The tension between the dionysian and apollonian mentalities mirrors human experience, where chaos and order coexist. These dualities resonate with the ancient Greek philosophical concepts of the apollonian and dionysian, which Friedrich Nietzsche famously explored in The Birth of Tragedy. These terms, derived from the gods Apollo and Dionysus, symbolize two opposing forces of human nature that manifest in art and creativity.

In ancient Greek culture, Apollo was the god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, (among many other things) and is often associated with order and rationality. Dionysus on the other hand, was the god of wine-making, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre. He is often associated with the opposite: emotion and chaos.

This duality offers a neat little viewpoint for creativity that can be a useful springboard for self-examination. Maybe you have insecurities as a photographer, concerning your creative capabilities. Perhaps you feel like you’re too stiff and not creative or artistic enough. Or maybe you are just the opposite, worried that you’re all about the artistry but not technical enough in order to make good work. By embracing both precision and passion, you as an artist, can create works that are not only technically excellent but also deep and evocative—an ideal synthesis and balance of the apollonian and dionysian spirits.

The apollonian photographer — picturing order and rationality

The apollonian represents structure, logic, and discipline. The apollonian approach is characterized by meticulous planning, technical precision, and an emphasis on form. Apollonian photographers often focus on composition and symmetry, crafting visually balanced images that adhere to compositional rules. Apollonian photography emphasises technical mastery, leveraging an in-depth understanding of camera settings, lighting, and post-processing techniques to achieve desired outcomes. A good example of the Apollonian approach is architectural photography, where precision and structure is key.

I love Nick Carter’s YouTube channel and if I’d to name an example of an apollonian photographer from the popular contemporary photography scene, I’d drop his name. I’ve been a big fan of his works for ages and even before ever thinking about these dionysianisms, I noticed his tendency for meticulous style of setting up and planning the shots, to the extent that he sometimes even seems to struggle, to borrow his own words: “get the creative juices flowing” for being obsessively precise. Or at least that is my interpretation. His works are sharp from corner to corner, the compositions rigid in their geometry, calculative and technically perfect. It is something that I could really learn from, because I don’t have that kind of attention span. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to his works.     

The dionysian photographer — picturing emotion and chaos

The dionysian embodies passion, spontaneity, raw emotion and even madness. This approach thrives in the unpredictable, seeking to capture the energy of the moment rather than imposing rigid control.

Characteristics of this approach include embracing imperfection and defects, such as optical and chemical failures, old or malfunctioning equipment, expired film, emulsion damage such as peeling, cross processing, alternative processes, light leaks, color shifts and aberrations, motion blur, scratches, excessive grain, under- and overexposure, fingerprints or any number of flaws to add to the expressive power of the image. Technical perfection is secondary and happy accidents are welcomed with open arms. They are not seen as mistakes, but as devices for stronger expression.

This is something that I adore in Sally Mann’s work. She has to be one of my all time favourite photographers among Francesca Woodman (for the very same reason). Sally Mann was one of the very first photographers that I really fell in love. I’ve never considered her works to be technically inferior, even though they feature a range of so called technical imperfections that many photographers would try to avoid, even though the “imperfections” are an important component of the poetic delivery of her images.   

The dionysian photographer shoots intuitively, letting instinct guide composition and timing, often without overthinking the technical details. They strive for emotional resonance, prioritizing the mood, thematics, content and atmosphere of the photo over technical perfection, creating images that evoke visceral responses.

Finding Balance with the synergy of the opposites

While these approaches seem antithetical, great photographers often blend apollonian and dionysian elements. A purely apollonian approach might risk sterility, while an unbridled dionysian approach could lack coherence. The most compelling works balance the two, harnessing technical control to enhance emotional impact.

For instance, in portrait photography, a carefully lit and composed shot (apollonian) can still capture a spontaneous, heartfelt expression (dionysian). Landscape photographers often wait patiently for the perfect light, balancing the structured planning of their environment (apollonian) with the unpredictable beauty of nature (dionysian).

Reflect on whether you gravitate toward structure or spontaneity in your work. Experiment with the opposite approach to expand your creative toolkit. Embrace the unexpected and allow room for chance, even in meticulously planned shoots. Some of the most iconic photographs were happy accidents.