Two Kinds of Photographers?

A photographer I was reading was describing how photographers develop their individual voice. The author made one of those definitive statements that I always question:

There are two types of photographers—responders and planners… [paraphrased]

My hackles are always raised whenever I hear someone say, “There are 2 kinds of people…”

Two Kinds of Photographers?

As someone who is wrestling with the whole idea of developing my voice as a photographer my knee-jerk reaction was that there are never just two kinds of anything.

Each person is unique and at the same time each person shares certain deep truths with all other humans (or photographers, as the case may be).

I do believe that sometimes we go out and make photographs without a specific plan in mind and just respond to the endless possibilities that are always present. And sometimes we have a very specific plan for what we want to portray and how we want to portray it. Perhaps we obtain certain props, hire a model, or choose a specific time of day or kind of day for the light that we want. Perhaps we make several different photographs with the intention of creating a composite from them. Each of us leans more one way than the other in our work.

These are two distinct ways to approach the art of photography. But my guess is that although each of us tends to prefer one of these approaches over the other, none of us limits ourselves to a single approach.

I am more of a responder more than a planner as a photographer. I pick up my camera, see something that appeals to me, and start shooting. But I find that is changing as I develop my skills and seek to develop my voice as a photographer.

My husband, who recently picked up my old Canon Rebel T2I camera, is more of a planner. Before he makes a shot, he spends time planning angles, light, time of day, etc.

Our approach to photography is totally different.But neither approach is better than the other. They are just different.

I attribute some of that difference to differences in temperament. On the Myers-Briggs type indicator I am clearly a Feeler in the Thinking/Feeling dimension of Myers-Briggs and he is definitely a Thinker. But as all humans, both of us think and feel.

Those who prefer thinking tend to decide things from a more detached standpoint, measuring the decision by what seems reasonable, logical, causal, consistent, and matching a given set of rules. Those who prefer feeling tend to come to decisions by associating or empathizing with the situation, looking at it ‘from the inside’ and weighing the situation to achieve, on balance, the greatest harmony, consensus and fit, considering the needs of the people involved. — Wikipedia, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

We may have preferences for how we approach photography (or anything in life) but as growing/learning beings we change as we learn and develop.

I believe that developing ourselves as a photographer (or mastering any art or skill) is an incremental developmental process. For example, when I first began making photographs, a conversation about developing your voice was something that would have gone straight in one ear and out the other. I wasn’t ready to think about my voice. I was too busy learning about how the camera works, light, composition, color balance, depth of field, etc.

I was totally delighted when I captured a “pretty” picture of something beautiful I had seen. At first I didn’t even notice that my photographs weren’t particularly that sharp or well-composed. But as I grew and learned, my eye became more discerning, my standards for feeling good about a photograph I had made changed and I became more demanding of technical excellence, along with wanting the photograph to say something.

Recently I wrote about not being satisfied just making Pretty Pictures (Pretty Pictures Are Not Enough). As time goes by I find that the statement, “Pretty pictures are not enough,” to be both true and untrue. It is true that I yearn to create art that is a force for good in the world, that lifts people up, spreads light, and inspires. But it is also true that the sight of beauty (and I find beauty almost everywhere) always inspires me, lifts me up and fills me with light. Perhaps sharing that beauty is just as worthwhile as telling a story or expressing an idea. Perhaps beauty is the story.

As I continue to photograph things that I love, I am also listening to that inner voice that guides me, for the direction that develops my voice and brings me joy.

“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”
― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

Recently I awoke from a dream seeing myself photographing a scene that I had created in a particular location (I’m keeping the details of the scene to myself as I work on creating this scene in the future). As I awoke, it took me several minutes to realize that I wasn’t there, making that photograph that I envisioned in my dream. The dream felt so real and so true that it sparked a whole series of ideas which I am still contemplating. I continue to work on this vision that appeared in my dreams and believe that I may develop a series of photographs based upon the idea that sprang from my subconscious mind.

“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking”
― Albert Einstein

Who knows how this series of photographs that I am dreaming into creation will turn out or whether they will turn out. But the process of exploration, creativity, learning, and discovery is so exciting and joyful that I have to say the journey is enough, the outcome does not matter.

May you listen to your inner voice and guidance. May your path of exploration, creativity, learning and discovery be joyful.

May you walk in beauty.