Artistic Style

I recently read a post on social media from a photographer asking members of a group “who’s style should I follow?”.  As I continued to read, it became obvious that the poster’s question had evoked an emotional response in me.  Rather than responding to the person who posted this question I wanted to think awhile more about how best to incorporate my experience and knowledge into usable advise, which I hope will be useful to anyone who asks the same question. 

I used to belong to a group on Flickr where folks would critique other people’s work.  Most of the time people received helpful critique, and sometimes not.  For the most part I enjoyed the process once I got past the idea that my work had flaws and that I did not know all there was to know about photography.

As an artist and photographer, my advise to other artists is to first of all, know your medium.  As a photographer, know how to operate your camera.  Know the consequences of choosing the settings you choose, and most importantly, know how to manipulate your camera to obtain the outcome you desire.  It is through this discipline and knowledge that one develops  his/her own artistic style.  I do not believe that style can be and/or should be copied, for we all see the world through different eyes.

My second piece of advise to artists is to incorporate into your style the things you are passionate about.  For example, if you are a nature lover, get outside and photograph all the glory of nature.  Find beauty is simplicity, texture, light.  Sometimes all it takes is to change the way you look, the way you respond to what’s in front of you.

Lastly, if you are not happy with what you are producing, look closer.  Are you missing something?  Does your work not evoke an emotional response?  Personally, I would not want someone to look at my work and say it looked like someone else’s.  Where is the pleasure and gratification in that?

One day when I was participating in the Flickr group I mentioned earlier, someone said to me, “I see you have developed a style”.  My first response was a happy one because that meant to me that I was developing as an artist without needing to emulate someone else.  That comment was instrumental in who I am as an artist today.

I believe that developing an artistic style is something one does all on their own, without having to copy another, through knowledge, experience and loving what you do.