think like a photographer, think composition.
Here are some composition guides made by ANNETTE KIM (annettekimart@gmail.com) :
Some of my favorite compositions:
Study more: How to visually analyze your photography compositions
Conclusion
Always think pictures, images, and stay inspired.
BE CREATIVE EVERY DAY,
ERIC
Be Creative Every Day, Any Where
No more excuses. Unleash your inner-artist with CREATIVE EVERY DAY: Mobile Edition.
PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Dear friend,
If you’re new to photography, start here:
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Color Photography 101
- The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Color Photography
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- Color Theory For Photographers
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Photography Philosophy
Photography Inspiration
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- PHOTOGRAPHY FLUX.
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The Fundamentals of Photography
- Make Simple Pictures
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- GET CLOSER.
- Keep or Ditch?
- What Makes a Good Photo?
- Why Photography?
- Everyone is a Photographer
- How to take better pictures
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- How to Paint With Light
- Why Bokeh is Overrated
Photography Equipment »
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How to Take Better Photos »
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Composition Lessons »
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Photography Assignments »
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Contact Sheets »
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Post-Processing
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- Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom
How to Create a Body of Work
Technical Photography Settings
Learn From the Masters of Photography
“He without a past has no future.”
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The Masters of Photography
Classics never die:
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- Alexey Brodovitch
- Anders Petersen
- Andre Kertesz
- Ansel Adams
- Araki
- Blake Andrews
- Bruce Davidson
- Bruce Gilden
- Constantine Manos
- Daido Moriyama
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- Magnum Contact Sheets
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- Robert Frank
- Saul Leiter
- Sergio Larrain
- Sebastião Salgado
- Shomei Tomatsu
- Stephen Shore
- The History of Street Photography
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- Tony Ray-Jones
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