Throwing Ourselves Out There

Photo by Florence Eade, 17, UK

Let’s give some credit to chance, chaos and even slight madness, that bring this unique dynamic and totally unpredictable quality to our photography.

We can stage, plan, control, strategise or we can just throw ourselves out here and respond entirely to the moment.

However here’s a twist: the throwing part works particularly well once you’ve learned some basic skills like technique and composition and once your own aesthetic and style start to take shape.

An unpredictable set of circumstances can push what’s already there and actually bring out who you really are with greater velocity and energy. Certainly more so than a carefully timed and executed plan!

Learner’s Tip 📸

For all the beautiful randomness we see in this photo by Florence, I can tell that she knows exactly what she’s doing! Her choice of this particular shot (I assume there were more than one) is not accidental.

Notice how someone’s leg is sticking out at the back, but this might as well be arm of the girl in front, so instead of ruining it, it actually adds to the composition. Even the bar in the ceiling is strangely perfect where it is.

Black and white is an excellent choice for this image, with all the contrast in the stripes, patterns and the dancing hair.

And of course the most precious detail is the girl’s expression - relaxed, she is sort of floating, but also switched on and alive.

Don’t be afraid to shoot a lot when experimenting - often that’s what it takes to get exactly what you want even if you have no clue what that is yet!