Arts and Crafts
by: Bryan Lindsey
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Most people are familar with the term “arts and crafts.” It usually brings up images of cutting and pasting construction paper, painting ceramics, or sewing a quilt. But “art” and “craft” fit photography perfectly.
First, we MUST get the “craft” piece. To craft something means to make it and then modify it, to make concious decisions to get the form that you want. Kind of like molding a clay pot or cutting a pattern out of fabric. You can look at what you’ve crafted and discern if it is acceptable – Are the edges straight? Is it the right size? Is it the right shape? Texture?
Similarly, we must always mind the “craft” of photography: exposure. We need to get the best exposure possible in ever-changing situations. Inside, outside, daytime, nighttime, tungsten, fluorescent – this is a challenge, to be sure. We must familiarize ourselves with all of the tools available to help us repeatedly, effectively, and efficiently get the right exposure. And, just as a carpenter needs to know the right tool to use and when to use it, we need to be well-versed in how our camera sees the world and how it makes decisions. We need to practice, and we need to talk with individuals who do understand these principles forward and backward. Regardless of the subject being photographed, there is good exposure and bad exposure.
Second comes the “art” – composition, color, posing, facial expressions, etc. Just as we might paint a clay pot or “bedazzle” our t-shirt, we put our
own stamp on our photos by the composition, background, and lighting of our image. Some of these stylistic elements are fairly subjective, and not everyone will “get” everyone else’s art. But this is the piece that makes things fun and interesting.
So go out there, hone your craft, and create some art!
Who is Bryan, and why should I care about what he has to say?: Houston Wedding Photographer
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Bryan LindseyBCL Photography
Houston Wedding and Portrait Photographer
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