What I learned from writing instructions on how to make my image

An image from my recent workshop

I’m just back from Ardnamurchan in West Scotland

I attended an excellent workshop run by Rob Knight. It was a lot of fun and very inspiring to work with a group of like-minded photographers. The important thing was that I was working with others who were more interested in the why rather than the how of photography. Rob was also very good at setting some intriguing exercises that stimulated thinking and discussion.

One of these exercises was to write instructions that would enable someone to create the same image that you had already made. This is a lot harder than it sounds!

How do you teach someone to create one of your images?

My approach was to write detailed step by step instructions. They covered how to get to the location and find the subject, how to create the right composition and how to edit it in the same way that I did.

It was reasonably simple to get someone to the location (which was in the middle of a rock pool!). It was also easy to mention the focal length of lens I used, where I stood and how I pointed my camera. After that it became more complicated. I had to think very carefully about how to tell someone exactly what to fit into the frame. The editing had to be as much about what I wanted them to get to rather than just giving a set of instructions to follow. After all, they might not be using the same software as me.

I learned a lot from this process

Firstly, I had to analyse my composition. What had I included and why? This allowed me to explain all the elements more clearly. It also led me to think about the purpose of each element. A lot of what we do as artists and photographers is instinctive. It was instructive to have to verbalise these instincts. Even carrying out this exercise for one image has allowed me to move some of my instincts into a process. I realised that I was using anchor points subconsciously. Now I am already using them consciously.

It was the same with the editing process. I knew I liked what I was doing and that it worked but, again, it was very much about instinct. Now I have a clearer idea about what I am working towards when I edit.

Instructions also must be very precise. One of my directions was to make the image feel balanced. But later discussion pointed out that this wasn’t clear. What did that really mean? Would my sense of balance be the same as someone else’s? Getting to this level of precision is something for me to work on.

The final part was to tell people what they were aiming for and why I was telling them to do certain things. I wanted my instructions to make sense rather than just be an image by numbers. Again, it made me consider the purpose of each composition and editing element in the image. 

This exercise was a massive learning curve

I was surprised about how much I gained from carrying out this process on just one image. I now plan to analyse more of my images and write instructions for them. I also plan to do this for some that don’t work. I hope this will help me realise when I am making future decisions that lead to a less powerful image.

I would encourage everyone to try this exercise out. The directions to the location are incidental. Sit down with a chosen image and write how to compose and edit it. Make sure you tell people what you are trying to achieve. You will learn a lot about your processes and intentions.

If you like the idea of setting a friend a challenge, why not give them your instructions? Will they manage to make the same image as you?

Not all instructions are the same

The instructions I was given from another workshop participant took the form of a poem. Amazingly, it led me to the right subject and I made an image that wasn’t too far away from theirs. Still, I would recommend that yours are a little more functional!