In the podcast this week I am so excited to be joined by the amazing and wonderful Dave Cross. Dave is an icon in the Photoshop world. A member of the Hall of Fame, teaching in every state and multiple countries around the world, founder of the Virtual Summits series and just an all-around great individual. I am so excited that he agreed to join me on the podcast this week where we talk about building community, how to approach working on complex ideas or topics and how to always keep improving. I hope you have a great time listening, I know I learned a lot and loved having the chance to speak with Dave. You can learn more about Dave and all he does at dcross.com

Mark Your Calendars for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024

Before we get into the topic just a save the date note for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024 for May 20 through May 24. This will be a free week packed with Lightroom training. These sessions are going to be invaluable for anyone looking to enhance their photo processing and organizational skills with this tool.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

It’s “Challenge Week,” in this episode of the Perceptive Photographer, so I am outlining five tasks designed to refresh and inspire your approach to your work. Each challenge ranges in difficulty and is not necessarily organized from easiest to hardest, as presented in the podcast, as everyone’s perspective on what’s challenging varies. But I hope each one can shift a perception or rekindle a creative spark if you feel a little stuck.

Crafting Project Statements

The first challenge is crafting project statements. I’m asking you to write three project statements, each one or two paragraphs at most, to help organize some photographic projects or initiate a new project you have only thought about. 

The Gift of Art: Sharing Your Work

Challenge number two is about generosity and the power of giving away ten prints. The purpose of this is to select images you value enough to share and think about a deeper connection to what truly matters in your work as you share it.

Exploring New Perspectives Through Cropping

The third challenge involves taking 25 existing images and cropping them into new aspect ratios, which hopefully pushes you to consider alternative compositional frames. This practice can dramatically shift your approach to capturing images in the future.

The Art of Titling

In the fourth challenge of the week, I am challenging you to title 50 currently untitled images. Crafting suitable titles can often be as challenging as taking the photos themselves, but it’s part of the process that adds depth to our work.

Curating a Cohesive Collection

The last challenge starts with building a collection of 100 images that seem to fit together. This exercise emphasizes the importance of identifying what makes each photograph unique and also different. You are looking for the common threads that tie them together, using your own photographs as a feedback loop for growth.

Mark Your Calendars for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024

Before we get into the topic just a save the date note for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024 for May 20 through May 24. This will be a free week packed with Lightroom training. These sessions are going to be invaluable for anyone looking to enhance their photo processing and organizational skills with this tool.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this latest episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, I revisited the evergreen question of what constitutes a good photograph. A quick announcement before we jump into the topic. I wanted to announced the upcoming Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024, set to run from May 20-24, where you can enjoy a free week of Lightroom training.

In this week’s podcast, I delved into the subjective nature of photographic quality, emphasizing that a photograph’s value extends beyond monetary terms and is more deeply tied to the experience and emotional connection it brings, reflecting on the influence of audience, intention, and purpose in determining what makes a photograph acceptable or praiseworthy, and how experience itself adds value to a photograph.

I also wonder if the notion of good is sometimes an automatic praise given to certain historical figures in photography, noting that not all works by recognized artists are necessarily exemplary. Finally I wonder how much the weight we put into an image is our good verse snapshots categories of image. Where a good ‘snapshot’ quality, advocating for their potential to carry memory, meaning, and context might be the best of our work.

My goal in the episode is to return to that question of what makes a photograph meaningful is likely what also makes it good, and the significance of photographs that capture the essence of a place or situation, which may not necessarily satisfy the criteria of structured competitions, but nonetheless stand as good photography in their own right.

Mark Your Calendars for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024

Before we get into the topic just a save the date note for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024 for May 20 through May 24. This will be a free week packed with Lightroom training. These sessions are going to be invaluable for anyone looking to enhance their photo processing and organizational skills with this tool.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Welcome to another installment of the Perceptive Photographer podcast. I’m excited to bring you episode 472. Before we dive deep into this week’s topic, a quick note for those eager to enhance their photography critique skills: I will be running a class on April 6 and 13 designed to refine your ability to understand and discuss your photographs more profoundly. Now, let’s get into the heart of today’s discussion, learning to identify and understand the influences in your photography.

The Role of Influences in Shaping Your Craft

In a recent class I taught about imitation, inspiration, and influence, we uncovered the significance of in-depth knowledge about the photographers who shape our work. It’s incredible to note how many of us begin our photographic journey under the subtle guidance of our predecessors without even realizing it. Our personal style often evolves from emulating the images that captivate us. Identifying these pivotal influencers is the first step towards acknowledging the roots of our creative expression.

Why Delve into the Lives of Influential Photographers?

The exercise of recognizing influential photographers goes beyond a simple acknowledgment. Once we pinpoint these individuals, it becomes immensely rewarding to undertake a biographical exploration. Unraveling the stories behind the artists who resonate with us strengthens our connection to their work and enriches our own creative process. By understanding the context of their lives and their art, we open ourselves up to deeper insights about their impact on our photography.

The Power of Significant Works and the Lessons They Teach

As we immerse ourselves in the lives of these photographers, it’s crucial to dissect their portfolios and identify the pieces that speak to us the loudest. These significant works are often a composite of the lessons we absorb and apply to our own photography. However, influences can be as diverse as the genres we explore. They can pivot our perspective, technique, and expression in ways we might not have predicted.

As we continuously seek out inspiration and endeavor to refine our craft, it’s important to stay updated with fresh insights and discussions in the world of photography. Subscribing to the Perceptive Photographer podcast ensures that every Monday, you’ll have access to the latest episodes packed with thoughtful commentary and tips to further your photographic journey.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s episode of the Perceptive Photographer, we try to unpack photography’s connection to symbolic meaning in images and how some of key tenants of symbolic interactionism can shift how we approach our work. From social constructs to the meaning behind our photographs, this episode dives into how our interactions shape the essence captured in every shot. Hopefully, some of this will give you a chance to think about how your approach and what you see defines your visual stories.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week is episode 470 of the Perceptive Photographer podcast I dive into the importance of the personal part of personal work and projects. So many times I hear from people who are trying to find a deeper connection to their work that they struggle with what it will mean to everyone who looks at it. The focus of the work is very external. I propose that for work to matter it needs to have a personal connection to the person making the work first. I also believe that if it matters to you then that is enough. The work matters because we feel and believe it matters to us. This isn’t a matter of ego, but rather a deep heart-felt to what we photograph and how we experience those moments.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcasts, I jump into the essence the struggle between practice, inspiration and making images. I emphasize the necessity to actively engage in practicing the craft of photography, emphasizing the importance of honing technical, organizational, shooting, and preparatory skills. When we fail to practice, it can leave us unprepared for unforeseen challenges. 

There is also a critical  balance between practicing what we already know and learning new tasks that is crucial to our continued development and excitement as photographers. I also talk about the risk of disregarding moments of influence and inspiration to explore the unfamiliar that can move us forward in favor of the safety of easy practice. This impact can risk stagnation and the feeling of going nowhere. The key lies in being prepared while maintaining flexibility, ensuring growth without becoming stuck in a rigid routine.

Some of the tools for fostering inspiration include the creation of an inspiration journal. This journal encourages us to celebrate the beauty in our surroundings at any given moment and urges us to try something entirely different to stimulate creativity. I also think it is important to establish an efficient and organized system for practice, allowing for a structured yet flexible approach to the craft of photography. By embracing these principles, we can hopefully have a a smart and evolving photography practice, ensuring we are prepared and open to new possibilities.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In episode 468 of my podcast, the Perceptive Photographer, I talk about the world of presets in photography. I chime in on how their role and importance can enhancing workflow efficiency, especially for repetitive tasks.

I also share how important it is to consider the further refinement required to achieve the desired effects. I also try to encourage you to understand the underlying adjustments that make up a preset to better apply them to their images. 

I also try an draw a parallel between presets and expectations set before a photo shoot, emphasizing preparation as another form of presetting. Finally I discuss how ideas can be left top of mind akin to having pre-programmed buttons on a radio, that aid photographers in rapidly adapting to change while shooting.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In episode 467 of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, we draw inspiration from the book “Art and Fear” by Ted Orland and Richard Bayless.

Often in my artistic endeavors, I’m driven by a desire to produce remarkable pieces that resonate with both myself and my audience. But what’s the path to achieving such a goal? Drawing from the teachings of “Art and Fear”, I point out a fundamental lesson: the best I can do is make art I care about—lots of it. Because as I churn out my creations, only a handful will rise to the top as finished products of note.

Learning Through Volume: The Continuous Journey of Art Creation

Good work, as highlighted in today’s discussion, is born from a surplus of efforts that may not initially hit the mark. I encourage myself to generate an abundance of work and gradually filter out the less impressive aspects. It’s through this sifting process that I learn about my unique visions and inch closer to the art I aspire to create. Someone has to do the work, and it might as well be me.

Reimagining Weaknesses as Strengths in Art

Creating art can sometimes transport me to a peculiar place beyond satisfaction. It’s during this struggle with my flaws and weaknesses that art truly takes form. By reframing these apparent shortcomings as strengths, I unlock new perspectives in my craft. The podcast reminds me that it isn’t until the pain of not working exceeds the pain of working that I truly commit to my art form.

In closing, I reflect on the long-lasting impact “Art and Fear” has had on my creative philosophy. The book’s insights are not to be overlooked by anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the artistic experience. As I bid farewell for the week, I extend an invitation to embrace the book’s wisdom and carry it with us on our creative journeys.

Remember, keep creating, push through the struggles, and allow your artwork to be an honest exploration of your inner world. Until next time, keep nurturing your craft and perhaps join me for my upcoming free webinar on March 7, where editing and transformation of photographs into striking black and white images will be the day’s adventure.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Welcome to a new episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast. For those of you who are returning listeners, your continued support is invaluable. And to the newcomers, a warm thank you for tuning in. Exciting updates such as webinars are on the horizon, and I encourage you to subscribe to the newsletter for all the latest news.

Discovering Work That Matters

Photographers often find themselves at a crossroads, seeking to create work that resonates and has significance. The initial steps towards crafting meaningful photography can seem daunting, yet it is a journey worth embarking on. The allure of this quest lies not only in the pursuit of individual expression but also in the connections we forge with our community through shared visual languages.

The Allure of Unique Perspectives

There’s a unique charm in the subjects that catch a photographer’s eye. While many may photograph similar scenes or objects, it is the individual touch – the distinct sensibility each photographer brings to their work – that sets their photographs apart. Understanding that this inherent attraction to certain subjects is a reflection of one’s unique personality is the key to embracing the deeper compulsion behind why we capture the images we do.

Broad Connections Over Singular Objects

Photography should not be viewed solely as a collection of individual snapshots but as a narrative that weaves a richer tapestry of broader connections. These connections form the backbone of engaging photography and propel us into explorations that resonate on a deeper level.

Defining Projects with Expansive Vision

When charting out projects, the advice is to cast the net as wide as possible. Themes like relationships or the interaction with landscapes can serve as colossal canvases for your photographic exploration. By widening the scope, photographers can then gradually refine and narrow down their language, bringing clarity and focus to the projects that matter most.

The Essence of a Five-Star Photograph

A ‘five-star’ photograph can hold different meanings for different people. Some images may aim purely to inform, while others strive to evoke a deeper understanding. It’s crucial to distinguish between these as it sheds light on the photographer’s intentions and the layers of meaning embedded within their work.

In conclusion, Daniel Gregory offers invaluable insight into embarking on a journey towards creating impactful photography. By understanding the uniqueness of our perspectives, connecting our images to broader themes, carefully defining our projects, and recognizing the varied depths of meaning in our photographs, we can make significant progress in our photographic endeavors.

Here’s to a week filled with exploration, creativity, and the pursuit of images that connect and inspire.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this episode, we explore the pivotal moment between capture and concept and how making sure we focus on the right creative process at the right time and really push our work forwards in meaningful ways.

Key Topics

• Understanding the “click” moment
• The “what” versus the “how”
• The iterative nature of photographic meaning
• Presence of mind in photo making

“What is the thing that drew my attention? What is the thing that pulled me into wanting to actually put the camera up to my eye?”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In episode 464 of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, we delve into an intriguing discussion on the importance of artists looking back at their own completed work. Contrasting the view of individuals who refrain from revisiting their past creations, I try to show that reviewing one’s work is crucial for evaluation and self-reflection. I also talk about the value of self-critique in the creative process and how getting more skilled at self-reflection can drive the power of engaging with the work through multiple voices in group critique settings.

Key Topics

• Never revisiting your own work?
• Importance of critiquing personal work
• Photographs: Deepen our universal view
• Honest feedback fosters community
• Self-evaluation improves collaboration

“It allows us to get new ideas. And part of the new ideas is where inspiration comes from.”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Dive into episode 436 of The Perceptive Photographer to explore the intertwining of camaraderie, standards, and idealism in photography. In this episode, I reflect on an owl photo adventure, revealing insights into how photographers can enhance their craft through communal experiences, precise goals, and a contagiously optimistic outlook.

Key Topics

• Community matters in photography
• Setting expectations can limit you
• Positivity is infectious on shoots
• Photography is a privileged pursuit

“That sense of idealism also was really sort of interesting because it came out and I remember one guy said something to the effect of, I’m gonna get one of the greatest shots I’ve ever gotten today.”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week, we dive into five bad habits that you may have that are blocking your photographic process. Hopefully, in the podcast, you can see how to challenge your approach, shake off stubbornness, improve your listening skills, and inspire action behind the lens. Tune in to sharpen your creative focus!

