After we’ve gotten beyond the initial basics of learning how our cameras operate… once the “photo bug” has bitten – we photography junkies all want more creative digital photography. (Assuming you use a digital camera system – otherwise you’ll want more eye popping film photographs! )

Let’s face it we’ve all been there. We look at the photos we run across in our travels, then we look at our photos and obviously something is lacking. The beginnings are present , a good exposure setting, a useable shutter setting, clear focus and so on, but our shot just isn’t up to snuff.

Afraid You Don’t Possess A “Creative” Talent?

True there are geniuses around! Maybe a handful spread around the world. Compared to them, our photos will never compete. (No one else’s photos will either!) But in general, we aren’t analyzing our photos against that minuscule group… we are typically comparing our work to the standard production of typical, everyday Joes who usually are NOT more creative than we are.

Generally, the first thing we think is that we are lacking and just don’t possess the “creative” gift! As normal people do, we tend to undervalue our own photography, and overvalue the artwork of others.

Creative digital photography can be LEARNED.

The only differentiation between “us” and “them” is that they’ve been taught how to put their creative ideas into the camera – and we haven’t.

Keep in mind, creativity CAN be taught! And it’s relatively easy and QUICK!

The trick is modeling. By that, I’m saying… If you photograph the identical subjects, in the same conditions, using the same camera settings they’re using, you’ll wind up with the same results.

It must happen! The camera is inanimate. Your camera doesn’t care who depresses the shutter. It isn’t going to operate better for one shooter over any other. Your camera doesn’t care who is studying the scene through the viewfinder.

If we model them correctly, we’ll be doing the same type of photos they do, in no time.

Here’s what you do…

Whenever you discover a photograph you admire, cut it out of the magazine and paste it into your photo notebook. You do keep a photo notebook, aren’t you? All the top shooters do!

Then, closely study the picture. Attempt to figure out what the lighting situation was. What time of day the photo was shot, how many lights were employed (reflectors and mirrors are light sources too ). Guess at the focal length of the lens. Did they use a tripod, what was the aperture, shutter speed and so on?

Now, make a note of ALL this data in your journal.

Try it out!

Grab your camera and attempt to replicate the shot. Test your guesses on how they created the shot. The ideas that get you closer to success, make a note of them in your notebook. Record the guesses that don’t work out too!

As you get closer and closer to the desired finished result, you’ll be having a ton of fun and learning a BUNCH of new photo techniques.

Sooner or later, you WILL get the finished photo you were after. It won’t take much time. Paste YOUR photo in your notebook, with all the assorted details. Now, you’ll forever be able to re-create that shot! Just by looking at your notes! You’ve now discovered how to be creative!

Every time you do this, it gets easier.

Then, repeat the process with another shot you admire . Each time you go through this experiment, you will add a new creative technique to your photo arsenal. Plus, it gets easier to do since you are building on what you’ve learned in prior experiments.

So, there is the formula for creative digital photography. Give it a shot, you’ll like it. Before you know it, you will be creating digital photography any time you want.