Does having a style really matters?

I share my experience on finding my photography style.

I’ve been lying to myself the last couple of years thinking that having a photographic style doesn’t matter.

It was easy to deny it because achieving a style is hard, not only in photography, but in life.

I believe that I always knew how I wanted my pictures to look, but didn’t know how to achieve it “naturally”, meaning that I didn’t want to use Lightroom and edit like crazy until I didn’t recognize the images anymore.

However, thanks to the magic of the Internet Friends, everything is possible and now, I’m pretty confident that I can achieve what I’ve been looking for.

MY SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

One of the first things that come to my mind is the Mike Mignola’s Hellboy graphic novel.

I love the drawing, but what I like the most, are those beautiful and delicious black shadows, not dark-gray, but black. They create an atmosphere that I truly enjoy. Feels like danger is around the corner.

Mike Mignola’s style is unique and spectacular.

Years later, when I was doing my traditional Youtube zapping, I’ve found a guy that captivated me with his style.

I’m talking about the great and only Ted Vieira, a photographer based (at that time) in Las Vegas. I was stunned seeing his photography. The models looked beautiful than ever in that black, super contrasty look. They seemed femme fatales. It reminded me a bit of Frank Miller’s Sin City.

Check out this video to get a glimpse of what he does (he shoots mostly at night) and if you like it, check his videos from 2-3 years. Those are really inspiring. Also, he seems a cool guy with that soothing voice (you’ll understand after you hear him).

I was sold on the look, but I didn’t know how to achieve it.

I had no idea what Kodak Tri-X was and I didn't even shoot film.

All I had back in the day (we are talking around 5 years ago) was a mirrorless Fuji X-T1 (that didn’t have the Acros simulation).

However, Ted not only showed me that the style I was looking for was achievable with film. It also hooked me to the world of analogue photography. He used a Olympus OM-1 which not only was small, it was beautiful.

Obviously, I got mine and that’s how my journey in film photography started.

However, the more rolls I’ve tried, the most I got away from the style I wanted for my pics. I got experimental and ended-up loving all color films.

DAIDŌ TO THE RESCUE

Two years later, after my comeback to analogue photography, I was Youtube zapping again until I got a suggestion to check the work of Daidō Moriyama, the legendary Japanese street photographer which had this dark and gritty style.

Seeing his raw, black and plenty of grain pictures, I was sold on it. I thought: “I want my pics to look like that!”

A couple of days later, I’ve loaded up my Konica C35 and a roll of Fomapan 400 and went to the streets with a simple mission:

Shoot like Daidō Moriyama.

In practice (and maybe, a bit of myth), is that you shouldn’t rely in the viewfinder to get your picture. You should shoot from chest or waist, or basically “feel the image” and shoot. The camera should be an extension of you. The street doesn’t wait for you.

Obviously, this can get easier if you only have one or two cameras that you use almost everyday (which is not my case, haha) and know the ins and outs about them.

However, my confidence was high enough and I’ve totally tried. You can see the results here.

BACK TO TED VIEIRA

The style of Daidō is something I’d like to pursue from now on. However, I didn’t find how to actually achieve it without relying on a heavy use of Lightroom. I might be stubborn or naive, but I like to get the look in an analogue way.

I watched a bunch of Ted’s videos again, but this time, being armed with plenty of knowledge of analogue photography, I found the magic recipe: Kodak Tri-X shot at 1600 (pushed 2 stops in dev) will provide real blacks and plenty of contrast.

Still from Ted’s YouTube channel. He publish his videos in B&W as well!

BACK TO THE STREETS

Fortunately, I had a roll of Tri-X in the fridge so I got back to the streets. It was 6pm and the sun was disappearing quickly, so I needed to be fast.

I left home and start shooting in the streets nearby. This time, I needed a powerhouse like my Nikon F3 which turned out to be helpful with the Aperture Mode.

After some crazy 50-60 minutes, I got back home ready to develop.

I’ve asked my nerd friend Ansel (that’s how I named my ChatGPT custom agent) for the instructions to develop with Ilfosol 3.

I’ve instructed him to be honest all the time, no matter if the news were bad.

And they were.

Stupid Ilfosol 3 was not recommended for pushing Tri-X.

He suggested me to get Kodak HC-110 instead.

After a two days wait to get it (and 40 USD less in my account), I’ve finally got it and I was able to develop my roll.

THE RESULTS

Ladies and gentlemans, I strongly believe that this is one of my favorite rolls ever. Maybe the pictures aren’t that great (although I see some keepers below), but man, the look! It’s how I like them!

In my first Daidō attempt, I’ve said that they didn't feel like my pictures, but, I was so wrong.

I’ve noticed that I was looking at them more often than any other pictures I took in the past.

After all, they had the style I was looking for.

THE KEEPERS

I’m far from what Daidō and Ted are able to do, obviously, but I finally believe I’m in the right path.

I don’t want to be a crappy copycat.

I want to develop my own style inspired by them.

However, I’d liked how those turned out.

I mean, c’mon, this young man was so melancholic listening to —I presume— a sad song. I couldn’t resist taking the shot quickly.

This is the most representative picture of the style I’m looking for. It feels dramatic, feels like a scene and not a pretty “postcard”.

This building seems where the world’s end is going to being. It has some… Silent Hill vibes? Not sure, but I love how it looks!

This is a big favorite. This is where the people that keep the streets clean store their brooms and trash bags. However, at the end, you can notice some sort of the Virgen María altar. I had to shot between the bars to get this one.

DOES THE STYLE REALLY MATTERS?

I would say that yes, to some extend.

Is this style I want to be “recognized” for? Yes.

Is the only style I’m going to shoot? No.

I mean, I’m getting bunch of Ektar and Portra rolls for the beach in July. I also love Kodak Vision 3 or Cinestill 800T.

However, for the more “serious work” (whatever that means), I’ll be pursuing those dark and gritty looking images. I love them, and now I know how to achieve it!

I believe that my holy trinity for this will be:

• Kodak Tri-X 400 @ 1600 (low light)

• Ilford HP5+ @ 1600 (low light)

• Fuji Acros 100 @ 400 (day light)

However, I’ll be trying to push to 3200 to see what delicious grain I’m able to get!

DO YOU CARE ABOUT HAVING A STYLE?

Please, let me know! Feel free to share links or pictures that demonstrate what you are aiming for.

— As usual, thanks from your Mexican friend, Rick.