Key Topics

• Holding onto things out of stubbornness
• The fallacy of needing to be right
• The critical mistake of not listening
• Criticizing others for your own faults
• The power of doing the work

“Your stubbornness is preventing you from taking the necessary steps forward to be more successful as a photographer.”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Dive into the ideas of what makes a good photograph in this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast. In episode 461 we try to unlock what defines quality in a image and how our assessment of the subjective nature of good changes and evolves over time From engaging our emotions to shifting at our thinking, we talk about how to discover the key elements that make a photograph truly stand out.

Key Topics

• What makes a good photograph?
• Distractions in photos: purposeful or not?
• The subjective nature of photographic interest
• Emotional evocation as a photo’s marker
• Thinking photos: contemplation and engagement

“I also believe that photographs that are good have us think. They have us shift our way at our awareness of the world in a way we hadn’t considered before.”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

As we start 2024 on the perceptive photographer, we dive into the nuances of photography in the digital age, challenging myths and embracing goals for 2024. Tune in for an insightful mix of critical thinking, resolutions, and the power of forgiveness in the creative journey.

Key Topics

• The importance of reviewing assumptions in photography using film photography as more contemplative as an example
• Redefining photo resolutions
• The truth about habit-forming
• Embracing creative forgiveness

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

The latest episode of The Perspective Photographer, number 459, dives into some thought-provoking perspectives on photography from some great quotes by other photographers. In these quotes, we see our need to connect to our work and subjects in a meaningful way to produce the best work possible. As we visit the quotes below we can start to see how images have the power to reveal secrets, capture humanity, and become canvasses that echo our connections.

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know. —Diane Arbus

It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. —Henri Cartier-Bresson

A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people. — Annie Leibovitz

I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I’ve lost. ―Nan Goldin

It is easy to make a picture of someone and call it a portrait. The difficulty lies in making a picture that makes the viewer care about a stranger. — Paul Strand

People say don’t stare. Through the photos, not only do I stare, but I allow viewers to stare at the subject, to see things that they cannot see with a casual glance. —Dawoud Bey

There’s no particular class of photograph that I think is any better than any other class. I’m always and forever looking for the image that has spirit! I don’t give a damn how it got made. —Minor White

There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment. — Robert Frank

The majority of the people I’ve taken photographs of, I’ve had conversations with. What are your goals and aspirations? What are you about? It’s not just about me capturing the image; I want to know what you are about. —Jamel Shabazz

I didn’t want a completely passive viewer. Art means too much to me. To be able to articulate something visually is really an important thing. I wanted to make work where the viewer wouldn’t walk away; he would giggle nervously, get pulled into history, into fiction, into something totally demeaning and possibly very beautiful. —Kara Walker

I always say that photography’s closest cousin is poetry because of the way it sparks your imagination and leaves gaps for the viewer to fill in. —Alec Soth

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Ever thought being a dismal failure could be your best move? Dive into our exploration of failure as a stepping stone in photography and creativity on this episode of The Perceptive Photographer. Let’s wrap up 2023 by finding beauty in blunders and gaining growth through goof-ups.

“Amazing things happen when we fail, and yet most of us work really hard not to be a failure or to appear as we have failed or to appear incompetent or less than qualified for what we’re doing.”

Key Points

• Failure can lead to creative leaps
• Being stuck is worse than failing
• Success may breed from failed shots
• Reflection fosters photographic growth
• Remove “failure” for creative freedom

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast is all about listener questions. Starting with the common mistakes made by photographers while critiquing their work. We then look at strategies to tackle procrastination. We try to examine how many photos you need to take to get a good one. I reveal one of my most annoying work habits and how it impacts my photography. Finally, we talk about dealing with so much information on the web and how to focus on their voice and understanding of their work and emphasize the importance of consuming as much photography with intention as possible.

“Sometimes procrastination is there to help us understand what actually matters to us.”

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast episode, we explore the use of 11 dynamic questions that are specifically designed to spark meaningful conversations about photography. Using these questions, you can easily discuss your work with your audience and, in turn, help them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for your art. This can help create a stronger connection between you and your viewers, resulting in a more fulfilling artistic experience for everyone involved.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.
Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s perceptive photographer podcast dives into the dynamic interplay between time and creativity. This episode peels back the layers of how a non-linear approach to time can reshape our photographic journey and push the boundaries of our artistic process!

“And yet we have memories and we have anticipation of the future, and we have all sorts of things that sort of shift our notion of time.”

Key Points

• Time’s role in the creative process
• Misconceptions about linear progress
• Circular vs. linear creation models
• Impact of revisiting old work
• Inspiration from past to fuel future art

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this perceptive photographer podcast this week we focus on how coming up with three key goals can make a difference in your work. From setting strategies for goal setting, exploring the impact of language in photography, connecting with your subject, and looking at history, social sharing, or business aspects of photography, getting the right goal can be a wonderful stepping stone to a deeper connection with and emphasizing the importance your work.

Key Points

• Expand beyond low-hanging fruit skills.
• Tackle the unknowns in your photographic journey.
• Learn how to title work from other artists.
• Goal setting for significant creative leaps.
• Cherry-pick goals for a focused 2024 plan.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer, we dive into the impacts of influences on our work. From life’s twists to jazz beats and social justice, explore the diverse elements that shape our sense of seeing.

“Our influences come from a broader spectrum than just the other photographers.”

Key Points

• Influences extend beyond photography
• Emotional life experiences as creative fuel
• Art forms other than photography inspire
• The impact of photography training
• Environment & social issues influence work

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s podcast explores the distinction between knowledge and wisdom in photography, emphasizing the importance of experience and trusting yourself. My goal is to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, trust your existing skills, and take action to explore your creativity to have more uniqueness in your work.

“Trust that you already know enough, trust that you already have the skills you need, and then take those steps to actually try it out and see what happens.”

Key Points

• Photographers often obsess over acquiring knowledge, believing that it alone will lead to success.
• Wisdom allows photographers to determine the relevance of information and its application in their own work.
• Trusting one’s own experience is crucial in developing wisdom and creating unique photographs.
• Wisdom helps photographers recognize when to apply knowledge and how to adapt it to their own artistic vision.
• Recognize that our unique perspectives are influenced by what we know and don’t know.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this episode 451 of the Perceptive Photographer this week, I discuss the significance of commitment and personal growth in photography. By focusing on our unique perspectives and experiences to create meaningful images, I believe we end up capturing the essence of who we are in our photographs. I also talk about the need for continuous evolution and reinvention rather than staying stagnant.

Key concepts from the podcast this week:

• Emotional awareness greatly impacts the mood and essence of our photographs.
• The commitment to personal growth and self-discovery as a photographer is more important than technical skills.
• We should consider what truly matters to them and reflect that in their work.
• There is no one right path in photography, and each journey is unique

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

As a photographer, I believe it’s essential to step out of our comfort zones to improve the quality of our images. In this episode, I discuss the significance of exploring new techniques, embracing uncertainty, and actively engaging with the creative process.

I also stress the importance of taking the time to sit with our feelings, identifying any issues that may be hindering us, and using a checklist approach to analyze and edit our images. In addition to that, I recommend exploring unknown territories to make creative breakthroughs, and listening to our internal voice and acknowledging discomfort to make better decisions.

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, we take a look at ten thought-provoking questions that delve into the motivations, emotions, and personal approaches of photographers. It emphasizes the importance of paying attention and taking progressive steps forward in the creative journey. My goal this week is to help prompt you to reflect on the most amazing images and things you have witnessed through the lens and whether you continue to actively seek out more of the same experiences.

1. Would you photograph if you never got to share your images?
2. Would you photograph if you never got to keep your images?
3. What is the single word you would use to describe your photography?
4. What is the best photo you never made?
5. How do negative emotions impact your work?
6. What excites you about your work?
7. Think about your favorite camera. What about that camera made it your favorite, and how can you incorporate that feeling into your work today?
8. What is one negative thing that you keep doing in your work and what would happen if you moved past it?
9. how many photos do you need in a retrospective of your work to feel accomplished?
10. What is the most amazing thing you have seen through the lens?

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In a recent conversation with a friend, they mentioned they were moving on from a job. They had been there since the early days in the company and now found that too much had changed, and they felt as if they were having to be something they weren’t. Rather than focusing on doing what they love, it was all smart goals, stretch goals, meetings and delays. The whole reason they got into it was lost.

This podcast episode explores how the introduction of smart goals and corporate buzzwords can hinder creativity and engagement. I encourage you to redefine success and embrace a more organic and individualized approach to their photography

Subscribing to the podcast ensures not missing any new episodes released every Monday.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, we take a look at how using metaphors and developing multiple metaphors in your photography can help you find a more exciting and consistent voice in your work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I like to eat junk food. There are so many good cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, funnel cakes and more. I also know that too much junk food isn’t good for me and causes all sorts of issues. I know what to do to eat healthy, but I only sometimes do it. I also have learned that dieting to fix an issue is a short-term fix and that the term diet isn’t something you do. It is what you actually eat.

Our creative process is a lot like eating. We can live on junk food and the costs that come with it, or we can eat a healthy diet to feed our creative process. In the podcast this week, I talk about how important it is to bring a healthy diet to your creative process, and after a while, you might find that a healthy diet makes your photograph that much better.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

We often hear that gear doesn’t (or does) matter. Those on the doesn’t matter side will discuss how great images are made independently of the gear used. However, in this week’s podcast, we take a look at how the gear you use impacts the type and style of work you do. We also look at how much of the reason we might buy gear that has no effect on our work. This leads us to the question, are we using the right gear for what we do?

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week is episode number 444 of the podcast. In honor of the episode number, we are looking at three lists of four great ways to improve, have fun and make more photographs.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Over the past few weeks, I have had a couple of questions sent to me in email that I thought were interesting topics for the podcast. While each question is unique, they sort of get to a central question when looking at our photography and deciding on images to keep or pass over.

This week’s podcast dives into the questions of What makes a good photograph and how you choose between two similar images when picking one to have as the final image. Both are great questions that all photographers face when working, culling and processing images. Sometimes, the answer is obvious, but other times, nuances and minor, almost trivial, differences in the image make all the difference.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, I talk about the importance of kindness and how that can make a difference in someone’s life even when you might not be aware. Nothing about photographs this week, but something bigger than all of that clicking and f/stops.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we talk about the importance of framing and the impacts framing has on compositions in photographs. I also make a personal plea for you to stop clicking on gear-related clickbait.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I often hear photographers make things needlessly complicated, as if complexity is something to strive for. In this week’s podcast, we explore the idea of keeping things simple. The simpler, the better. Whether it’s discussing photographs, setting up Photoshop, or sharing prints, simplicity brings us happiness, productivity, and motivation.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Ever get a song stuck in your head that you can’t seem to shake? Or, do you ever have a random fact that you can’t remember but can remember everything else about the fact? For example, you can’t remember the name of the singer of Margaritaville, but you can remember his name sounds like something at a restaurant, likes boats, eats cheeseburgers, writes books and has beach parties at his concerts.

In our photography, I think sometimes how we deal with these brain glitches can have an impact on the type of photographs we make and how we process our creative practice. So, in this week’s podcast, we dive not the world of songs that won’t go away and random trivia to try and find a place where our photography can lead us in a new direction.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week on the Perceptive Photographer, we are talking all about being bold about how you answer some of the simple questions people ask you about your photography and the types of images you make.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week on the Perceptive Photographer, we are taking at look at some key considerations or questions to ask yourself about your photographic compositions.

1. Are the objects in your composition with purpose, or are they a distraction? And, more importantly, if they are a distraction, are they a distraction of purpose?
2. Where to your leading lines lead? After all, lines move two directions.
3. How do you approach your two-dimensional space verse your three dimensional space?
4. How much emotional space are you leaving as part of the composition?

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at how rushing and invoking our fight or flight responses to framing and composing our photographs can have an unintended detrimental impact on our work. And, how small steps like deep breaths, reimagining work and presence of mind can help us recognize compositional issues when they appear behind the lens.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s podcast is a dive into a few listener questions that have come in over the past few weeks. We look at how to approach big projects and use the amazing Matika Wilbur’s Project 562 work as an example of how big projects often require lots of time, miles and small bits. We then look at how to answer the question: what will you do with that photo? And finally, we take a peak at the tinting and toning of black and white images.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In looking at photographs, there are a lot of ways to evaluate the work. Two of those approaches are content and concept. We can look at how well the concept is executed, and we can look at how well the content supports the concept.

In the podcast this week, I dive into the importance of understanding a couple of key elements about content and concept in analyzing your work. Most important are understanding the default bias you bring to your analysis and how to temper your analysis against your unwanted biases to find a deeper, more insightful meaning in your work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

One of the great aspects of working in photography is the chance to work on projects. And in this case, by projects, I just mean a collection of similar themed work. Many of us start out taking images of things that capture our attention. They might seem random or grouped somehow, but they are often disjointed. Eventually, we might see a pattern or theme develop but still continue to click away sort of ad-hoc.

