Shoot with your soul, not your fingertips

As a graphic designer by trade, and I am sure 99% of designers will attest to this, its almost as if I see the world in a completely different way that your "normal" human being.  Take photography for example.  When most people take a picture, they are simply doing the job of capturing the moment.  Point, Shoot, Memory. 

While that is all fine and dandy, us designers, think a little different.  Our photography steps for instance are quite a bit more complex.  Maybe not so much complex as they are "involved."  In the same time it would take your average person to take an average shot, Point. Shoot. Memory, our steps include... Concept, Lighting, Angle, Concept, Point, Concept, Shoot, Memory.


Take the following for example:  A Father Who Creatively Captures His Children

That is a designers photo.  Sure, they might not all be that way, but I know that every single time I point and shoot with a camera, i am thinking this is going to be the most magical image ever.  At least to me anyways!  Most of the time I am before I take that shot, I am thinking... "Now, if I cut her out of the image, put her next to a lake, and then take mom from this next shot and put mom holding her in her hand, while holding a raft in the other".... Thats just how my / our minds work.  Impact.  The Wow Factor.  A Lasting Impression. 

No matter what photo I take.  No matter what photo "we" take as designers, we always want the person looking at that photo to take something from it.  Connect to it or be inspired by it. 

I would say most people (who aren't designers) feel the same way.  they just don't know how to be creative or how to think "outside the box".  I'll tell you what.  You don't need to be a graphic designer to be creative.  Everyone is creative in there own right.  Do the world and your photos a favor and just let your soul take the shot.  Not your fingers.  Get on the ground and shot up at your subjects.  Take the shot from behind a tree or the head of someone.  Once you realize that your photos are a reflection of yourself and your time, they will change. They will show there own creativity and set themselves apart from the standard picture. 


There is an energy inside all of us that can be captured in an image.  Its that energy you want people to take away from your shot.  Once you let that energy, that soul, capture the moment, instead of your fingertip... you will see photography in a whole new light. 





By the way.  I have no idea who Jason Lee is, but his work is inspiring.  I do what i can to spread creativity to help understand people understand its ok to be "different." 


C.Petrini
Adigitalmind.com
3.8.11
Imagery By: Jason Lee - http://www.jwlphotography.com/