Discovering your photographic and artistic voice. That’s the subtitle to Rick Sammon’s latest book, Photo Quest. This episode is the first in a short series with Rick where we dive deep into these ideas on what it takes to find and articulate your creative voice and vision.

Links Mentioned in today’s show:

Find Rick’s website here: https://ricksammon.com

Find Rick’s What’s Possible gallery here: https://ricksammon.com/whats-possible

Grab a copy of Rick's book here! https://amzn.to/3ihM020

The Poetry of an image: http://v2.zonezero.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=680%3Athe-poetry-of-an-image&catid=1%3Apedro-meyers-editorial&lang=en

Get some free resources here: https://brentbergherm.com/info/resources/

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Today Rick Sammon joins us once again and we’re talking about his latest book, Photo Quest. Rick, thanks for coming back! 

I’m very much looking forward to this conversation about Discovering our Photographic and Artistic Voice.

Main Topic: Photo Quest

1. Preface
2. 1. Slow down (When I first slowed down my photography became so much better. However, we can have various phases in our lives where we need to slow down all over again. Maybe for different reasons. The creative process is often best achieved when ample time is allowed for thoughtful contemplation of the subject and how it’s interpreted.)
   2. Sometimes we have to think very fast and act fast. How do we not get overwhelmed with all that we have to think about?
   3. Defining what’s important in our experience
   4. Is there a difference between “artistic images” and some other images you shoot? You have a gallery “what’s possible” on your site. Help me understand what you’re doing here.
   1. Think like a painter (additive process, add what you want to the scene, nothing more)
   2. 1. Think selectively about your image (the individual parts vs making only global edits)
      2. The mindset of a painter (can help us create more creative and artistic images.)
      1. Chiaroscuro (contrasts, light and dark, helps give depth)
      2. Sfumato (smoke/cloudy like effect, gives softness to an image)
      3. I feel like I’m in one of my classes.
   3. Compositional Principles
      1. Contrast Range (differences between camera and the eye)
      2. Direction of light (light illuminates but shadows define)
      3. Quality of light (diffuse or specular, soft or hard)
      4. Color of light
      5. Movement (lit objects, I’ve always thought of this as moving subjects, but to consider the light as moving does put it in a different “light” (bad pun))
      6. Effects of shadows (technical and emotional) This helps create separation of elements and gets to be a little more advanced in understanding what’s happening, and more importantly in controlling the situation so you get the desired results.
      7. Cycle back to Girl with a Pearl Earring if we didn’t talk about it already.
   4. Lighting Effects
      1. Gradual
      2. Peaceful
      3. The effects of our personal perception and attitude when we are shooting and processing our images.
   5. Ideas and evolutions.
      1. First image by Rick
      2. First image by Brent
      3. Total of three images each.
   6. Talk about images where we can apply these principles?

Share: If you only share one episode, please consider sharing this one. Just hit that share button in your listening app of choice and email it to someone that you know will benefit from this conversation. Rick and I will have more conversations on these topics and I don’t want any of your friends to miss out on any of these good thoughts and ideas we’re discussing here.

Reminders

1. Find us on the web at http://latitudephotographypodcast.com
2. Find me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/brentberghermphoto/
3. Find the podcast facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892577214293688/
4. Find me on instagram @brentbergherm
5. Find me on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/brentberghermphotography
6. Find me online at https://brentbergherm.com
7. And finally, my online learning platform for photographers is found at http://latitudephotographyschool.com
8. Find Rick at https://ricksammon.com
9. Find Rick on YouTube
10. Find Rick on Instagram @RickSammonPhotography