Creatively Simple

When I first started photography I would constantly think to myself that I needed all this gear to take a solid photo. Whether it be certain lights, light modifiers, lenses, cameras the list goes on. As the years pass and my experience grows I realize you dont need all the top of the line gear or much gear for that matter to take a solid shot.

“A camera is only as good as the person behind it”. Great quote, one ive benefited from since the first time I heard it. I stopped focusing so much on the gear and focused more on me and honing my skills as a photographer. After all you are the one sliding the dials, pressing the buttons and taking the pictures. You could have all the gear in the world and well, if you suck….so will your images. Thats why every shoot, I strive to make it better than the last. Trying new techniques, different poses, new angles, different light set ups etc. The list can go on and on.

Back to that quote though. On a recent test shoot, I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow photographer named Arick Elion. This guy killed the shoot and got amazing results. Whats more amazing? He did it with only an entry level DSLR and kit lens. Heres one of the results. Perfect example you dont need much to take a solid shot. Check out some of his other work as well. Arick Elion Official Website

Sometimes I think we as creative people unintentionally make things more complicated than they really need to be. Its just our nature. I do it all the time, sometimes I need to just take a step back and simplify things. Thats one of the things I have been working on recently. Being “Creatively Simple”.

Photography to me is more than just capturing a moment suspended in time…or a film strip…or a digital negative. Its about the experience, having fun doing what I love. Its hard to focus on that when im wrapped up in bringing a ton of gear to a shoot. Most of which I normally dont use anyways!

Test your creativity and challenge yourself. After all “A camera is only as good as the person behind it”. I tested my creativity on a recent test shoot. All that I used was a speedlight and a curtain. This was my creatively simple set up.

I mounted my speedlight and trigger with a simple small flexible tripod. A very inexpensive piece of equipment I carry with me every where. It allows me to mount my speedlights to virtually anything.

Heres my result from challenging myself to get something more with less. Shooting “Creatively Simple”.

Go out and challenge yourself on your next shoot!

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