The Perceptive Photographer

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.

Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, we were out shopping for the new house and was amazed at just how busy everyone seemed. People seem to be running around from store to store and place to place without really slowing down to experience anything they were seeing. And in all of that rushing, I got me thinking about our creative process.

How we define our creative process

I think one of the things that we do as an artist is to sometimes put limits on her own creativity based on the definitions of what we define our work to be. Most other creative endeavors don't have those limits. A writer will write whatever they can imagine, and  a painter will paint whatever they can imagine.  As a photographer, if your imagination extends beyond the frame of the single shot, I challenge you to figure out how to create truly what your creative spirit is finding and seen in the world.   sometimes, our own definition of what a photograph is or is not supposed to be can inhibit our ability to create. If what truly matters to you is feeding your creative soul and sharing the way you see and experience the world and the story you want to tell,  I think you have to allow yourself to create what you feel and figure out what process, tools, and techniques ultimately get you there the fastest.

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.

Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, we were out shopping for the new house and was amazed at just how busy everyone seemed. People seem to be running around from store to store and place to place without really slowing down to experience anything they were seeing. And in all of that rushing, I got me thinking about our creative process.

How we define our creative process

I think one of the things that we do as an artist is to sometimes put limits on her own creativity based on the definitions of what we define our work to be. Most other creative endeavors don't have those limits. A writer will write whatever they can imagine, and  a painter will paint whatever they can imagine.  As a photographer, if your imagination extends beyond the frame of the single shot, I challenge you to figure out how to create truly what your creative spirit is finding and seen in the world.   sometimes, our own definition of what a photograph is or is not supposed to be can inhibit our ability to create. If what truly matters to you is feeding your creative soul and sharing the way you see and experience the world and the story you want to tell,  I think you have to allow yourself to create what you feel and figure out what process, tools, and techniques ultimately get you there the fastest.

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.

Find solace in your own and the creative efforts of others. many an amazing artist as spent more than there fair share of tiem in jail prison and protest

Creativity and Artist in Age of Uncertainity

The world was dramatically changed last week with the election in the US. As many artist sit thinking about what it means, I challenge each and every one of you to take what you are feeling. All the fear, angst, or other feelings and push it into you creative process. Use that energy to create truly meaningful work.

It is important that as artist we find ways to tell our story and the story of others so that things of true importance remain front and center. Don't just sit in your own head, get out the camera, crayons and crop circles. Find a way to tell your story. It is once again up to the creative artist to make society have significant and meaningful conversations.

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.

Zone System Basics

In last week's podcast, we took a look at the introduction to the zone system. In this week's podcast, we take a look at how we can apply the principles of the zone system to create more compelling photographs. Although the zone system was created for use in analog film photography, I think there are several ways we can apply it to create more interesting photographs even using today's digital technology.  There are three primary places we can think about applying the zone system: shooting, editing, and viewing photographs.

When we are behind the camera we are in total control of the zones and how they are placed within the scene. One of the goals when actually composing the scene is to make sure that we get the most tones possible into the negative. While traditional zone system is about placing a zone three shadow, you get ultimately dictate what should be the shadow within the image. This control allows you to make sure that you are able to have all of the tones necessary to ultimately have the best print possible.

When we are editing our photographs because we got all those tones into the actual negative we have a huge amount of flexibility to determine how we want those tones to relate in the image. You have the ability to dodge and burn. You have the ability to expand and contract the tones within the image. And you ultimately get to decide how you want the feeling of the print to be dictated by the use of the zones from pure black the paper white.

Finally, you can appreciate the subtleties and nuances within a print by better understanding the zones and how they relate. Seeing how subtle shifts in a print and maybe changing certain values within a print based on the amount of light on the print could make a huge difference in our appreciation of the light tones and structure within the image. The change can also allow you to better understand how a print can be changed. Knowing that each zone is a one-stop difference from another zone can help you make decisions how to edit a print. Looking at a print and seeing that something needs to be a half-stop brighter or darker is a much better way of editing than just guessing how much change is needed. After all, photography is about learning to see light.

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.

