Why do artistic creators love melancholy so much?
I recently asked myself this.
Maybe it’s because I’ve spent my career looking for bright, colorful, cheerful photos for brands and tourism organizations, and conversely, dull, boring photos , sadness is quite appealing to my artistic side and rebellious nature.
I studied fine arts at university as part of a photography course and found that melancholy was the cause. reason to live for many artists, poets and writers over the centuries. I never paid much attention to this at the time; I consider it irrelevant to pursuing a commercial career.
Only in recent years, as I’ve spent more time pursuing my own photography projects and shooting more for myself to satisfy my personal artistic interests, have I thought about creating melancholic photographs and appreciate their aesthetic appeal. Is this because as we get older we start to think more about the fragility of life and experience more sadness as life passes?
I don’t know the answer, and maybe I don’t need to know. However, I know there are some good reasons why we should consider embracing gloomy conditions in our photography:
1. Emotional impact: Somber, melancholic scenes can evoke strong emotions, such as introspection, and even create a sense of mystery. This emotional depth can make images more engaging and memorable.
2. Atmosphere and mood: Foggy, overcast or rainy conditions can create unique atmospheres and moods that sunny days cannot. Soft, diffused lighting can add a sense of peace and quiet to a scene.
The best example of this is in forest photography, where fog can transform a boring scene into a stunning one.
3. Texture and details: Overcast skies provide diffused light. The lack of shadows and strong contrast can help draw visual attention to elements with lots of texture, like rocks, trees, and water.
I find black and white photography adds to this.
4. Timeless quality: Gloomy landscapes often have a timeless, almost surreal quality. They can make a scene seem otherworldly or like it exists outside of a specific time period, adding to the mystery of a photo.
This can be taken further by using ND filter and long exposure.
5. Tell stories: Dark, dreary beauty can be used to tell a story or convey a specific narrative more than a beautiful sunny day. I find isolation or the passage of time to be perfect themes for really dull conditions.
6. Creative and unique: It’s really a fun challenge to find beauty in unexpected or less traditional picturesque settings. It makes us think and be more creative. Creating a beautiful photo in what many would consider poor conditions can be a testament to a photographer’s vision and creative skills.
7. Influence of artistic movements: Artists for centuries have embraced melancholy and used it as reason to live. During the Renaissance, melancholy was associated with creative genius.
An appreciation for melancholy scenes is evident in certain artistic movements, such as Romanticism, in which the emphasis is on evoking emotions and creating mood rather than depicting the present. real.
I wish I had paid more attention to this in college. Luckily, these days there are plenty of art history websites for you to sift through and find inspiration.
So when it’s gloomy and rainy and downright miserable, why not grab your camera, capture the conditions and explore the concept of melancholy?
