For the longest time, I wrestled with this question. It would always come up, again and again when I displayed my work. People would comment, "Oh man, I love your style!" or "I wish I could have your style!" or "Can you teach me how to work in your style?" And to be honest, I used to try. I used to try to explain my working processes and my thoughts on how to do design to people, but no matter how hard they tried, they never were able to achieve what they thought looked like a piece done in "my" style.
But the harder I tried to explain, the more I felt like I didn't really have a style. I've never classified myself, or given myself a certain title, such as "photojournalist" or "collagist" or "portrait photographer" and the like because I don't feel like I fall into any of these categories. Or do I?
And what exactly defines style? Is it the post-processing done on a photo, the actions I use in PS? Or is it the way the photograph is taken from the get-go, before it ever even leaves the camera?
I've recently run across a couple of professors who PERFECTLY articulated the answer to these dilemmas for me. The first was a visiting professor from Earlham College whose photo show just opened up in one of the galleries on campus. During an open discussion with the viewers in the gallery, one student asked how he developed his unique style. He chuckled slightly, and said something to the effect of this:
"Style? You see style in these? Because I see a lack of style. How do these photos even relate to each other? One is a close perspective, the other is far away. One is a tree stump, the other is a man-made object. Does that mean I don't have a continuity of style? And what is style to you? Does it really matter in the end, as long as your photograph is drawing the viewer in? It takes a fresh pair of eyes to see that all of these photos have some type of style and cohesiveness, because I just shoot what I like and what I'm drawn to. I don't try to fit into something so defined as 'style.'"The second professor is my Visual Communications (Graphic Design) professor. She's all about getting us to learn the process behind creativity, the process of design. She loves hand skills, and doesn't really care for the computer. Give her a Xerox machine over a printer any day. But she constantly beats into our heads that, if you open up and let go, YOU will naturally show in your piece.
So does this mean that I AM my own style?
I finally feel that I've put the pieces together. My "style" is just me. It's how I see things, how I relate to the world, what draws me in. It's slightly ADD: I'm often attracted to the sparkly thing on the newly engaged woman's finger more so than I am their surroundings, or the spark of love in the couple's eyes or the glow in their cheeks that speaks of true passion and love. And I use whatever angle, whatever process it takes to recreate that for me. I love contrast, and I find beauty in the old and decayed, but also in the new and perfect. I strive to let myself show through in my pieces. That is MY STYLE, and no one can ever hope to copy it.
We idolize and adore and look up to certain creative professionals in our fields. I know in mine, it's people like Stefan Sagmeister. Their work is constantly flashed before us as an example of the "perfect design" for this or the "perfect concept" for that. But in reality, although I can emulate their design, I can never truly design like them because I'm not them. I don't think like them, I don't have the same experiences as them. I'm never going to be truly satisfied with a piece if it doesn't scream "ME!" loud and clear. And with photos, I'm never going to be truly satisfied unless I'm able to capture the feeling that I have at the moment I click that shutter. Post-processing and actions are just a means to helping me achieve this; they don't create "me."
So from now on, instead of trying to define your "style," I challenge you just to work and think and feel your way through whatever it is you're creating. Eventually, you may start to see patterns in your work, and perhaps you should explore those avenues for a while and see where they go. But don't be afraid to always be recreating yourself and let yourself go down a different "style" road some day. You just may like the adventure.
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