The Idea of Genre is Dead

My evolution as a photographer has been that of a bell curve.

I liken it to this type of graph by how my approach has been loosely defined, to refined, to now broadly based.

Many years ago, I would’ve shirked the idea of including a “man-made object” into a composition.

I said to myself “I am strictly a nature photographer! I do not want to photograph people or buildings!”

Yet this limiting belief began to stifle my creativity. My sense of discovery within photography diminished.

There was an impending doom of “the creative rut” coming about me.

I felt there was more to the story I had to tell.

And so, I began diving deep into other forms of photography.

I started to research how to create ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) images, how to piece together a panorama of a city skyline, how to incorporate the “hand of man” into my compositions seamlessly.

Suddenly, the limiting beliefs and self-imposed labels I had been living just went away.

I wasn’t just a nature photographer anymore, I was now a photographer.

This may sound hokey, as nature is still first and foremost my primary discipline and source material behind the camera. Yet this could now free my mind to express itself in new and unusual ways.

The portfolio as a result began to evolve with the experimentation, and my overall happiness tended to flourish with the new work.

To top it all off, the public’s reception of the changes were quite welcome.

Fear and inexperience should never be a deterrent for producing new work. In fact, it should only fuel you to give it a shot!

Have you ever took a deep dive into a new form or genre of photography? How did it go? I would love to hear some stories or see some examples of your photographic experiments.

Leave a comment down below or email them, thanks for reading!

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The ‘All Outdoors Photography Podcast‘ is a show where we discuss stories from out in the field, techniques and gear with two outdoor photographers and various guests.

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Avian Experiences with Theodore Emery – All Outdoors Photography Podcast

In today’s episode, we have Theodore Emery on the show, a bird and wildlife photographer originally from Ohio. We discuss topics such as teaching others about the natural world, Theo’s excellent use of color and creative composition in photos, and why being at the moment is the best mindset for your photography and enjoyment of the outdoors. Follow Theodore: Website: https://www.windandwing.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wind.and.wing/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0nxb-drjFLWGjYqm_eMNEg Patreon Link https://www.patreon.com/alloutdoorsphotographypodcast?fan_landing=true About the Show: Welcome to the All-Outdoors Photography Podcast! This podcast is about all things nature photography, including landscapes, wildlife, macro, and more. The show also features many guests who are professionals in their respective genres. The show features two talented photographers Henry Doyle and Ryan Taylor who both bring their different and unique photography experiences to the podcast. Episodes are released weekly every Tuesday at 1 pm EST. Follow the Show: Email Us: alloutdoorsphotographypodcast@gmail.com Linktree (Links to all Podcast Platforms) – http://www.linktr.ee/AllOutdoorsPodcast Instagram- https://bit.ly/3jKBTmU YouTube- https://bit.ly/32WB5FJ Follow the Hosts: Henry Doyle Instagram- https://bit.ly/3jHhIX0 YouTube- https://bit.ly/2X0XldT Ryan Taylor Website- http://www.ryanltaylor.com Blog- https://bit.ly/2Nd3r8L Instagram- https://bit.ly/32VgPUP

1. Avian Experiences with Theodore Emery 55:12
2. Printing & Photo Papers with Evan Parker 57:02
3. In the Field with Henry & Ryan 33:22
4. Wildlife Moments in Time with Joshua Brown 48:33
5. Holiday Live Stream with Noah Buchanan 02:15:31