Inspiration: Sol Neelman: A Photographer’s Style
One of the biggest criticisms I have towards my own work, is that I lack a sense of my own style. I worry that you can look at the different portfolios on my website, and see me trying to emulate different photog-styles in each portfolio, without ever really creating a voice of my own. I know I am still working it out: how I want to shoot, what I want my visual signature to look like.
A photography friend once told me a story, in which he watched James Nacthwey quietly review a student’s work. The veteran photojournalist turned each page of the young photographer’s book slowly, until he had come to the end, without saying a word. He then turned to the student, and, while clearly communicating that the portfolio review was over, said, “I’m sorry, but your images tell me nothing about who you are as a human being.”
I’m worried that would be said to me. Yikes.
With that in mind, I thought I might highlight one of my favorite photographers, and one who I think has his style down exactly the way he wants it.
Sol Neelman is one of the first photojournalists I ever met; he’s always been very kind and willing to lend a hand. More importantly, he’s a photographer who knows what the hell his style is.
© Sol Neelman
Sol has made a name for himself by choosing his niche (wacky and weird sports), going all over the world to cover his speciality, shooting exactly the way he wants to, and not giving a damn what others think about him, his work or his style. For me, that is huge inspiration.
At first glance, his loose, off-kilter, multi-layered photos can feel haphazard and un-cropped; yet the more you delve into his work, the more you realize, Sol knows exactly what the hell he is doing, and is damn good at it, too. He is a master at composition, framing, layering and capturing disconcerting moments in his subjects. He expects you, the viewer, to spend time in his photos, exploring them and finding the hidden moments he has captured in larger settings. For this, I am a huge fan - he skips the crop tool, and shows you life in a more raw and refreshing view.
I suppose I’m writing this to help convince myself to shoot as much as I can, until I settle into something that feels unique, original, and completely my own. I suppose I would encourage all young photographers to do this.
In the recent words of A Photo Editor’s Rob Haggart, “…If it wasn’t a struggle to find one’s own voice, what would be the point? Struggle is good! I think it helps to be an independent thinker. Be sure of yourself and your intention. Read and read more. The struggle is what makes it worth doing – what gives your voice the meaning.”
Happy shooting.