EXPRESS YOUR ARTISTIC SIDE WITH CONCEPTUAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Conceptual photography is hard to define, as it encompasses a wide range of styles and subjects. It's a varied genre that allows photographers to express creativity, but how do you get started with shooting conceptual work? In this article, I'll teach you all about this genre of photography.

- Jo Plumridge

WHAT IS CONCEPTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY? 

Conceptual photography sets out to communicate an idea or a concept. It differs hugely to a lot of photography, where a photographer captures moments as they unfold, conceptual photography starts with an idea that photographers then look for a way to illustrate.

There's an argument as to whether conceptual photography refers to any photography that involves a concept (such as advertising photography), or photography whereby the concept is more important than the subject (a more artistic approach). But essentially, conceptual photographers are making an art of their medium and the possibilities for expression are numerous.

HISTORY OF CONCEPTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Conceptual photography evolved from conceptual art, which emphasised the importance of the concept over technique and was mainly used to express the abstract. One of the earliest conceptual photographs was taken in 1960 by Yves Klein. Entitled 'Leap into the Void’ it's a staged shot of a man falling forwards off a roof.

But conceptual photography also has its roots in Pictorialism, which was a style developed by photographers in the late 1890s. Pictorialism focused on creating images that were both beautiful as well as meaningful.

For some examples of conceptual photography I'd recommend starting out by looking at Ansel Adams’ images from around 1922-1933. His black and white landscapes were carefully constructed and shot deliberately, rather than being a spur of the moment decision. Cindy Sherman uses herself as a model in her photographs, with her early work exploring gender stereotypes as she presented herself in various characters. And one of my favorite photographers, Rineke Dijkstra produces images that have several different interpretations attached to them, leaving the viewer to make up their own mind as to what she is conveying.