In the podcast this week, I talk about the value of thinking of your work as projects, big and small, and how focusing on a group of images or collection of images can help you better understand your technique, vision and voice within your work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

The podcast this week is a quick review of lessons observed in my last workshop out in the Palouse.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, I offer up five challenges each with 10 outcomes to try that will help push you forward as a photographer. While some of them seem simple on the surface, each of these challenges can be a deep dive into your creative process and how to quickly understand the why and how of your work. So if you are up for it:

1. Pick your 10 best images
2. Pick your 10 most important images
3. Give a physical print to 10 different people of at least one of the photographs from your best or most important group
4. Pick 10 locations within 10 miles of your house and go photograph them
5. Pick 10 pieces of gear and get rid of them.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I have had several conversations about what to do with bad images lately. So, in this week’s podcast, we revisit a classic topic for organization and working with your images–what to do with all those bad images. I am not a just delete and burn person; I think there are some reasons to really consider what you are deleting and why. Not only does experience shift over time as we learn more about what makes a good photograph meaning what was once skipped might be found, but we also can learn from looking at those bad images. So before you delete and purge, listen to the podcast and see if your approach is the best long-term solution.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This past week I was asked a lot about the new generative AI tools in Photoshop and how they will impact my workflow. To be honest, I am not yet sure how they will completely impact my workflow, but they will cause a shift for sure. At the same time, the quote, “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them” by Diane Arbus got me thinking about how we might be asking the wrong question about all this new technology.

In this week’s podcast, I discuss how what you photograph and how you see the world will impact your approach using some of these new generative tools. Depending on who you are and how you see, these tools may finally let you express what you see, and for others, it will help provide clarity to the more documentary way they photograph. Either way, the conversations about these tools and their impacts will continue as photography takes its next leap.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we dive into the importance of details and how the small things in our photographic practice can make all the difference in getting the work we want and hope to create.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this podcast, I talk about how much faster you can achieve your goals when you start by failing and how failing is a great indicator of action.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the latest podcast episode, I discuss the significance of balancing not only our visuals but also our mindset toward our work. This approach can positively impact our appreciation for our work and our journey towards achieving it.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I lost one of my best buddies this past weekend. My cat Batman left for the Rainbow Bridge. He was a big part of my life for the past 12 years, and he and I had one of the best bromances of all time. After he passed and we were taking him to the vet, a few amazing things happened that gave me pause about the connection to the universe, our emotions and how we see when emotions are in the forefront. In this week’s podcast, I tell you a little about my best bud and the final lesson he gave me as he journeyed to be with the rest of the pets waiting at the bridge.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we dive into the importance of listening to your voice. Voice is one of the key aspects of making more meaningful images. It can sometimes be a challenge to focus on our voice and sort out how it will apply to our work. Most of this work comes down to trusting yourself and following your energy to what matters to you, even when faced with uncertainty and doubt.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I often get asked in interviews or classes, what is one piece of advice you would give yourself, knowing what you know now, when you first got started in photography. In the podcast this week, I jump into that topic and talk about how staying true to your voice and your vision can be hard but is worth it in the end.

Also, don’t forget that April 17-20 is the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit. A free week of classes on creativity and photoshop. You can register here if you like.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, I dive into the importance of an image having multiple meanings, not just at the time of creating or processing but over time as well. As you change in life, the meaning of your work will change as well. This change is a wonderful way to see how you have grown and how powerful your photography can be when it supports you no matter what stage of life you are in or when you created the work.

Also, don’t forget that April 17-20 is the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit. A free week of classes on creativity and photoshop. You can register here if you like.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s podcast is quick discussion about the impacts of nature verse nurture in our photography. Specifically, we jump into the importance of nurturing the best of what we do and not reinforcing the self-doubt and negative speak we all have bouncing inside our heads.

Also, don’t forget that April 17-20 is the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit. A free week of classes on creativity and photoshop. You can register here if you like.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Dennis, a good friend of mine, has been working on making more meaningful work in his photography. He sent in an interesting question for me to think about. He wanted to know how you know if you are on the path to making more meaningful work. How do you mark your progress? In this week’s podcast, I offer up my opinion on a couple of the most important ways we consider and think about the path to more personal and meaningful work.

Also, don’t forget that April 17-20 is the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit. A free week of classes on creativity and photoshop. You can register here if you like.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, we are diving into some listener questions that have come in over the past few months. I grabbed five of the most common or more interesting questions that have come in and share my two cents on them.

1. Do I have a favorite paper to print with?
2. Do I have any tips on staying motivated?
3. What is the difference between reading a photograph and looking at a photograph?
4. How do I deal with a challenging photograph?
5. Do I have a best or favorite photograph?

Also don’t forget that April 17-20 is the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit. A free week of classes on creativity and photoshop. You can register here.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

As I was organizing the bookshelf, I came across one of my favorite books on understand photographs, Stephen Shores The Nature of Photographs. If you haven’t had a chance to check out this book, it is well worth it. It is a simple read and very approachable.

In the book, Stephen talks about how to read and view photographs. He breaks this process down into the physical level (the print), the descriptive level (flatness, frame, time and focus), mental level, and mental modeling.

In this week’s podcast, I dive into a quick look at this book and how the impact of focus at the descriptive level can make a huge difference in your approach to your photographs.

If you need a copy of the book, I am sure your local bookstore or library will have a copy, or you can get a copy here from my affiliate link at the big A in the cloud.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In the podcast this week, we take a look at five cliches that can make a difference in your photography. Any while cliches can be bad, these five are some great ways to shift your thinking and approach to photography at all the stages of working with images from creating to editing to viewing. I am sure there are many more that can apply as well, but for this week here are the five that made the cut.

1. Rome wasn’t built in a day
2. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover
3. Can’t please everyone
4. Good things come to those who wait
5. I’m just mailing it in today

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how sometimes the simplest of acts can make a huge difference in the quality and meaning of our photography. Simple acts like micro-mediation breathing exercises, working with images that are upside down and backwards, or even focusing on how focus and clarity are different. No matter what small steps you try in your photography, sometimes it is the smallest acts that make the biggest difference.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I was recently asked why I do landscape photography. I thought it was an interesting question. A simple question really. But, as I started to answer, I realized that my answer went much deeper into the reason I create me work. In this week’s podcast, I talk about the importance of why we photograph what we photograph and how I answer the question of why I am a landscape photographer. Hopefully, after listening to this episode, you will spend some time to find a meaningful answer for yourself on why you photograph the things you photograph. .

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Several months ago, I started to really think more and more about artificial intelligence and machine learning in photography. I did a podcast on it. Since that time, I have continued to think more an more about that form of art and how it is both good and different from light captured photography. In this week’s podcast, I continue to talk about the impacts on AI on photography and how it shifts our communication about photography; and how it, at its core, is different enough from photography that we need to continue to find language to describe the various approaches between the two forms. Not for understanding which is better, but rather to understand what each one actually does in our seeing of the world.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we spend some time talking about how various aspects of our work and approach to photography as impacted by 10%. From an article years ago where Brooks Jensen talked about how we see a decrease of 10% in our selection of great images from 1000 to 100 to 10 to 1, I expand that idea to talk about how our approaches to seeing, thinking, and approaching our photography can be impacted by 10% in both good and bad ways.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, I dive a little into a method for evaluating photographs. In working with others, I have found that all of us can be overly critical of our work with no real rhyme or reason. So today, we focus on a few simple steps to evaluate images and how to be more effective at judging our work.

Questions like What did I do in the image, what would I do differently and how will I prepare next time are simple to understand and apply. Still, each offers a wealth of information about how we approach our photography and the works of others.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

My good friend Ken Carlson was a lacrosse coach. In several of our conversations over the years, he has said that in his view the purpose of playing the game was to evaluate how well you practiced. The practice was the most important part of the process. Not the winning of a game, but rather how well did you prepare. In this week’s podcast, I dive a little into this topic and how it can be applied to our creative approach to photography. From working at a team to knowing what to practice and when, there is a lot to learn from looking at our images that matter or didn’t make the cut to see where we are doing well and were we need to practice more.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how projects ideas develop and what is the best method for working with and dealing with projects in your photography.

Also in the podcast this week, if you purchase a gallery print of mine from either the Alex Ferrone Gallery for the SAM Gallery, I’ll give you 10% off any workshop.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, quantity is the name of the game. One of the best things you can do to improve your photography is to increase the amount of work you are creating. That increase in volume will give you more data points to understand some of the key elements of your work like voice, vision, signature and style.

Also in the podcast this week, if you purchase a gallery print of mine from either the Alex Ferrone Gallery for the SAM Gallery, I’ll give you 10% off any workshop.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

After my traveling recording issues last week, I am back in the studio and have cut together a new intro and tacked on last weeks podcast to start the new year. So this should get us all caught back up on the schedule.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how setting goals can help you keep focused and move your photography forward. In an effort to help you get some goal setting started, I dive a little into some common goals that I have seen work for myself and others. From making books, portfolios and projects to printing, classes, grant writing and meeting others, there is always something that you can set as a goal to help you keep engaged in your work in a meaningful way.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This past week we have been traveling to see family. The big storm that came in caused our flight to be cancelled, and as a result, we are spending several more days with family in Las Vegas. In an effort to be a good users of energy, I shut down the studio when we left and didn’t feel like having the pet sitter take on the responsibility of powering the place back up. So I spent the day trying to figure out how to best record a podcasts for the week on my iPad and AirPods.

Well, the audio quality might not be the best, but this week’s podcast talks about how to think about the variety of ways to use point of view to tell your story and engage with your own process to make your photographs.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s podcast is focused on titling your photographs and why and how that can impact our perception of the image, intention and experience of the work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Two topics for this week’s podcast. The first is the difference between explaining your work and justifying your work. For many photographers, they end up making justifications for there images when they think they are explaining what the work is about. I also talk about the importance of storage boxes for your prints that you’re keeping and using in your practice.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

As 2022 starts to draw to a close, it is a time to look back and reflect on the prior year. As photographers that means we should look back at the impact of our photography in our creative and non-creative aspects of life. In this week’s podcast, I toss out three areas to think about cleaning up before the start of the new year so that you can put your best foot forward for 2023.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Speaking about your work can be a challenge. Sometimes we are insecure about our work. Maybe we are nervous about talking in public about our work. No matter what the reason is that you might feel challenged about speaking about your images, learning to talk about your photographs can not only help other understand your work better, but the process can make you a better photographer as well. The more you can speak to the why and what of your photographs, the more insights you photograph will have.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how practicing your speaking, owning what you say and listening to others can have a major impact on your photographic process and experience.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

It can take a lot of work to find and maintain an audience as a photographer. There are so many other photographers working and sharing work. So, how does one go about finding and using an audience? In this week’s podcast, I share some thoughts on how to use and work with your audience so that you can share your work and find more people who are engaged with your message.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

This week’s podcast looks at the role of recognition in our photography. We often seek feedback and validation for our work and might seek this out from various places. We might post to social media for instant validation or maybe do a critique session to gain deeper insights. Along with those insights, I feel there is a desire to get recognition for our work and efforts. So join me this week for a quick look at the impacts of the reason and types of recognition we seek and the potential impact on our work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Today’s release is the 400th episode of the Perceptive Photographer. I started this little podcast 400 weeks ago and never thought I would be here today celebrating this milestone. As I looked back, I am most thankful for the community of listeners who tune in each week and listen to me ramble on about something that has caught my ear or attention. I never in a million years thought that this would grow into something more than just a little online spoken journal so from the bottom of my heart. Thanks so much for being part of the family. And now without further adieu, here is episode 400.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

One of the significant challenges that many of us are brainwashed into thinking when photographing is that photography is about making a simple, clear, and concise photograph that checks all the boxes. One that meets the photographer’s intention is accepted by the viewer and meets all the criteria for what compositionally and processing-wise makes for a good image. We spin up all sorts of language that says if you follow these guidelines, use these tools, and process this way, you will have the foundation for making a good photo. However, art and creativity aren’t poorly constructed multiple-choice tests or true-false tests that do more to reveal the weakness of the test rather than the strength of the test taker. Great photographs are bound by clear and concise as the sole criteria. They are one way to view a photograph but not the only way to view it.

In this week’s podcast, we tackle the idea of being boxed into the notions that photographs are to be simple and concise to be good in an attempt to dispel the myth that images are best when they check the boxes when we aren’t even sure the boxes are correct.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Many times in our creative practice we might find ourselves at a road block of sorts. A spot where we are struggling to move forward with some aspect of our process. It can be easy to ignore those feelings and push away from that resistance or wall we are hitting. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how important it is to face the resistance and see if we can sort out the root cause of why we are so against some aspect of our work. In that search we may find out that what we are so against turns out to be an important ally or part of the puzzle we are putting together.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, I tackle two of the hardest topics for any photographer. If you follow these very simple steps, I promise that your photography will grown by leaps and bounds. So take a listen and learn how a comfortable pair of shoes and a return to the basics of your photography can set you free from the binds of bad f-stops and shutter speeds.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

My partner, Lori who runs Ritual Mischief, organizes her products by the emotional support they provide. That got me thinking about how we can create photographs that fit in to our emotional buckets. This week’s podcast explorers the idea of grouping photographs, not by subject or subject matter, but rather by emotional support or insight they provide.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged when looking at other people’s work. They already have the shot, not just because of their skill level, which can be a challenge. I know for myself, sometimes I start to plan out a trip or shoot and then only to come across a very similar image taken by someone else. It can be hard to keep the excitement and energy up to go out and make a photograph. Which, if I am honest with myself, often looks like those other images I have seen. 

