14-Day Creativity Challenge
Here is the TRUTH you need to know about being a creative photographer. One of the biggest struggles is finding something interesting to photograph and making it more interesting than a snapshot. It is not about the technical know-how or having the best camera!
This challenge is the key to discovering and unleashing your creativity, confidently capture interesting photos anytime in any location and start feeling like a more passionate and creative photographer and person.
This photo creativity challenge is not about creating beautiful photos. It is about the journey of discovering photo intention, basic composition and storytelling.
To quote Ansel Adams: "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept."
Day 1: Forced perspective of close/distant objects
Holding objects close to a smartphone camera lens makes it appear larger. The further away from the lens, the smaller they appear. This can be to our creative benefit. You can make it look like the item in your hand is huge or tiny, depending on the distance of the lens.
The challenge today is to photograph an object close to the lens and positioned off to the side. This will creatively make the distant background elements blurred and appear smaller. This is an easy, fun way to provide an interesting perspective on the image.
Activity objective: Don't worry about the result of your image. This activity is just about getting out there, having fun and playing.
Tip: Keep minimal elements in the scene to make the image as simple as possible. This makes the forced perspective stand out even further.
Day 2: Go for a walk and capture a neighbour's garden
Stanford researchers found that walking boosts creative inspiration by an average of 60%. Sounds like a great excuse to me to get outside your local area and take some fresh air. If you are unable to leave your home, you will be pleased to hear that the study discovered similar benefits of walking inside your own home. Not many photographic opportunities staring at a wall on the treadmill! A gentle stroll around your neighbourhood to capture flowers hanging over the path will provide some photographic opportunities.
Activity Objective: Stepping up your creativity! I couldn't help it, that title was waiting for me to step up and use it...
Tip: If you are capturing gardens, take note of the small details.
Day 3: Rule of Thirds - basic photo composition
This is one of the easiest and most transformational photo compositional techniques.
Firstly, what is composition? Your image includes the main subject and extra elements in the frame. The composition is how elements are positioned and how they all interact with each other.
The Rule of Thirds is the process of placing two equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines across the photo. This creates nine squares, looking like a Tic-Tac-Toe board.
In your camera settings, turn on the Grid or Gridlines. The idea is to place the main subject on top of one of these lines, effectively placing it off-centre. The result is a more dynamic-looking image instead of the subject being static in the centre of the frame. This also creates space around the subject for the viewer's attention to explore other elements in the scene.
Activity objective: Composition is the first step to becoming a more intentional storyteller.
Tip: The sweet spot is placing your main subject on one of the four points where the lines intersect. Your subject will then be off-centre both vertically and horizontally.
Day 4: Crop an image to create a whole new focus point and composition
That title sounds a little confusing, doesn't it? There are often so many photo framing opportunities that we simply miss. Basically, choose an object and open the crop tool in your favourite editor. This could be the built-in photo editor or a mobile editing app. My favourites are Snapseed by Google and Lightroom mobile app by Adobe.
Activity objective: Experiment and discover the many different framing opportunities in your photos.
Tip: A quick way to identify a 'photo within a photo' is to pinch and zoom in on different parts of your photo!
Day 5: Captured two dominant colours in your scene
Locate a scene having two dominant colours that stand out against the background. The easiest way to achieve this is a close-up image where you can minimise objects in the scene.
For best results, try to select two complementary colours that are quite different. Known as colour contrast. Select two colours on opposite sides of the colour wheel to make elements stand out.
Activity objective: Colours can play an important part in photo composition, aesthetics and the mood of the image.
Tip: The colour red is a strong colour that contrasts against a blue sky or green plant foliage.
Day 6: Reflection -add more interest to your subject
I love reflection shots. So much so that I carry a bottle of water with me just to create a temporary puddle to shoot across!
Once you start looking for reflections, you will start to see them everywhere. Check out interesting reflections in windows, mirrors, puddles or even sunglasses.
This technique will have people commenting on how creative you are!
Activity objective: This technique teaches you to look out for interesting, unique perspectives.
Tip: If you are shooting a very low-angle across a puddle, rotate your smartphone so the lens is closest to the water.
