Soaring With Your Personal Photographic VisionPosted by drfl on September 10th, 2009

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself. -Mary Schmich

As humans each one of us is unique. Not one of us acts the same, speaks the same, or enjoys all the same pastimes. Genetics and environment have combined to create the person we are and many endeavour to achieve something greater than the sum of our parts.

If you were to take 10 photographers and place them in an unfamiliar location with a camera and any lens, filters, and equipment they choose you would have 10 unique images. No image is wrong, no perspective more correct than the other.  Yet photographers so often wish to imitate other’s work.  When one sees an image that inspires and moves, the siren call to create something similar can be powerful. When used properly imitation can be a strong learning tool, from it we can examine the process and techniques used to create the same types of mood and images.   

On photography forums I frequently read comments such as “wow, you really captured the [insert photographer] feel here” or “this could almost be [insert photographer]‘s work”. If it was your wish to grow and learn from the experience of producing something similar, than great. However, if it is your desire to always walk in another’s footsteps, never to find your own creative path, then know that you will forever be enslaved to someone else’s vision.

As artists we yearn to create. Each photograph freed from our imaginations should follow our vision, it should be our own.  We need not fetter ourselves to an imitated style.  Use the lift of another to give you the boost necessary, but then fly on your own.  Catch your creative updraft and soar.