After reading the nice little piece mjr was so nice to post, I was reminded of a question that has nagged me on and off for some time now. Painters have a certain style (usually). I mean, I can identify a Vallejo painting easily. Rohi (here at R'City)has a mixed medium style I know right away. Hobbit's style is apparent. In the article posted by mjr (the critique thread), once again, the need to develop your own style was emphasized. So, my question is this: IS it necessary to develop your own style? And if so, when will we run out of available styles before the style you develop is already developed by someone else? And IF you have a style like another wellknown pro, is that necessarily bad? You see, I don't have a style. And what I want to try to create varies in style depending on how I feel. Just curious what others may think.

may not be necessary but if you're marketing your work it will give you the edge you need to stand out helps to have some versatility too we're all influenced in one way or another... run out of styles? never! :]

I always have this dilemma. When I started here in the photography section I wanted to stick to a style of old boats and old rusty finds in fields. Then I bought a different camera, and it was good at macro images.Then bought a DSLR and did more nature. So I am totally mixed in my style now and it is hard to go back. Sure while learning it may be nice to try it all out. I doubt I ever will stick to one thing though. That is the same as my profession. Renovating houses I do it all.I imagine if you want to make a living at this, you have to know all but specialize in one good area. If you ever get a chance to see Glen Wexler's work... you will know how a particular style will make you well known. He is my favourite.

Yes, and no. We're all learning. From each other. I wouldn't want to photograph the same thing all of the time, or use the same Photoshop actions. Not to underestimate a lot of flowers in my Gallery! Often, this is EXACTLY what is expected of a professional. However, "traditional" artists also have their "Blue Periods," and evolve their style. Unless they were specifically TRYING to shoot in another style, I'd think I could pick out a Misha flower, or a Michelle sigh, or a Tedz bleeding joyfulness. May be a good future Challenge; though would think one would want to pick an original more well know,.

I think we all develop a style whether we want to or not! I can personally look at anything Cynlee, Tedz, Michelle, DHolman, Papa Guru, Logiloglu or Enmos has done and I know whose image it is without question and without seeing a name. So to answer your question, you don't "have" to develop a style, it will develop on its own whether you realize it or not. Brenda :)

Hey Misha....great idea...would have to use the anonymous contest format, but doing a "Who is this done by"....could be a good fun challenge.

i didn't read that piece you were referring to, but i don't think there's a reason to have a style unless you just want it or are gonna try to do this professionally. I have no idea if i have a style. i just do whatever the heck feels good and whatever i please! :) ya know...just let it happen and flow naturally! if you end up with a style...cool! if not, then what's the difference? well, that's just my 2 cents! :)

interesting question and i like hearing what ya'all have to say! :)

Message edited on: 07/27/2005 00:52

what is style? if you look at Picasso's paintings over his complete life, is this one way of painting? ok, some die early, like Modigliani, so it is easy to recognize them. Photographers with style? How many images are really attributed (in a historical context) to a certain photographer like Man Ray, Helmut Newton? I guess, not many... if you look at paintings of Mel Ramos, Sorayama, Vargas, their style appears like a curse to do it always the same way (more or less of course...) But this then in contrast to the way how f.i. El Greco painted... I'm actually definitely undecided....

"So to answer your question, you don't "have" to develop a style, it will develop on its own whether you realize it or not." "ust let it happen and flow naturally! if you end up with a style...cool! if not, then what's the difference" I suppose having a style would be beneficial to a person loking for some sort of instant image recognition (like a trademark, sort of). And, I suppose that would be nice. But, for the life of me, I think one kind of image deserves, say, a soft focus, and another image, harsh sharpness. Sometimes, I think of a piece to do that is a bit abstract. Other times, I want pure realism. And, of course, there is always the dilemma with color or B&W. As to subject matter, I can't understand limiting oneself. I absolutely love the opportunities (and challenge) when I get to photograph the female form. But, I'd never limit myself to that "genre". I couldn't walk past an old barn and say, "Nope, my style is figure photography". I couldn't walk past that orchid that "screams" to be photographed by saying, "Nope, I only do landscapes". So, my whole "style" dilemma is centered around the fact that I can see art in a varied amount of subjects that can be presented in a varied number of ways...so why "limit" (so to speak) myself to a style?

I understand your dilema Chuck. When in art school, I was pushed to develop my own style, but had to much fun exploring different techniques and mediums. I think you do develop your own "look" eventually, but if you are trying to market yourself, then it does help to have something that sets you appart. BTW, I think it would be quite fun to have this sort of contest. I envision a bunch of artists submitting photos anonymously, and then letting people match names to the images to see how well they do. I think it should be multiple choice though, as some of us might not be totally familiar with everyone's look. Anyway, enough rambling. Good discussion!

i have had people say oh i could tell that was yours! & i ask myself how... i have different subject matter, use b&w/color, different frames... hardly stuck in a rut or ever stick to one thing & yet there's some sort of style going on... (doug if we did it as a contest might be a bit difficult since they're all automatically listed on the front page... is there a way to still use that format but keep it within the photo gallery/forum?)

