The Idea Comes First: Building a {Photograph} From an Concept, Not a Scene

Most photographers begin with a topic or theme. Conceptual photographers begin with a query. What does isolation really feel like? Not, “Where can I shoot next?” Entering the world of conceptual images is a beast of its personal. It comes with its personal challenges and rewards. My greatest query was, how do I begin?

The strongest pictures start with concepts, not scenes. Think of the concept because the lead actor. Emotion and which means are designed first, with settings, lighting, and kit because the supporting actors of the idea. Conceptual images can push your boundaries and inventive limits as a photographer and, on the identical time, make you higher — technically and creatively. Conceptual images presents challenges, primarily of an revolutionary nature. All tasks want to start out with a strong basis, and also you should be keen to let the venture unfold and the trail evolve.

In late 2024, I started experiencing a artistic funk, and I knew I wanted to take motion to get out of it. I launched into a year-long picture venture. I wished a problem and one thing to push my artistic boundaries. I began with a number of concepts, together with some from an idea I had developed a number of years in the past, in addition to just a few new ones. How did I resolve on which venture? It took a while, however I narrowed it down to those few key factors.

• Time: I had a complete 12 months to finish the venture, however I’m identified for doing issues slightly excessive. I knew it needed to be one thing private that would not require a big period of time, as any venture would take appreciable time, there was a deadline, and it wanted to be one thing I used to be motivated to create.
• Logistics: A couple of earlier tasks have been going to be a nightmare, logistically. I deliberate these tasks solely round logistics, as this can be a normal a part of any venture. I requested myself, “Can I do this alone, or do I need help?” Additionally, I needed to think about areas and decide if this was one thing I might accomplish domestically.
• Unique: I needed to ask myself, has this been achieved already? Now, in case your venture is much like one other venture, I’d not scrap it. You are you, and including your contact makes it an entire completely different venture.
• Achievable: The different factor I wanted to consider was whether or not the venture was possible. Can this be accomplished on time? One venture in my pocket book was achievable, however provided that others participated, which I didn’t need to depend on.
• Photographer Friends: Well, I ought to say good friend. I met virtually weekly with a former coworker and nice photographer good friend for just a few months, bouncing concepts for just a few tasks. After discussions, I made a decision on my year-long venture. From there, we met and mentioned concepts additional. I gained perception I had not thought-about. Make positive you speak to different like-minded photographers. They could be of nice assist!

Step One: Start with Emotion

The basis of a venture can actually first be set with emotion. Start by asking, How do I need the viewer to really feel? Is it actually {a photograph} if the viewer feels nothing? An excellent place to start out is by sitting down and constructing an emotional basis. Begin by contemplating the way you need the viewer to really feel. Is it loneliness, pleasure, loss, or nostalgia? Journal phrases down in a pocket book that may describe your venture. Emotion will drive many future choices because the venture progresses, together with coloration, composition, lighting, and extra. My venture, Lost in Orbit, started with the phrase “isolation,” and every thing grew from there.

Within this step, you purpose to take an summary idea and create a tangible picture. This is among the more difficult points of conceptual images to realize. At this level, you can begin brainstorming concepts and issues which have which means. These could be environments, objects, or symbols that carry which means. For Lost in Orbit, isolation was the primary phrase I began with. I then started to seek out phrases that described my emotions. From these phrases, I began constructing the ideas round them. You can subtly convey which means within the {photograph} with out forcing it upon the viewer, permitting them to interpret the picture in their very own means.

Step Three: Build a Symbolic Framework

Consistency is crucial in any venture. There are some ways to realize consistency—via coloration, lighting, props, or setting. One of the very best methods to realize consistency is thru firming of the photographs or a prop. Using coloration can subtly introduce a temper or feeling to the viewer. Cool colours can symbolize calm or isolation, whereas hotter colours can present hope or security. Light additionally performs a key function. Harsh lighting can convey chaos or wrestle to the viewer, whereas softer mild can evoke calm or peace. Combining coloration and lighting can successfully talk a temper or theme in a venture. Consistency can change all through the venture as you journey via the photographs. You can begin with a selected tone and steadily work to a special one. When it involves props, you may have the identical prop in each picture all through the collection that represents a refined which means as properly. Maintaining consistency all through your venture permits viewers to develop into acquainted with your language.

Step Four: Design the Visual Structure 

Now we’re on the level the place we take our idea and begin to construct the visible narrative. This is the place I start to storyboard the venture’s development. For Lost in Orbit, I had pages and pages of concepts on how I’d inform the story. I had written all these down because the concepts got here to me. I began by organizing comparable concepts into their very own classes. From right here, I began storyboarding the visible narrative. You have to do not forget that your narrative will evolve as you’re employed via the venture, and that’s okay. Flexibility is vital when creating any venture.

