The Perceptive Photographer

Being Productive

Thinking forward to everything that I want to accomplish in 2017 has me considering what sort of changes I need to make to my productive plan. In the past, when I didn't achieve my goals I got to thinking of myself as lazy, but as the new year starts I have a different perspective on productivity. I find that we spend time on the things that matter and that we need to give ourselves a break when that doesn't work out the way that we planned.

As I consider my own creativity, I am going to try to focus on the following areas to make 2017 one of the best years.

* Reliability. I only want to focus and work with things and people that are reliable. I am done waiting on bad things to improve. I instead want to focus on what works.

* Repeatability. I want to make sure that I have a clear and easy way to repeat the things that I do over and over again.

* Consistency. There is huge value in working day in and day out on something. Having a consistency to my process will make them easier to repeat and understand their long-term impact.

* Forget the past. Things in the past are there for a reason. I am not going to hold on to things just because I did it that way before. If it doesn't move me forward, it is gone.

* Avoid multi-tasking. You can get a lot more done when you sit down, focus and don't try to do three things at once.

* Write it down

I hope that you can find something in this week's podcast that can help you get more productive in 2017 and if not that you at least take the time to think about what really makes you productive and focus your energy there this year.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Five things photographers should do in 2017

As 2016 draws to a close, we take a look at five key things that creative photographers can do to set up a successful creative framework for 2017. There are always some things that we can do to help improve our photography. In this final podcast of 2016, I have come up with a list of ideas that I think could make a difference in your work in the coming year.

Remove the word should from your creative process and replace it with want. Should can create an obligation, whereas, want fuels the fire.

Much like the Stoic philosophers, work on controlling your reaction to events rather than trying to control or be swept up in the events. If you are out shooting, you can't control the weather, but you can control your reaction to the weather.

Give away your old camera gear (not sell) to someone who could use it. You will be amazed at the jumpstart your creativity gets when you create a spark in someone else.

Follow through on your commitments. Start small and simple, and you will be amazed at the shift in your creativity.

Print the ten best images of 2016 that you created.

Best wishes to you and everyone as 2016 draws to a close. Here is to a new and bright 2017! Happy New Year Everyone!

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Five things photographers should do in 2017

As 2016 draws to a close, we take a look at five key things that creative photographers can do to set up a successful creative framework for 2017. There are always some things that we can do to help improve our photography. In this final podcast of 2016, I have come up with a list of ideas that I think could make a difference in your work in the coming year.

* Remove the word should from your creative process and replace it with want. Should can create an obligation, whereas, want fuels the fire.

* Much like the Stoic philosophers, work on controlling your reaction to events rather than trying to control or be swept up in the events. If you are out shooting, you can't control the weather, but you can control your reaction to the weather.

* Give away your old camera gear (not sell) to someone who could use it. You will be amazed at the jumpstart your creativity gets when you create a spark in someone else.

* Follow through on your commitments. Start small and simple, and you will be amazed at the shift in your creativity.

* Print the ten best images of 2016 that you created.

Best wishes to you and everyone as 2016 draws to a close. Here is to a new and bright 2017! Happy New Year Everyone!

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Context of Photographs

In this podcast, we discuss the importance of thinking about the context of how a photograph was created to help understand the meaning and significance. We can often gain more insight into the photograph based on how and when the photograph was created verses an arbitrary judgement based on personal bias or belief.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Context of Photographs

In this podcast, we discuss the importance of thinking about the context of how a photograph was created to help understand the meaning and significance. We can often gain more insight into the photograph based on how and when the photograph was created verses an arbitrary judgement based on personal bias or belief.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Complexity verse Simplicity

Often times, it seems that in my creative process I do things the hard way. I value the complexity of the process more than the outcome. As I got to thinking about why this happens, it occurs to me that there is some reward or payout for focusing on complexity over the value of the simple process. For me, I think that if we make things overly complex and hard, we allow ourselves to have an easy out when we fail. We can always say that it was just too hard to finish.

However, simple doesn't mean easy, it just means that we were able to focus on the most important aspects of the process, photograph, or series. By focusing on the simplisity, we might not get that reward of complaining about our failures, but we might create more meaningful work.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Complexity verse Simplicity

Often times, it seems that in my creative process I do things the hard way. I value the complexity of the process more than the outcome. As I got to thinking about why this happens, it occurs to me that there is some reward or payout for focusing on complexity over the value of the simple process. For me, I think that if we make things overly complex and hard, we allow ourselves to have an easy out when we fail. We can always say that it was just too hard to finish.

However, simple doesn't mean easy, it just means that we were able to focus on the most important aspects of the process, photograph, or series. By focusing on the simplisity, we might not get that reward of complaining about our failures, but we might create more meaningful work.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Award Shows

As the end of the year draws near, I got to thinking about some of the things that Hollywood does to celebrate their best of for the year and how that can be applied to photography. As the major award shows draw closer, you will find several lists containing the best of.  I think one of the things we can do with our photography is taking the same categories and apply them to the work we created from the past year. For example, you can get all of your photographs from the past year and select the best pictures you took. You can then find your best picture of the year. You could also, for example, find your best actor or gesture photograph of the year.    There are a lot of other categories you could consider as well.   You can look for your best screenplay or story photo.  You could also look for the image that show cased your best intention and make that your best director photograph.  Finally, you could use the Razzie awards to find your photographs that didn't quite make the cut this year and have a good laugh.

