What Makes a Dreamy Photograph?
by Amanda on April 2, 2010
Dreamy, soft, whimsical, magical…all words which describe photographs that many of us are attracted to and want to hang on our walls. I see these pictures in blogs on a daily basis and receive questions about how I get the dreamy tones and colours in my own photography. Chantelle of Fat Mum Slim shared some of her “dreamy” picture secrets this week and I have shared some of mine here too.
I like creating photographs full of soft light, faint colours and mellow tones. I don’t always achieve the look I’m after but it’s what I envisage when I shoot with my Polaroids and 35mm cameras.
I find brainstorming words and ideas always helps me when I’m planning out a shoot, a piece of writing or even a blog post. I always get my students to brainstorm a word bank when I’m helping them plan out their writing. So let’s make a list!
What makes a dreamy photograph?
I want you to add some of your ideas as well so we can have a great, big list of words to inspire our dreamy photograph taking. What words do you think of? You need not add anything but a single word if you like.
p.s. Have a great Easter break. Don’t eat too many choccies!
Related posts:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kate Baxter, Amanda Gilligan. Amanda Gilligan said: What makes a dreamy photograph? http://www.mocking-bird.org/blog/2010/04/02/what-makes-a-dreamy-photograph/ [...]
Glowy pinkness. Are these words?
haha they are now! I totally know what you mean.
Bokeh. Love me some good blur.
Happy Easter to you too!
clouds, soft greys, anything polariod…
I love all those words, and think they make a photograph very pretty.
I can’t think of anything to add. Thanks for mentioning me Amanda. xx
Now, I have to admit, I thought you were a photographer for your ‘real’ job, but what is this about writing? I should have guessed, right? xx
LOL no my real job was teaching. I was teaching Year 1 last year.
Photography is part time. :)
hope, glowing, gentleness, magic light, mellow, smooth, subtle…
:)
round edges, bokeh, and pastels!
I love your ‘dreamy’ pictures, the best word I can think of to describe them is “smooth” :) I have to admit I’d never thought of applying writing-style brainstorming to ideas for planning photography. Thank you for the tip!
ethereal
foggy
eerie
glowing
gentle
surreal
other-worldly
fragile
:)
I’ve been thinking about what makes a “dreamy” photo a lot these days. Still can’t quite master it, so I really like this post.
I think a lot of these photos has a sense of mystery to them. Faces are often hidden or cropped.
Oh, and calmness.
These are great words, everyone!
okay this post is it. your blog is entirely too perfect. i’m going to be following it religiously now haha =]
Light…colour…wow…
ethereal, momentary, inspiring, gossamer, astral, tender, radiant, quixotic, tender…
xo Alison
Wow, gorgeous post. I’m going to add “timeless” to all of these wonderful words.
This is a wonderful idea – dreamy. I teach photo and decided to use your word list as we dive into “interpretation” as a photo skill. Can’t wait to see what else comes up here! THANKS
movement and overexposesure are two things i love in photos that i find dreamy. definitely blur and ethereal are two words that come to mind as well. and lastly, simplicity.
great post!
love your blog, too. just found it via shutter sisters this morning.