In the podcast this week, I dive into the importance of pushing through that self-doubt and continuing to make your photographs even when at times they seem like they might be copies of other images or you’re not sure what makes your image special. In the end, the work gives those who push through those feelings the best results possible. Great photos that are our photos.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

When looking at a single image, it can be hard sometimes to understand the context for the image. Sure, there are photographs that stand out on their own, but in many cases, the single image is better understood from the photographs that surround it. This is true looking at contact sheets, or their digital equivalent, or a sequence on the wall,

In the podcast the week, we jump into some of the aspects to consider when looking at one image and how to balance the one photograph with the other images to tell both stories at a image level and essay level.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

I recently heard someone say that looks normal. Now in a medical office, that might be a nice thing to hear. In the case of creating photographs, the thought of what is normal gave me pause. I started to wonder what is normal in a photograph? Do we want to even make normal photographs? What defines a normal photograph anyway?

In this week’s podcast, I dive into the notion of normal in photography and making photographs in an attempt to sort of what is normal and does it matter.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In this week’s podcast, we explore a little more into the nature of time and how it impacts our photography. Not just in the images we make, but in our approach behind the camera, when to pick up the camera and how to balance the priority of photography in our lives.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

In reading about a recent photo competition where the winner in the digital manipulation category used an AI engine to make the photograph before doing some light tweaks in Photoshop caused a big uproar, I got to thinking about the nature of what it means to make art and to that end meaningful art. In this week’s podcast, I spend some time discussing the nature of what it means to make art and some considerations for when we think about approaching the meaning and context of art in photography.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 390

This week’s podcast focuses (pun intended) on the idea that straight out of the camera is somehow better than images that are processed after being taken. While I think getting it right in camera is critical to success as a photographer, the conversation to push images as being better or more accurate and faithful because they lack processing is missing a big part of the photographic process. We have always had some variation in getting a vision of our images that wasn’t just straight out of the camera. In the film days, this was often done before the camera via film selection and then again in printing the images. So as we think about straight out of the camera, it is an essential conversation for the photographic community to have about what that means and who does it serve when we view images.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 389

In this week’s podcast, I share ten tips for making your photographic process more creative. I know the creative process can sometimes become a rut for myself and many of my friends. It can be easy to fall into a pattern of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again, wishing for more. I don’t think there is ever one magic tip that will work for everyone, so I have come up with ten ideas that will hopefully give you something to try if you feel like you can’t get out of first gear on your photographic process right now.

Here are the ten concepts to consider when looking to jump-start the creative day.

• Follow the breadcrumbs (notice what keeps showing up in your space)
• A big sheet of paper brainstorming session
• Shapes and things brainstorming session
• Collect things
• Color your world
• Relax
• Seek out inspiration
• Set boundaries
• Embrace failure
• Embrace crazy

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 388

One of the many challenges that I think many of us face with our photographic practice is our relationship to the concepts of simple. Simple is challenging to master. Complicated is easy. It is easy to get caught up in the weeds that we miss out on much of our process. it is easy to think that something is more than it is.

Yet, we can misspeak and say something is simple for simplicity or something minimal is simplistic or straightforward. I often hear people wanting to do minimalism in their work only to discover that simple doesn’t mean that it is minimal. A simplistic image isn’t a minimalist image. And, as I have discussed on another podcast, you don’t get points for doing things the hard way.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how your relationship with simple can drastically change your approach to your work behind the camera, staying organized, or enjoying your time more. There is nothing worse than making things complicated for no reason.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 387

Much of what is talked about in making good photography is storytelling. Every picture tells a story. And while that might be true, it doesn’t mean every picture tells a good story. More importantly, it doesn’t mean every story can be said in a single image.

In this week’s podcast, we talk about how editing and selecting images for diptychs or triptychs can make for more interesting work and boost your creativity in approaching your work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 386

One of the main topics that seems to come up repeatedly is pricing your photographs to sell. For some jobs, that price is set for the payment for a given size image in a publication. Those “guidelines” are set by publication distribution size, cost, and audience. Other prices are set by the market rate, experience, pressure, or other variables. You can find a free wedding photographer or one that will cost $10,000 and everything in-between. With so much variation in pricing, what is a photographer to do?

I am always happy to share my thoughts and opinions at my printing workshops and when the topic comes up. Each of us who sells our photography has to develop a model that works for our buyers and us. That isn’t always as easy or obvious as it seems. Again, with so many ways to think about pricing, how do we develop something that works?

In this week’s podcast, I share some thoughts on pricing your work and selling your work as art for the wall. Rather than focusing on what to price, I’ll share with you some of the key things to consider when pricing your work and taking those first steps.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 385

I recently was at a friend’s house and was talking with someone I had never met before. As the conversation often does, I was asked what I do for a living. I said I was a photographer. That led to a series of common questions about what I photograph, photographers they like that I might know, and how to use their phone better. Eventually, I got asked a really interesting question. The questions were actually pretty common, but what surprised me was my answer this time. The question was, how has photography changed with digital.

Normally when I get asked about film and digital, I talk about the darkroom days being less and less easy to find, changes in media, or how the industry has shifted. I might tell a story about how I used to work versus how I work today. This time I had a very quick response that could have been seen as tongue in cheek, but in the end, it seemed to be an answer that really resonated in the conversation. After all, a story is a story, and light is light.

This week’s podcast talks about my answer to this wonderful question and how I have evolved over time as a photographer to land on what I think is a great way to think about how we all deal with changes in the photographic industry.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 384

I was listening to some people talk about different photographs at a gallery. One point they discussed was what makes a great photographic print. One of them said that because art (vis-a-vee the print) was subjective, so you couldn’t define it. The other person was adamant that you could say what made a good print or not. Of course, I am glad they weren’t trying to define good art, as that really is subjective.

For many photographers who are starting their printing journey, much of the joy comes from the printer making prints that sort of looking like the screen. But as your skills evolve, there comes the point where making a good print turns into a significant print. There are some criteria we can use to evaluate one print from another. We look at some criteria when judging the quality of a print or reproduction. Anyone who has ever examined their work in print and then in a magazine or book knows that print quality varies.

I also think that most of us can agree that the quality of the image is enhanced with better printing, but not the only criteria we use to judge a photograph as good or not.

This week’s podcast touches on the criteria we can use to judge the quality of a photographic print and how to talk about those qualities in a meaningful way.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 383

One of the purposes of language is used to express ideas and share observations. The visual language of photography is no different. It is about expressing the ideas and feelings behind the camera. For many photographers, this can prove to be a significant challenge.

Many photographers have developed routines for unconscious biases towards what makes a good photograph. Images need to be a certain something to be good. They need to be in focus, centered, color, or some other arbitrary assumption of good. This twisted logic of what is required for a photograph to be good can get in the way of the meaning needed for the photograph to communicate effectively. What if what you have to say needs to be blurry. What if it needs to be underexposed. Is the need to communicate effectively more important than need to photograph to a unrealistic standard.

In this week’s podcast, we talk about the importance of language to express ideas and how our own constructs of what makes a photograph “good” can get in the way of making an effective image.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 382

Improv is a fun time and a great set of skills to develop. There are several exercises and playful ways to approach improv. One of the most well-known concepts is that you never shut down a conversation. To keep improv flowing, you need to extend and reach forward. At the heart of that is the notion of the yes, and. When someone starts a conversation or says something outlandish, you begin your statement with a yes, and… For example, if I ask, did you know that fish are one of the most common animals to walk on land? Your reply would not be no, they swim in the water. Your reply would be something that was Yes, and they are also easy to catch and release at the park. The idea is that you invite the conversation to continue.

In photography, this idea can push us in new directions and try new things. By focusing on what is interesting about the thing in front of the camera versus finding something interesting to photograph, you open yourself up to a new way of seeing. In this week’s podcast, the lessons of improv and focusing on using the yes AND can make a huge difference in your mental approach to taking new and more exciting images.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 381

I have several restaurants I like to eat at where there is something on the menu that I love. I order it every time I go out to eat. Sure the wait staff will read me the specials or talk about what is new on the menu, but I always get the same thing. I know that it is good and I know that I’ll like it. My rationale is that I won’t be disappointed if I order something else that isn’t as good as my comfort food order. As a result, I miss out on a lot of chances to try other great food.
In photography, it can be easy to fall into this same trap. We go out to take photographs and make the easy comfortable shot. The shot that we know will have good composition, framing and light. It shows our skills and a little something of what we had in mind. It is good and safe. The issue with that approach is that we don’t end up growing or making great photographs. We are only making images that we find easy and safe.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how always ordering your comfort food when taking a picture can result in you taking uninspired and boring images over and over again.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 380

There is a great quote by D.T. Suzuki.

One has not understood until one has forgotten it

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at that quote and how it can shape our approach to making more meaningful work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 379

Carrie Fisher has a great quote, “Instant gratification takes too long.” In this week’s podcast, we dive into the impacts of instant gratification on the making of meaningful photographs. From overly relying on the back to the camera to software that automates much of our processing, it is easy to get trapped into the notion that having our initial desires met means that our purpose in our photography was also completed. Over the course of looking at photographs and thinking about what our work means, we can often find a deeper connection to our work.

Delaying gratification doesn’t mean that we can’t at the moment react to something unique developing before our eyes, but rather it allows for the room for both surprise and purpose to be a part of the process.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 378

I was recently asked if I use the app Photo Pill to do my photography research. While I love Photo Pills and use it and recommend it all the time, it is not my primary research tool. I often spend time looking at books, websites, movies, and podcasts that can give me insights into the non-photographic aspects of a place. It is the history, culture, backgrounds and other aspects of a location or person that feed the soul to help me understand the why I make my photographs of place.

This week’s podcast looks at the impacts of research before we go and take a photograph. Using that research to connect and find what resonates with us can allow us to create a more meaningful image.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 377

In the podcast this week we focus on two questions from listeners. The first question is about how fast one can improve in photography, and the second question focuses on how to make (or in the case of my answer not make something the subject) light or color the subject of your photograph.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 375

This week’s podcast is focused on the importance of conversations in our work. Conversations and conversing is an art in itself. I suspect that the better we are at conversations, the better we are at making interesting work. I have several friends who are great a conversing, They seem to slip in and out of topics with ease. They can talk to anyone about anything. The one thing those people have in common is that they leave the ego at the door. They converse to learn about others and their experiences rather than focus on their own experiences. It has got me thinking about about my photography and wondering if we shifted our conversations could we make more interesting work?

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 374

I have been given a number of great quotes over the past few weeks. Many of the quotes have been nice, and I have since forgotten them. Two of them, however, have really stuck with me. They have seemed to come up again and again both as I was working on some new class content and editing some of my recent work. They are both Buddhist quotes and I have no idea who the source of the quote, but I have them in my notebooks and can’t stop thinking about them.

I lost myself trying to please everyone else. Now I’m losing everyone while I’m finding myself.

You are not responsible for the versions of you that exist in other people’s minds.

This week’s podcast takes a look at these two quotes and how they impact our approach to our photography and our creative living. There is no doubt that many of us will have doubts in our work at some point. I think one of the biggest doubts comes from owning your own artistic approach and way of seeing. It is hard to not chase the latest trend and do things your way. But you can’t be who you are if you are trying to be someone else, and you can’t create your work if you are always trying to please someone else.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 373

I was rocking out to the car radio the other day. A few songs came on back-to-back. They were huge songs when I was in college. They played in every bar, dance club and seemed to be on a permanent solo rotation on the radio. I got curious what happened to those bands because these songs were the only ones I could remember. As it turns out most of them went on to make a few albums, but that one hit was the one hit.

I started to look back at my images with that thought in mind. Do I only have one good photograph? Am I just a one-hit wonder. Would it be bad to be a one hit wonder? At least you got a hit.

This week’s podcast dips its toe into the swimming pool of the one hit wonder. Is it bad to have only one hit? Would it be better to have a long career with no hits than a short one with one? What does a one hit wonder even mean in photography? We dive into these questions in an attempt to sort out the question of is making a great photograph, even if it is the only one that is looked at it over and over again, better than a lot of near misses.

If you want to participate in the Photoshop Virtual Summit 4, you can register for your free pass using the link below.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 372

I think one of the more interesting aspects of photograph is what it represents to different people. When I am taking a class or teaching a class, I often have engaged in a spirited discussion with others about the nature of photography and good photography. If I was to ask you what your photograph is about, you might often tell me what type of photographs you make by subject, subject matter, or concept. However, does telling someone what you photograph actually tell them what your photography is about.

This week’s podcast dives into the topic of what photography is about. By looking at some of the key elements that make up a photography or concepts in a photograph, I argue that photography is actually about the life lived by the photographer and not a moment of light, gesture or gear. It is who we are in that movement we click the shutter that defines what photography is all about.

If you want to participate in the Photoshop Virtual Summit 4, you can register for your free pass using the link below.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 371

This week’s podcast talks about the conditions that arise when we are left with too many choices and the impacts on our work

If you want to participate in the Photoshop Virtual Summit 4, you can register for your free pass using the link below.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 370

Some people hit it out of the park from the very first day. Others, many of us others, seem to be on a long road to success. Rather than having a jump start right out of the gate, it can feel like we are forever climbing the hills and dropping into the valleys on our photographic journey. The shinny light of success always seems just over the next hill.

This week’s podcast talks about how sometimes an instant success to someone can seem like a long slow journey to the person making it. It is better to be a instant hit or travel the longer journey? No matter your path, there is something to be said about staying on the journey and seeing where the road takes you.

