The great thing about photography (well...one of many great things) is that there is always something new and different to try.
This might be a new compositional technique to make your images more eye-catching.
It might be a different way to process your images to create a different aesthetic.
You can also try new photography gear that helps expand your capabilities for making something more creative.
The question is, what are the best ways to get more creative with your camera?
I've narrowed the list down to four essentials...
Use a Camera Remote
You might be wondering how a camera remote can help you be more creative...
It's simple: given the right camera remote, you can open up whole new worlds of photography.
There are cheap remotes that do little more than allow you to trigger the shutter without touching your camera.
And while that's valuable in that it can help you avoid camera shake and get sharper photos, it doesn't maximize what you can do remotely.
Pulse by Alpine Labs, on the other hand, gives you far more power to do creative things.
On the one hand, you can use Pulse and your smartphone to remotely trigger the shutter for perfectly still, sharp images.
On the other hand, you can also use Pulse and its smartphone app to make changes to critical camera settings - aperture, shutter speed, and ISO among them.
Even better, Pulse allows you to create long exposures, bracket your images with up to 7 exposure values, and ramp the exposure for epic day-to-night timelapse videos.
You can even create normal videos with Pulse!
Talk about getting creative...
You can simply do more with Pulse, and do so with ease.
Just enter the settings you want for your still photo, long exposure, timelapse, or video, and Pulse will take it from there. Your phone doesn't even have to stay connected to Pulse, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
It's a tiny gadget too - at just 1.5 ounces you can carry it in your pocket.
In other words, Pulse will help you take your photography to the next level. Trust me, I know firsthand!
Try a Photography Challenge
Part of becoming a more creative and skilled photographer is to simply challenge yourself and get our of your comfort zone.
An easy way to do that is to try a photography challenge...
For example, try the "Two Dozen Challenge" in which you select a location from which to shoot, and then take two dozen photos from the same spot.
Though you can't move from that spot, you can stand up or kneel down, angle your camera up and down, manipulate your camera settings, zoom in and out, and so forth.
Another challenge is called "Ten of One" in which you take ten different photos of the same subject.
In this challenge, you're free to move around, but the subject remains the same.
For example, you might select something like the flowers on the tree in the image above, and work to create 10 unique images of the flowers.
What's common to both of these challenges is that they get you thinking about how to make each shot different. And with the restrictions placed on you, you're forced to get creative.
Take the PhotographyTalk 30-Day Creative Eye Challenge.
Focus on Single Elements
A related task to the photography challenges noted above is to focus on specific elements while shooting in one location.
For example, let's say you go to a local beach. Once there, you would take up the task of photographing each of the following elements:
- Shadow
- Light
- Shapes
- Lines
- Textures
- Colors
- Depth
- Size
This exercise will benefit you in a couple of ways.
First, it gives you specific things for which to look in the scene. That helps you break down the scene to identify what elements you can use to create a more visually impactful photo.
Second, this exercise requires you to use different camera settings to create the best images.
For example, when photographing light and shadow, you'll have to adjust your exposure settings such that each photo is well exposed.
When photographing depth, you'll need to work with aperture to restrict and expand the depth of field.
In other words, this isn't just a creative exercise but one that helps you become more technically proficient as well.
Learn How to Process Your Images
We have more powerful post-processing tools at our disposal today than at any point in the past.
And though there's something to be said for avoiding overprocessing your images, there is certainly creative value in understanding how to use programs like Lightroom or Photoshop to increase the visual appeal of your photos.
You don't even need to learn how to do anything especially crazy here, either.
Learn how to adjust levels and curves. Figure out how to sharpen images. Use photo filters or presets to add flair to your shots.
Heck, just learning how to correct lens distortion, adjust white balance, and crop your images will give you a greater ability to create eye-catching photos that are more creative.
If you aren't sure where to start with post-processing, check out the video tutorial above by Justin Odisho.
With that, you have four rock-solid and dead-simple ways to become a more creative photographer.
Now the only question is, which method will you try first?