I'm not sure the contest would be very easy to pick people from (with the exception of a few people around here). I think I could pick out some. Other forums don't list the entry owner. Mojoworld and Vue, I think, are anonymous entries. Another way (look out! suggestion approaching) would be for a person to run the contest. This person receives all the entries. At contest deadline, all the images are posted in a new thread and after all the images are posted, the names of the owners are listed. Then, it's back to school matching the name with the post number/image (like the old school days). Listing the names (in random) makes it easier, I think.

Good suggestion. Are your volunteering? ;]

I think I could only pick out Cynlee, Michelle, and Logilogu (sp?) as it is, with a possibility of Holman...so, I'd be a good candidate to run it that way if there was enough interest or another (better way) could not be found. Just not sure if there would be enough interest.

I think people would love to do it if they new about it. Getting the word out is an issue. Format is another. But I really like the idea.

Brenda said it all for me already sigh ;o) I also think we all develope our own style wether we want to or not. Furthermore, i dont think developing a particular style on purpose is anything good... but what do i know, Cindy seems to have a point there :o)

@Misha: sounds like a fun idea ! :o)

Message edited on: 07/27/2005 16:39

You do not develope a styl. It just part of you. from the inside. As artist paints they grow and they thinking change and they style change somewhat like Van Gosh and Picasso. Picasso was even kick out of some of the art movements of his day. Why He saw things and did what he did. In photo they had the surreal movement and many others. I did not look at the photo history but do remember Man Ray[was he a surreal photo?] [surreal was about the only photo history I looked at and the photos of the great depression too of the 1930's Style comes from inside and as you learn and grow in your art you will think of things and do them. To me that style and I may have miss the meaning but I do not care. If you have a ideal do "Just do it " I know I am a surreal. People ever say I think in surreal lol and that was a brain dr. from the local collage. Cynlee, Michelle, and Logilogu, Tedz' Grrrbear they have they style because that is how they think and do they work. Same as you all do. Just some is more easy stopped that others. Not to put ant one down ; it just the way we think and do our work.

o surreal and the other art movements is not a style . they just movements and it is a way of thinking too.

quite an interesting thread here... my five cent are that i always try to make what pleases me... perhaps in some ways i have a style concerning my frames... the way i present my pics... but concerning photography i don't have a style... i try to look around an capture what makes the world interesting for me... or try to capture what makes things interesting... in 2D i probably have more a style as it comes to illustrations and design/layout... but also there... i want to try to do new things... make new experiences... not sure if there are still some fingerprints of mine in ... but anyway... i guess to get a real consequent style... it may be useful... but it also may stop you stepping further out and try out new stuff... :) a kind of development is a good thing... :) -christian

Hehe, then how to summarize? Some believe you can't help but gain a certain style after time, others say it's not necessary to have a style, and others think you need a style. (smile)

well - how about: do what you feel like... ?!? ;) i know people who say they don't have style but i could identify they works quite fast... because for me they have style... i guess it's hard to catch... so that's why i do what pleases me... no matter whether it's in my style or not... :)

I think most people gravitate towards something they find of interest, whether it be macro, landscapes, people...(whatever floats your boats...so to speak). There are those that show a consistancy in their work, it could be lighting...tones, subject matter (a whole lot of things) that becomes instantly recognized, right off the bat! you KNOW it's their stuff. So I do feel a STYLE develops in one way or another! Some of us just haven't discovered ours per say yet. We are all inspired by whats around us! I think digital photography in general has enabled us to break free and experiment more (and it shows!) It's the (almost)real-time gratification of capturing THAT moment...the magic that comes through in the end! That let's out creativity SHINE and allows us to SHARE it! Just my 2 cents (with a bit of pocket lint thrown in) L8r! Joe

I love the idea of such a contest indeed!! I'm up for it a 100%! As for the style thingie, I too tend to believe that it develops on its own. I personnally don't even think about such thing, I just shoot what I find beautiful or intriguing or interesting or whatever else catches my eye.

Style isn't subject... so saying that "I don't shoot buildings, I'm a portrait photographer" doesn't make much sense. Look at the Simon Sez challenges where several people enter images of a similar thing, yet they all reflect the eye and mind of the photographer. Someone once looked at the stuff in my 2d portfolio and said that they were all the same, and I thought, "huh?!?" Subjects ranged from harlequins to cats to pegasi to spaceships... and materials went from colored pencils to ink to watercolor to scratchboard... sigh. Some things such as composition and line quality are going to be constants, though. Whether I'm photographing a tree, drawing a tree, or plopping a tree into Poser space, there is a certain way that I'm going to frame it, and that way will be identifiable whether I think about it or not. I try not to think about it. Then it becomes artificial. BTW, your contest idea sounds neat. :) Carolly