Six Ways to Hone Your Photographic Eye

In today's episode, we're delving deep into the art of honing your creative eye. As photographers, constantly refining our creativity is vital, and I've got six game-changing tips to help you do just that. From studying the masters to stepping out of your comfort zone, we'll explore practical strategies to elevate your photography to new heights.

So, if you're ready to ignite your creative spark and capture breathtaking images, tune in now! Don't forget to reach out on Instagram at Robert Massey Photography to share your thoughts and ideas for future episodes. Plus, if you love what we're doing here, be sure to rate and review the podcast—your feedback means the world to us.

Join us bi-weekly as we explore the world through the lens, uncovering hidden gems, and sharing insider tips to elevate your photography game. From capturing breathtaking landscapes to immersive cultural portraits, each episode is packed with practical hacks, creative ideas, and inspiring stories to fuel your wanderlust and unleash your creative potential.

Subscribe now and join our global community of adventure seekers and photography enthusiasts on the Travel and Adventure Photography School!

Find all the show notes and connect with Robert:
Website: robertmasseyphotography.ca
Instagram: @robertmasseyphotography

Transcript

0:00

How's it going everybody. Welcome back to the travel and adventure photography school podcast as always. I'm your host Robert Massey. Thank you so much for taking some time out of your valuable day to listen and to grow your photography skills. I've got a great one for you today, as we are going to be talking about how to hone your creative eye, which is one of the most important yet difficult things photographers can do. And this is something you will do constantly throughout your time as a photographer throughout your career. I've had a camera in my hands now for over a decade. And I am always doing anything I can to keep honing my creativity. Is this not something that you're ever going to stop at you're ever going to master. It's something you're just going to keep doing. So today I'm going to go over my top six ways of doing this. Some of these are really easy to implement. Some will take a lot of work and honestly, a lot of guts, but they are so worthwhile to incorporate into your creative work. Now, the last tip in particular will make a world of difference. For every single photographer. If you love this today, give me a shout out on Instagram at Robert Massey photography, or just reach out to me and let me know what you'd love to learn more about. I really do this because I like the conversations that it sparks with other people. I like the community that's built up. And I like the people that I've gotten to know from doing this. All right. Let's get into this first up is when you've likely heard a lot about before. And it's something you're probably already doing consciously or maybe unconsciously. And that's looking at the work of great photographers and seeing what they are doing to make their arts, to capture their photographs. Studying other photographers work is like taking a leisurely stroll through a vibrant marketplace. You get to soak up all the sights and sounds picking out the things that catch your eye and make you go. Whoa. Oh, that's so cool. How did they do that? What did they do? It's not about comparing yourself for feeling like you have to measure up to them or, oh, I'm not doing enough or my art's not good enough for whatever. Terrible things. Go through our heads that go through everybody's heads out there. It's about soaking in that inspiration and learning from those diverse perspectives out there and the way that they capture their art. And honestly, we can't forget about the learning part. When you dive into someone else's work, you're basically doing a crash course in how they approach photography. Maybe you notice how they play with shadows, utilized color theory, or capture fleeting moments that make you stop and think. These little insights could be like tiny seeds planted in your brain rate a sprout into your own unique style. One of my favorite things to do is to look at a photo that makes me stop and think about how they did this. Was it all done in camera? What post-processing did they do here? What lens was this? How did. They utilize color or shapes or composition. Just, how did they bring this photo together? And what made me stop? What made me find this image really interesting. Was it the subject matter? Was it the composition? Was it the color? Was it the lighting? Was it everything? What made me stop in my tracks. And then we'll keep track of these little things that I like, and don't like about it and start incorporating those elements into my work to start building out a personal style that is. Fully influenced by these people that I look up to and this great art that I look up to. And that's just like all great art. It's all being influenced by those around them who make it. And by other people who are out creating. Now to do this, I wouldn't suggest just sitting and scrolling through Instagram. You're going to get lost in a spiral hole of some things that aren't super influential for you. Some things that aren't great. That's, that's awesome for