Conceptual and Surreal Photography


I began photography with the passion for creation back when I was 16 and living in Saratoga Springs New York. I spilled the thoughts ruminating within my head; showing the dreams that only I can wake up from. I have since strayed away from conceptual photography as I became a full business in 2023. I have been focussing on weddings and more simplistic portrait work; which I still love, but that's not why I started photography.


I have been kicking myself when I have a day off and I don't utilize it to create work I itch to do, but really it's been so difficult to stray from a rest day working a full time job, while working on my small business, and balancing so much more internally.


Today I told myself; I am getting out there today before I work on my edits I have. I will do something for me!


So today I took a walk in New Paltz and made my way to Historic Huguenot Street. This is my go-to spot for simple portrait work and to just relax and enjoy the weather or eat a sandwich with my partner. It's not far from where I live, and usually not very populated like the park across from New Paltz College. There is also more foliage to work with!


I went with no project in mind, which I usually do and maybe need to change, so I began with some simple portrait of myself because usually I am behind the camera and need some more headshots for myself from time to time. I usually have my headphones in to help with the creative flow and put on some melancholy music. I have to get over the public embarrassment that comes with doing conceptual photography in public sometimes, really no one cares and I have to keep reminding myself that. And really at the time there were only four people around and three of them were playing pokemon and it was quite nostalgic and enjoyable to hear from a distance.


I didn't want to neglt the need to edit to I didn't stay for too long; maybe an hour and took less than 30 photos but I found one to play with and landed on this image of this lovely tree.

"We'll Take Our Time" - March 2023


For as long as I can remember, the way I have been creating conceptual pieces is to just go out, listen to music, take a bunch of photos until I feel satisfied and then head into Lightroom and Photoshop to start creating a story. Most photographers that I look up to work the opposite way. They usually sketch out a concept, plan, and then head out and shoot. Which I am sure makes their process much easier and less headache filled. But, I just can't seem to break from my own pattern and I hope to challenge myself to do so as the days progress.

One day maybe I will hold myself accountable to change my artistic habits, but also maybe that's just how I work and that's okay. Truly I need to stop comparing myself to other photographers and focus on how and why I do things. The digital world we live in is more limiting than it is expanding in my opinion.

Before and After Edits of My Conceptual Image "We'll Take Our Time"

A Breakdown


On the left is the before photo. The changes I made were simple, but make an impact nonetheless. I removed the buildings from within the trees in the background, took away some small distractions within the tree and brush, and of course added the owl in. Would be strange if there was an owl there at that time of day. I also changed the color, shadows, and overall atmosphere of the image itself of course. I also expanded the image at the sides as I did not like the smaller ratio it was at.