Photographing an old idea

One of the most rewarding parts of fine art photography is the freedom of choice. Many photography shoots require iteration and feedback from others. While this is an amazing way to create during a project, there is something to be said for an individual project.

This conceptual piece is based off of a recurring dream of mine. I would find myself standing at the edge of a platform, looking into a vast open area with a warm, beige tint to it. After a few minutes of trying to figure out where I was, I would look over the edge of the platform and stare at the void. Time seems to pass slowly, and after a while I have an urge to leave. Not out of boredom, but out of an eagerness to explore. I take a deep breath, and start to run. As soon as I see the edge of the platform, I leap as far as I can into the beige skyline. My jump sends me through the warm air with incredible speed. I don't know how far I will fall, and I don't know where I will land. I am weightless. I wake up.

I chose a ball and ramp in this concept to replace myself in a way. I find the more abstract a piece is, the easier it will be for another person to come along and make their own conclusions as to what it means to them. In my perfect world, a viewer will see my fine art photography and feel something unique to them. The colours, layout, negative space, composition, concept, lighting, subject and medium all contribute to my fine art photography.

The execution of this photoshoot was easier than I had planned. The layout was finalized weeks in advance, and I had a good idea of the size of props for this arrangement. After shaping and painting the wooden props, the rest fell into place. The light beige colour I picked matched perfectly with my seamless paper. The global illumination lighting method gave the whole set a very soft, ambient lighting that was perfect to convey the mood of my dream world.

A dirty secret of photography that has worked for me so well is to stop caring of what everyone will think, and worry of what you think. Current trends in photography can be amazing, but it doesn't mean you have to give up on your own artistic vision. Finding a balance is important to make sure your work stays fresh, and is still understood by your audience. As a photographer, intention behind a photoshoot is as important as the technical skill it takes to pull it off.

Soon, I will be making a few changes to the blog. If all goes according to plan, I will be posting some more creative portrait shoots again!

Thank you as always for reading!