really quick inspiration, just kind of a five, 10 minute dive into something or to find a new photographer, a new style that you like. But what I find is much more helpful to really dive into a photographer's work. To really understand how they make those images that you fall in love with. Go to their website. This way you can really delve into their work and their style. You can compare images side by side. You're not getting distracted and pegged down in Instagram's platform. And if you do this the way I do it, I find some people on Instagram and then I'll actually go to my proper big computer. And look at them bigger and start really breaking down the images in a much more thoughtful and. Investigative way. Being on a little screen, lots of things look really good. But as soon as you get them onto a bigger screen, you can start seeing the pieces that you don't like, the pieces that you really do love, and you can start really building out. How they're going to influence your own creativity. Now the other really great way to do this is to pick up a book of their photographs. You get it from behind a screen. You see what speaks to you in print? Make notes on those pages. If you own the book, obviously. Dog ear them. Mark-up beside a photo. What you like and what you don't like, find the parts and images that inspire your work and things you want to incorporate. And then flip back through it again, when you're not feeling necessarily hugely inspired and go like, oh yeah, that's what I loved about this. And remember this isn't about comparing yourself. This is about building and finding your inspiration to get out there and make. Better photographs. All right. Tip number two. And this one is all about building community and embracing other art forms because art doesn't happen in a vacuum and neither does photography. We are fully influenced by what is happening in the world around us. By what other people are making by what other creators are doing. So start collaborating with those other creatives and you'll see whole new perspectives open up in front of you. Collaborating with other creatives is like, Throwing a backyard, barbecue with all your favorite people. It can be fun laid back and it's kind of guaranteed to cook up some seriously awesome ideas. See when you team up with writers, artists, musicians, fellow photographers, cinematographers. It's like mixing all your favorite ingredients together to create something totally new and exciting. I love those moments of being in those spaces with other creatives who aren't in my same medium as me and seeing the way that they talk about things, seeing the way that they loved a movie that I hated or seeing a way that they look at a photograph that I've taken and see it in a totally different light than the way that I originally took it. That is hugely inspiring. Collaborating with other creatives, it's like tapping into a whole new universe of creative possibilities. When you combine different art forms, perspectives and talents, you end up with a recipe for. Magic and fire to happen. Maybe you're just a master behind the lens, but you've always wondered what it would it be like to pair your photos with some poetry or a soundtrack, or there's a local photographer here who has these beautiful photographs and has worked with a visual artist who has added in the constellations up above them. And they're these beautiful combination pieces. They're just such a. Wonderful collaboration of a beautiful photographer's work and a beautiful visual artists work working together. And collaboration is the only way to make something like that happen. And let's be honest. Let's not forget about the joy of bouncing ideas around like a game of hot potato. When you collaborate with other creatives, it's like playing a never ending game of brainstorming. Ping-pong. Except instead of, you know, The tiny, tiny white little ball. You're lobbing around ideas that could spark a wildfire of inspiration. It's all about building off each other's energy. Riffing on each other's concepts and seeing where the creative journey takes you. This is how some of our favorite. Comedy shows come to life. You get a bunch of creative people in a room together. And they just started ripping jokes at each other. They start ripping scenarios at each other, and that's how these pieces come to life. And that's what you're doing with these other creatives. You're starting to rip ideas off of one another and seeing what gets built. And the best part about all of this collaborating is just about making cool stuff. It's about building connections and community. When you team up with other creatives, you're not just creating art. You're forging friendships, swapping stories, and supporting each other's dreams. It's like having a built-in cheerleading squad and they're ready to just high five. You, when you need that. And they're ready to pick you up when you stumble. And I know this is what I struggle with the most. My anxiety. Definitely gets the better of me a lot in these kinds of social situations. And I find it. Really hard to reach out to other creatives to build and grow those relationships. And this can make it really hard to build deep connections with people. But when I do get the chance to be out with other creatives growing and building