{"id":69222,"date":"2017-11-14T03:55:43","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T11:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=69222"},"modified":"2017-11-14T03:55:43","modified_gmt":"2017-11-14T11:55:43","slug":"what-is-your-unique-angle-as-a-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/14\/what-is-your-unique-angle-as-a-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Your Unique Angle as a Photographer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

To succeed as a modern photographer, you must discover your unique angle.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The secret to success as a modern photographer<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

I was chatting with my buddy Mitya Trotsky<\/a> last night, and he gave me the idea:<\/p>\n

\n To stand out as a modern photographer, you need a certain \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcangle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What makes your angle unique?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example, you want to have \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcmeaningful differentiation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 between you and other photographers. You need a unique perspective, or angle.<\/p>\n

What makes your artistic perspective unique? What can you see, that nobody else sees?<\/p>\n

Why angles are important<\/h2>\n

\"Dynamic<\/p>\n

Even if you think about photography, to make a good picture, you need a good (figurative) angle.<\/p>\n

\"Man
Dynamic and aggressive composition, because shot from low angle, which emphasizes the diagonal lines pointing to this man. Orange of his face against blue background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example in composition, you can make a dynamic picture with a low-angle picture, or a high-angle picture. Or making it dynamic from the side, from having a side-angle. Or even a head-on angle.<\/p>\n

\"DYNAMIC
DYNAMIC ANGLE: Very low angle and perspective composition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you study physics and geometry, it is all about angles. Angles is what creates triangles, forms, bridges, and is the root of understanding kinetic energy.<\/p>\n

\"Circular<\/p>\n

\"Dutch
Dutch angle staircase. Ueno, Tokyo 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And to make a compelling picture you must always photograph it with a compositionally dynamic angle.<\/p>\n

\"High
High angle shot of red and green crosswalk. Shibuya, Tokyo 2017. Green on bottom of the frame, and red on top-right of the frame.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So add more compositional angles to your pictures.<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/p>\n

There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only one of you<\/h2>\n
\"Beta
Beta Cover for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Modern Photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by ANNETTE KIM \/ HAPTICPRESS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You must be a personality. You must be a unique individual. You cannot be another needle in the haystack.<\/p>\n

You are the red circle, in a sea of grey squares.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be shy. Be proud and loud of what makes you different, and broadcast it loudly.<\/p>\n

How to find your angle<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy. Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now a more tricky task: how do you identify your angle, or what makes you unique?<\/p>\n

Like for myself, I find it unique that I studied sociology and also learned photography on my own.<\/p>\n

\n Therefore, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not really a photographer, or street photographer. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvisual sociologist.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Suit
Suit and yellow flowers. Hong Kong, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This can be my angle:<\/p>\n

\n I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek to make pictures, I seek to make human connections.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is because I studied sociology, which is all about understanding individuals, social dynamics, and humanity at large.<\/p>\n

Cross-pollination<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This can also be thought of in a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccross-pollination\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 mindset.<\/p>\n

What various interests of yours can you mix, and integrate it into your photographic and visual art to make yourself have a unique angle or perspective on the world?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example, Sebasti\u00c3\u00a3o Salgado<\/a> studied economics, but instead of writing dry papers on inequality of economic opportunity, he decided to travel and photograph it instead. In a way, his angle was that of an economist meets photographer. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s making social commentary and critique on the globalization of cheap labor in his \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWORKERS\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 book.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

What are you trying to say?<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Also, try to consider \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what are you trying to say with your pictures?<\/p>\n

\"London
Suit with French fry. London, 2012.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, in my SUITS<\/a> project, I wanted to make a critique on the rat race, the pressure to make more money to seek \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchappiness\u00e2\u20ac\u2122, and that freedom is more valuable than money.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For me, the message I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to share is more important than the pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In other words,<\/p>\n

\n Figure out what you want to say about society, the world, or life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d then figure out how you can make pictures to communicate your message.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Case study: CINDYPROJECT<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy in blue Yukata. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another example:<\/p>\n

I was inspired by my friend Josh White<\/a> who taught me that photographing your loved ones is more important than photographing strangers.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Cindy is my muse, artistic partner, and soulmate. I have such deep love and appreciation for her \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and I wanted to encourage others to appreciate their loved ones as much as I do for Cindy. I therefore started the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcCINDYPROJECT\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 as a way to tell people:<\/p>\n

\n Your loved ones are valuable. Photograph them, to feel more appreciation towards them.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is my ambition and goal for everyone to start their own cindyproject<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Therefore, my goal was to show my love for Cindy, and I decided photography would be a good medium for that. I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek to make nice pictures of Cindy, and then falling in love with the pictures of her. I love Cindy more than the pictures I make of her.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Reflection
Reflection of Cindy in Ukata in our Ryokan in Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Assignment: What is your angle?<\/h2>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

So friend, what is your unique angle?<\/p>\n

To discover your unique angle in photography, write down a list of your unique interests. Write down what you studied in school, or what you really<\/em> wanted to study, but didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the opportunity to study (or your parents didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let you).<\/p>\n

\"Graph.<\/p>\n

For example, for myself I would write:<\/p>\n