Every photograph tells a story and conceptual photography is visual storytelling at its most captivating. Be inspired by these 3 photographers; from their thought process, to the creation stage and finally the emotions they felt when they completed the images.
To Rise by Sarah Ann Loreth
A self-taught photographer specialising in conceptual portraiture, Sarah Ann creates visuals that “convey a quiet stillness of emotion with a connection to her natural surroundings”. See more of her work at www.sarahannlorethphotography.com
Shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF35mm f/2, f/2.5, 1/30 sec, ISO 640
“This photo is about letting go of the life that may no longer serve you while giving yourself the room for hope and resiliency in a new chapter. Sometimes the only way to move forward is through letting go of the past, however painful that may be.
When this photo was taken, I was going through a particularly stressful and rough period of my life. Hence it represents the peace in the burning of that chapter to give room to the resiliency needed to turn my life down a lighter and brighter path.
This photo was a concept I had in mind for nearly a year but I was having trouble finding the right location. In the fall of 2014, I was coming to the end of a four-month North America road trip/workshop tour with a retreat stop in upstate New York. When I arrived, I noticed the fire pit out back with beautiful gray ash from warm summer nights around the fire. I immediately set out to finally create my phoenix. I asked a fellow photographer friend if she would mind modelling, grabbed a ladder to get the above perspective, and set out to make it work! The photo turned out exactly how I had envisioned it and the therapeutic process of creating made me feel lighter and ready to move forward.”
The Catch by David Talley
A photographer and educator based out of Portland, Oregon, David’s work is “marked by a story broken, but changed for the better”. View his stunning imagery at www.davidtalley.io
Shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 50mm f/1.4, f/1.8, 1/5000 sec, ISO 400
“This photo was created as part of a photo project I started last year, called ‘The Alphabet Project’. Each successive week of the project focused on a new letter, with ‘The Catch’ falling on the letter B, as in ‘Balloon’, which was the inspiration for this image. With each passing week, I chose a new word that matched with the letter of the alphabet, and structured a story around it.
‘The Catch’ highlights what it means to take hold of your dreams and allow them to lift you high in to the sky. One of my core beliefs is that you will never find your calling in life without just choosing and trying things. So many of us, myself included, would rather wait for our calling in life to find us... but the key to figuring out your passion in life couldn't be more of the opposite. This image shows what it means to choose and take hold of your dreams, no matter how mysterious they may seem, and allow it to take you high into the sky.”
Freedom by Florentina Amon
Prepare to be entranced by Florentina’s dreamy conceptual self-portraits with Mother Nature as both her inspiration and backdrop. Check out more of her images at florentina-amon.wix.com/photo
Shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark III, EF50mm f/1,4 USM, 1/1600 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100
“When I decided to take this photo, it was during a time in my life when I was under great pressure. At the same time – growing up with social media – I was constantly confronted with photos of people living their seemingly perfect lives, I felt like I was doing something wrong.
Therefore, the only way to cope with these emotions was to create an artwork of how I imagined 'perfect life' could feel.
If I could describe my photo in one word, it would be freedom. I felt a great sense of relief after taking this photo. It made me feel overwhelmed with emotion and joy since all of my sorrows, thoughts and struggles seemed to fade away just for this moment.”
Profile of author
Azmin Zainal
Azmin Zainal has been in love with the written word ever since she could well, read. Relatively new to all things digital, so show her some love. Still searching for the meaning of life, whatever that is. Loves coffee, good conversations, fried chicken and Roger Federer. Not necessarily in that order.
