When using projectors in your photography, the options for creativity are seemingly limitless. In fact, because you can technically integrate any visual medium you can imagine into your shot, it can be a little overwhelming as to what images you project with them.
Some months ago, I went to a Tim Walker exhibition here in London and in there he had some incredible shots on display that played with the viewers sense of perspective. (I'll post an example below in the comments)
In this image here of Aly, I took a couple of shots with that same very basic principle of perspective to test it.
As it turns out, I wasn't a fan of it and I ended up preferring a projection with more coverage. I took a few shots of this, realised it wasn't for me and moved on to an alternative.
The point here is being open to inspiration and acting upon it. Sure, this converging lines idea didn't work for me here, but it may lead to something else years down the road as it certainly needs more work.
That is what the creative process is all about. Cognitively recognising what you like and then redistributing it within your own work. There is a very distinctive difference here between 'copying' and being 'inspired by' and sometimes this is far easier to do when we look outside of our own medium.
I love gel photography, but I haven't actively sought out any gel photographers work in years. I personally prefer to look to other mediums or disciplines outside of photography as that can sometimes be far easier to create original ideas. I've said it before, but the brash and unrealistic colours of Japanese anime is often a source of inspiration for me even though there is seemingly little to no connection to my work with it.
"It's Friday night Jake, what's your bloody point?!"
My point here is to be receptive to all mediums and disciplines when you're looking for inspiration. Don't simply go to Instagram hashtags for your next idea. Look at how light falls on the streets on your way to work. Look at how pottery glazes mix at differing temperatures and what that would look like scaled up. Look at the clean, contrasting lines of typography and see how those curves and stark contrast could be implemented in a portrait. Look at the ridiculous colours used in anime and imagine how that could translate to photography....
Have you ever taken inspiration from something outside of photography?
Anyway, that's my cathartic end-of-week rant out of the way😅 Thanks for listening and I hope you have an amazing weekend 😊
Stay creative.
Model: Alicia Conder