Do You Have A Photographic Style?? It's pretty simple...., do you have a photographic style? What constitutes a style, photographically? We hear about photographic styles all the time.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

It's pretty simple...., do you have a photographic style?
What constitutes a style, photographically?
We hear about photographic styles all the time. In a current post there is talk about copying others or striking out on your own, style-wise. What's the difference?
I'm expecting this to get philosophically deep. If you think you have a style, how did you develope it, what is it?
If you don't feel you have one, do you want one? Will you know it when you see it.
Feel free to cite others and to post pics of what you feel is your style if you think you have one. Or to post styles of others as examples.
This is neither a test or a competition, just an introspective conversation about ourselves or others, photographically speaking!
This should be both fun and a learning experience.
SS

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Awesome topic, SS; looking forward to the variety of responses that is sure to arise.

I wonder how much a distinctive style is related to subject matter; in other words, if someone is known primarily as a landscape photographer or portrait photographer.

I personally have a wide range of interests in pp, as well as subjects, light and weather, dof, perspective. For awhile I thought I'd be doing nothing but Topaz Simplify painting

but then the love of contrasty b&w came back to me, then the looks you can get by combining effects and blend modes, then a bit of dabbling with texture layers. It goes on and on.

For me, just a joyous hobby with so many aspects yet to explore, with never a desire to sell anything - so no concern about what style might be in current vogue - and also no structured goals for getting from A to B technically or artistically (at least not since those first classes on exposure and composition decades ago).

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

when shooting weddings I like clear crisp in focus shots I also enjoy the shot that no one else would want to make, the bride scratching her butt ( just something different) ,, there are usually 3 of us shooting weddings, one person likes the soft look every pic is soft to the point where it looks like they are shooting thru a tissue. The 3rd person, her style is bright , put a flash in their face and to bump up colors, making everything brighter to the point its almost over saturated, the three of us will shoot the bride coming down the isle, from almost the same spot and all 3 pix will be different.

Bill_de Loc: US

I wouldn't say I have a style. I shoot mostly birds and flowers and prefer very out of focus backgrounds. Only when a setting really catches my eye do I stop down to increase the DOF.

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MtnMan Loc: ID

Interesting question to ponder.

I prefer imaging wildlife and landscape over stuff like people, buildings, or machinery. Is that a style?

I have certain practices in terms of equipment, settings, and composition. Are they a style?

I mostly shoot in RAW and have a fairly consistent workflow. So far I don't fool much with image modifying filters or major manipulations such as changing backgrounds. I do apply some Topaz filters to some images. Does all that comprise a style?

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Nope. No particular "style" of which I am acutely aware.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Linda From Maine wrote:

Awesome topic, SS; looking forward to the variety ... (show quote)

Interesting responce. I think people do often get pigeon-holed, especially when we start getting paid. We start to be seen as certain types of photographers and we tend to do the same things over and over because that's what we get paid to do.
But within every genre, we can develop a style and it can be quite different for each.
AND, our styles will never stand still.
It's obvious in the Master Painters...., the Blue Phase, then the Flower Phase but still recognizable as theirs.
Our style can constantly evolve.
Maybe if we shot birds and were asked what would be our ULTIMATE bird shot, that could be where we would lean toward if we were given ample opportunity to pursue that, or any genre.
SS

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

SharpShooter wrote:

It's pretty simple...., do you have a photographic... (show quote)

SS, those of us here know your ShootingStyle, and we appreciate it greatly. You may have opened the longest trail of posts ever. Photographic style is sort of like the definition of pornography from a Supreme Court Justice: "I can't define it but I know it when I see it". Do you include the pro who commands total control over a set or the solo shooter who asks the model for for a favorite twitch? Are their habits their styles? Might a free-lance pro call his/her style as whatever is needed? I know a woman who shoots fine art photography for her eyes only, that's a style? Some people pick up a camera and immediately find a style. Others work for years to settle into a niche. Some of the nonprofessional shooters I know have developed their styles earlier in their photographic careers because they were able to concentrate on one area. It is possible that each photograph made is a transition towards a style. Then, you just wait to see what developes.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

I don't have to worry about being trapped in a style as my
brain is quite capable of forgetting what i did on the last shot.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

oldtigger wrote:

I don't have to worry about being trapped in a style as my
brain is quite capable of forgetting what i did on the last shot.

THAT IS PROBABLY YOUR STYLE, IF ONLY YOU COULD REMEMBER YOU HAVE IT!!!

SS

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

SharpShooter wrote:

It's pretty simple...., do you have a photographic... (show quote)

Inept maybe? How did I develop it? That would be interesting to know!

Do I want one? No. Several would be more accurate. I like experimenting with different styles as learning exercises, but not yet being retired I lack sufficient time to do so in the way that I would like.

I do however like setting my self exercises to try and achieve certain results, but at least for me that is best done as a solitary exercise so that I can concentrate, spend as much time as I want, and not inconvenience or have to accommodate others. Joint photographic activities are definitely fun, but they serve a different purpose. A bit like skiing, which in its purest form is about your relationship between yourself, the snow, and the mountain.

That said, I think photography is a solo activity from the photographer's perspective that can be carried out in a group environment. As soon as models or other sentient subjects come into play it changes the nature of the relationship between the photographer and the subject(s).

Nature_Shooter Loc: Chesterfield Missouri

I view style more as how you shoot. I am mostly a nature photographer (type) but my "style" is close in. I often get as close as I can to animals, flowers, rocks, etc to capture the details people do not always notice. I still shoot larger scenes and panoramic shots, however I tend to gravitate to a close up style, whether it is nature or otherwise.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Doesn't it really boil down to basic personality which kind of sets the "style" for everything in our lives.... Kind of car we drive, clothing we wear, books we read, and yes, the type of photography that most appeals to us. Yes, styles may change as interests change and evolve, but we are pretty much who we are; don't you think ?

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

I think Linda summed it up for most shooters:
"For awhile I thought I'd be doing nothing but Topaz Simplify painting "
We go through fads/fazes of interest as we progress.
Even those who specialize in a very narrow range of subject matter (like bugs) may
find themselves switching from a documentary aspect to a style involving habitat also.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Nature_Shooter wrote:

I view style more as how you shoot. I am mostly a nature photographer (type) but my "style" is close in. I often get as close as I can to animals, flowers, rocks, etc to capture the details people do not always notice. I still shoot larger scenes and panoramic shots, however I tend to gravitate to a close up style, whether it is nature or otherwise.

Absolutely, I've said here many times, not that ANYBODY has ever listened, but I said I like to shoot when I can see the whites in their eyes. A tight shot with the eyes clearly visible certainly has a lot of character or story. Whether it be birds, people, bugs or rocks!!!
SS