If you want to participate in the Photoshop Virtual Summit 4, you can register for your free pass using the link below.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 369

Photographers can learn a lot from bird watchers. Bird watchers don’t worry about what other birds someone has seen. Do you think a bird watcher says, “Oh well, someone has already seen a great flamingo? So there is no sense in me seeing one of those. That boat has sailed. No bird watchers watch birds because they love birds. Photographers should be more like bird watchers.

When we first start photography, we will try anything and do anything. Then we learn what a “good” photograph is and begin to replicate those ideas and only those ideas. We then learn to break the rules to be a good photographer. We start to look for new angles, content, subjects, and points of view, all to be unique. But maybe we should be more like bird watchers and just look at the birds and not worry about what it means to like one type of bird over another, but instead, just enjoy our bird watching.

This week’s podcast talks about some photographic lessons learned from listening to bird watchers. They reminded me that we find love in photography at the end of the photographic day because we love what we photograph. The way we see through the lens and not because it is a set of rules to follow or not follow. After all, just because you have seen one eagle doesn’t mean you have seen them all.

If you want to participate in the Photoshop Virtual Summit 4, you can register for your free pass using the link below.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 368

I was looking at some images I recently took on a hiking trip. As much as I wanted to like the photos, there was just nothing for my eye to land on in the image. It was a chaotic mess of lines, shapes, and textures. Everything was sharp, but nothing was in focus too much of everything. That image got me thinking about when approaching the making of an image. How do we decide on the point of focus, and what does focus mean and do in an image.

In the podcast this week, the focus is, well, focus. I talk about how we approach our work and what it can do to our process when we get a handle on both camera focus and other forms of focus.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 367

I have been preparing for several classes and workshops these past few weeks. One theme that has come up, again and again, is the principle of what defines interest in a photograph. Not good, flawed, sellable or not, but interesting. As I got to looking at many different images, I began to think about some of the common elements that make a photograph interesting to view. Again, this may not be about making a good photograph, but rather a picture that holds my interest and thus time in looking at the images. If you can make an image that holds my interest and makes me look longer and deeper into the image, you likely have a keeper.

In the podcast this week, I talk about the importance of seeing and framing elements in your images to make them more interesting both at first glance and at the same time offer a more profound discovery the more you look at them.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 366

In this week’s podcast, we dive into how blurry and sharp are both important elements to have in making successful images.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 365

One of the biggest mistakes I see when I am working with a critique is the use of statements as facts in an image. Statements such as that person looks angry, or that is a interesting color choice. The statements are put into the context of the photo as if the photo is responding. Rather than focusing on what the photo is doing, it is important to focus on how we are responding to the image. The best way to do this is by using statements that start with I and focus on your reaction to the image. So rather than that is an isolated and lonely landscape, you might say I feel isolated when I look at that tree in the landscape. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how one single change in your language can make a huge difference in the conversations you have about your work.

Don’t for get to check out the the workshops I am teaching this year. You can register for up on my site at www.danieljgregory.com.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 364

Well I started this podcast seven years ago. I didn’t have a clue then how to make a podcast, and some would argue I haven’t learned much about it in sevens years. I know for me it has be been a grand adventure sharing what my everyday work and struggles are as a working photographer. No matter if you only listen once or every week, I am truly touched that you would come along with me for this journey.

In this week’s podcast, in addition to talking about a little podcast history and the importance of photography in our lives, I also detail out some of the workshops I am teaching this year that you can register for up on my site at www.danieljgregory.com.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 363

When you approach your photography do you do it from a sense of awe and wonder or obligation for making new work. In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the difference it can make in your images when you do them because you are in awe of the subject.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 362

This week on the podcast is about two big challenges for your photography work. They are both super easy to take on, but each offers up a chance to learn about your work and build a connection to your community. So take a listen to this short episode and see if you are up for the challenge to be thankful and create more than you consume in your photography.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 361

So much of how we talk about photographs is fact-based. We talk about the accuracy of an image, the correctness of a composition, or the ideal settings to use. The risk of talking about photographs as facts is that it can cause us to fall into bad habits and traps. It can also lead us to miss out on the most important part of a creative journey which is sharing our experiences, emotions, feelings, and ideas in our work.

In the podcast this week, the focus is all on how focusing on facts of your photography might be limiting your approach to your photography.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 360

There is something to be said about how you spend your time on things. While not always the case, the more time you spend on something can be an indicator of what is important to you. Or, maybe the outcome of that time is what is important to you. For example, you might spend a lot of time working so that you can have the outcome of a paycheck. The work might not be important but the paycheck is. In photography, there are a lot of ways to spend our time. We can spend time planning, shooting, editing, processing, viewing, and worrying about images. Each has a place and time, but spending too much time in the wrong areas can be a problem.

In the podcast this week, I dive into the areas where you might spend your time as it relates to your photography and photographic process in an effort to help figure out if we are spending our time the best way possible.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 359

One of the biggest challenges many of us face in our photography is sorting out where and who to show our work. Finding our peeps or audience can be a challenge. That challenge can be clouded by ego, confusion, and misidentification. However, once we understand who our audience is, our shared photography can reach and be appreciated by our community.

In the podcast this week, I talk about how some considerations for thinking about and identifying your target audience based on not only your interest in the things you photograph but your communities interest too.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 358

A friend of mine recently told me about how he approaches journaling each morning. He starts off by writing about where he is today. Doesn’t matter if good or bad. He just notes how he feels. He then writes down how he wants to be that day. Maybe he writes about being open and receptive, or creative or sad. Doesn’t really matter what he writes, he just notes how he wants to be that day.

In the podcast this week, I talk about how approaching our photography by thinking about how I am and how I want to be can make a difference in the type and quality of work we create.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 357

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, we dive into a new way of approaching the deletion of our images. I was asked by a friend how I approach deleting my images. We chatted about deleting the bad ones, duplicates, etc. In the course of that conversation, it occurred to me that these things that I was deleting or gear that I was selling all had value at one point. Maybe I learned something about technique from the bad photograph. Maybe I learned how to see better behind the camera. It was at that moment that I realized that we should take a moment and honor the things we get rid of or delete for what they taught up no matter how small. That maybe by changing our language from bad means delete to honored and then deleted might change how we approach our mental health in our creative work.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 356

With the turn of a day, it is now 2022. I hope you are having a good start to the new year. This week’s podcast is a quick chat about something that I hope we can all do in 2022 for our own work and the work of others. I don’t think it will always be easy, but I do think it can make us a better photographic community.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 355

As we close out 2021 and look forward to 2022, we close out the podcast talking about a few listener questions that have been sent in over the past few months. As you will hear, in many cases, I think oftentimes we are asking the wrong question to begin with.

1. How to pick photographers to follow?
2. How do I get in a gallery or what galleries should I focus on?
3. What is the right way to setup a printer?
4. What do you do when left uninspired?

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 354

In our adventure as photographers, there are so many little twists and turns. Some of them are good and some are nothing more than a distraction. In this week’s podcast, we talk about five little things to consider as we approach the end of the year that might make a difference in our photography in 2022.

1. Pick your head up and see where you are going
2. Celebrate something you did or didn’t do
3. Pick something to give up in 2022 that takes away your energy
4. Find your peeps
5. Center yourself so you can see what is in front of you

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 353

In this episode, we dive into the importance of understanding that what makes our photography meaningful, honest and ours is our feelings and how they relate to the things we photograph. Doesn’t matter if we love it, hate it, or are unsure about it. Whatever it is, you better make sure you know how you feel if you want to make a meaningful photograph.

Check out our sponsor Silly Dog Studios Herbal Studio for your holiday shopping. using Podcast10 can save you 10% until December 17, 2021.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 352

Related

connected by reason of established or discoverable relation

Relation

quality that connects two or more things as beloing or working together

In this episode, I talk about how to approach your photographs as a group of interconnected elements focusing on not just what the object is or looks like but how it relates to everything else in the frame. Many times in photography, we can focus on one aspect of an image but as the saying goes, we are responsible for everything in the image. By focusing on how one aspect of a photograph relates to another might provide a unique way of both reading photographs and seeing images behind the camera.

Check out our sponsor Silly Dog Studios Herbal Studio for your holiday shopping. using Podcast10 can save you 10% until December 17, 2021.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 351

In this week’s episode, I dive into the importance of understanding your purpose when making a photograph. There are a host of reasons to take a photo, but understanding the reason you are making one will help you critique your images, organize your images and be successful behind the camera. Just like making sure you have the right lens on the camera for the images you want to make, having the understanding of your purpose can make sure the little details fall into place.

Check out our sponsor Silly Dog Studios Herbal Studio for your holiday shopping. using Podcast10 can save you 10% until December 17, 2021.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 350

There are so many ways to think about grouping photographs and programs like Lightroom or Capture One can make it easier. Although those programs sort of force a method for looking at times, there are other options for grouping and associating our work. In this week’s podcast, I talk about some of the approaches to grouping your images that might open up some creative ideas or concepts that you hadn’t considered before in your work.

Check out our sponsor Silly Dog Studios Herbal Studio for your holiday shopping.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 349

I recently got emailed a question about finding and shooting unique things in photography and if that is important. I, of course, think that uniqueness in photography is essential, but not the subject matter or subject. At this point, most of what is photographed has been photographed as a subject, subject matter, or concept before.

However, I believe that this sort of problem isn’t a problem at all. In many ways, the fact that it’s all been done before is worth celebrating. In this week’s podcast, I spend a little time talking about the importance of appreciating that what we are doing when we photograph is extending the conversations, responding to discussions and generating new ideas by combining influences and ideas. Rather than seeking out the new, we should instead focus on the newness that comes from seeing what has been done and how we respond to that when making our photographs.

Check out our sponsor Silly Dog Studios Herbal Studio for your holiday shopping.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 348

Sometimes you get a great image. You print it and hang it on the wall. Other times, you have a collection of images that you want to pull together for a collection, show, or book. Anyone who has tried to pull multiple images together knows that there is an art to that process. It seems easy but never is.

In this week’s podcast, I talk a little be more about how to think about sequencing your images into an essay or story. What sort of considerations to make before, during, and after the process. I also step onto the soapbox a bit about how we view and understand this broader collection of images and how they impact our understanding not just of the series, but the individual building blocks and reactions to work.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 347

In photography, we often talk about the notion of the decisive moment. That idea that all the elements of form, frame, composition, and gesture all come together in a complete image. There is the flash of time where everything is in alignment.

I believe there is also something else in photography that is equally if not more important. The idea of a defining moment. A moment in your photography or life that fundamentally alters your thinking and approach to photography. In this week’s podcast, I talk a little about how recognizing your defining moments in photography might be more important than your decisive moments behind the camera.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 346

We all collect stuff. Some of us embrace our collections and proudly display them for others to see. Other collections are more personal and private. In the game of photography, there are lots of distractions we can collect that keep us from achieving our goals. I am sure if you look around your photography space, you will see too much of some things you have collected and not enough of others. This idea of collecting has got me thinking about how we approach not just our physical collections but mental collections.

In this week’s podcast, I discuss the impacts of what we collect in our photography and photographic processes. For many of us, I am sure we collect good things, but I am also sure that we collect a lot of things we wish we could or would get rid of.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 345

One of the criteria we can use to judge our own photographs is does this image match my memory of the thing I photographed? A photograph is a record of something just like our memory. Many times, I think we use this criteria as a way to evaluate our images. Does is match? If yes the photograph is good, and if not, the photograph is lacking.

In this week’s podcast, we jump into the notion of memory and how it can impact our understanding of how we view an image. I also talk about how to find a better awareness of the impact of memory in our process behind the camera so that, if we are lucky, we come home with better photographs.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 344

If you haven’t taken the time to make a contact sheet, you should. They are worth their weight in gold. Many people think the contact sheet is used to select your best photograph to edit or enlarge, but I also think contacts teach you something about your approach to photographs and time behind the camera. The contact sheet lets you see how your vision unfolds and how the world you experience through the viewfinder says something about you. In this week’s podcast, we dive in to the value of making and using contacts sheets to better understand not just the great images you might make, but all the images you make.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 343

Have you ever had a good glass of wine where you could taste the subtle notes of flavor? Maybe it was in a cup of coffee or something you cooked. That little sensation of blueberries, mint, rosemary, or plum. It is out there waiting to be discovered and enhance our pleasure eating or drinking. Photography has that same experience. There are little notes of flavor in composition, framing, and editing. In this week’s podcast, we dive into the world of notes, spices and taste sensations in photography and examine how important it is to see, taste, and experience those small variations in seeing the image.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 342

This week’s podcast takes a look at how clarity can impact our photography from before the shutter clicks to after the print is made.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 341

Have you turned it off and on again? This was a common question when I was in IT for 20 years. Often times starting over again with a clean reboot fixed a lot of issues. In some cases, when the issues came back, it could tell us of a systemic issue verse a random out-of-the-air issue. In the case of our photography, sometimes when we have a problem with what we are doing, a reboot can make things better. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how rebooting parts of your photography can help you let go of the past and issues that no longer work and focus on a better tomorrow.

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 340

In this week’s podcast, we take a note from the quote by Twain and how we might apply the concepts behind that quote to make a better photograph. Much of photography is about telling a story in our images. If we start telling a story before we know what we want to say, we might make uninteresting work. However, by listening to others tell stories and the stories we tell, we might be able to better apply the storytelling skills to our work. The long and short of it is that we should talk a little less and listen a little more both behind the camera and not.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Mark Twain

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 339

In this week’s podcast, we dive into some ideas around how to increase the success rate behind the camera so that you have more images to work with on your various projects. For many of us, coming home from a shoot with lots of photographs can be a challenge to sort and work with in a meaningful way. Having a plan and idea of what matters, awareness behind the camera, and organizing around multiple concepts can all lead to better success in our images. I hope that with some of the ideas presented this week, you can find your work behind the camera quickly starts to meet your expectations for what you wanted when you pressed the shutter.

