Photo Curation

Photography is the art of curation of our perceived world. As a photographer, the moment you press the shutter, you are making a choice. It is an in the moment decision to capture what you see. In a sense, photographers are curating everything they see, life’s every moment, frames that pass through their eyes; they pick and choose which ones they want to appear on a photograph. They curate.

Good curators are able to describe why they choose certain content. Good photographers are no different. Many times as a photographer, I can’t describe why I press the shutter, often times it is an intuitive feeling, a feeling of liking or disliking what I see. How is what I’m seeing in the moment drawing me in, evoking an emotion in me? Is the photo’s message framed in a way that makes sense? The shapes, lines, colours, subjects — how are they helping to convey what I want to show others?

So often a picture is taken casually, without thought, or bound within the constraints of what people think is a pleasing photo. In this regard, photography is often given a bad rep; some people do not even see it as an art form. Often, photography buzzwords are thrown around. Rule of thirds. Leading lines. Rule of odds. These principles and rules are used to create an image that is pleasing to the eye, but sometimes boring and bland when followed blindly. There is nothing wrong with learning and using these rules — they are fundamental in understanding good design in photographs and many masterful images are created with them in mind.

However, there is more to a good photography than following technical rules and design concepts. Testing the bounds of these rules can be used to create conflict and intrigue. Breaking out of the rule of thirds and putting a subject on the edge of the frame, for instance, creates tension. It evokes a feeling of uneasiness. And that deserves more attention. Does the tension make sense? Does it feel purposeful? Why do I feel this particular emotion? This kind of introspection is paramount. It reinforces a positive feedback loop in a photographer’s mind, enabling them to create their own distinctive style and allowing them to spot opportune photos more often.

In the coming weeks, I will be studying some of my own photography to better understand my own intuition. Questions I will be asking myself:

What makes this photograph impactful?
Why did I press the shutter at this particular moment?
How did I use structural elements, colour, and framing to convey meaning?
How did I utilize the subject to create the story of this moment?
Does this photograph make me think? Does it challenge me?

As I answer these questions I hope to grow my artistic intuition. I urge anyone else who loves the craft to do the same. As photographers, if we better understand the mechanisms of our intuition, we become better at the art of curation. In other words, the more we understand the passing thoughts that lead our fingers to press the shutter, the more easily we will be able to deliver brilliant images.