Let’s not normalize posting one picture again
There’s been a new trend on Instagram recently: Let’s normalize posting one picture again.
And while I think personal freedom should also include the decisions about what you want to share on social media and how, when it comes to photography, I would like to stir things up a little.
There’s a lot that could be said about the destructive impact of social media on people’s well-being, creativity, and so on, but I think that when the carousel option appeared, and then when it turned out that the algorithm particularly liked it, quite a lot changed in online photography. For the better.
I have the feeling that there was a shift - from making insta-bangers, photographers started creating and publishing series of photographs that were connected in some way - whether through the place, the subject, the medium used, or in any other way.
Today I want to talk about why making a photo series is good for you as a photographer and why we shouldn’t normalize anything in our online presence.
ONE PHOTO AT THE TIME vs photo series
Searching for one great photograph can be a little limiting sometimes.
You go somewhere, you take a bunch of pictures, and somewhere in the back of your mind there is this idea that you need to come home with the shot. An interesting scene with good light and strong composition. A banger.
And sure, one image that works on its own. Something visually strong, something that catches your attention, something that makes other people stop scrolling.
There is obviously nothing wrong with that.
A good single photograph can be incredibly powerful.
But I think that when we get too used to thinking this way, it can also change how we approach photography.
Suddenly, every image has to do all the work on its own. It can be not only challenging, but also quite intimidating in a way.
When you're working on a series, you don't necessarily need to find something new every time. You can return to the same place, the same subject or the same idea and look for what has changed - or what you've failed to notice before.
BUT WHY SHOULD YOU BE SHOOTING SERIES?
It doesn’t mean making a series is a cheat code to better photos or something that makes photography practice easier.
It is a skill itself and who knows, maybe one of the most important skills in the whole photography game.
But thinking in series puts you in a completely different state of mind.
One photograph can give you context. Another can be a detail. One can be quiet, another more intense. They can contrast with each other, or simply create a certain rhythm and tension - things that simply aren’t possible with a single photograph.
And this way of working leads to a more complete story. Not because each individual image says everything, but because of the relationship between the images.
And, in the end, it can help you improve your storytelling skills and find your own voice and style.
PHOTO SERIES CHANGE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
When you know that you’re not looking for one perfect photograph, but for several photographs that will say something together, you start paying attention to completely different things.
You might start noticing recurring motifs. Colors, shapes, people, objects, particular situations.
You start noticing constant change, even though it might seem like you’re photographing the same thing or place over and over again.
You start thinking about rhythm. How a wide shot might work well after a detail. How two similar frames next to each other might be more interesting than either of them on its own.
You also start looking for context. Elements that help you understand the place, the situation, or the subject.
And perhaps most importantly, you stop judging every photograph entirely on its own.
A photograph that might feel unremarkable by itself can suddenly become important when placed next to another image. A detail can make sense because of what came before it, and a seemingly ordinary frame can become the thing that holds a sequence together.
That changes what you're looking for when you're out photographing.
Series lead to something bigger
A series of photographs can also be a great way to start a photography project, which is - by definition, something bigger. And I think this is where photography becomes much more interesting.
If you're thinking about turning a series of photographs into a project, I've put together a free Project Starter Kit to help you get started.
Ahh, and as for normalizing posting one photo again…
Can we normalize not normalizing anything and just doing what feels right at the particular moment?
I mean, it would be a very sad world if some social media platforms dictate the way we want to work, right?