It struck me recently, there’s something I’ve been doing with my photography that I hadn’t noticed before. I’m actually shooting with my printing in mind. I didn’t realize it until I started clearing out my 2009 Lightroom Library (I’m making yearly libraries of everything that gets shot for the year).
Honestly, it’s a pretty surprising revelation. As I sorted, flagged, rejected, prioritized, etc, I saw the trend and pattern. This year’s library, with the exception of the fire dancers, has a pattern in it. A pattern that spurred me to look at the 08 and 07 libraries. Definite differences! I’m working myself into a corner, and I didn’t even know it!
Since I print my own work for the gallery, and work for other artists in the area, my options for “large” pieces are fairly unlimited! I can go BIG. And it seems that knowledge has filtered into my shooting style. Wider & larger, that’s what I seem to be shooting a lot this year. Things that will translate better to larger format. Whoops, one of those subconcious things I suppose.
Now that I’ve noticed the trend I’ll think more before I take a shot. Why? Well, everything doesn’t have to be large format. I think I should be shooting for a good image, no matter what the reproduction medium is. Not everyone “needs” a big print.
So, in the next few weeks watch for some changes in images. I’ll be watching as well! 🙂