Zone System Basics

In last week's podcast, we took a look at the introduction to the zone system. In this week's podcast, we take a look at how we can apply the principles of the zone system to create more compelling photographs. Although the zone system was created for use in analog film photography, I think there are several ways we can apply it to create more interesting photographs even using today's digital technology.  There are three primary places we can think about applying the zone system: shooting, editing, and viewing photographs.

When we are behind the camera we are in total control of the zones and how they are placed within the scene. One of the goals when actually composing the scene is to make sure that we get the most tones possible into the negative. While traditional zone system is about placing a zone three shadow, you get ultimately dictate what should be the shadow within the image. This control allows you to make sure that you are able to have all of the tones necessary to ultimately have the best print possible.

When we are editing our photographs because we got all those tones into the actual negative we have a huge amount of flexibility to determine how we want those tones to relate in the image. You have the ability to dodge and burn. You have the ability to expand and contract the tones within the image. And you ultimately get to decide how you want the feeling of the print to be dictated by the use of the zones from pure black the paper white.

Finally, you can appreciate the subtleties and nuances within a print by better understanding the zones and how they relate. Seeing how subtle shifts in a print and maybe changing certain values within a print based on the amount of light on the print could make a huge difference in our appreciation of the light tones and structure within the image. The change can also allow you to better understand how a print can be changed. Knowing that each zone is a one-stop difference from another zone can help you make decisions how to edit a print. Looking at a print and seeing that something needs to be a half-stop brighter or darker is a much better way of editing than just guessing how much change is needed. After all, photography is about learning to see light.

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.

Zone System Basics

In this week's episode of The Perceptive Photographer, we talk about some of the basic principles of using the zone system in your photography. Even if you are a digital photographer there is a huge benefit to understanding the basic principles of the zone system. At it's core, the zone system is a clear and concise language to describe the various black and white tones that are present in an image.

Comprised of eleven zones from Zone 0 being pure black to Zone X being paper white, each of the zones in the system represents a value of gray between those extremes. Each zone is the same as a single stop of exposure in your camera. With zone V being half as much light as zone VI but twice the light as Zone IV. When working with an image, the fully rendered shadow detail is in Zone III and fully rendered highlight detail is in Zone VII. This range of light is useful in understanding how we can go about creating a print.

Once you have a clear understanding of what the zones are and how they are created, you can move into more interesting applications of the tonal values within your print.

In next week's podcast, we will look at some of teh ways to apply what you now about the zone system into shooting, editing and viewing images.

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.

Zone System Basics

In this week's episode of The Perceptive Photographer, we talk about some of the basic principles of using the zone system in your photography. Even if you are a digital photographer there is a huge benefit to understanding the basic principles of the zone system. At it's core, the zone system is a clear and concise language to describe the various black and white tones that are present in an image.

Comprised of eleven zones from Zone 0 being pure black to Zone X being paper white, each of the zones in the system represents a value of gray between those extremes. Each zone is the same as a single stop of exposure in your camera. With zone V being half as much light as zone VI but twice the light as Zone IV. When working with an image, the fully rendered shadow detail is in Zone III and fully rendered highlight detail is in Zone VII. This range of light is useful in understanding how we can go about creating a print.

Once you have a clear understanding of what the zones are and how they are created, you can move into more interesting applications of the tonal values within your print.

In next week's podcast, we will look at some of teh ways to apply what you now about the zone system into shooting, editing and viewing images.

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.

Halloween costumes and simple photography

As fall takes hold and the seasonal changes are in full swing, we find ourself at the end of October and one of our great holidays. Halloween is just around the corner. It has got me thinking. As a kid, I remember being all excited about getting to dress up and head out into the neighborhood getting bags and buckets of candy. As I got older, I still found Halloween to be a big deal. There was always a big party with everyone dressed up like an alter-ego. Over the years, I have been a Blockbuster video, cop, superhero, IT director, a can of beer and the classic vampire and ghost. Each costume allowed a different side of my personality get to come out into the open and get a night to play. I got to thinking about how that same process can impact our creative living. Imagine what type of work you might create if you took a day or two to try and live as your alter ego. What would they photograph and create? What sort of message would they want to convey? In many ways since they are in fact you, what is keeping you from pushing those fringe projects forward? Maybe it might help to find that Halloween costume and a camera and see what might happen when you get all dressed up for the holiday and flex those creative muscles.

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.