Pepping it up with props

Picture perfect

You don’t take a photograph, you make it’ said Ansel Adams, the renowned American photographer.

And if you are a somewhat active user on photo-sharing app Instagram, you will see how budding photographers are taking his words to heart — literally! While photography is seen as a skill which knows how to make the best visual use of the available natural elements, instagram users are experimenting with new and creative props to add that extra appeal to their pictures.

An good example of this would be Bhumika Bhatia, whose handle name ‘bhumikab’ has followers numbering over 20,000. She has experimented with the props, including the unassuming ‘dupatta’, to come up with some stunning photos.

Says Bhumika, “I always try and use props in photographs because they add depth to the picture and help me convey my emotions in a more natural manner. Be it a ‘dupatta’, a headpiece, some leaves or even flowers for that matter. I really love to challenge myself and get outside my comfort zone.  So I try and pick an object and test my skills as much as I can.  It helps you grow as an artist and you get to know what works best for you and what doesn’t.”

It is said that props are a great way to take command over the colours in your photos. One of the most fascinating ones to use for pictures are ‘smoke bombs’— fireworks that produce colourful smoke upon ignition. Tareeshi, a popular instagrammer, vouches for this. While usually her photos are quite minimalistic with brilliant combinations of water, light and shadows, she has used smoke bombs in a few pictures to great effect.

She says, “I don’t know how to photoshop so I instinctively depend on factors such as the natural (sun)light, wind, etc to get the right shot. The use of props is a welcome change because they become a noticeable element in the photographs. You can play with props however you like and they really are fun to experiment with. I remember having a field day with the smoke bombs. The results were fascinating and I remember getting a lot of questions about where they can be bought.”

Says Anurag Baruah, whose Instagram feed (aberonx) is a visual delight with beautiful portraits, dazzling fireworks, scenic landscapes and so on, “I feel props are a great way to accentuate the feel and meaning of a photograph. We all use props in one way or the other. For some it's a simple string of lights, and for others it may be a starlit sky in the background. Props add a relationship between the subject and the background. Some photographs require complex props, but sometimes the simplest of things can entirely change ordinary photographs into pieces of art. There are tons of ideas one can try out using just a simple prop that can turn their images into masterpieces.”

But a little restraint is always necessary. “I restrict myself to using props only once in a while otherwise I feel they would lose their appeal,” says Tareeshi. “Props are a great way to enhance a concept you may already have in mind or even to jazz up a simple photo. The key lies in experimentation and finding your style,” she adds; we couldn’t agree more.