Thanks for this post Anna, indeed it could be the 2nd part of Create better work by not giving a shit :)
Such attitude is pretty liberating.
It's funny that I actually got rid of that pressure before it really started, right at the beginning of my adventure with toy photography.
Of course, I also wanted to make such beautiful, colorful and well-edited pictures, but I simply lacked both the skills and the equipment. With a phone, a random jumble of lamps, and a little knowledge, I couldn't do much, so I literally and figuratively drifted into the shadows, but not just because; such aesthetic climates are simply close to me. We even discussed it in my BC feature once.
However, I have to admit, there was a time at the very beginning that I was wondering whether I should try a different style that worked well for others in terms of popularity. But I figured it wouldn't be me and dropped those thoughts and well, I gave myself the right to be disliked.
And that's a good use of playing to your strengths rather than highlighting your weaknesses. If you don't have skills, materials, or tools in one area, look to what you *do* have and capitalize on that.
Shadows definitely hide a lack of background, for example. So does blowing it out with white. A long focal length minimizes it as well. Three different approaches to not being able to build a scene or find one. Go with what makes your work you distinctively and recognize how others are tackling the same issue differently.
Thanks for this post Anna, indeed it could be the 2nd part of Create better work by not giving a shit :)
Such attitude is pretty liberating.
It's funny that I actually got rid of that pressure before it really started, right at the beginning of my adventure with toy photography.
Of course, I also wanted to make such beautiful, colorful and well-edited pictures, but I simply lacked both the skills and the equipment. With a phone, a random jumble of lamps, and a little knowledge, I couldn't do much, so I literally and figuratively drifted into the shadows, but not just because; such aesthetic climates are simply close to me. We even discussed it in my BC feature once.
However, I have to admit, there was a time at the very beginning that I was wondering whether I should try a different style that worked well for others in terms of popularity. But I figured it wouldn't be me and dropped those thoughts and well, I gave myself the right to be disliked.
So off-brand could be my middle name ;)
And that's a good use of playing to your strengths rather than highlighting your weaknesses. If you don't have skills, materials, or tools in one area, look to what you *do* have and capitalize on that.
Shadows definitely hide a lack of background, for example. So does blowing it out with white. A long focal length minimizes it as well. Three different approaches to not being able to build a scene or find one. Go with what makes your work you distinctively and recognize how others are tackling the same issue differently.