Get your Photoshop Virtual Summit Pass Here!

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 338

I have heard, more times than I can count, that inspiration is a magic gift from the beyond that moves and shakes up to create amazing things. I am on the other end of the spectrum where I think inspiration comes from the work. What we might think of as a eureka idea actually has been there all along we just haven’t been listening closely enough.

In that work of inspiration, I have realized how much the process that I am following will contribute to my sense of being inspired. Doesn’t matter if it is analog or digital, print or projection, the process that allows me to get what I want out of my images is important to my sense of seeing, telling, and sharing.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how the things we create and are inspired to create are often a result of the process we follow both behind the camera and in the editing.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 337

I received an email asking me about the correct settings to use when photographing something. I quickly replied back with my opinion and some commonly used settings that we might do when approaching the type of work they mentioned. Afterwards, I got to really thinking about the idea and impact of the correct settings on creating interesting work. Does the notion of a single correct setting subtly or overtly make all other settings incorrect?

In this week’s podcast, I take a leap off the high bar and discuss the impacts of how our language of correct or incorrect can have on our seeing, photographing and sharing of photographs. By the end of the podcast, I hope that you will give some thought to how a small change in what you say might really impact your work.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 336

There was a game we used to play back in at a company I worked at. Several of us worked in a common open area. Work was slow at times, so we would have entire conversations that had to be movie quotes. The only rules were had to be a quote and someone had to guess the quote. Now, I didn’t say it was a good game, but it passed the time.

I have wondered sometimes looking back at those more famous quotes from movies and thinking about how those little collections of words could stick in our brains like that. Could that be something that happens in our photography? Does the work we create that same memory pathway? Could someone, anyone, look at our work and keep it quotable?

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the idea that some of our photographs might just be quotable.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 335

One of the challenges that we photographers face is that our work isn’t what we photograph but rather what that image represents. We see a tree and photograph the tree. In our seeing, that tree is something else. It might be a person, face, galaxy, love, empathy, or joy. The object of our affection is really about the relationship we have to something else.

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the notion of the metaphor to understand our work and find more meaning in the images we create, share and see from others.

Source info Grammarly’s blog, Merriman-Webster Dictionary and Reedsy Metaphor Examples.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 334

One challenge I believe that many of us face when sharing our work is having a conversation about the work rather than about technical aspects of the work. For many people, the basic what is it, what f/stop type questions are a starting point. Maybe they don’t know what to ask about the work or have the words to ask so they ask what they know. We, as photographers, answer the question and then move. Both parties leave frustrated not having the dialog they wanted.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how asking questions to questions, not in an arrogant annoying sort of way can help move the conversation in a more interesting direction and help everyone have a better conversation about their photography and the work of others.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 333

We are trying out a new segment for the podcast called footnotes and endnotes. This segment is a collection of small random thoughts I have in my notebooks and conversations that rather than stretch into a longer podcast where I might get a little redundant I rapidly cover each topic in a few minutes.

This week’s podcast covers ordering off-menu, hard being easy and simple being hard, buzzwords and discounting your efforts and work. As always thanks for checking out the podcast and hope you have a great creative week.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 332

In the movie Office Space the main character has a goal to do nothing as a successful job. At one point, he has a day where he does nothing and says it was everything he hoped it would be. Our photography can be a lot like the movie. It becomes easy to define success as series of tasks or skills to accomplish, but our photography is more than just a set of tasks. In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the ideas around success and how doing nothing might make you the most successful photographer you can be.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 331

I have heard over the past several weeks’ other photographers talking about other people’s photographs. What caught my ear was how critical these photographers were of people’s subject selection, the commonness of the subject, or general bashing of the image as been there done that. I found it interesting that these photographers couldn’t see past their own same shortcomings in their conversations and were in some cases downright mean. This week’s podcast takes a hard look at what that conversion is about and how we can find a better way to talk about photographs.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 330

I often hear people talk about or suggest the proper settings for your camera to make good photographs. You might also find people who are suggesting the proper methods to edit your photographs for maximum impact. In this week’s podcast, we take a look at that approach and discuss how more times than not, taking or editing a good photograph requires you to think more about your approach to the photograph than the settings in the camera or software.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 329

Often timed I find myself in a rush to do something. When that happens not much good comes from it. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how rushing can often lead to less than ideal results.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 328

We all have places we work on editing our photographs. It might be a dedicated studio or room in the house, and for others, it might be a shared desk in the kitchen. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how setting up your space to work is similar to how you might approach working on a photograph behind the camera. I also talk about how getting a space set up to reflect your personality can make all the difference in editing. So no matter how big or small, private or shared, your space is making it about your photography will be a good thing.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 327

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how the work we make is all about the small details and impacts. Like ripples in a pond you never know how big of impact something you do might be but obsessing about how big the impact is or should be can lead to a dark creative place. Much of the work we do in art isn’t about major groundshaking events, it is in the smallest moments.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 326

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the question of does our style change when we change what we photograph or is our style consistent. I was asked recently if our style changes all the time based on what we photograph. They gave the example of black and white landscapes verse color fashion photography each being of interest but having a completely different look and approach. I thought it was a great question to tackle this week.

For many of us, our core style will always be there in an image, no matter what. The core style of who we are shows up in those images. We might change projects or shift approaches, but there are core elements to our style that seep through the work even if we change mediums and format. This isn’t to say that our style doesn’t evolve and change as it is constantly updated and molded as we live our life. In some cases, after a major event or awareness type event, our style might dramatically shift, but at the core of that style is still who we are as a person. As long as we are authentic to who we are, the style will be there no matter how different the images might, on the surface, appear. Digging a little deeper into the images might just show how much of your style is there all along.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 325

There are times that everyone faces in their photography when you feel like things are going nowhere. Maybe you are spending more money than you wanted or time than you have on things you don’t need or want to do. The longer we spend on photography, the less time and energy we have to do photography.

I imagine that each one of us has that thing that got us into photography that we really loved doing. Taking pictures of family, spending time with other photographers or experimenting with an idea. Over time those basic joys are overtaken by the “need to be good” at photography. This week we take a look at how the work can get in the way of the work.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 324

In this week’s podcast, I take a quick look at the notion of accuracy in a photograph. Each photograph has a given set of attributes that we respond to when we look at the image. In critiquing work, there is often a sense of correctness to those decisions behind the camera. In the discussion this week, I challenge the idea that there is one accurate way to create and respond to the photograph and offer suggestions on how to approach our response to images.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 323

In this week’s podcast, we talk about the duality of many of the concepts and ideas that we might face when making photographs. We look at how ideas can be both easy and hard or how expectations can be both meet and disappointing. As we face this dual nature of many aspects in our photography, how to ultimately choose to use that duality to make more interesting photographs is a question I think we all must face.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 322

This week’s podcast looks at how we learn things and the language we use to describe ourselves when we don’t know something and the impact of making more positive statements. There are numerous times in my conversations with myself throughout the day that aren’t always positive. I have found that being critical of myself for things that I shouldn’t impact my creative conversations. So this week, I dive into the ideas of how we talk about our approach to creative learning and the impact our negative language can have.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 321

One thing you will hear a lot when you get into making good photographs is storytelling. Images should tell stories. Collections of images tell stories. What story are you trying to tell in your work? For the most part, I agree that good images tell a story, but other times great images are just pretty but that’s for a different day. In this week’s podcast, we talk about the way to tell a better story in your photographs and how to approach storytelling in your images. Don’t worry there are not technical notes to take or settings to learn, as storytelling has little to do with the gear.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 320

There are many ways to learn things—some things in life we pick up pretty quickly, others not so much. As we learn our craft and art in photography, we can take all sorts of shortcuts. In some cases, we should stand on the shoulders of the photographers that came before us to learn, extend, and develop our understanding of our work. And in today’s world, we can also find a two-minute video on anything to teach us about something. In today’s podcast, I talk about how most of the time, the time we put into something offers more rewards than just the desired goal. The journey is, in fact, more important than the destination.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 319

I got to thinking these past few weeks about what would happen if I lost my eyesight. What would that mean for my photography? What would it mean to make photographs and appreciating photographs? In this week’s podcast, I talk a little bit about not being able to see could impact our photography and also how in some cases, it might make us better photographers because of how we would have to share what a photograph means in a much more complete way since we couldn’t just rely on someone looking at it.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 318

I have heard from several friends how every day in the pandemic seems to run together. Sort of a Groundhog Day effect. In this week’s podcast, I dive into that notion of everything and every day being the same and how that can impact our approach to talking about our photography in a meaningful way. I also talk about the challenges of shifting our focus on what we talk about to celebrate the experiences of every photograph we look at.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 317

This week’s podcast takes a look at the impacts of how we react to events and information. When you hear someone talk about your photography, do you focus on the negative, which in turn makes everything negative, or do you focus on the positive? In the podcast, I talk about how your approach to that feedback can make all the difference in improving your work. I also talk about some strategies to help you focus on slowing down the experience so you can focus on what matters most to you.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Lightroom Summit Links

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 316

If you ever take one of my classes or workshops, you will listen to me talk about reading the photograph. The idea of reading a photograph is just like reading a book. You have to slow down, take it in, process the work, and think about it. I first came across the idea of reading the photograph from a Minor White article in the Aperature archives. Reading is an active state of being rather than a passive state. In this week’s podcast, I talk about why reading is important, how to stay engaged when reading the photograph and how reading can make you a better photographer.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 315

This week’s podcast breaks out the dustpan and broom. It is spring cleaning week. It is important to keep yourself organized and with sufficient space to be creative. With that in mind, this week we take a look at three easy places to do some spring cleaning in your photography practice to make some room for both the new and old ideas you might have around your photographic work.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 314

This week’s podcast is all about answering questions from podcast listeners. We tackle five questions that really got me thinking or were asked more than once. I hope you get something out of the answers and if you have any questions feel free to reach out and let me hear them.

This week I chime in on:

• What do I think of new technology and software like Adobe’s Enhance and Resize software and how I plan on using it?
• Am I worried about Nikon going away?
• Where do I find inspiration?
• What do you do when you can’t think of anything to photograph?
• What is one thing every photographer should do?

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 313

Sometimes when we are working, it is easy to stick with what we are good at. We tend to think that we are meant to be doing it if we are good at something. However, being good at something doesn’t mean that we enjoy something or should keep doing something. In this week’s podcast, we talk about how sometimes we need to give up what we are good at in favor of doing what we’re meant to do or really want to be doing.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 312

This week’s podcast takes a look at why we create. I believe that art, and by proxy photography, is best when it is personal. It is born out of our curiosity and desire to discover, learn, grown, process, and sort out how we fit in the world. When we make work from a place of self–understanding, it taps into a common thread across lots of people who have similar feelings and ideas. While made by a single click, our images allow us to connect as a community to more important questions we face in life about who and what we are. As you think about your work, if you find yourself doing work that does feel right or seems off, maybe you need to think about what is it about the work that is important to you. Be a little selfish in some way and appreciate that creativity and art sometimes work best when we focus first on who we are and who we are becoming.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 311

Each one of us has a different level of patience when it comes to time. I think each of us has to answer how long I am willing to wait to get a great photograph? Often, I find that I might give up a little early or stay way too late in my work. The balance of time always seems a little off. In this week’s podcast, we jump into the question about how long you are willing to wait to get that photograph. We look at the pros and cons of various approaches and the importance of setting up a framework before you go out with the camera. Knowing ahead of time how long you will wait might free you up a bit to enjoy your time out a little more without the clock ticking pressures.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 310

For many photographers I work with, one of the consistent pieces of feedback I hear is that there is never enough of something to do the work they want. There might not be time or money or gear. A lot of effort and energy goes into thinking about what is needed to achieve our goals and what is missing. I like to imagine and brainstorm as much as the next person and have often suffered the same fate of what can’t be done because of something. I was having a conversation with an artist associate about this very subject. I thought they had an interesting approach. Rather than focus on something missing or can’t be done, they focused on what was in front of them. The paint they had. The canvas they had. The view out the window they had. All of the present moments were put into that painting. It got me thinking about the idea that it’s always something the blocks our work, and it’s always something else that frees our work.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 309

When we think about approaching our photography, we often put things in buckets or bins. These classifications can help us identify areas of the images to work with and projects to pursue or find meaning in our work. Over time, I have grown to think about these ideas as more of a continuum or spectrum of ideas where they overlap and push into each other. Rather than creating edges, they offer up some softer transitions to more meaningful work. This week’s podcast looks at how this approach to edges and overlaps can impact our work with voice and vision.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 308

I work with a lot of different people on different aspects of photography. One of the big areas that I help people with is developing a deeper connection to their work and others’ work. In that process, one of the issues that comes up repeatedly is the idea of what makes a good photograph. On more than one occasion, I have found myself in the conversation about something being a bad photograph or not. As I have looked back over my notes from these conversations, I have begun to wonder if the issue is more about personal taste in art, apathy for composition, or are we just willing to live with less than ideal photographs. This week’s podcast dips its toe into the idea of what makes something good and why there is an audience for what you might consider bad art.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 307

Throughout our lifetime, we have a lot of friends and acquaintances. Some people are around for a short time, and others might last that lifetime. I have been thinking a lot lately about friendships and how they shape and shift us. They provide support, honesty, humor, companionship, and so much more. As I started to think about photography, I wondered about friendships in photography and the impact they can have. This week’s podcast focuses on the question of who your photo buddy is and what does that mean to you and your work?

