Never boring: The creative game with perspective, time, and aperture

Recently, we covered the new “playfulness” trend and, at the end of the article, the subject of photography. Today let’s look more specifically at how the new playfulness is also expressed in picture design. After all, professional photography—like other creative industries—can certainly be described as a pioneer in terms of “playfulness,” as the skillful interplay of light and shadow, time and aperture, perspectives and lines is an indispensable prerequisite for the creation of a good end product, namely, photos.

Playful motifs should also convey a certain lightness when approaching serious tasks. And what element is better suited for this than air, which we not only need to breathe in a very existential and vital way, but which also provides us with the space for creative thoughts in a figurative sense? It is true that the air cannot be captured in the picture itself, but it can be depicted by allowing objects to float through space, giving the impression of lightness and weightlessness. There may be soap bubbles in the bathtub blown happily through the air;

people jumping into the air in a carefree way, thus defying the law of gravity for a short moment;

a cool breeze from the fan on a hot day, which not only provides refreshment, but perhaps also new ideas,

and of course balloons in all varieties, which awaken in us the desire to do the same as them and briefly float away somewhere.

“Airy” motifs set a special accent when they appear within the context of a professional environment usually associated with seriousness rather than playfulness: for example, the focused, middle-aged businessman, who has a pink inflatable swimming animal wrapped around him although there is no water in sight.

Thus, not only is an interesting eye-catcher created, but there is also a bonus comical effect on the viewer. If this colorful blow-up toy even shows up in the austere and sober atmosphere of a modern office,

it is not just an optical splash of color—an object associated with holiday feelings in a clearly professional setting causes the viewer to wonder what is going on here and creates a certain tension.

A pictorial combination of the subject areas “work” and “vacation” illustrates how the borders between work and leisure time are increasingly dissolving in some industries. This is, of course, primarily due to the digital revolution, which, in addition to all the economic possibilities, also has a strong element of playfulness. The same PC with which I do my job and earn my money can also be used for all kinds of creative and relaxing leisure activities.

No wonder, then, that the many devices and gadgets of the digital age often appear in playful photo motifs. Here, too, arise countless smart design possibilities. Take, for example, when a VR headset is combined with a snorkel.

An object from the “virtual reality” realm is coupled with nostalgic holiday gear from childhood days and commands: “Dive beneath the surface for a mental voyage of discovery and emerge with new ideas.”

In terms of design, light and lines can also be used to set the stage for playfulness. A good example of how these design elements can be skillfully combined with the aspect of “air and lightness” is the image of this young, lucky guy:

The rigid, straight lines of central stripes and bridge railings are broken up by the asymmetrical shadows of the jumping dreamer. Thus, tension is created by the opposites “light/dark” and “linear/uneven.”

When we think of “play,” we often have the idea of seemingly meaningless activity because it is not aimed at a specific purpose but rather is motivated solely by the joy of the immediate activity. Through play, we—like baby animals—acquire skills from the game that enable us to survive in the seriousness of life. For many adults, the three-year-old’s building blocks or his Big Bobby Car are sport. Even on German executive floors, it has long been recognized that physical exercise is not only a sensible balance to stress at work, ensuring happier and healthier employees, but it can also increase productivity. Sport is not only fun, but also fit for the job. After all, when sweat flows and the heart pumps faster, the gray cells also get going, and some good new ideas form from a short active break during working hours.

For this reason, many companies now offer a wide variety of fitness programs from muscle-steeling workouts

to the good old foosball table

to miniature golf courses or billiard tables next to the desk,

to name a few. Here, too, activities that were originally reserved for leisure are now entering the professional world. The subject “Fit for the job” opens up a colorful, blooming playground for the photographer with countless possibilities for variety because the element of physical action borrowed from sports photography makes motifs from the professional world not only more interesting, but also much more dynamic.

So you see, the boundless interplay of time and aperture, light and shadow never gets boring and can be experienced again and again. Those who undertake a small virtual excursion through the Westend61 offer could continue to surf on this colorful wave of pictures forever. Just try it out. You will find more pictures in the Playfulness Lightbox.