Using a Photography Prompt to Inspire Creativity

What is a photography prompt? It is a word or phrase that inspires a photograph. The purpose of the prompt is to give you ideas that will aid in your photo-taking process. The prompt is typically used as a theme and the photographer may interpret the theme in any way that is chosen.

A photography prompt will cause the photographer to become more observant of his/her surroundings and helps to train the “photographic eye” while trying to find photo opportunities that fit the theme.

A wide range of subjects can be used as a photography prompt: architecture; nature, such as trees, flowers, birds, or insects; subjects with a certain feature, such as a wheel or a door; compositional items such as leading lines; and food, to name just a few. The prompt could also be a word or an idea which is depicted in a photo.

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Sometimes, the prompt results in a project, where the series of photos inspired by the prompt are incorporated into a book, or a gallery exhibit or a selection of photos is used for other projects such as a set of note cards. For instance a WPS safari to Old Town Alexandria inspired “safaris” to other “Colonial Towns” for a photography project called “Virginia Colonial Towns”.

The photography prompt can also be used to take an old photo and re-process it using new techniques that have been learned since the photo was taken.

Let us know about your photography prompts and what type of photos you were inspired to make!

Photos by Sherryl Belinsky