Conceptual Theme / Art photography might be one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated types of photography. It's a genre that requires forethought and planning--perhaps enough so that casual shoot-from-the-hip shutterbugs might be put off. But once you get into the creative process, it provides a myriad of artistic outlets that can improve any composition in any genre.
The basis for conceptual photos is a foundation - a building block - into what makes photography a form of fine art. Understanding this art form is an excellent first step in transitioning your work from snapshot to masterpiece.
What is Conceptual Photography?
Conceptual theme art photography begins with a concept - something the photographer wants to portray with visual imagery. There are no boundaries beyond that. But, when you dive deeply into the topic, it becomes clear that this simple foundation makes conceptual photography ideas very different from other photography forms.
Fine art photography is often confused with conceptual artworks. Conceptual photography ideas are certainly one type of fine art photography. In other words, all conceptual photos are fine art photos, but not all fine artworks are conceptual.
It's best to consider an example. A common subject in fine art is the still-life portrait of a bowl of fruit on a table. It's an art class and photography school staple - it teaches you shape, form, lighting, composition, technique, and a slew of other skills. But is it conceptual? If it's just a bowl of fruit, expertly and beautifully captured, probably not.
But what if, instead of starting with the idea of capturing a fruit bowl still life, the photographer started with a more fundamental concept. Let's say they want to capture loneliness. So now they approach a fruit bowl, piled with apples, bananas, and oranges. Off to the side sits a solitary lemon. They compose the shot, making that poor, lonely lemon is now the star of the show.
What's the difference? Both are fine art photographs. But the solitary and sad lemon is conceptual - there's a more profound mood, feeling, and idea behind the entire work.
Creative conceptual photography knows no bounds. It's fun to dive in and explore new and unique ways to communicate concepts that everyone is familiar with.
Your images can be realistic or surreal, imaginative or mundane, creepy or comforting.
As with fine art photography, there are many sub-genres of conceptual photos. Conceptual portrait photography is a fascinating topic. Here, instead of capturing your subject as they are, you exercise complete control over the composition to communicate your idea. Many conceptual works use models in the frame, sometimes only body parts, sometimes in fantasy costumes, and sometimes processed and blurred into obscurity.
How To Do Conceptual Photography
If there is one rule to conceptual art photography, it is to make a photo as a painter would approach making a painting. You are not out to capture snaps. While every photographer should take their time to compose a shot and frame it well, a conceptual photographer goes much deeper than that.
Instead, you are setting out with your concept in mind. You might sit and sketch your ideas on paper. Perhaps you have a brainstorming session, and you list all of the ways you could communicate your concept. At this point, you don't even know what objects or subjects will be in your photo, you only know the idea you want to communicate. You might spend days, weeks, or months in this phase. It might not seem much like photography, but it is art at its most fundamental level-creativity. Once the concept is well defined, get in touch with your subject/model and co team partners/friends. Discuss, meet do location recce, rehearse and arrange all required things for the final shoot.
Here are 5 Top Tips for Shooting Unique Conceptual Photos Ranjan KM- Conceptual Theme Photographer- Deoghar, Jharkhand
Every photographer will have a slightly different process for creating this type of photography. However, if there's one quality that sets these images apart from most others, it's that they require planning, engineering, and conceptualizing.
Dedicate the Time to Brainstorming and Planning
Define the Concept or Message
Discuss with your subject/model
Think, do recce of location and involve your team
Start Creating the Images
Ranjan KM- Conceptual Theme Photographer- Deoghar, Jharkhand
