P#27 Q2: What Is the Single Biggest Mistake People Make When Pursuing Expressive Image Photography?

Creative Interpretation

Brenda Tharp: The answer to this question really depends on the circumstances of your photograph. If you're doing abstract or impressionistic techniques, there really isn't a right or a wrong way to go about it, although some experiments don't work out the way you want and they don't have the impact that you were looking for. Anything goes when you're trying to create a more abstract kind of expressive image.

With a more traditional, but still highly interpretive photograph, however, I think the biggest mistake is not really getting close enough to create a composition that simplifies the scene and engages the viewer effectively.

Now that doesn't mean that it's about doing macro photography, because that's a completely different area. It's about composing a picture so that all the elements work together to express what it is you want to say.

If you're not clear about what you want to say, it won't work. I think that's the first step for anyone who wants to do more expressive work. You need to really get in touch with what it is you're trying to show in the picture.

Are you trying to celebrate great light or mood, or are you trying to celebrate the visual design of something, the pattern or the texture? If you can get clear on that, then that will help you choose an angle or a point of view that will express what you want it to.

In Closing

What's the biggest mistake people make when venturing into expressive image photography? They don't know how to express themselves because they don't really think about what it is they want to say. If you want your expressive image photography to really stand out, make sure you're clear on exactly what you're trying to convey to your viewers.