Step Five: Previzualize the Light

Once you might have a tough draft of your visible construction, it is time to start thinking about the lighting. This is the place you may start connecting your lighting choices on to the feelings throughout the collection of photographs. For myself, I examined the photographs individually and located methods to symbolize the story via lighting and coloration. At this level, I used to be additionally desirous about the general greater image and what firming I’d carry all through the idea. These are the questions I requested myself throughout this stage of the planning course of.

• What am I making an attempt to say?

• What colours can I exploit to symbolize the feelings?

• What decisions do I have to make for publicity?

• How am I going to mild these photographs?

Once I had answered these questions, I started constructing my storyboard. I used Milanote for this portion of the planning course of. If you aren’t acquainted with Milanote, it’s an app or on-line platform that serves as a visible collaboration software for artistic tasks, permitting customers to prepare notes, photographs, hyperlinks, and recordsdata into versatile digital boards. It facilitates brainstorming, planning, and job group via a drag-and-drop interface. This was an ideal software to make use of, as I might drag and drop concepts whereas rearranging them to seek out the order that I wished to realize. I additionally used it so as to add photographs that I discovered for inspiration and visualization. These have been key in the course of the section the place I began desirous about pure and synthetic lighting. Remember to reference the emotion, coloration, and lighting diagram for every picture in the course of the design means of your lighting diagrams and storyboard. This retains you organized and on monitor. Each technical determination ought to replicate and reinforce the emotional DNA of your idea.

Step Six: Execute With Intent, Not Impulse

You are actually on the level the place you’re tying artistic management to storytelling. When you begin creating your photographs, you’re now not looking out; you’re translating. You’re taking the summary idea and turning it into photographs. Even although you might have made your storyboard, lighting, and publicity choices, be certain that you continue to enable for improvisation, however maintain it central to the idea. Many instances, I strayed from the unique storyboard. Many instances, it sparked my artistic juices, resulting in the picture I finally selected for the venture.

Every determination you make when creating a picture as a photographer—from lighting, firming, material, and parts in a scene—needs to be there for a motive. Every facet should improve the picture, not detract from it. Be ready to simplify; keep away from including parts that do not serve the concept. Again, parts should be current to help the idea.

Step Seven: Edit for Meaning, Not Perfection

When it involves modifying your photographs, that is the place you full the visible story. In post-production, you’re enhancing the emotion, not technically balancing the picture. Start utilizing distinction, tone, and texture to emphasise the weather in your {photograph}. This is the place consistency is available in and is vital! Maintain a constant tone all through the collection to make sure continuity, which can assist the viewer and showcase a cohesive physique of labor.

Real-World: Lost in Orbit

One factor that helped me in the beginning of my venture, Lost in Orbit, was a quick but concise assertion concerning the venture. I’d begin early on arising with an announcement, as it should assist. If, in the course of the course of, you start to really feel misplaced, it may possibly put you again on monitor. Below is the assertion for Lost in Orbit. Throughout the article, you might have seen photographs from the venture and behind-the-scenes content material to present a glimpse into this huge year-long venture.

Exercise the Brain and Eye

• Pick one emotion that defines your present state.

• Write a brief phrase describing it.

• Choose one object, coloration, and lighting situation that matches.

• Build and {photograph} that idea.

• Title it with a single phrase that captures your theme.

A Few Words of Advice

I realized many issues concerning the means of beginning a conceptual photographic venture. Here are just a few takeaways from this year-long journey.

• You is not going to all the time be motivated to {photograph}.

• Be versatile; issues change, and the venture will solely enhance.

• You’ll discover that not all concepts are nice.

• Shoot extra photographs than you assume you’ll need. Each picture is an idea, and take a look at variations.

• Begin drafting your venture assertion. This helps, from the start to the top, by permitting you to have a reminder while you really feel misplaced.

• It’s overwhelming at instances.

In the End

Never did I ever intend to start out a conceptual photographic venture—particularly one which was such a private journey and, at instances, I didn’t need to share. Ultimately, it has had an amazing affect on me. It has develop into an academic software, and hopefully, if it even helps one particular person, it is a mission success. An excellent conceptual {photograph} or venture is greater than a set of photographs telling a narrative. It is felt earlier than it’s seen. It all begins with an thought that’s price exploring, not a scene price capturing—the idea a heartbeat; the digital camera a translator.