My Emerging Photographic Style
Bungalott
Niche & Genre
My passion for photography began years ago, back in the days of analog. From the very beginning, I was completely captivated by the process. But even then, I faced one major challenge—developing a personal style.
I wanted to photograph everything.
One moment it was a brightly colored oil slick on wet asphalt… the next, a macro shot of an angry bumblebee… then the nuts and bolts holding a bridge together. My curiosity had no boundaries. At times, I questioned my own sanity—and honestly, so did my wife and a few friends.
What I didn’t understand then was that focusing on a specific niche or genre is often what guides a photographer toward defining a personal style.
Fast forward to today. After retirement, I rekindled my love for photography—only now, it exists in a fully digital world. Without the limitations of film, my tendency to shoot everything has only intensified.
Blessing or Curse
Everything I’ve studied emphasizes the importance of choosing a niche—of narrowing your focus to develop a recognizable photographic identity.
From that perspective, it once seemed like I was doing the exact opposite.
But in reality, something else was happening.
By immersing myself in photographing every subject from as many perspectives as I could imagine—guided by instinct and spirit—I was actually becoming a stronger photographer. My composition improved. My understanding deepened. I began to grasp how light interacts with surfaces, how colors blend, how contrast shapes perception.
What felt like a lack of direction was, in truth, steady evolution.
Over time, I began to study my own body of work more closely. Patterns started to emerge. Certain genres began to speak to me more clearly than others.
I found myself drawn to:
Landscapes and seascapes
Cityscapes
Nature
Night (low-light) photography
Street photography
At first, this wide range only added to my confusion. It felt like I was still all over the place. But then I realized something important:
Photography, much like music, is fluid. Genres overlap. They blend. They coexist.
And just when I thought I was stuck again—I had an epiphany.
The Aha Moment
When I combined my love for travel with my love for photography, everything aligned.
Travel photography became the bridge.
Within that single niche, I could explore all the genres that resonated with me. Landscapes, street scenes, architecture, culture, light, motion—they all naturally exist within the experience of travel.
What once felt scattered suddenly felt unified.
Final Reflection
What I once saw as a weakness—my desire to shoot everything—revealed itself as a strength.
It is not a distraction. It is a preparation.
By allowing myself the freedom to explore without restriction, I AM not only developing technical skills, but a deeper understanding of how I see the world. And in that process, my photographic identity continues to take shape.
What seemed like chaos… is becoming clarity.
What seemed like a curse… is, in fact, a blessing.