Day 7: Dutch angle - easy and dramatic compositional technique
Activity objective: Many people get this technique wrong. You now know the why before introducing it to your photography.
Tip: Angling the image in the direction of the natural flow of the content introduces movement.
The Dutch angle compositional technique is one of my favourites. It can instantly produce a dramatic improvement in the right photo choice. It's a technique that you may not have tried or have experienced yourself, that sometimes doesn't work.
We interpret photos incredibly fast. Your photo may have a perfect subject, correct exposure, tones and beautiful colours. If the photo is slightly tilted, the viewer will subconsciously notice that there is something wrong. If there are elements that we know to be vertical, like street poles, and they are not straight, we pick up on it instantly.
What is the Dutch angle?
Also known as Dutch tilt, canted angle, or oblique angle. It is basically an intentionally crooked photo. The keyword there is intentional. It cannot be slightly crooked, because it looks like you just held the smartphone at an angle. You do not want horizons looking slightly tilted. The Dutch angle is more intentional and exaggerated for a creative effect. You can achieve this at capture by angling your smartphone or easily in mobile editing.
This technique is common in cinema cinematography for the dramatic effect. It helps to portray movement and/or introduce some unease and disorientation for that desperate or frantic action scene. The visual tension can also add to the storytelling of 2-dimensional photos. It is a common technique in the genre of street photography.
The camera technique became popular among German expressionists in the 1920s. The term has no connection to Dutch people. It is a pejorative adjective meaning non-traditional, non-aligned frame.
The app and tool that I use to introduce the Dutch angle is the Perspective tool inside Snapseed. It is amazing! Most rotation tools will zoom in and crop the photo. The Perspective tool has a Rotate option. It copies what is inside the edges of the frame and adds it to the outside corners, minimising how much of the photo is cropped and removed. It is easier to watch this tool in action.
Still don't quite get it? Here is an article I shared on my website with a YouTube video that may be a bit clearer - https://www.smartphonephotographytraining.com/composition/dutch-angle
Day 8: Self-portrait - this is not just a selfie!
In the second week now. The project-based challenges are starting to build in complexity and introduce more photographic concepts to help you get creative.
This topic is there to help us get out of our comfort zone. This is not a selfie photo. Try to set up your smartphone and step away from the camera!
The creative element of this image is to think about what you want to include in the image. You could add props to introduce your interests or a specific location of your choice.
Activity objectives: Taking you outside of your comfort zone - photos of yourself are a precious gift for your loved ones.
Tip: No advanced tips here. Just get in front of the camera! You do not need to share it.
Day 9: Add a vignette to a photo where the main subject is centred
A vignette is the deliberate darkening of the edges of the frame using a photo editor. This basic composition editing technique directs the attention of the photo viewer toward the centre of the frame. Obviously, this works best when the main subject is front and centre.
If your built-in photo editor does not have that tool, you can download the free Snapseed app.
Activity Objective: This starts to introduce the power of photo editing to start directing the attention of the viewer inside the photo.
Tip: Most Vignette tools can be adjusted to add a white vignette. This can be great for some black and white images.
Day 10: Capture a subject or scene 9 different ways
This one is a bit of a challenge and a lot of fun!
Choose any object, either fixed or movable and find 9 different unique ways to capture it. You can shoot from front, rear, side, low or high angle, include props or shoot at different times of the day when lighting changes.
If you find this one to be a bit of a struggle, feel free to capture a location 9 different ways. You can upload your favourite or all of them in a collage. My favourite collage apps are Layout by Instagram and PicsArt - click/tap here.
Activity objective: This is another opportunity to experiment, looking for alternative capture angles and study close-up details
Tip: A subject that has multiple viewpoints will be more interesting than capturing an egg 9 ways!
Day 11: Triptych - an introduction to storytelling
Like creativity in other art forms, your images need purpose. The most impactful images more often have an intention behind them, to tell stories, stir an emotion or communicate something.
Start by pausing and reflecting on the motivation for taking your smartphone out to take the photo. This helps to frame the subject and supporting elements in the scene and experiment with different angles and lighting.