ideas, when I can get past my anxieties and when I can fight through all those social anxieties. And be in that. Bubbling messy brainstorm of creativity. I feel more alive than basically any other time. There's just something almost intoxicating about being in that creative boiler. We're amazing things are generated. So the next time you're feeling stuck in a creative rudder, just. Craving some good old fashioned collaboration. Don't be afraid to reach out to your fellow creatives. And not just your photographer, friends. Sometimes fellow photographers can't really help us out of a rut because they're seeing things the same way. We see things, especially if they're people we really like to shoot with. Try going out and jamming with a musician friend, even if you're a terrible musician or brainstorming a story with a friend of yours, who's a writer and working on their screenplay. Just try to find a new perspective from a fellow creative, and you'll just be amazed at how that expands. Your photographic brain and hones your creative eye for creating better imagery. All right onto tip number three, which for me is really in line with the previous and that stepping outside of your comfort zone. This is where you will see your photographic voice grow and morph and help you use your images to share something about yourself, your ventures, the way you travel, or just anything else. It will be about your voice. So picture this. You're not just grabbing your camera and venturing into new photographic territory, but you're also embracing new experiences and challenges that stretch you in unexpected ways. So why step out of your comfort zone in both your art and your life? Well, because it's like fueling a bonfire of inspiration that it can night every aspect of your being. When you push past the boundaries of what feels safe and familiar, you're not just evolving as an artist. You're also evolving as a person. Which evolves your art. And then of all geo is a person and then involves you as an art. It's a circle. It turns into a massive, quick circle. Maybe you've been curious about trying your hand at painting, or perhaps you've always wanted to learn a musical instrument. Who am I not give it a shot? Stepping into new creative realms can spark fresh ideas and perspectives that infuse your photography with newfound depth and richness. Like we were just talking about, about working with other creatives. And here's the real best part about this stepping out of your comfort zone. Isn't just about making cool art. It's about living life to the fullest and embracing that thrill of the unknown. Signing up for dance class, embarking on a solo backpacking trip. I'm volunteering for a cause you're passionate about every new experience expands your horizons and nourishes your soul. It's like adding vibrant splashes of color to the canvas of your life. Creating a masterpiece. That's uniquely yours. And then the lessons you learn and the courage you gained from stepping out of your comfort zone in life, inevitably seep into your art. Infusing it with authenticity. Depth. And vitality. And by embracing these new things, by saying yes, to doing some new and difficult things. You're going to inevitably build your creative. And hone your creative eye because it's going to inspire you and give you again, a new perspective on the world. All right. Tip number four, and this is where we really get into something specific for us travel photographers. And that's delving into the culture of an area we are visiting. This is like unlocking a treasure trove of stories, traditions, and experiences. That typically aren't found in any guidebook when you immerse yourself in the richness of local cultures, you're not just capturing photographs. You're capturing the essence of a place, its people and its spirit. When you take the time to connect with locals, learn about their customs and participate in their rituals. You're granted access to a world that's rimming with authenticity and wonder. Maybe sharing a meal with a family in a remote village, joining in a traditional dance celebration or learning a few phrases in the local language. Every interaction becomes a brush stoke in the tapestry of your travel story. And here's the beauty of it. Exploring local cultures. Isn't just about checking items off your travel bucket list. It's about forging, genuine connections and fostering mutual respect. It's about approaching each encounter with humility, curiosity. And an open heart and mind. Recognizing that you are a guest in someone else's home. By listening, learning, and showing appreciation for the richness, the local traditions. You're not only honoring the people and the places you visit. But you're also gaining a deeper understanding of the world and your place in it. We're building connections. These stories and experiences you collect from your attractions with local culture has become the heartbeat of your travel photography. Your images are no longer just snapshots of iconic landmarks. They become windows into the lives and souls of the people who call these places home. Too often I find in travel photography. We break down places. To just. They're icons. Places just to become about. Moraine lake, they just become about the Eiffel tower. They just become about the pyramids. We, we