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How to Think Like a Photography Designer
Dear friends,
A thought:
You’re not just a photographer, you’re also a visual designer.
What does this mean? As a photo designer, you decide what to include in the frame, and what to EXCLUDE.
1. Designate importance
The first thought:
When you photograph something … what are you trying to show the viewer and what are you trying to designate as ‘important’ in the frame?
Also note, photography is a mostly subtractive process. You start off with a solid piece of marble (embodied reality), and then you figure out what to subtract, and chisel away.
Simple ways to get rid of distractions:
- Shoot vertical photos
- Get closer
- Shoot -2, -3 exposure compensation
- Use a flash
2. Photography composition is studying design
Study the Bauhaus. Bauhaus is very good for photographers. Bauhaus is all about simplification, lines, design, shapes, forms, and proportions. I have found that when it comes to composition, studying design and designers is far more useful than studying photographers.
3. Increasing your visual acuity
To increase your visual acuity, you must learn how to see. To see means:
To look at every single visual thing with curiosity.
For example, textures. To see the textures, touch the textures, and to look at it all over. When you photograph textures, consider yourself like a designer making a texture library.
To not just see, we must analyze [how to analyze and dissect photography composition YouTube video]. This means not to just look at things, but try to dissect and break them apart.
Like Leonardo da Vinci, he dissected human cadavers to figure out how the muscles worked, and took those lessons and applied them to his paintings.
You’re not just a photographer, you must become a renaissance photographer! Your own renaissance.
4. De-label yourself
All labels are bad. De-brand yourself, un-label yourself, and just see yourself like a curious kid … and photography is your play thing!
ERIC KIM
SAN FRANCISCO (BAY AREA) ADVANCED STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP, November 13, 2021
If you’re hungry to take your street photography to the next level, check out my upcoming SF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP (November 13, 2021) >
HAPTIC INDUSTRIES
- Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Street Photography Book
- HOW TO SEE: Visual Guide to Composition, Color, & Editing in Photography
- TRAVEL NOTES (Mobile Edition)
- HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV
- ERIC KIM WALLET
- ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II
- HENRI WRIST STRAP PRO
- HENRI WRIST STRAP CREMA BROWN
- STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT
- ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II
Turbo thoughts
Things I’m into
BOOKS by KIM
If this inspired you, feel free to forward to a photo friend! All this is open source.