Denis' Workshop, page four

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One can not teach personal vision. It can be learned to a degree, but it's really something that's always been inside of you, whether you realize it or not. Something you have to draw out and develop. Rather than something learned, it's more of a matter of something you discover.

Personal Vision begins with seeing, not looking, but really seeing. In my article on Photography I say once you get serious about photography that, "You begin to see rather than just look. You see shapes, patterns, lines, color, texture. You see detail, quality of light, sense of place. In addition, you notice how light falls on a subject. You notice if it's harsh and contrasty or soft and subdued. You imagine how the scene would look in different lighting situations - even different weather conditions and seasons." However, this is only a part of seeing and developing your Personal Vision.

Personal Vision is seeing things your way, and doing what you can to put that vision into a photograph. It's developing your own photographic style, rather than copying that of others. It's putting your thoughts and emotions into your composition. One might say it's opening your soul to photography.

One might think they have no special personal vision. I say Bull! Everyone has special personal vision. For photography that will be discovered and be allowed to grow as one learns the other two basics of photography, exposure and composition - as well as learning to see rather than just look.

On this latter part, seeing, I can give some tips to help you develop that necessary aspect. In essence, it's really only one tip - Slow Down.

Don't just go out and grab a photo of something. Take your time to compose. This is another good reason to use a tripod. Setting up your tripod and attaching your equipment, and then framing your shot forces one to slow down. Slowing down gives one time to think, to think about how you want to frame, how to use the lighting available, what angle to shoot from, what exposure you want to use, how you want to render the photo, etc.

But there's another element of slowing down that is just as, if not more, important. That being getting a Sense of Place. By that I mean get to know your photographic location, whether it's in the city, at home, a park, or at some great scenic location. Walk around and get to know the surroundings. Sit and take in how the environment acts upon itself.

Watch how the wind plays, how light falls on the subject, see what makes the scene special and decide what to keep and what to cut out. Watch how people interact, of if birds and/or animals are following a pattern.

Taking it all in, getting a feel for the place will help you make better choices in making a photograph rather than just a snap-shot.

Seeing Assignment:
This is a popular assingment often suggested by many photographers. Go out in a field, a park, your yard, and draw an imaginary circle six to ten feet in diameter. Then take photos of objects only within that circle. If you cheat, you are only cheating yourself. But take a whole roll of film or 25 to 35 shots on digital of things within that circle. It's easier if you place your circle where there are a variety of objects, but even what seems a simple, un-cluttered circle can offer a variety of photo opportunities: grass, a tree branch, flower, insects, a discarded piece of trash, or whatever you find there. The object being that this causes you to look, to actually see all that is really there. You can also expand this. Once you've photographed within the circle, you can then take the same number of photos looking outside the circle. The more photos you take the more you will be forced to see.

Vision Assignment:
This is an assignment that you have to give yourself. Regardless of what or where you photograph, you must do so creatively. Subjects that you've seen other pictures of, or that are similar, is a good choice, but take photos of them in your way, as your heart tells you to take them. Look deep within and ask yourself, "How can I make this photo better than others I've seen." Don't be afraid to experiment in your attempt to make the photo what you want it to be. After all, experimentation is the essence of becoming a better photographer.