break these places down into these. Yes. Beautiful and mind blowing. Pieces of scenery or things that humans have built. But. That's not all these places are, there are people who live here. There are cultures. And when we go out on these travel adventures and we see those cultures and we invest in them and we learn about them and we explore the richness of them. That is really what travel is all about. It's about building. Not just ourselves, but also our connections to other people. And inevitably, if you get to know the culture of an area, That will seep into your photography. You will be able to truly show a place. From yes, your perspective as an outsider in it. But with a nod towards that culture, towards those people towards honoring everything that you were learning from them. And when you build these bridges and you dig into these cultures, you're going to be given opportunities. That you otherwise wouldn't be. You will meet people and be like, Hey, do you want to come see this really cool viewpoint? Or, Hey, do you want to come for this amazing piece of food or all these other sorts of things? And if you can connect with people who are there and honor them and respect them. It's amazing. What grows out of that. So. The next time that you're out, exploring the world with a camera in your hand. Don't just focus on those sites. Dive into the heart of local cultures and let their stories unfold. Before, not just your lens, but before your eyes as well. After all the most unforgettable travel stories are the ones that celebrate the beauty and diversity. Of our shared humanity. And of us as humans. Oh, all right. Under my favorite tip on this list. Number five. And that's starting a creative diary. This is your ultimate travel companion for planning, shoots, capturing ideas, sparking creativity. Planning out everything in front of you just it's your go-to guide. Think of it as your personal roadmap, guiding you through the twists and turns of your artistic journey. This can be a mixture of words, photos. Other visuals. Poetry, whatever you need it to be. Your creative diary becomes a treasure trove of inspiration. That is ready to accompany you on every adventure and every wild thing that you want to build. So a creative diary is really simple. It's a place where you put your creative ideas. That's it. If you have a moment of inspiration, you're like, I want to shoot photo about this. Jot it down. If you see something that you find absolutely stunning and it inspires the way that you want to shoot another image. Take a photo of it and put it in the diary. If the physical diary. Print it and put it in the diary. If you think of a composition that you want to try, put it in there. If you have a list of places you want to go and shoot, put it in there. If you see an ad that inspires something you want put it in there. That is the purpose of this. Start your creative diary and put it in there because then when you need some inspiration, when you. Want to find a way to shoot a photo. You can flip this back up and go like, oh yeah, that, that was what I wanted to do. This is where you can start planning, shoots as well. This is where you want to write out dates and times and locations and light setups. And so when you get to a location, You're not guessing and being like, oh, how do I do you flip, open? Your creative diary and you're like, yeah, this is what we're doing. Or you're building this out beforehand when you're building your shot list. And when you're building your set list out. You start flipping through and you're like, this is what we're doing and you put it in there so you can share it with the rest of your team. So when you're sketching out compositions, jotting down, location ideas, clicking snippets of inspiration, where magazines and websites here, creative diary is the place to nurture your creative spark. It's your. Your space where you can brainstorm, experiment and dream up new projects without any. The limitations. So, how do you get started building one of these. First off, choose your medium. Decide how you want to create your creative diary, whether you prefer a physical journal, a digital platform. A combination of these choose a medium that feels comfortable and accessible to you. And something that you will want to use and you feel. Inspired by. I have tried to create these in a variety of formats. And I find a physical one is the way for me to go. Digitally, it gets lost in the clutter of my phone. I tried to pull it up and I find it and I inevitably get distracted using other apps and doing other things. And phone calls happen. And I like the tactileness of a physical diary and yeah, that means that I will actually print images and put it in there. I will cut out clippings. I will take screenshots and put them in there. And I like being able to write things out by hand and draw and sketch ideas that come to me. But that might not be for you. And that's totally fine. There is no right way or wrong way to keep a creative diary. It is just for you. All right next, you need to actually set aside time. You need to carve out that dedicated time of your schedule to work on your creative diary. Whether it's a few minutes, each day, a longer session, once a week, consistency is key. And keeping it with you is. Difficult