What to do when the creative flow ebbs? Should you force photography or let it slide? The answer depends on many factors—individualism most of all.
Category - Photography Clips
Making Time for Yourself
There’s a lot of pressure to not only keep up with responsibilities, but to keep churning out creative works. Make time for yourself so you can...
Depth vs. Becoming Jaded
Shock value can turn heads—but because we’re all so jaded, the effect doesn’t last long. Enduring images have depth to them.
Separating the Art from the Marketing
Art is not about the tools, whatever marketers have to say about it. Look at it from the perspective of a writer and you’ll see what I mean.
Second Chances
Are there hidden gems among our digital negatives that we’ve overlooked? Perhaps a little more time spent with them—a quick second chance—is needed.
What Are Your Reasons?
What are your reasons for liking or disliking a photograph? There are many reasons why we make these decisions—and some require more thought than...
Fragmented Audiences
We paint audiences in broad strokes—but it’s vital to understand the subtleties so that we can find those who will best enjoy the images that we create.
Eye Level
Perspective is one of those crucial elements that can turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. Here are my thoughts on using perspective...
Color Stories
Color can be a powerful storytelling tool if we pause to give it some consideration. Here are my thoughts on wielding color.
Spring Fever
It might be time to give in to spring fever—and use it to your advantage. Go out and explore the world through your lens.
The Unthinking Mind
Our unthinking minds may be sending us signals that we hardly register as we go about life—but we should pay attention to those signals as potential...
Discovery or Preparedness?
There are a couple of different ways to plan a photography trip. Is it about discovery, or are you prepared with an idea? Here are my thoughts.
Break the Rules
We need to learn the rules so that we can learn the basics. But once you’ve learned the rules well enough? Then it becomes OK to break them when needed.
What People Say and What They Do
Paying for photography reviews might result in a brief flash of attention. But lasting popularity comes from photographs designed to promote themselves.
Does Empathy Make Us Better Photographers?
Empathy may just be one of the largest factors that makes one into a better photographer. Here are my thoughts on how you can channel this into your...
Communication Is Key
We don’t always think about the meanings conveyed by details like titles or blurbs. But we should, because these are details that can follow a...
Using Adversity to Your Advantage
Creating art is no easy feat when adversity strikes. If you can find a way to create anyway, you can channel that adversity into powerful photographs.
Art is Timeless
Classical works teach us that art has timeless value—and that includes photography. This is why we spend time with images in order to fully understand...
Cookie Cutter Websites
It’s easy to create a cookie cutter website with templates. But when art is supposed to be uniquely ours, shouldn’t we display it on unique websites...
Thinking in Layers
The best photographs are the ones with deep layers of meaning. It takes thought to find these layers—and to create images featuring this depth, too.
Shades of Feeling
We often work hard to reproduce reality perfectly—but we’re not bound to do so. There’s value to bending reality if it lends shades of emotion to a...
Active Versus Passive Photography
We can classify photography in any number of ways—and the difference between active and passive photography is one of them. Learn more about these...
To Explain or Not to Explain?
Should photographers offer explanations of their art, or should interpretation be entirely on the viewer? Perhaps the middle ground is the right answer.
Experimentation
Planning is an essential part of the photographer’s routine. But when we can make time for it, experimentation has a lot of benefits to offer us.
Content is the Universal Truth
Sometimes we forget that content really is the universal truth—and that leads us to spending too much time on the details. More on my thoughts here.
One and Only
We all have favorite photographers who influence our work. But ultimately, each of us must grow beyond our role models to create the art only we can...
Creative Technology
Is the solution to our limitations to invest in a new piece of gear? Or is it more a matter of finding creative solutions using the equipment we have...
Well Intentioned Photographs
There are as many motivations as there are photographers. Question is, are you creating well-intentioned photographs, or creating for another reason?
The Many Benefits of Old Age
We don’t think of old age as having many benefits, but it does! We grow wiser, and through patience or other means, we slow down to observe the world.
Personal Aesthetics
There isn’t any accounting for taste, although photographers can try to follow mass appeal. But is this the wise choice instead of following your heart?