128 ☼ Why I Love Constraints (And You Should Too)
Finding Your Voice My Limiting Your Choices
Dear friends,
In this week's letter I focus on embracing the beauty and the benefits of constraints. Also, big news, right below here! I am expanding Process with an exhibition series!
☀️ Shout out to my friends at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Exciting News! Process Projected Launch!
This coming Tuesday is a big day in Process-land! The first installment of the Process Projected exhibition series goes up at the What Is Happening Here gallery in Amsterdam.
What Is Process Projected?
Process Projected is an exhibition series that highlights the work of emerging and established photographers telling compelling and socially involved stories.
Process Projected provides a comprehensive exploration of a new wave of artists—digitally native, socially engaged, and constantly sharing their perspectives. Projected offers a bi-weekly rotation of both group and individual projects, presenting a diverse array of artists from around the world.
Similar to the 96 exhibits I curated at the International Center of Photography in New York City, the work will be shown on state-of-the-art monitors and projections.
Upcoming Exhibitions
The first installment will feature a new 20 Years edition of Noah Kalina’s iconic Everyday project, which will run from January 23rd through February 5th. It will be followed by exhibits with work by Erinn Springer, Eelco Wortman, Sheila Pree Bright, Julia Kochetova, Paulie B, Josh Edgoose and Shane Taylor of Framelines, and others. This will be the cream of the crop and I’m excited to share these projects with you.
A Newsletter!
A new and separate newsletter will be the online companion to the offline exhibition series. I’d love for you all to sign up for one email every two weeks in which you will get a preview of the work and artists:
Where and When?
WIHH Gallery, Reguliersdwarsstraat 73, Amsterdam.
Opening Times: Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon until 6pm
I am thrilled about building this series out and showcasing incredible photography by kind and (com)passionate photographers. I am already in conversation with galleries in other countries about running the series as well.
Now, onto the main topic! Constraints!
Constraints Are Not Chains
It might sound funny when I tell you that there is nothing more freeing creatively than working within a sturdy set of constraints. It sounds like the opposite of creative freedom but bear with me. I promise, by the end of this, you'll be itching to grab your camera and venture into the world with some intentional limitations.
Why? Because constraints are not chains; they're the secret sauce to unlocking your unique visual voice.
One Lens, One Camera, One Story
Remember One of Many? It was my first big photography project and it was so early on that I only had one camera body and one lens. This built-in and involuntary limitation turned out to be a blessing. By the end of the project I took portraits of more than 600 creative people across twelve cities with greatly different landscapes, but they all look like they belong together inside of one project. It feels like one cohesive narrative.
I didn’t spend any time thinking about which lens would be best for this person or that location, but rather focused all my time on keeping it simple and connection with each person to get to their truth. Simplicity and consistency.
One Shooting Mode
I shot 95% of the body of work that became my book "NOTICE" in portrait mode. At first that was not a conscious choice, just a result of slowing down my process and discovering patterns in the way I was seeing.
Once I realized it, I leaned into it and only shot in portrait mode as a deliberate choice to be able to eventually build a body of work that explored depth and detail inside of the same framing device.
Once I realized it was to be a book and started working on the sequencing with friend and design Dan Rubin I discovered this framing lent itself perfectly to an entire narrative of paired images. None were shot with the other mind mind, but they all found each other during the curation process.
Limit The Number Of Shots
If you can only take one picture a day to create a comprehensive visual diary of your life’s nuances, then you start thinking differently. One thing I enjoyed most about last year’s 365/2023 project was that instead of generously snapping away with my mobile phone all day I would weigh each moment of the day and try to make sure the one shot I took would be the best and only representation of that day.
It's not just about commitment; it's about finding beauty in the everyday. And trust me, the discipline pays off in ways you can't fathom until you're deep into the project. In a way, this limitation is at the heart of why some prefer analog over digital photography. The fact that there are only so many shots to take, makes each a bit more considered, and what’s better than a life considered?
