Style Types

Introduction to style types

I want to start off this post with a few questions: When you take pictures, how do you do it? Do you plan every detail; do you show up somewhere and capture moments when they happen; or do you just "spray and pray?" These are questions that I actually ask myself every time I want to go and take pictures, and they should be questions you ask yourself each time, too. I will discuss each method in a bit more detail, but first, let me explain why these are important questions to ponder before taking pictures.

I grew up in the film era, and taking pictures back then meant taking your time, planning every shot, and not knowing until much later how anything came out. This was a great way to take pictures because it meant you slowed down and “felt” the photos. Later, as film got cheaper and digital started becoming a thing, photographers like me started to take pictures of anything we saw, but we still felt for what we were capturing. Now in this era of photographers having two or more cameras with them at any given time, we often just take pictures of everything without thought or emotion. This isn’t bad or good; it’s just style. This also doesn’t suggest that the picture didn’t mean something to the person who shot it.

Let’s move on to discussing each style and talk about why each is good in its own right.

Planning

So we start with planning. This is the form that best fits film photography, and while it’s the style that I love, I have moved away from it a bit. The reason for this is mostly the instant gratification part of digital photography. Also as I’ve gotten older, taking a picture in the moment -while using my emotions, and my heart telling me a story I want to express - made my planning style take a back seat.

So planning…What do you need to know about this? Let's start with time. Time is an important part of planning, maybe even the most important. Time dictates one of the key aspects of photography: light. Light changes throughout the span of 24 hours, and even nighttime light can be different due to time. Let's say we are planning on getting a sunrise. The things you need to determine are:

●       Where do you want that sunrise

●       What is the composition you want?

●       Do you want a certain color to be prominent?

These are only a few among all kinds of other factors.

In planning, you have access to many tools, especially phone apps like PhotoPills, ClearOutside, Dark Sky Map, Skyfire, and Windy. There are a few that I use for planning (downloading the apps is your pre-planning phase). They give you the conditions at particular locations you choose and allow you to decide if you should go according to the locations you’re scouting.

Once you arrive at your location, the next phase of planning starts. Continuing to utilize the apps that got you there, you may start moving into other aspects of the app. For example, the augmented reality (AR) function in the PhotoPills app can assist in getting you to the perfect spot at your chosen location. This may involve walking around for a while to find that spot; it might involve talking to the people around you and asking for advice about the area. Ultimately, this phase is all about the spot where your camera is going to go.

The next phase after you have located the perfect spot, gotten your information, and determined the time when you’ll be taking your photos, is to set up your equipment and have it ready. Taking some first pictures to make sure your composition is clear of distracting objects and that your setup is perfect is all-important at this point.

The last and final phase of planning is the actual moment you take the picture. For me, this means taking several shots and then staying an extra 10-30 min after my planned time because I never know what might happen in those moments.

In the moment

This is the style I tend to use most when I take photos. It’s a style that lets my heart, emotions, and camera capture those perfect story-telling moments. I typically go out, walk around, drive around, or in some way get around, and I allow my heart to just say "Hey, there is a perfect shot." The biggest difference between this style and planning is very clear and easy to notice: “in the moment” has no planning - it is simply feeling out the shot. What I like to tell people who are new to photography, or even those who have been shooting for a long time, is that you have to forget everything you know about photography and stop focusing on settings, composition, or any other technicals.

I like to pick out a lens before I go out, usually a prime lens. It is the only lens I take. This helps limit my habit of overthinking things. I set the camera to aperture priority and usually auto ISO. This helps in allowing my emotions to “take the pictures.” Story-telling pictures are about capturing a moment where the image should just speak for itself. Many times, this means that the image will not be technically perfect, maybe not even "good.” But art and story-telling are subjective and personal. Let go and allow your emotions to tell stories.

Snapshot or “Spray & Pray”

This is the final style that most people utilize. It’s not a bad style - it’s simple, and only in my opinion, not an artistic style. These are pictures that happen as you are snapping away at random things that you may see on vacation, in your home, at work, at a sporting event, or at a concert. These typically are shot in modes like auto or program auto. These pictures are typically taken without thought or worry, and may just capture your foot, or a food item you are eating, or even selfies. This is a fun form of photography because it shows true moments, quick and simple. Snapshots are a great way to save moments that are fleeting and quick - like birthday parties and sporting events - because you allow the camera to do everything in capturing the moment. Afterward, there is no need for post-processing or lengthy vetting of the images. There is not a huge amount to discuss about this, except to remember to have fun and don't overthink. Use what camera you have with you. I always have a camera with me everywhere I go, whether that’s my phone, pocket-style point-and-shoot, or even my larger DSLR.

Final Thoughts

I do utilize all three of these styles, depending on my mood and the situation. I tend to use the Planning style when there is an event like a supermoon, or if there is a spectacular sunrise, or if I travel somewhere particular to capture a specific image. I use Moment Style most of the time as it is my personal favorite, and Snapshot style when I am just hanging out with friends or family.

Hopefully, if you have learned anything from this, it’s that your style is what defines you, but your style does not define your art. What do I mean by this? I mean you shouldn’t worry about the little things you can't control, try all the styles I’ve mentioned, and maybe even come up with your own. Your art - and that includes photography - is about you and what you want to say, not what others think or do.