Most likely, Annie Leibovitz did not shoot your driver’s license photograph. It was probably taken with a dedicated camera, operated by a clerk at the motor vehicle registration office—another example of photographic technology applied to a routine task.
However, when a photograph is intended to be more than a simple record, considerations of its aesthetic, political and cultural aspects must come into play. Its success or failure will rest with the photographer’s decisions—his or her experience, taste, judgment and knowledge. And no matter how sophisticated the photographer’s cameras and lenses are, they will be useless if he or she fails to anticipate the opportunity, be prepared and ready, in position, and make the shot at the right moment.
I am not much of a believer in tricks of the trade, nor do I believe the art of photography can be taught. It must be lived and earned—through trial and error. However I do believe there are principles that are helpful.
Here are 10 points that can help you realize meaningful photographs:
- Practice seeing things not naming them.
- Make your own pictures, not the ones you’ve seen. Trust your gut.
- Ignore the negative critic(s) in your head.
- Be humble. Accept good advice. Learn from your mistakes.
- Know your real subject. (Rarely is it the object before the lens.)
- Know that your perception is your reality. What feeds it?
- Remember:
“All photographs are accurate. None of them is truth.” Richard Avedon - Know and use your cameras and lenses. Don’t worship them. They are tools.
- Never confuse novelty and technique for meaning and depth.
- Anticipate, be there, be ready, and shoot at the right time. Edit ruthlessly.
© Michael Maurer Smith 2009
Wonderful rules to live by. I’m going to need to talk about this post and post a link from the Gypsy. Probably next week, so I can take some time with it.
I’m enjoying reading your posts a lot.