sometimes, but also kind of key in those situations where you can, because you don't know when inspiration is going to hit you. I have had. Ideas for how I want to execute a shoot while I've been showering while I've been running. I've seen a photograph of life being out for a walk and be like that is. Awesome and broken it down and analyzed and tried to figure out where they shot it. I've had lots of little tiny inspiration ideas hit me all over the place. So if you can keep something with you. To be able to add those ideas to that is amazing. And one of the things that I've found has worked really well. It's not keeping the bigger physical journal with me all the time. Cause that would be a nightmare, but making notes on my phone that I will set aside time to add to the journal later. Or I will take some time and have an actual small physical notebook with me and sketch out an idea while I'm sitting beside a river. And then I will just take that page out, sticking in the book a little bit later. So just make sure you were setting aside that time. Now if this idea of keeping a creative diary feels overwhelming at the start. Totally understand. So start small. Just begin by jotting down a few thoughts or ideas each day. Or maybe snap, a quick photo of something that catches your eye. And as you get more comfortable with the process, you can gradually expand and experiment with different techniques and formats and things that you can add. And maybe you want to add a color palette that catches your eye, and you want to start playing with color theory within there and getting some. Colored pens and really going wild with adding some other pieces to it. And that is awesome. But at the beginning, Start small. If that feels like how that's going to be accessible to you. If you want to go hog in and just go for it. By all rights, jump in there. Now also, don't be afraid to experiment and play with different medium styles and techniques in your creative diary, whether that's sketching, writing, collaging. Adding photos doing multimedia pieces, whatever. Let your imagination run wild. There are no rules or limitations. The only limit is what you place on this. It's only your limit at this point. All right. Now, this is really important. Periodically, take a step back to reflect on. Your creative diary and evaluate what's working. And what's not, it takes that time to reflect and revise. Are there any recurring themes or patterns emerging? Are there areas where you'd like to delve deeper or try something new? I use these reflections to guide your further entries and keep your creative journey. Evolving. Are there pieces where you're like, I remember that I want to learn more about this. Or that color scheme was really cool. I need to try and incorporate that into a shoot. It's your chance to really see what pieces of creativity flowing through you. Okay. Now you can also use this as a springboard, your creative diary. Isn't just a place to record ideas. It's a springboard for action. When you. You come across a particularly inspiring idea or concept, don't leave it languishing on the page. Use it as a jumping off point for your next creative project or photo shoot, like your diary, be the catalyst that propels your ideas from the realm of imagination into this realm. Of reality and it doesn't matter how crazy the idea is. You can probably bring it to life. There are some spectacular things that people are doing in front of us. One photographer out here. Took an. Ariel rope artist. And had her hanging off the glacier shooting from inside the glacier cave with her hanging out in front of it with mountains in behind her. And this was all physically set up the swimming really easy to do in post shoot her in a studio. Take a photo inside the glacier gave done. But no, they went out, they hung ropes. They set people up. They did all these things to create this. Mind blowing combination of this woman's beautiful aerial artistry with his spectacular imagery and together, they created something. Really spectacular. So don't just put creative things in here and then flip along and keep going. Use it. And while it's important to use your creative diary regularly, don't be afraid to adapt and evolve your approach as needed. If you find that a particular format or technique. Isn't working for you. Don't force it. Stay open to experimentation, be willing to adjust your diary to suit your changing needs and preferences. We grow, we change, we evolve. This should grow and change and evolve with you to be something that you want to use. And then the most important part of this, don't forget to celebrate your progress and accomplishments along the way. Whether it's completing a project overcoming a creative block, or simply just sticking to your diary routine for a week straight. Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. After all. Every step forward, no matter how small. It brings you closer to realizing your creative visions. And the best part. This is not just a record of where you've been, but a roadmap to where you could be going. Whether you're embarking on a new project, planning your next adventure, or simply daydreaming about future possibilities, your creative diaries there to guide you every step of the way. Remember. Your creative dairy, personal space for exploration and expression. