As a photographer gains experience they will develop their own personal style, and identifying this and cultivating it is an essential part of reaching new height in your artistic development.
This comes with it’s own challenges however, as it requires a lot of self reflection, which easily falls in to self-criticism if confidence is low, or self-delusion if confidence is too high.
The easiest method though is to not over analyse, but rather take a moment’s thought before every picture and ask yourself:
There has to be a reason or you wouldn’t be picking up the camera. Something has caught your eye, your imagination and made you stop and compose an image.
So what is it? Colour? Light? Action? Human interest?
Once you figure out what interests you then you can look for these in future subjects and refine your skills even further.
For myself the answer didn’t come immediately, but when I started thinking it through I realised that what attracts my eye are contrast and colour. In particular I love the way dramatic lighting can create shape through deep, contrasting shadows and how strong light emphasis colour so strongly.
So ask yourself: what’s your style?
Let me know in the comments: The internet offers us a unique opportunity to share an experience one anothers work, and I’d love to share ideas with other photographers.