I just got back from an incredible photography trip
I can't wait to share all the images and the footage that I got there with all of you
the place I visited is a rather popular spot
there were a lot of photographers there
it was pretty clear from the very beginning that I wasn't the first photographer to make images there
and I won't be the last... at all
that made me think about the importance of being original
and most importantly, how to be original with your photography
today, I wanted to share those thoughts with you
just a reminder that this is only my opinion and I encourage you
to leave your thoughts in the comments down below
or send me an email, if you prefer
I don't believe there is any right or wrong way to do photography or art in general
and that's where my problems with originality begin
sometimes, you see this tendency in the photography world of
dismissing some photographers work
because "it's been done before"
and that could refer to anything: from the location, to the subject, the style...
anything that could be found in that photographer's work
so we have a justification, an excuse, to dismiss their work
I always find it very ironic that those who have a very strict way of looking at photography
"photography should be done this way, otherwise it's not photography"
those are the same ones who criticize other photographers for not being original
the problem, as I said, is that today, in 2021,
if we were to be 100% original with our photography...
well, there would be no photography at all being done today
everyone has taken, or even stolen, an idea or a concept from someone else
most locations on the planet have been photographed to death
most techniques have been applied over and over millions of times
and there is not much left when it comes to developing a very unique style
so during this recent trip, during my last photography trip,
I found myself in this beautiful place
and I wondered why, why should I feel bad because I'm not the first one
I'm not the only one here, there are a lot of photographers around here doing the same
that I'm doing
why should I feel bad about it?
I love this place, I love making images here, even if they are not original
for me, being original in photography is not about the images that you make at the grand canyon
it's the images that you make after going to the grand canyon
many people, millions of people, go to the grand canyon every year
but only you go back to the place where you came from
to your house, to your job, to the people you love,
to the small town where you live, or to the landscapes that are local to you
every one of us is a combination of a thousand things
everything that inspires us, everything that moves us, everything that we've learned and seen
and it is that very specific combination that makes you unique
it is that very specific combination that makes me unique
so the way I see it is not about that one image that you made at the grand canyon
it's about that image along with the ones that you can make in your backyard
the result of putting all of those images together can only be original because it's unique to you
this is the way I see photography:
not as a collection of isolated single images, but as a lifelong body of work
as a lifelong adventure, as a lifelong journey
simply, a life
the only thing you need to do to be original is to stop trying to be original
don't overthink it
sure, don't chase trends and don't go to popular locations just because they are popular
but be careful and don't become a contrarian
someone who avoids them just for the sake of being different
because in that case, you've also fallen in the trap
those are still comparing themselves to others,
attaching a meaning to their work depending on what others do or don't do
we should care only about whether we are staying true to ourselves
photographing that that means something to us
creating the images that we enjoy looking at
if that means going to yosemite, so be it
but I'd say: don't limit yourself to only those trips
try to make an image as often as you can
there is always an image out there waiting for you to be made
no matter what you are doing, no matter where you are, don't neglect...
don't run away from what makes you unique, because that is your advantage
in the long term, that is what's going to make your work original, unique and true to yourself
and this is all I had to say about being original
as I said, this is just my opinion
I'd really love to hear what you have to say about this topic
so please feel free to leave a comment down below
or if you prefer, send me an email and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible
I hope this video was interesting and helpful
thank you so much for watching again, and see you in the next one!