In his video, iPhone photographer Emil Pakarklis explains seven really simple techniques you can use to make your mobile photography good. As with DSLR and larger format photography, the key ingredients are light, composition, and perspective or point of view.
As with any creative pursuit, it’s hard to become a great practitioner unless you look at other people’s work. By far the best way to learn to write well is to read a lot (and then write a lot). It’s exactly the same with singing, dancing, painting and … photography.
Here are some awesome (mostly Australian) Instagram accounts to spend some time with. have a look through their work, and follow the ones that inspire you. A few of my absolute favourites: Leigh Henningham, Simone De Peak, Andrew Quilty, and Christine Pearl.
I’d love you to add your favourites in the comments.
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Adam Taylor, The Daily Telegraph @adamtaylorphoto
Alex Ellingshausen, The Sydney Morning Herald @alexellingshausen
Andrew Meares, The Sydney Morning Herald @mearesy
Andrew Quilty, freelancer (Afghanistan) @andrewquilty
Brian Cassey, freelancer @brian_cassey
Christine Pearl, US-based doco photographer @cyanpepper
Dallas Kilponen, Fairfax sports photographer @dallas_kilponen
David Guttenfelder, AP photojournalist @dguttenfelder
Dean Sewell, freelancer @dean_sewell
Ed Wray, freelancer @ed_wray
Everyday Australia, curated account @everydayaustralia
Glenn Campbell, freelancer (northern Australia) @glenn_campbell
Graham Crouch, freelancer (India) @delhigraz
Gregg Porteous, sports photographer @skipper_aust
Head On Photo Festival @headonphotofestival
James Brickwood, Fairfax @jamesbrickwood
Janie Barrett, Fairfax @janiebarrettphotos
Jon Reid, freelancer (Newcastle) @sharperstill
Leigh Hennigham, Fairfax @leighhenningham
Life, magazine archive @life
Grant Turner, freelancer (Sydney) @mediakoo
Mark Evans, Daily Telegraph @evohood
Markus Andersen, freelancer (Sydney) @markusxandersen
Nick Moir, Fairfax @nampix
Noor Images, agency @noorimages
Oculi, agency @oculi
Phil Hillyard, The Daily Telegraph @philhillyard
Simone De Peak, Fairfax @simonedepeak
Tamara Dean, freelancer @tamaradean
Wolter Peeters, Fairfax @shooterwol
TOPIC: Telling a story with photographs
LINKS:
World Press Photo: 2015 winners
Yuri Kozyrev, Dispatch from Libya
Magnum photographer Larry Towell’s film projects – combinations of still and moving photography
Ritualism, a project by Australian photographer Tamara Dean
Oculi, a cooperative of creative Australian photographers
GOOD READING:
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Taking good photographs is a lot like learning to write: if you’re ever going to be any good at either skill, you must consider other people’s work first. It’s ok when you’re starting out to find a photographer (or writer) you really admire, and try to emulate his or her work. Once you reach proficiency you’ll begin to use your own voice or style.
The links above are to the work of many, many extraordinarily talented photographers and photographic artists, and most of us can only dream of ever being so good. But as the great cliche goes, every journey begins with a first step.
As you explore the sites, consider why a photo or series of photographs affects you. How does the photographer tie a collection of pictures together? Can images tell a story more effectively than words? Why, or why not?
FOR NEXT WEEK: Take a photo of something – anything – which makes you feel some sort of emotion. Try to follow the advice we considered today about including a subject in your photo, and include a caption, or photo description (be as creative as you like!) Post your photo to Instagram using the hashtag #TAFEmopho
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