Take a moment to look at the photos on photo-sharing sites. Because so many photographers are enamored of the photo filters available there, their photos have an overdone sameness.
Susan says, “Photographers of all skill levels are posting on photo sharing sites. One of the biggest thrills for amateur photographers seems to be to use the many filters available on Instagram to age, desaturate, sunstroke and otherwise alter their photographs. The result is that many of these photos have a sameness. Here’s another way to alter a photo without using a digital filter that will result in a personal, organic and unique photo. Lucia shot this image through a plastic sheet. Portland’s bricks and mortar skyline assumes an ethereal, painterly look. There is an element of serendipity in her method that could never be achieved by using a filter algorithm. The wrinkles and flutters of the sheeting give her photograph a more organic and random look. If you want your design to have an organic, human look, experiment with integrating handmade items into your digital space.”
Lucia says, “Some people walking by on my side of this plastic sheet gave me strange looks as I aimed my camera at the plastic wall. They must have thought it an odd subject for a photo. Little did they know, I was focusing through the plastic and seeing an abstract of the city. There’s a lot of fun to be had in taking Susan’s suggestion to experiment with organic filters in your design. Another idea is playing with reflections. You can get the same random outcome. I love reflections.”
