{"id":62472,"date":"2017-08-12T23:45:14","date_gmt":"2017-08-13T06:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=62472"},"modified":"2017-08-12T23:52:23","modified_gmt":"2017-08-13T06:52:23","slug":"you-are-a-photo-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/12\/you-are-a-photo-god\/","title":{"rendered":"YOU ARE A PHOTO GOD."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lips.
Lips. Saigon, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You are a PHOTO GOD, you can CREATE pictures purely from your own skill, power, and your own control.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Download<\/h2>\n

DOWNLOAD PDF ><\/a><\/p>\n

What is a Photographer?<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To be a photographer is to make pictures.<\/p>\n

A picture is a visual representation of the world. Specifically, a picture is your<\/em> interpretation of the world around you.<\/p>\n

Be a biased photographer.<\/h2>\n
\"Hands
Hands of 92 year old woman in Hanoi, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That means, you should NOT seek to capture an \u00e2\u20ac\u0153objective\u00e2\u20ac\u009d reality with your photos. Let Google Maps and Google Street View to do that.<\/p>\n

Rather your job is to SHAPE, MOLD, AND TWIST reality and perspective, according to your own whims.<\/p>\n

Photography is like playing with VISUAL LEGOS<\/h2>\n
\"Hands.
Hands. New Orleans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you remember when you played LEGOs as a kid, and how you created your own universe and world? Photography is the same, except instead of LEGO building blocks, you have things \u00e2\u20ac\u0153in real life\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to play with.<\/p>\n

For example, as a photographer… you have the control to re-order visual elements to your own delight.<\/p>\n

\n

HOW TO PLAY PHOTO GOD<\/h1>\n

Here are some practical ways to harness more control in your photography:<\/p>\n

1. Control your POSITION<\/h2>\n
\"Flipped
Flipped car. Orange County, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, you can control where to stand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Assignment: 3D Body Scan<\/h3>\n

As an assignment, ask your friend to stand still in the middle of the street. Take 20 photos of them, like a 360 degree panoramic of them. Shoot them head on, from the side, and keep shooting around<\/em> them, like a 3D-Body scanner.<\/p>\n

This will help you better understand position.<\/p>\n

2. Control your perspective and angle.<\/h2>\n

You can control what angle you shoot from… like a super low angle, from eye level, or from a higher perspective looking down.<\/p>\n

a. High perspective<\/h3>\n
\"Castle.
Castle. Portugal, 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can change your perspective by climbing on a ladder and shooting down. Or you can climb up stairs of a tall building or skyscraper, and shoot looking down.<\/p>\n

Or you can tippy-toe and hold your camera very high, and shoot looking down. This is good when using an LCD screen or your phone.<\/p>\n

b. Low perspective<\/h3>\n
\"Jazz
Jazz Hands. Hollywood, 2011 by ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shoot by putting your camera on the ground, shooting up. Or lie on your stomach, and shoot up. Or lie on your back.<\/p>\n

Shoot from really weird or unusual angles, for more interesting photos.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Kim shooting Jazz hands. Action photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Or just crouch down very low, until you can feel your butt (almost) touch the ground. Good photo assignment, and leg workout (who needs a gym when you got street photography?)<\/p>\n

3. Control the light<\/h2>\n
\"Shaft
Shaft of light. Portugal,2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can control the light by\u00ef\u00bc\u0161<\/p>\n