Videos
All videos on this website are copyright Michael Orton
The Liquid Landscape
River of Light
Water
Reverence
Surface
Illusion
Focus
Books
Photographing creative Landscapes
Simple tools for artistic images and enhanced creativity
Published by Amherst Media - New York 2001
Once upon an Island
Images of Vancouver Island
Published by Orca Book Publishers Victoria Bc 1992
You Can Be Creative Michael Orton
(from Photographing Creative Landscapes)
Where does creativity come from? Why do some people have it? Why don't I? These are perfectly normal questions that we ask ourselves in our search for the seemingly intangible. Some would say that creativity could not be taught , that it was something inherited, part of our genetic makeup. The conclusion was that if you were not spontaneously producing "creative" work, you just weren't creative and there was no point in trying. Truthfully, although there are some individuals who are able to rise to higher levels than others, creative potential exists in everyone, and the height to which a person's creativity can soar to is determined largely by desire, dedication and persistence. It does not just happen, we make it happen. I have always believed there is creativity in anyone who believes it is there and is willing to cultivate it.
You will find many definitions of what is creative , each of us will have a different one . I would not consider creativity to be a goal, that once reached is the conclusion of the process. Rather, it is a search, it is a journey, and not the destination. Creative photography happens when we have complete freedom to explore, uninhibited , the multitude of relationships between the camera, lens, light, subject matter and ourselves. It involves abandoning some of our preconceptions of what a photograph might be and go beyond our established boundaries. We may feel creativity is out of our reach, beyond our grasp, but don't forget that a book is written one word at a time. Build gradually toward being more creative one step at a time.
The starting point for me comes from a very simple statement, "Creativity (for photographers) is the recognition and realization of our own curiosity". In other words, I recognize and understand that I do have curiosity, the ability to examine and question my surroundings , and to then bring these observations into reality using my camera. How carefully do you observe or see your subject matter? Do you recognize all of the visual qualities that you might explore with your camera? For example while some of us simply see a tree, there could in fact be a multitude of other possibilities. Remove the label "tree" and consider this. The trunk may be wonderfully textured or patterned and colored. Mosses or lichens may exist on it. Is the tree backlit, side lit or shaded? Is there a shadow on the ground beneath? Are there fallen leaves or cones laying in patterns? Look up into the tree. Do the branches form a pattern as they spread out from the trunk? Do the leaves silhouette against sky? Are the leaves translucent with light passing through them? What is the light doing to them? How would different light affect them? What do the edges and stems of the leaves look like? Is this a single tree or part of a family of trees? Are there differences in the shapes and textures of these trees? Do the trunks form a repetitive pattern? Is the wind moving the branches and leaves? How will these trees appear in the different seasons; with snow, with rain, at sunrise, on a misty morning? I could go on and on. There is a difference between looking and seeing. Truly exploring and questioning what we are really looking at will take us beyond obvious labels into the realm of seeing in a way we may not have realized existed.
A deep sense of curiosity and the ability to truly "see" are two giant steps toward becoming more creative, now lets add the camera. I am making the assumption here that everyone owning an SLR understands the effects of altering apertures, shutter speeds and using exposure compensation, the basic decisions we make with our camera. If your camera has only been used in the Program Mode, now is the time to step off the edge and find out what your camera can really do with you at the controls. Here is my condensed list of choices you can explore with your camera. Multiple composition choices, different depth of field (aperture), over or under exposure, shutter speed, choice of lens (perspective), multiple exposures, sandwiched or layer exposures (example - Orton Effect), camera motion and/or zoomed exposures, artificial or flash light, lens filters - example polarizer, diffusion (looking thru or beyond subject matter close to the camera), extreme angle of view (up, down, behind etc), ISO setting and the one you really want to embrace , combinations of all and more. There are others that you may wish to add to this, but if you can manage to use just these on a regular basis your photographic vision will begin to evolve. In these days of digital cameras, what a wonderful opportunity to explore without the cost of buying and processing film. There really is no reason not to experiment and get a feel for what your camera can do with you making the decisions.
The next step towards creative comes from two small words. If you don't have an aversion to tattoos you might consider having this inscribed on the back of your hand so that every time you lift your camera you will see, " What If ? " If you were to ask me what my simplified "workflow " was I would say, " I walk into the landscape, absorb and become aware of every nuance, each and every visual quality, and then begin scrolling through my photographic choices , constantly asking myself "What If ? " This is a creative conversation where I am asking and answering a continual flow of possibilities . Some I will act on, some I will dismiss and store away for a suitable future moment. This mindset and the influence of an artist friend who introduced me to pen and ink with watercolors were reason the Orton Effect came into existence. Years ago I began exploring camera movement during the exposure, and today I am letting this camera technique take me places I haven't been . ICM as it is called, gives the photographer a glimpse at what it feels like to take raw material and shape and forge it into a finished piece. After years of carrying a camera this where I am today.
Here are some simple steps to being more creative with your camera.
One. Be curious about what you are photographing, and the world in general. You can and should do this with and without your camera.
Two. Understand your camera and what it can do with you at the controls. These are your camera choices.
Three. Talk to yourself, and ask questions about the choices you can make with your camera. If you need to, make a list of these choices and look at it in the field while using your camera .
Four. Ask yourself "What If" while scrolling through all of your photographic choices. You might even try to answer "What If" before you lift your camera.
If you keep doing this, and adding to your photographic choices, and their combinations the "What If " window gets bigger and bigger and at some point you may not only create but invent.