Self Portrait I created to commemorate the 300th day of a 365
Photo a Day project I recently completed. Inspired by the film,
300.
If you’re tired of shooting the same old style of images every time you pick up your camera, or you are having a serious case of photographers block, maybe it’s time to mix things up a bit. There are all kinds of solutions to adding a new level of creativity into your work, but what you are really looking for is that trigger that gets you excited about an idea or better yet… Ideas!
Regardless of the style you are shooting, whether it is landscapes, portraits, cars, whatever. You can easily mix things up to bring back the excitement of shooting something fresh and new. Even if it is not really new, different would be close enough to get your creative juices flowing again. So where could you find this trigger to get you excited? Movies!
Movies are a great way to slap the side of the creativity machine in your head, and you could probably generate a few good ideas just thinking about a few of your favorite movies without even watching them. But before you head on out to the closest Sacramento Cineplex to start generating your endless stash of great ideas, please heed the following advice. Don’t attempt to find the trigger you’re looking for by blowing around $10 on something you’ve never seen before. Those are movies that should not be dissected the first time you watch them. Unless they really suck of course, but that’s not the direction I am trying to give you here.
Concentrate on movies you’ve seen before. Watch Movie’s that have had a lasting effect on you. It doesn’t matter how old the movie is, it only matters that it affected you profoundly enough to make you think of it again. The style of photography you already shoot will help you think of the type of movies you want to watch because after all, what you observe as visually pleasing will always be linked to your visual inspiration. So if you’re into landscape photos, Last of the Mohicans might be a good choice. If you’re into cars, perhaps Fast and Furious would be a good choice. Concept portraits? Maybe Gladiator has the trigger you need. It’s up to you to pull the DVD out of your movie collection, rent it, or order it On-demand, but watch it with a different perspective.
Put yourself on location within each scene as a photographer. Pay attention to angles, focal lengths and lighting. Watch contrast, colors and movement and look for small details. You can still follow the story line and plot, but don’t let it engulf all your attention. You’ve already seen it before, so you already know what’s happening. Do not be afraid to hit the pause or rewind button on your remote to see something again. That’s a good technique too. Pause the movie during one of your favorite scenes. Critique the frozen image on your screen. Look at the composition of the frame to determine if it is an effective image in it’s own right, let alone flanked by dozens of images that are almost similar.
You will be amazed what kind of ideas you can come up with, and you will be amazed how fast you find the trigger you are looking for. You don’t need to copy what you see in the movies verbatim (like the image used in this article), just utilize the concept of your discoveries to make something unique. Below are five excellent films that have helped inspire me.
The Cell – Directed by Tarsem Singh
This film starring Jennifer Lopez and Vince Vaughn is without a doubt, one of the best visual masterpieces ever recorded on film. While the story isn’t as spectacular as it could be, the visual aspect more than makes up for it.
The Shining – Directed by Stanley Kubrick
If you shoot portraits, and you haven’t seen this film yet, you need to drop what you’re doing and go rent this right now. It’s a horror film, but it is so much more than just a horror film. Stanley Kubrick was the master at lighting a scene. Paying attention to light alone in this film will generate many ideas for you.
Blade Runner – Directed by Ridley Scott
Another director who can light a scene like no other. If you have ever taken a film class, this movie has probably been mentioned at least a dozen times. It’s a Science Fiction classic. Other great inspiring films by Scott include, Black Rain and Alien. Right now there is an Alien prequel in the works to be directed by Scott.
The Godfather II– Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
If you want to be inspired by dramatic scenery, this film is just as good as the original, but the sequel was a better film overall, so I chose to recommend this one. Coppola also directed another film worthy of inspiring ideas called Apocalypse Now.
Frank Miller’s Sin City - Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Granted there is a whole heaping load of green screen in this film, but it's look is so dynamic not to mention. If you want to try your hand at high contrast photography, you really should give this film some time to study. It’s a bit violent; just a bit (insert tongue-in-cheek here). But it is very rewarding to watch it again and again. Rodriguez also directed two other great films in Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn. Sin City 3 is now in production and directed by Rodriguez.
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Comments
high contrast photography - um would you please write an article on that so I can better understand how, what, the ins and out? sounds cool. I've seen all these movies but don't remember much about the Sin City ... or perhaps I missed that one. Thanks for the good inspiration tips!!!! You rock. :)
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