With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, self-isolation has become the new normal for millions of people worldwide. Many photographers, whether they are professional, freelancers or simply enthusiasts, have taken a hit due to new restrictions, extremely limiting what they’re able to shoot. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t be productive at home! Here are 5 ways you can keep your photography skills sharp while in isolation.
Revisit your old work
Looking back with a fresh pair of eyes, it can also be a really good practice to review some of your past photos. Ask yourself, “What could I have done better back then?” “What did I do well?” “What would I do differently now?” Re-edit them using new techniques and acquired skills you’ve picked up along the way!
This form of constructive criticism can be really beneficial for understanding your process and the techniques you used, as well as how you’ve evolved as a photographer and artist.
Take photos around the house
Use your time in isolation to take photos around the house! You could practice food photography with your dinner, furniture photography, small product photography - the options are endless. Likewise, if you have family members or pets who are willing to get in the front of the camera, you’ve got a subject for portraits!
It might not always be the most professional setting, but using your house as the set for portrait or product photography can allow you to get creative with how you utilise space to get the desired look.
Edit your photos
Perhaps you’ve fallen behind on editing the photos from that overseas trip you went on last year? Maybe you just want to re-edit old photos for a bit of fun? Either way, now is the perfect time to catch up on all your photo edits and be able to come back with a clean slate once the isolation period is over. You can even try experimenting with different techniques, colour options and everything your editing software provides!
Practice self-portraits
Almost all the famous photographers in history have taken self-portraits, expressing themselves in a way that gives viewers an insight into their mind and soul. It’s also a very handy tool for practicing with timers or remote triggers, as well as allowing you to practice directing poses and knowing what to change in a pose and how. At the end of the day, it’s also a fun way to express yourself artistically, so why not give it a shot!
How to take photos of yourself- SELF PORTRAIT tutorial - Kutovakika
Black and White photography
Black and white photography, whilst more of a creative style than a photography technique, can be quite hard to master if you’ve only ever shot colour photography, so why not practice it? By opting to shoot in black and white, it forces you to pay special attention to the lighting you have available, and how you might play with it to create contrast, shadows or highlights to create a desired effect. It also allows you to get creative about how you bring an image to life without the presence of colour.
The beauty of this activity is you can pretty much tie it in with any of the aforementioned activities, whether it’s editing colour photos to be monochrome, or taking photos around the house or self-portraits in black and white. It’s another string you can add to your bow, and now is the perfect time to do so!
At the end of the day, when you’re away from work and unable to explore outside, it can be quite challenging to motivate yourself to stay on top of your craft as a photographer. However, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to revisit your old work, catch up on edits, experiment with new and exciting techniques, and practice creating beautiful content with limited resources.
As long as you’re staying productive and continuing to find ways to do things that will benefit your craft, you can’t go wrong. It’s a tough period for a lot of people, however, we should be trying to make the most of it! If you believe there was something we missed on this list, or you have any further questions, please contact your local Dragon Image.