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The most important thing is to have fun and let your creativity flow. And here we go onto our sixth and final tip and probably the hardest. And most impactful one on this list. Seeking feedback and critique. Yup. It might sound a tad daunting, but trust me, it's like discovering a gold mine of insights that can take your photography to the next level. Seeking feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities. Isn't just about getting a pat on the back. When we share our work with others, we're not just fishing for compliments. We're casting our net wide together, different perspectives and fresh ideas. It's like exploring a vast ocean of knowledge. So don't be shy, embrace the feedback and let it guide you on your creative journey. And you don't have to take every piece of feedback. In that you receive, you can pick and choose that feedback and you can choose to listen or not and add what helps you and throw away what doesn't. That being said. How do we actually go about asking for feedback on our work? It's a valid question and one that can feel a bit intimidating at first. But don't fear it. Approaching some of her feedback doesn't have to be nerve-wracking. In fact, it can be a great opportunity to connect with fellow photographers and learn from their expertise. So. First choose your audience wisely. Look for people whose opinions you trust and respect. Whether they're fellow photographers who work, you admire mentors who have guided you in the past are members of online communities known for their constructive feedback. It is important that you trust the people, giving you this feedback. And remember when you're reaching out for feedback, be clear and specific about what you're looking for. Are you seeking input on composition, lighting, editing, storytelling. Providing some context and guidance can help the person giving feedback, focus their attention, and provide more targeted insights. And remember feedback is a bit of a two-way street. You need to be open-minded and receptive to constructive criticism, but also be willing to ask questions and engage in dialogue. Sometimes the most valuable insights come from discussing different perspectives and exploring alternative approaches. So if you disagree with what somebody has said about your image and how it could be improved, Think about why you disagree with them and then think about maybe. Asking a little bit more and asking if they can explain something more in detail and maybe there's, there's something there that can actually really help you improve. And then honestly, don't forget to express gratitude for the feedback you receive. It can be a simple thank you. Or a more detailed response, just. Acknowledge the time and effort someone has put into helping you improve your work. And that just goes a long way to honestly, growing your connections in the photography community and a little bit of universal karmic. Goodness for you. And it's not just about receiving feedback. It's about giving it to, by offering constructive critiques to our fellow photographers. We not only help them improve, but also sharpen our own eye for detail. Plus sharing our thoughts and insights fosters a sense of camaraderie and support within that photography community. And that's really, truly special. And they're going to be more willing to give you feedback as well. This is a two way street giving and taking. So make seeking and giving feedback a regular part of your creative practice. It can be casual chats with friends online forms, formal portfolio reviews. Just actively seek out opportunities to learn from others and share our expertise. All right. And that's it. Now as we wrap up today's episode, I want to leave you with a bit of a spark of inspiration to fuel your creative journey. Remember. Developing your creative eye. Isn't just about mastering technical skills. It's about embracing curiosity, exploring new perspectives. And nurturing your passion for storytelling through photography. So, whether you're stepping out of your comfort zone, collaborating with fellow creatives or immersing yourself in the richness of local cultures. No, that every step you take is a step closer to unlocking your full potential is photographer. Hey. If you have any ideas or topics you'd like to hear about on future episodes. I'd love to hear them from you. Drop me a message. Share your thoughts with me. This is the reason I do this. I like the collaborations and the connections we can have together. So on Instagram, it's Robert Massey photography, or you can go onto my website at. Robert Massey photography.ca. And you'll be able to find my email there as well. And lastly, if you've enjoyed today's episode and found it helpful in your creative journey, I'd be thrilled. If you could take some time to rate and review the podcast and help some other people find it. Your feedback means the world to me. And. I don't do this as a way to make money or anything. I do this as a way, just to talk about photography with some folks and bring some joy and inspiration out there just to get some more wonderful art out in the world. All right. Get out there and go see this big, beautiful world of ours. Let's adventure. Bye for now.