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 306

I have been working on some images in the studio recently and some start of the new year cleanup work. As I bounced back and forth between those two projects, it occurred to me that I was missing one thing oftentimes. That thing could be a screw for a tripod leg or a lens cap or an emotional feeling in a print. But as I worked on the projects, I started to wonder how many things in my photography could be fixed with just one thing. So in today’s podcast, we talk about how our approach to photography, creating images, viewing images, and talking about images could be improved by focusing on just one more or less thing in the process.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 305

This week’s podcast is a chat about how we feel about photography and photographs. In my teaching experience, I have found that many people think a lot about their photographs, but in some ways how we feel about our photographs can matter more.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 304

This week’s podcast is a quick chat about setting goals for the new year and the importance of looking back at the past year and celebrating what was good. In a year harder than most for people, 2020 gives us a chance to celebrate the flexibility and durability we all have to continue adapting and creating.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 303

This week’s podcast topic came about because of some maintenance on the car. It came time for new brakes, and the tire light kept coming on even though the tires were fine. As I dug into the manual about causes for the tire light, I came across the scheduled maintenance list. As I got to thinking about how that works with the car, it occurred to me that something similar might be good for photography.

I think there is maintenance for both camera equipment as well as our digital assets workflows. I started to think about all the things that I currently do and should do to make sure my investment in gear and workflows are as healthy and organized as possible.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 302

This week’s podcast is about the importance of having traditions in your photography. No matter how big or small traditions are something we can look forward to each year and reflect back on the past.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 301

This week’s podcast is all about homework. One of the areas that I think all photographers could improve is understanding what makes a good photograph or a good photograph to them. We dive deep into that topic this week with an exercise to help you better understand how and why you react to photographs the way you do and apply that knowledge to future images or discussions.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 300

This week marks the 300th episode of the podcast. So first off, thank you to everyone who tunes in and listens to the podcast. It really means the world to me that you all tune in and check out what is going on with the podcast. As I mention about a third of the way into this week’s show, this podcast is about all the experiences that I have about how photography impacts my life both just every day and creatively. It isn’t about gear, techniques, or fads, so I know it has a niche market. I do appreciate that you come back every week to listen.

As I got to thinking about the 300th episode, I got to thinking about milestones and celebrations. I personally am not one to celebrate many milestones, and I think that is a mistake. The podcast prep got me thinking about how much there is to celebrate, both big and small. We should all find ways to celebrate all the great things we do and things that happen in our photography. Those small rewards can be a big deal in keeping us going. So like rolling 100,000 miles on the odometer and thinking about all the great trips in the car, find in your photography the cool things that happen, and find a way to celebrate them each and every time. You might be surprised and what you get out of the celebration.

Now as I mentioned at the start, it is time for me to head off and celebrate this milestone with a little glass of Midleton.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 299

I have been asked a lot recently about what I think about some of the new tools digital photographers have at their disposal. Many programs now offer “AI or machine learning” to help edit photographs. Now with the click of a few buttons, you can replace skies, change expressions, or quickly composite images together.

Now I have never been on enough drugs to think that photographs are without manipulation. They are manipulated by point of view, lens choice, depth of field, color vs. black and white, to say nothing of dodging, burning, and color correction. However, I do wonder as we are now at a time in our lives where we can question how much of a purely digital creation can still be a “photograph.” In the ivory white towers of academic research, I am sure there will be many papers and conversations about where that line is. Still, I also think it is important for those of us making photographs to have a better understanding of what all that means. In today’s podcast, we talk a little about a few issues that arise when you think about the nature of computational photography and the language and words we might consider when talking about photography moving forward. For some of us, the line will be a lot firmer and rigid than others, but I think the more we understand how all these changes impact our sense of a photograph is as important, if not more important than how we create the photograph.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 298

In this week’s podcast, we start with a quote by Edward Weston about composition. 

I have often thought that this quote has been misunderstood by people who teach photography and composition in photography. When I hear this quote, most of the time, instructors are talking about breaking the composition rules to make more interesting photographs. I don’t think this is the case with this quote or how to approach your photography. Rather than avoiding the rules, you should have a deep understanding of rules of composition and why and when they work. The deeper the understanding, the less you have to think about them. They become instinctually. You don’t want to head out thinking about the rules of thirds. You want to know it. The effect of it to be a part of your sense of seeing. It isn’t thinking about it. It is knowing it.

With that instinct and background awareness, you can approach your compositions and frames, focusing on how those elements help you tell your story in the photograph. Rule of compositions aren’t things to break, avoid, always use or dismiss out of hand, but rather. They are ways of describing what we see in a photograph. Doesn’t it make sense that anything that helps us understand more about how we see valuable? I would encourage you to think about how you compose your photographs and what techniques you employ in your images. Do they say what you want in the image? Do they help the narrative?

In the end, I think we all want to make interesting photographs, and the composition and framing are so much of that experience. The more you can be aware of composing, the more interesting and accurate stories you can tell. Being aware also gives you something else that is critical to photography–repeatability. You can repeat something repeatedly because you understand what happened and not just got lucky once with an accident. At the end of a day of photographing, knowing that we’re able to get the image you wanted because you understood the composition’s impacts making the editing and selection process that much more fun.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 297

In this week’s podcast, we look at the impacts of muscle memory on our photography. Muscle memory, or the body’s ability to do something without thinking about it, is an important aspect of working as a photographer. This memory allows us to be able to quickly and efficiently do our jobs. From settings on the camera to keyboard shortcuts in a program, being efficient can really make a difference in how we can do our work. Yet, there is a downside. Anyone who has spent too much time hunched over a desk knows that bad things can happen when muscles remember bad things. Hunched over a desk can make our backs and necks hurt for days as the muscles unwind. In our photography, bad muscle memory can reinforce bad habits or make us a little lazy in our approach to editing and working. Spending some time to sort out what is good and bad about our muscle memory habits might make us better photographers and a little less sore. 

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 296

In this week’s podcast, we look at a possible photographic approach and discuss how you approach knowing when enough is enough when creating the image. For many of us, our approach to getting an image completed is incremental. We take small steps in our approach to framing, editing, shooting, and printing. While this method works, I propose that by making more grand shifts earlier in our process, we can get to a better result faster. We can get a better image, better concept, and better experience with the work by taking big leaps of faith in our workflow and trusting that going too far sometimes and backing off can produce more interesting images.

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

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Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 294

Please make sure you vote this week if you are in the US. Election time is an important time. 

After reading a brief snippet about how Forbes creates its top 200 most brand valuable companies, I got to thinking about what formulas do we use in our photography when we assign a photograph a star value of 1-5. Is there a basic structure to our photographic approach that defines what we think is desirable in an image? If there is a unified approach, what elements would we consider in making that 5-star image decision? For me, many of the most valuable photographs have not monetary value. They are valuable for other reasons. Furthermore, many of my 5-start images might not be the “best” technical images, but they are the ones I can connect with on a deeper level. This week’s podcast looks at how we approach and think about our rating systems for our images. 

As always, I hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask.

Get the VIP Pass

Get the Free Access Pass

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 294

Please make sure you vote this week if you are in the US. Election time is an important time. 

Everything is connected. When you photograph a leaf, it is part of a tree. A leading line doesn’t just start and stop in your frame. It extends beyond the frame. In this week’s podcast, we look at how our approach to seeing the whole and its parts can impact how we view the world and the images we make. Small shifts in our awareness of how everything is related in an image and how those relationships extend beyond the frame can help you make more meaningful work. 

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask

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Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 293

I had a conversation with a friend a while back about photography and at one point, relating to photo editing, I asked him, Why do you care what someone else does so much? There was a long, almost uncomfortably long pause. The answer that he gave didn’t really matter much to me, but that pause really got me thinking about the idea of why do we care about things the way we do.

As we look at photography, I think we care about work because of its impact on us as we make it, and we hope the impact it has on others. The struggle for many of us comes from having to let go of the effect on others and accept that the work we make won’t always be important to everyone. It can be important to us. We can learn from it. We can care about it, but it might not impact others the way we want. Yet, understanding why you care about your own work and the work of others, I think, can give you exciting insights into how you approach and think about your work and how you share it. So this week’s podcast dives into the notion of caring about your work.

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 292

When I was younger, I worked for a high-tech startup that had to lay most of the company off to survive. They didn’t do anything but prolonged their demise, but the language used during the layoffs stuck with me. I hadn’t thought about it in a long time but recently heard someone say it when talking about photographs. The phrase used when I was laid off and in the review was This isn’t personal. It’s just business. The thing that stuck with me all these years is that it is business to the message’s sender, but nothing but personal to the receiver.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how we get feedback and give feedback when the idea of it’s not personal is said in the process. When it comes to creative works shared, it is all personal. So when someone says it’s not personal, I feel we have a responsibility to hold someone’s feet to the fire and have them explain what they mean by that phrase. If it’s not personal, then why does it matter? In many cases, the phrase is used to help the person giving the feedback feel better about giving “bad news.” That doesn’t, however, make it right. When we talk about things that matter, they should be personal. We should not allow that phrase to be used without accountability. We should require all communication, to be honest, tactful, empathetic, and compassionate.

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 291

Sometimes when we look at a photograph, we just don’t get it. We move on and don’t give it another thought. However, assuming the photographer was attempting to make something meaningful with there work, the photograph does have something to say. I have grown to think that it is our job to try and understand our reactions to photographs so that we can better understand the photographer. While we may not fully appreciate the images, if we can walk a mile in their shoes we might gain some deeper understanding into who they are and how they move through the world. In turn, maybe someone will offer us the same kindness. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how spending the time to think about the experiences of someone that led to the making the image can tell us a lot about who we are and how we see the world even in someone else’s image. 

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 290

In a follow-up to last week’s podcast on the value of interviewing others and yourself about photography, this week we talk about some possible subjects or ideas to consider when planning your interview. I always recommend that you start with the work. Look closely at the images and projects someone has created to get focused. Think about what you want to know about how the work came about, what they learned from the work, and their approach. As long as your asking questions that focus more on the why and awareness of the images and projects,  you really can’t go wrong.

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 289

One of my favorite exercises I use to teach photography and learn about my own work is called the interview project. This process involves you doing enough research about a photographer you are inspired by or want to learn from and then create a set of 10 to 20 interview questions that you would want to use to interview them. In some cases, you might be lucky and be able to use those questions to interview the photographer. Still, sometimes they might no longer be alive. Either way, part of the process is to answer those questions as if you were the photographer. This will help you get some insights into how you might approach the work. You then use those same questions, slightly modified to fit your work, and then interview yourself.

The podcast this week walks you through the process and so possible insights you might be able to get with a simple little exercise that gives you big rewards in understanding your own process and work.

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 288

Sometimes it is the little things that can make all the difference. In a photograph, it might be a shift in POV or depth of frame. In our printing, it might be the right paper selection. No matter what you are working on a small change can be a big deal. However, as the days seemingly run together in this year of COVID, I got to thinking about how easy it is to miss the small changes since everything and every day seem to blend. 

For me, there have been five small changes that I have discovered I made over the past several months that have had a direct impact on my approach to my work. This week’s podcast takes a look at those changes and how they impacted my photography and work. Hopefully, they can inspire you to try out the same or think about what small changes you will carry forward even when things shift out of our 2020 way of being. As for me, the five big little changes are:

• Understanding that things to do and ways of being are not the same. A task list of items to complete is not the same as having a creative day.
• Organizational systems, no matter how small or unbusy we might seem, matter
• Small shots matter in photography. Even if you can’t get to your normal travel destinations or favorite places, small clicks of simple things matter
• Play matters. Things need to be fun and doing something fun makes it easier for your photography to be fun
• I got an apron to wear when I am working. It has helped me get focus in the studio. Small rituals and actions can have a huge impact on your approach to creative living. 

As always, hope you and yours are safe, and please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 287

I often think of photography as an active verb. It is something that we do, see, and respond. It involves action on both the creator of the image and the viewer. We create photographs to see better, learn about the world and our place in it, and share those insights with others. Hopefully, people look at our photographs to have the same experiences as we did when we created them.

There is, however, a whole set of photography that is created without the photographer. Video and photos are created by surveillance systems and unattended cameras. These photographs and videos are used for evidence for the most part to show the actions recorded by these cameras without the influence of a photographer. As we get more and more of this type of information, this content’s context becomes critical to our understanding of these images. Unlike artistic photos that we accept to have the creator’s bias as part of the image, our expectations of this type of imagery should be that it is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. However, because we can slice and dissect this type of content to our own needs, I think it essential that as photographers, we have conversations about what this can mean to our understanding of these types of images.

This week’s podcast takes a look at how we define photography in the context of who and how the image was created and the responsibility of photographers to help have meaning conversations about intent and context for how images and videos are made.
Please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 286

Sometimes I hear someone say something and it gets me thinking about my approach to my photography. I recently overheard someone say don’t shoot the messenger. This got me to thinking about how many times we blame the viewer for not getting our understanding of our photographs. 