One Location
Back to "NOTICE" – this time, it's about staying close. Your own backyard becomes a universe of stories if you look closely enough. Embracing constraints doesn’t mean limiting your subject matter; it means mining the extraordinary within the ordinary.
Seeing all the fancy travel photography pass by when we scroll social media can bring some of us down with the fear that our lives are too boring to make great work. That’s nonsense. We don’t have to go to Patagonia or Japan to make great work.
We need to lean into what we have right in front of us and get creative. Everyone can take a great photo of the Grand Canyon or a famous model, but you can make yourself the only person who takes a great photo of your neighborhood, town, or family.
Faces in the Crowd
Taking portraits of strangers on the street is one of my absolute favorite things to do. There's an unparalleled magic in capturing the raw authenticity of everyday people against the vibrant backdrop of the city. Not having a studio or famous subjects is sometimes seen as a limitation that holds you back. We can also look at it as a gateway to genuine stories waiting to be told.
Street portraits offer a unique opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life. At it’s best, a street portrait can even positively impact someone's self-esteem and how they see themselves. Many times, I've witnessed a newfound confidence in individuals who might not have considered themselves "photogenic."
My street portraits have lead to lasting friendships and unexpected collaborations. Casting commercial campaigns from the streets isn't just a savvy move; it has given me an edge because most photographers rely on casting through agencies which means the same faces come back over and over. Meanwhile, I’m in the street finding untapped beauty and charisma found in the unexplored corners of wherever I am.
And now as a bonus, a video my friend Willem Verbeeck made about my practice of photographing strangers on the street in Manhattan.
Takeaways
So, why should you willingly shackle your creativity? Three benefits:
1. Freedom from Overthinking
By limiting choices, you free up mental bandwidth. No more agonizing over gear, locations, or styles. We are about doing, not thinking or talking.
2. Consistent Visual Voice
Constraints give your work a signature. Your audience recognizes your style, creating a cohesive body of work that speaks volumes.
3. Budget-Friendly Brilliance
Smaller budgets? No problem. Constraints force you to work with what you have, and that often leads to unexpected brilliance. Fancy gear or globetrotting adventures are not a requirement, just a beautiful luxury when possible.
All in all, I’d like to suggest we don’t think of constraints as restriction but as liberation. It's about finding beauty in limitations, making every shot intentional, and letting your creative voice soar.
Now go and grab your camera. Embrace constraints, and let's start doing and making. Action comes before inspiration, as I learned during the making of "NOTICE".
That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Next Week: With all these elections coming up all over the world, I’ll share my perspective on photographing a political speech event in an exciting, creative way.
Don’t forget to sign up for
. So much inspiring photography coming your voice, twice a month.Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS A great way to support Process and enjoy a body of work I’m very proud of, consider buying my photo book NOTICE.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: The digital images were shot on the Canon 5D Mark IV using the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens, and a Fujifilm X100F. The analog images were shot on the Olympus Pen-F, the Kodak Tri-X Single Use Camera, and the Pentax 67ii.
These are links to my friends over at MPB.com, my go-to place to buy, sell, and trade used cameras and lenses. MPB caters to over 625,000 visual storytellers and provides a 6-month warranty. Thanks for supporting the Process community, MPB! <3
Film Stocks: Kodak Tri-X, Double X, and Kodak Portra 400.
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free upgrade.
Website: Big shout out to Squarespace for helping make this issue of Process possible. If you need a website, I can’t recommend using Squarespace more. I have been a paying customer for more than 10 years (!!?) and it’s been so easy to build and maintain a beautiful and professional portfolio. I even added a shop to it recently.
Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
I’m a writer who loves to take pictures. Normally, use my iPhone not have a DSLR, which I prefer. The thing is that as a writer, I love using formal poetic constraints. My natural tendency is to use the sonnet. This is exciting. And now I have a reason to go back to my (abandoned, but paid-for) Square Space site.One photo a day, intentionally done. Street portraits. Love that. And can expand to include “one sonnet a day.” Thanks!
Yes. Constraints are good. It’s one of the reasons I still love using my eight year old Q. Just a fixed 28mm lens to think about and it’s easy to carry around