The result: stronger, more engaging images with purpose and meaning, leading to far more creative photography.
Capture a story in 3 photos
A series of images can be easier to communicate a story than a single image. Video has audio providing the narrative and context. It is quite difficult to communicate the same thoroughness in a single image.
The easiest way to create a story in 3 photos is to capture a sequence of events over time or in different locations.
Three images can be placed alongside each other in a collage to create a triptych. My favourite collage app is Layout by Instagram or PicsArt - click/tap here.
Activity objective: Storytelling in photography can be quite difficult. This exercise encourages you to identify what elements in a scene help to communicate the intention of the photo.
Tip: You can also create a single-image triptych. This is achieved by cropping and evenly spacing three sections of one image.
Day 12: Black and White - when and how
Black and white is one of my favourite photographic genres. It is often misunderstood that any image can be converted to black and white. How many times have you seen people ask online, Does this look better in colour or black and white?
Certain scenes lend themselves extremely well to black and white. Generally, converting from colour to black and white removes the distraction of colour. It also further emphasises the tones, textures/details and lines in the image.
Black and white can become more dramatic or enhance the mood in an image.
How?
Most smartphone cameras have a live filter to shoot in monochrome or black and white. You can even reduce saturation in most photo editors to remove the colour.
Snapseed and Adobe Lightroom mobile apps have black and white tools.
Activity objective: Capturing and editing in black and white encourages you to identify and 'see' lights and darks in your image.
Tip: Choose a scene with extreme darks and lights - also known as High Contrast Black and White.
I always find capturing people in their element a little intimidating. It is so much easier when they are completely immersed in what they are doing, adding to the story. Although I did feel like I was being watched!
Day 13: Capture the shadows - see the light
In the last black and white exercise, I briefly touched on the importance of lights and darks in an image. The existence of shadows in the image creates depth. In today's exercise, hold an object close to a bright light source to create strong shadows on the opposite side.
A great option for a portable light source is the torch on a second smartphone. Move the torch close and further away and around the subject. Note the change in light/shadow intensity and how the light falls off the subject.
In editing, you can further accentuate the shadows by decreasing shadows and/or increasing contrast.
Activity objective: Learning how to see light and understand how it shapes an object helps to create more depth in your photos.
Tip: On most smartphones, you can tap on the subject on the screen to set where to best expose the image (balance light and dark). Next, swipe up and down on the screen (or left/right) to manually adjust the brightness. *Not available on all mobile devices.
Day 14: Become a Photo Hacker
You made it, Day 14!
In this last activity, I wanted to leave you with a plan going forward to further help develop your creativity.
The term Photo Hacker is one I made up! What does it mean?
'Photo hacking is the process of analysing and reverse engineering a photo you admire to duplicate the photographic intention and execution in your own photos.'
How do we analyse a photo?
Ask yourself some questions. Not all of these are going to be relevant. However, thinking about these questions will assist in identifying the intention and execution of the photograph.
What is the main subject, and what makes it obvious?
Are there supporting elements in the scene that provide context?
What first attracts your attention, and then where does your eye wander
How did the photo make you feel? What would you attribute that to?
Look to see how these photo elements are included/excluded, positioned and either emphasised or reduced. Elements include: shape (2D outlines), form (3D shapes - depth), tones, colours, lines, textures and space.
How has the photographer captured or edited each of these elements and created a strong composition?
Having trouble breaking down the composition in an image? Check out this tutorial, where I identify 50 composition techniques and tips in a single image!
More articles:
Mastering the Art of Visual Tension in Smartphone Photography
Change Viewpoint & Perspective to Instantly Improve Your Photos
30 Tips to Create Stunning Silhouette Photos on Your Smartphone
Add Energy To Photos Using the Dutch Angle Composition Technique
Capture A Subject 9 Different Ways To Discover Your Creativity
Use the Snapseed Expand Tool to Add Extra Space in Your Image to Crop
The Rule of Thirds – Grid Lines on Your Smartphone Explained
Street Art Photography Tips for your iPhone and Android Smartphone
