Today’s Post by Joe Farace
Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic.—
According to Wikipedia, a mood wall or board is a collage consisting of images, text and objects that is built around a set topic or any material that’s chosen, sometimes at random. A mood board can be used to give a general idea of a specific topic and may be either physical or digital.
I was having breakfast with a couple of photographers one day when one of them, a published Playboy photographer, mentioned something about the ideas he gets from his mood wall. “What’s a mood wall?” I asked and he gave me an answer similar to the above. When I mentioned this idea to my wife, she told me that almost all of her clients, who are architects and designers, have mood walls in their offices where they post clippings and photos of concepts that intrigue them that are used to inspire them to try something new. Well, photographers need the same kind of inspiration from time to time, so I decided to make a mood wall.
What I really wanted to create was a literal wall where I could post 4×6 prints of images that inspire me (but that concept awaits completion. Right now, I’m happily collecting images in a “Mood Wall” folder that is periodically reviewed and updated to eliminate those “what was I thinking images” and are downloaded onto my iPad. In the meantime, the images that I’ve collected on the Internet can be used for two purposes:
- The first was showing background/sets/locations that I could find or create to help get out of the creative rut of using the same backdrops I’ve used for many years. For a look at my take on backgrounds check out my post Working with Props and backgrounds.
- The second was as a posing guide, especially when working with new models who may not have refined their posing skills. For my take on model posing skills, please check out my post Photographing Different Kinds of Portrait Subjects.
But at the same time, I’m always looking for all kinds of new ideas and new inspirations Look for a post on this subject real soon now.
And lest you think this is all about copying another photographer’s work, I disagree. What I’ve noticed in all of the workshops that I’ve taught is that attendees, even those using the exact same cameras and lenses as me, never create the exact same images as myself, even when working side–by-side. I know it’s hard to wrap your head around but the first time I saw this happen, I didn’t believe it myself. As I said, the images on the mood wall are designed to inspire you and provide a jumping off point or your own interpretation of an idea. Give a mood wall a try, you’ll be glad you did.
If you would like to send me film or any kind of photo gear to review or any other stuff that could be used for these posts and my videos you can mail it to: Joe Farace, PO BOX 2081, PARKER, CO 80134
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