Exploring light, shape and composition...

After a long period of interest in using vivid colour, both during the day and at night, I've completely shifted my photographic experimentations.

I'm currently much more interested in composition - attempting to craft a strong collaboration between high contrast and urban geometry, leaning more towards an output that some might label 'fine art street photography'. 

I've not entirely left colour behind and I'm still often drawn to it, but I've been consciously working either in monochrome or with a very minimal, subdued colour palette.

Working this way is helping me to develop and concentrate on my composition, using line and shape to creatively arrange the elements within my frame - removing the distraction of colour is aiding me in this process.

Most importantly though, particularly in terms of my own photographic education, I am forcing myself to search out light and use it as my starting point when creating my images.

Instinctively I tend to be drawn to people, hunting out unique characters and interesting subjects. In order to broaden my skillset I am actively seeking out light and shape first, not people.

For the most part I'm still retaining a human element in my images; I'm just primarily observing light, geometry and composition and waiting for the right subject to enter the frame when required. 

That's not to say that I feel composition is a particular weakness in my work. I think it's a natural aspect of my photography that is quite strong due to my art background, but until now it's been a relatively subconscious and instinctive skill.

By being more aware of my composition when I'm shooting, and by making it a target, I can only improve it further and therefore benefit in future.

Learning to see and understand how light moves and is shaped by different surfaces and angles is obviously a fundamental skill for any photographer, regardless of genre. 

As a result I've also been using glass and texture in a lot of my shots, studying how they affect and interact with light in an urban environment.

Photographically speaking I've been taking a lot more risks. I get antsy if I feel I'm becoming stale or predictable.

As I've said previously, sometimes this is a hindrance but I'm trying to see it as a positive in order to keep learning, developing and, hopefully, progressing.

I'm bored of much of the street photography I see lately and I'm quite interested in asking questions; of myself, as a photographer, and in my images - I'm pushing myself to find new avenues for my creativity.

This image is an example of me getting out of my comfort zone and pushing the boundaries...

For the most part, I'm really enjoying what I'm producing and it's keeping me visually and mentally fresh.

I feel like I'm improving and that's the main thing!

Please do comment on this blog post and the images I've used - both positive and negative thoughts are welcome.

All the images in this shot were taken with a Fuji X100T and XT20 with 27mm

Cheers,

Sonny