Freedom of Expression
Multiple Exposure in-camera
The freedom of expression is a sense of being that one has to discover within oneself.
It’s not an easy thing, learning to let go of social mores, visual norms, and a natural sense of competing with others in what we do. “Creating an Image” is precisely what I consider when trying to express my connection with nature as a photographer.
Granted, our craft isn’t as simple as grabbing a camera and “Click.” As a matter of fact, it’s far more complicated than that. Combining the right brain and its artistic and creative side with the left brain, which deals with the technical aspects of the camera and how to work the computer’s multiple software programs to finalize our digital art is no small feat.
Learning how to be a visual artist using a camera is progressive. Tackling first the technical hurdles of how to operate the camera to maximize image sharpness, proper exposure and how to transfer the images to the computer. This can be a daunting task, and it takes time. For me, this technical aspect was a barrier to my Freedom of Expression.
Intentional Camera Movement - Horizontal movement
It was only after I felt I had finally conquered and fully understood the technical aspects of photography, was I able to become more creative. Indeed, the “Freedom of Expression” was beginning to emerge, and it’s been an incredible journey of self-discovery.
In the late 1800’s, America’s first Psychologist Williams James came up with the concept of the “stream of thought.” This description concludes that factors including habits, experiences, emotional responses, and perceptions collectively guide us to our personal interaction with the world around us. How we respond to our environment, or how our environment invokes emotional responses within us.
As photographers, we capture moments of the human experience. The emotional responses we feel when looking at a subject, while studying light, defining elements in the composition of the image, and applying technical aptitude is a result of this stream of thought - or building of knowledge and experiences, that leads us to creating an image.
Freedom of Expression allows us to begin seeing things beyond the factual or literal appearance of our subject. We can begin applying artistic techniques with our tool - the camera - such as demonstrated with the images above, using Intentional Camera Movement, multiple exposures, slow shutter speeds and the like.
It can also be applied with the use of creative software, art lenses such as a Lensbaby lens, or even art created with with multi-media.
Where are you on the path of self-discovery and allowing yourself the freedom of expression? Are there technical aspects that you may need to improve your skills on, or is it just letting your spirit become free and just having fun with what you do with photography?
Slow shutter speed with wave motion