EYE-Photo Magazine, Issue #01, January 2019

COLUMN
“YOU DON’T FIND YOUR STYLE;
YOUR STYLE FINDS YOU”
BY THOMAS FÜNGERLINGS
Someone told me he was looking for his
style of photography. Everyone likes to
hear that when said that I love your style.
I think you can’t find it somehow, but it will
come to you.
The thing is, everyone does in the long run
only what he enjoys. And if you enjoy it,
you do it more often. If you do not like
to take pictures of animals, then you will
never become the "animal photographer”.
If you do something with passion, then you
will do so over a long period.
With such a motivation may be a specialisation
arises and you take pictures again
and again, for example in the street.
If you can identify with street photography,
if you like to look at such photos and if you
want to present yourself with such works,
then we can get closer to it.
To find something new/own, you have to "cultivate" this / your style for a very long time. In
photography, it is not easy to do something fundamentally new.
Be aware; almost every style shows influences of other artists, works or styles. It's overall the
mix and the selection of techniques.
If you want to find your style, if your photos should stand out from the crowd, if the work should
be recognisable as yours, then you have to think about it. It can, e.g. the type of processing
(e.g., high contrast b/w). Or you take photographs from a particular perspective or the point
of view (for example, from the ground). Or you always have some aspects in the picture (for
example signs).
With that foundation in mind, you're going to the streets, again and again, making "your" pictures.
Then you may find your recognisable style. My three photo tips ... not only for your style
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