Sorry I couldn't answer everything I was sent - I'll try and answer as many more questions below as I can so if you want to know anything else, drop a comment!
My view on "developing a style" is not worry about it. I let my style develop organically by what I like to shoot, where I like to shoot and how I like to shoot. That will come together as a style with time. As for well being, photography is something I enjoy, it's creative, relatively easy to do, and it gets me often out of the house to do something.
"Question how much it matters" - that's a great point. If I really think about it, having a specific style that people know me for, doesn't matter. It might matter from a marketing and brand building angle, but if I'm not trying to sell anything, it really does not matter. The fulfillment that I get in the process of taking photos is what I'm after, and that's not something anyone (other than me) can see or feel or know.
About the issue of style. I don't think one can consciously develop a style. Style comes out of who we are. If you try to develop a style it's like trying to be someone that you are not. Photography in my case is about expressing myself so I can get better at it just like I can get better at writing, performing, or any other creative activity, by learning the craft and learning how to better communicate what I want to share or what I want to do for myself. I often photograph to see how it will look just for my own use, it's sort of like writing a journal, it helps to organize thoughts, think about experiences and get more insights into life and the world. I started with photographing things that interested me and that were available to me and looking back several decades later I see that the subject and the approach to it haven't changed that much because that is who I am. I would like to think that my skills have improved and I my life experienced changed me but the style is similar. I tend to gravitate towards minimalism, ambiguity, simplicity, pursuit of expressing ideas not easily expressed with with a visual medium. I am not after pictures that evoke emotional responses. As far as the role of photography in my life as it relates to my wellbeing, it gives my life purpose, I never had a boring day in my life. When I get burnt out I do something else for a day or week and come back with new energy and refreshed senses. On the list of priorities it's second only to my family. It causes me frustration and disappointment but also sense of joy and satisfaction that comes from getting better at something that matters to me. And that is what counts the most, it's about the journey.
What you said about not caring about the wider public, but rather just the people who know you is so true. I've felt that all the time as I've tried out different things.
Amazing how easily answered some questions sometimes are! I’ve been struggling so much to find my “style”, this search almost had me give up photography, when you mentioned that if you like to photograph several different genres you will not have a continuous style that was the answer I needed to hear! Thank you!!! Like you I struggle with different health issues and photography is the one creative thing I have left, but because of those health issues I can’t just be doing landscape photography, I have to adjust the genre to how I’m doing and that is a battle of it’s own. So naturally it’s very difficult to create a style. Sometimes you just need someone to point out the obvious and that is what your video did- thank you!
Great advice for many in this video and thank you for highlighting my question. Starting a channel, mainly just to get to out more for picture opportunities and to have videos for the family, is certainly a plan I have been working on (and almost putting off) for a bit. Anyway, glad to hear the increase in Instagram posts has helped your reach. Certainly posts I look out for. Look forward to the next video.
Thanks for answering my question. Personally a tea drinker these days. But I feel the caffeine not affecting you, has never done anything for me. Could easily drink a coffee before bed and then go sleep 😂😂
Sorry I couldn't answer everything I was sent - I'll try and answer as many more questions below as I can so if you want to know anything else, drop a comment!
My view on "developing a style" is not worry about it. I let my style develop organically by what I like to shoot, where I like to shoot and how I like to shoot. That will come together as a style with time.
As for well being, photography is something I enjoy, it's creative, relatively easy to do, and it gets me often out of the house to do something.
"Question how much it matters" - that's a great point. If I really think about it, having a specific style that people know me for, doesn't matter. It might matter from a marketing and brand building angle, but if I'm not trying to sell anything, it really does not matter. The fulfillment that I get in the process of taking photos is what I'm after, and that's not something anyone (other than me) can see or feel or know.
About the issue of style. I don't think one can consciously develop a style. Style comes out of who we are. If you try to develop a style it's like trying to be someone that you are not. Photography in my case is about expressing myself so I can get better at it just like I can get better at writing, performing, or any other creative activity, by learning the craft and learning how to better communicate what I want to share or what I want to do for myself. I often photograph to see how it will look just for my own use, it's sort of like writing a journal, it helps to organize thoughts, think about experiences and get more insights into life and the world. I started with photographing things that interested me and that were available to me and looking back several decades later I see that the subject and the approach to it haven't changed that much because that is who I am. I would like to think that my skills have improved and I my life experienced changed me but the style is similar. I tend to gravitate towards minimalism, ambiguity, simplicity, pursuit of expressing ideas not easily expressed with with a visual medium. I am not after pictures that evoke emotional responses.
As far as the role of photography in my life as it relates to my wellbeing, it gives my life purpose, I never had a boring day in my life. When I get burnt out I do something else for a day or week and come back with new energy and refreshed senses. On the list of priorities it's second only to my family. It causes me frustration and disappointment but also sense of joy and satisfaction that comes from getting better at something that matters to me. And that is what counts the most, it's about the journey.
What you said about not caring about the wider public, but rather just the people who know you is so true. I've felt that all the time as I've tried out different things.
Amazing how easily answered some questions sometimes are! I’ve been struggling so much to find my “style”, this search almost had me give up photography, when you mentioned that if you like to photograph several different genres you will not have a continuous style that was the answer I needed to hear! Thank you!!! Like you I struggle with different health issues and photography is the one creative thing I have left, but because of those health issues I can’t just be doing landscape photography, I have to adjust the genre to how I’m doing and that is a battle of it’s own. So naturally it’s very difficult to create a style. Sometimes you just need someone to point out the obvious and that is what your video did- thank you!
That was an excellent video, Rick. Very thoughtful and well-explained answers - thanks!
Great advice Rick 👍👊
another great video - always inspiring - thanks
Great content!
Great advice for many in this video and thank you for highlighting my question. Starting a channel, mainly just to get to out more for picture opportunities and to have videos for the family, is certainly a plan I have been working on (and almost putting off) for a bit. Anyway, glad to hear the increase in Instagram posts has helped your reach. Certainly posts I look out for. Look forward to the next video.
Thanks for answering my question. Personally a tea drinker these days. But I feel the caffeine not affecting you, has never done anything for me. Could easily drink a coffee before bed and then go sleep 😂😂
I never worry