VisionVirtue Lesson

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.

Helen Keller

What is vision?• Vision is the art of seeing the invisible. • It is something you see in your mind’s eye,

something that exists in your imagination, something that is within yourself.

• A vision is something abstract: an idea or a concept.

• Vision is made real through creative work.• In photography it is made real through the

creation of photographs that express your vision. The goal of these photographs is to share your ideas, your concepts, in short your vision, with your audience.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.

Jonathan Swift

How to Develop Your Photographers Vision

Learn to SEE• As a photographer, “seeing” is the mix of your

physical “eyesight” plus your mental “vision”. • Look at things as they really are to you, without

the filter of “expecting” to see what you think it should be.

Observe Your Surroundings• As you go through your everyday normal

activities, just observe your environment. • Don’t take your surroundings for granted. Rather,

look at the in the same way, a growing, curious child looks out at the world.

New images surround us everywhere. They are invisible only because of sterile routine convention and fear.

Lisette Model

Become Fascinated with Normal• A by-product of the simple technique of observing

your surroundings is that you will become fascinated with everything you see.

• Suddenly, everything becomes beautiful. Anything can be art.

• And then you see the simple beauty of a smile, the beauty of looking into someone’s eyes, the beauty of a tree, a flower. All things become beautiful.

Analyze your heroes• A great way to develop your photographer’s vision

is to see what you like in the works of other photographer’s whom you admire.

• Take a look at images that strike you. Images that compel you. Photos that stir you.

• Ask yourself, “what is it about these photographs that I like?”

William Eggleston Miss Aniela Dybisz

Ask for input• Another useful way to help you grow and progress

with your photographer’s vision, is by asking others for their opinions.

• More specifically, ask someone you admire and trust for their opinion.

Take Action• Imagine a writer who didn’t write. She may be the

best writer in the world, but if she didn’t write anything - well, what good would that be?

• Your photographer’s vision can only be put to use if you create photographs that reflect that vision.

• Therefore, the most important action for you to

take, as a photographer is to simply take photographs

A photographer’s work is given shape and style by his personal vision. It is not simply technique, but the way he looks at life and the world around him.

Pete Turner