PURPOSEFUL PHOTOGRAPHY
BEYOND THE SNAPSHOT
I'm John Rees, and I've been making photographs for a long time, starting with film and evolving into today's digital wonders. But in this age where the internet is bursting with images, I became creatively stagnant.
What do I shoot? What’s the point of taking pictures and does anyone even really care?
These questions led me back to the 1970s when I studied Psychology and Philosophy, fields that have always fascinated me, exploring the human condition. In early 2023, while revisiting the works of Kant, Nietzsche, and Camus, I had an idea of how this would pan out for me.
The answer wasn't about buying ‘better’ camera gear or chasing the latest trends. I’d been trying to do that for a while and it just wasn’t satisfying. For me it’s about the meaning behind making a photograph.
I absorbed content from many sources and during this time, the term 'Purposeful Photography' seemed to pop into my head. This simple phrase made sense because it encapsulated my thoughts and mindset.
Purposeful Photography is about intention, mindfulness, and creating photographs that resonate deeply with you as a photographer.
Intention means having a clear purpose for making a photograph or film. Telling a story, raising awareness on an issue, expressing a personal viewpoint or simply capturing a moment in a meaningful way. It’s about giving your unique perspective on the subject.
Mindfulness means being focused about the creative choices you make to align with your vision. These choices may include location, composition, lighting and anything else that’s relevant.
Embracing this purposeful approach will elevate images from snapshots to meaningful captures. It allows you to evoke emotions and forge lasting connections in your own mind and hopefully with others which can foster personal, intellectual, and artistic growth. Read about my influences and photographic style.
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P.S. As a psychology and philosophy enthusiast, I'm always intrigued by how these fields influence my photography. Stay tuned for future posts exploring the fascinating intersection of these realms and their impact on purposeful image creation.
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