I just returned from a fabulous workshop to Utah. We photographed both Capital Reef NP and Bryce Canyon NP. Being late April meant spring was in the air. I had a checklist of images in my head I thought I would get. But as I started photographing in the area, I decided to organize my shooting not by subject….but by concept. Have you ever photographed an area only using a concept to drive your creativity?
Stock photography has always been a big part of our business. You create images, and others license these pictures to use for a variety of things from credit card insert images to massive billboards. While stock photography isn’t what it used to be, we still regularly ‘sell’ image uses to various clients. One thing many stock agencies coach their photographers to do is photograph concepts, not subjects. Don’t think in terms of trees, rocks, animals and people…instead think of passion, love, humor, wonder, companionship. And photographing seasonal concepts is also a great idea.
I decided I would photograph spring this trip. I started looking for subjects, relationships and concepts that said spring. Not just big warm lit landscapes, which were incredible (yes, we have to take those images too!). But more subtle subjects that said spring.
I found a beautiful zebra striped canyon wall framed by lime green cottonwood trees. The leaves are bursting with chlorophyll right now, the green was intense.
I also found a deer grazing on fresh spring green grass in an orchard.
Of course the orchard trees were in bloom, so spring flowers were a natural subject.
And the image at top? This was a grand landscape at sunrise at Bryce, but how did it relate to spring? New hope, fresh beginnings…the start of a much different summer than last year!