Creative Energy

One of the things I've had some photographers contact me about the past few weeks is dealing with their lack of creativity or creating flow. I think one of the things you can do when you get stuck in this position is to focus on the most simple and easy parts of your creative process. It is when things seem simple and easy we are more likely to try. When you try to think of your creative processes having to solve all the world's problems or be grander than it needs to be we sometimes shut down in the process, and I think it would be better just to create rather than get stuck in your psychology.

Holiday Gifts

One of the things I get asked a lot this time a year is about gifts for photographers. While the cost of most photographic equipment is outside the reach of normal people, I think there are a number of gifts we could give that would make a difference. If you know, somebody has a favorite photographer you could get them a book or a gift certificate to help pay for part of a workshop or seminar for that person. You could also consider helping them pay for a part of their software subscriptions. I think it is important to realize that when people are asking you for help or a gift, they're acknowledging your expertise and interest in photography. You should celebrate that recognition.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Award Shows

As the end of the year draws near, I got to thinking about some of the things that Hollywood does to celebrate their best of for the year and how that can be applied to photography. As the major award shows draw closer, you will find several lists containing the best of.  I think one of the things we can do with our photography is taking the same categories and apply them to the work we created from the past year. For example, you can get all of your photographs from the past year and select the best pictures you took. You can then find your best picture of the year. You could also, for example, find your best actor or gesture photograph of the year.    There are a lot of other categories you could consider as well.   You can look for your best screenplay or story photo.  You could also look for the image that show cased your best intention and make that your best director photograph.  Finally, you could use the Razzie awards to find your photographs that didn't quite make the cut this year and have a good laugh.

Creative Energy

One of the things I've had some photographers contact me about the past few weeks is dealing with their lack of creativity or creating flow. I think one of the things you can do when you get stuck in this position is to focus on the most simple and easy parts of your creative process. It is when things seem simple and easy we are more likely to try. When you try to think of your creative processes having to solve all the world's problems or be grander than it needs to be we sometimes shut down in the process, and I think it would be better just to create rather than get stuck in your psychology.

Holiday Gifts

One of the things I get asked a lot this time a year is about gifts for photographers. While the cost of most photographic equipment is outside the reach of normal people, I think there are a number of gifts we could give that would make a difference. If you know, somebody has a favorite photographer you could get them a book or a gift certificate to help pay for part of a workshop or seminar for that person. You could also consider helping them pay for a part of their software subscriptions. I think it is important to realize that when people are asking you for help or a gift, they're acknowledging your expertise and interest in photography. You should celebrate that recognition.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

Five Mistakes

I was recently having a conversation with a good friend, and he asked me what the five mistakes are I think most photographers make. It was a tough question because I'm not sure that all photographers make the same mistakes. But it did get me thinking as he pushed me more and more, what were the five things in my photography that I think moved my creative process forward. As seen I continue to talk I came up with the following list:

understanding your learning style

not knowing your gear

diversity in photography

history and photography

following your voice

Five Key Areas of Focus

When we talk about learning styles, I think most people need to realize what their actual learning style is. If you learn by seeing or kinesthetically or by listening, you need to follow your personal learning style so you can absorb as much information as possible in a way that makes sense to you. I think one of the failings we have in our education system is that we force people into a single learning style that is not comfortable for them. As adults, we have an opportunity to push that boundary and make sure that were getting information in a way that makes the most sense to us.

A lot of photographers talk about not knowing your gear. And I think that's true that most of us should learn more and more about the tools and techniques that we use for our creative craft. It is important you understand not just the small little things but some of the bigger elements as well.  Like when you're talking about digital how does color management, or how do printing profiles affect the final print. I think it is critical to know your camera and your camera functions; because if you don't have to spend time looking at the buttons on your camera, you can to spend more time being in the creative flow.

I think looking at the diversity of photographs created today important. We are at one of the most prolific times in photographic history. Looking at the diversity of who creates all these photos from different cultures, genders and races all contribute to our better understanding of the type of photographic world in which we exist.

Just like with diversity looking at the history of photography helps us understand where we've come from and why we do some of the things we do in our photography. It helps us understand the subtle influences and inspirations in photography.

Finally, if I were actually to have a mistake on my list, it would be this, not following your own voice. It is so easy to imitate and follow the path that other people took because it is easy. But meaningful work comes from the heart and the soul, and I think one of the biggest challenges artists face is being willing to risk sharing  what is inside them with the rest of the world

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.

If you subscribe to the Perceptive Photographer up on in iTunes and have you take a few minutes to do a quick review, it can help others learn about the show.