This week’s podcast is all about how we can help to overcome our frustration with others when they just don’t get our work. It is easy to blame the viewer as just not getting it, but I believe there is an opportunity for each of us to step back from our work and think about our approach. Are we as clear as we can be with our story, emotion, composition, and frame? Do we know what our work is about? Do we have clarity of purpose in our work or is it still vague in our mind? We can’t really expect someone else to get it if we don’t on some level get our own work, can we?

The one exception I have to not blaming the viewer is around personal experiences. When someone creates their work, it is from their experiences. When we tell them that it isn’t true, not what happened or worse this is what I would have photographed, we invalidate their experience. When we look at the art or photographs that someone has created that is meaningful to them and we say it doesn’t matter what do you think it says about them? So I don’t blame the viewer when it comes to fuzzy ideas in photographs, but I do have and issue when it is dismissive feedback because of what someone else has experienced, and that is my exception to the rule. 

Please remember to keep safe and wear your mask!

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 285

I was recently updating a lot of software on my computer. As some of the updates were installing, I took a look at the software release notes. If you have never looked at these notes, they tell you what is included in the update. Nearly all the release notes have the same basic information. They contain bug fixes, new features, and compatibility notes. As I looked at those, it got me thinking about how similar those notes are to editing and making photographs.

This week’s podcast dives into how to think about your photography and ideas to approach your editing using some of the concepts and sections you find in most software release notes. This release note template gives us an opportunity to create a plan, outline, and goals for editing. They can also serve as a to-do list when we need to make new work going forward. I am sure most of you will never dive deep into software release notes. Still, I think you can get something useful from the practice that industry has adopted.

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 284

This week’s podcast dives into how we define a photograph and photography. There is a lot of room to experiment and play with what defines photography, but I think knowing what is an isn’t photography and a photograph can help you be a better photographer and consumer of visual images. For me, there are three key aspects of a photograph. They are time-bound, indexical, and is represented by an object of some type (print, slide, etc). For you, I imagine you might have different ideas of what might be a photo. I hope that you get some aspects to consider and spend some time coming up with your own definition of a photograph. 

Also, don’t forget that there are a couple of new workshops I am offering. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six participants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 283

This week’s podcast talks introduces two new long-format workshops I am offering in 2020-2021. Each workshop will run for 6-7 months and is limited to six particpants. There is a foundation workshop about editing and workflow and an advanced workshop about finding more meaning in your work. You can get more information from the Workshops/Teaching menu above or using one of the links below.

Perceptive Photographer Foundation Workshop: The Developing Image

Perceptive Photographer Advanced Workshop: The Meaningful Image

Also in the podcast this week is an exercise that I do with some of the people I mentor.  I call it a 10×10 exercise. In this exercise, you take 10 images that you like and you edit them 10 different ways resulting in a total of 100 images.  The goal of the exercise is to help you see patterns, habits, new ways of seeing, and opportunities in your photography. The exercise will help you identify default ways of seeing and new ways to approach. your work. It is a simple exercise you can do anytime, and I hope you find it useful in learning how you approach your photography. 

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 282

There are a number of aspects of photography that fall into two camps. There are artistic decisions and technical decisions. For some people, you might think of this as left-brain (technical) and right- brain (creative) decisions. However, to be successful, you need both sides of your brain to make a good photograph. Not only both sides but also some language around how both sides work together to make a successful photograph.

When we can talk about how our camera decisions help or hinder the experience of a photograph, we can make better photographs in the future. We can, with this enhanced language, also provide better feedback to other about there work. Rather than focusing on what f/stop, we could focus on the effects of sharpness in an image as it relates to how the image is seen. So much of photography is about learning to translate what we see in the world into the image even when what is in front of us is shifted by the camera options. When we lack the language to describe what we want, we can make decisions with the camera resulting in work that often feels empty. Learning to be able to have a language to describe what we want and how to get it with the camera makes the artistic side of our work easier. This week’s podcast is a deep dive into the important distinction of these two sides of our language and how to balance them for the greatest impact.

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 281

One of our listeners sent in a great question about distractions. Her question was a two-part approach to dealing with distractions. The first was dealing with the distractions of editing the wrong images. Were there ideas or strategies for making sure what we can edit the best images and not waste time on the wrong images. Before you actually edit an image in Lightroom do the following, write down on a piece of paper the following:

• emotions you want or feel in the image
• the story the images should tell
• technical steps to take to edit the image
• is this a known edit or experimental

If you can answer these questions then you might find that you are editing the best image of your collection. IF you can’t answer these questions, for now at least, it might be worth moving on to one that you can identify all the answers. 

The second area was dealing with distractions outside of editing. For me, this is mostly about dealing with what needs to be done verse what should be done and what I want to do. I always make sure the needs get done because withouth them I can’t operate the business. As for the rest of the long list of things. I try to focus on the present and future actions and let go of the past. I also try to figure out what the payout is for the distractions. Are they success or failure based, motivation lacking, or just things I feel guilty about not doing. Part of those distractions might be to give us a break and the rest we need. Other times it might be to keep us from working out of fear. If it is rest we need great, but if it is worry fear based, which is about the future, we need to work through that block to keep us present focused. 

Gear used in the podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 280

Make yourself the best photographer in the world. To do so, all you have to do is wear a mask. If you think it kills your freedom, put one and walk around and see if you can still do things. If you can, the mask hasn’t destroyed your freedom but has kept the rest of us safer.

In this week’s podcast, I reflect on how our emotional state can drive how we approach our photographs when we are out in the field. The shifts in emotions, feelings, and experiences while out with a camera can drive composition, framing, and technical decisions we make with the camera. Being aware of these shifts and changes can make a significant impact on our work. The more aware we are of this impact, the more likely we are to get images that resonate with who we are and the stories we are telling.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 279

I get asked a lot of questions about photography. Some are good, and some are not so good. When we look at our own work and spend time behind the camera it is all about asking and answering questions. Is this the right composition? Do I have the right settings? Is my narrative on point? 

In my experience, when we ask the right question we get what we want in our photography sooner than later. So, this week’s podcast is a look at the process of asking questions and how we answer those questions in a effort to make the best picture possible. 

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 278

As COVID-19 continues to build in the USA, I thought I would use the podcast this week to share five things you can do with your stay at home time. These to-do items will work even if you aren’t stuck at home under quarantine. Still, these to-dos can help pass the time and improve your photography and photographic inspiration if you are at home.

• Read and do the work in one of your photography books you bought
• Inventory your camera gear for insurance and to do a keep, sell, donate, or shelf
• Make a viewing wall for looking at prints
• Make some new photography friends by reaching out to photographers you follow but haven’t connected with at some point
• Do a 10 for 10 project. You will just have to listen to learn what this is all about.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 277

I often get asked what the things you can do to be a better photographer are. The two that are always at the top of my list are printing and consuming other people’s work. I like to use the analogy of ice cream when discussing other people’s work. Our work is one flavor of ice cream. Different people all have their own flavor. When we look at others’ work, it is like getting to try a new flavor of ice cream. We might like it. We might not. Either way, it helps us broaden our palate and understanding of photography or ice cream. Even if we love the flavor of our ice cream, trying other flavors will help us build a deeper understanding of what makes one brand of ice cream better than another. After all, not all Rocky Road ice cream is the same.

This week’s podcast is about how seeking out and trying a more diverse consumption of photography, much like ice cream, can help you build a deeper and more meaningful connection to your work. Because of the way photography history is shared, you will have to do extra work to find them. Much of the photographers we know from our photography classes come from a single perspective. So if you break out of that model, you will have to dig a little. Here are some suggestions.

• Find a history of photography for a given country or culture.
• Search for all photographers from a given country by genre in the library or online
• Search for all photographers of a given genre by race, gender, age, country and see who is new to you on that list
• Search online book stores for photographers you have never heard of using the you might also like feature of shopping websites
• Search by publisher (www.photoeye.com makes it easy). If the publisher has one book you like they might have more. Some publishers also focus more on certain aspects of photography making it easier.
• Ask friends for a list of photographers.
• Find a photographer you like and research who inspires them, or they like
• If you live in a city, find all the photographers you can from that city regardless of genre, race, age, camera type.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 276

We used to be able to go to the movies, one of my favorite traditions was getting something from the concessions stands. Now I know they are a rip-off, but I just love having a treat during the movie. I am always somewhat annoyed; however, by the time it takes some people to pick a type of candy while in line. Now, I have read enough research to know that given too many choices, most of us can’t make a decision. Given too few choices and we rebel against our options. That leaves most of us in the Goldilocks zone of I want to have choices but not too many choices.

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the impacts and some of the impacts of making choices and not making choices can have on our photography workflow. From capture to editing, there is no way around making choices. Luckily like most choices in life, we can change our minds after the fact. A photograph is very malleable and forgiving. The photo is always willing to grow, change, and evolve as our choices shift.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 275

Ah, the great American past-time of complaining. Nothing beats hanging out with friends over a beer and complaining about all sorts of things in life. We love to complain about lots of things such as politics, weather, work, and even our photography. Photographers love to complain about all things photographic. Subscription fees, cameras, software, editing techniques, other people’s work are just the tip of the iceberg of topics photographers like to discuss.

In this week’s podcast, I dive into the complaint box and discuss why we complain about things, the payouts we get from complaining, and how to move forward from complaining about something all the time. Complaining is often just a symptom of something else going on. When we can get to the bottom of the issue, we can move forward with our work in a more positive direction. As you listen to this week’s episode, I hope you can think about some of your biggest complaints and maybe start down the path of letting them go so you can have more time to focus on your creative photography.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 274

A couple of the things I hear photographs talk about all the time is hitting a wall, not getting good feedback, and fear in the face of change. In this week’s podcast, I tossed all of those issues into the Vitamix blender and hit high speed on the dial. No matter what problems you face, odds are you try to solve it by repeating the same behavior over and over. When we do that, more times than not, there is no change in the outcome.

When we need to have a change in our work, we need to try something different. Not new gear per se, but rather a new approach. If you don’t like the feedback you get, you need to find a way to ask for more meaningful feedback. If you have trouble editing images, the answer might be practicing the basics again. No matter what issue you are facing, sometimes all we need to try something different. While different can be scary, at least different has a shot of producing different results.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 273

In her classic essay On Photography, Susan Sontag makes the statement:

Photographing is essentially an act of non-intervention.

So in this week’s podcast, I thought we would take a look at that quote and discuss how photographing and the viewing of photographs can be a non-intervening act. The photographs we make that are significant to us, and some of the photographs we view have a lasting impact. These things become acts and objects of the intervention. These photographs and the act of photographing can have a lasting effect on what we do and who we are. These images can become interventions in our lives that shift how we think, what we do, and what we believe.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 270

In this week’s podcast, we focus on two aspects of the nature of critique. The how and the why of taking a photograph. The how is the technical side of things in creating the image. The why is who you are as a photographer in the photograph. The story of the image so to speak. When we work on images, ideally, we would have both aspects in our images. The image would be our best foot forward in both technical and story. However, in my experience, this isn’t always the case. There are a lot of us photographers who only are interested in a single aspect of the work. So this week’s discussion is about how to approach getting feedback, giving feedback, and how to possibly think about moving your work forward by listening to all aspects of the feedback.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 270

In this week’s podcast, I talk about some of the impacts that might appear in your photo editing and viewing as a result of binge-watching. While it is fun to sit down and consume a show from beginning to end as fast a possible, there is a cost to this approach. Much like eating good food, without a palate cleanser, our ability to sense subtle nuances in how we see, taste, and experience the object of our affection is lost. We need to have a way to reset our visuals and start fresh. As we dive into this subject this week, I discuss some impact binging can have on our editing and selection process. I also discuss some ideas for how to refresh our process so that we don’t fall into a bland diet of visual consistency.
While you may not think this applies to you, you might be surprised at how your consumption of social media, your own library of images, and the other visuals you watch impact how you approach your photography. Maybe, with a little bite of ginger once in a while as you work on your photos, you might find some treasures you never saw before.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 270

This week’s podcast focuses on the impacts in our photography when the days, projects, images, and seeing seem to drag into each other over and over again. The groundhog effect, so to speak. I don’t think there is a person out there who hasn’t had a negative sense of deja vu when it comes to there photography. Maybe you are stuck working locally rather than getting to travel. Perhaps you think you are editing what seems like the same image again and again. The mundane comes in all sorts of flavors. While it can be a challenge to face the same repetitive task over and over again, there is value in meeting this pattern head-on. You might be surprised by the impacts and what you see on the other side of your photography and seeing.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 269

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. This week’s podcast is based on a request from one of our listeners regarding a question of ethics in photography. Ethics, our sense of doing what is right and wrong, is at the core of each of us. As photographers, our understanding of right and wrong regarding what and when to photograph should be a key consideration we make..

While those ethics are different for each person and depending on your job might be different because of what you are assigned to photograph, as a community, we should be talking more and more about the ethics of making photographs. There is always an impact on taking and sharing a photo on the people and places we photograph when our choices cause side effects even when unintended.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 268

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. This week’s podcast is a direct response to conversations I have been having with my friends and associates as they struggle to deal with their creative process during the pandemic. As the days drag on from one to another, the creative spark for many people has become less enjoyable and harder to maintain.

This week’s podcast focuses on the importance of doing a daily check-in. Really looking at how you are doing with your well-being. Not just your creativity, but your health, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being too. With this awareness, there is much to be gained by acceptance of where you are at.

Accepting your current state doesn’t mean giving in to where you are. Instead, you build from the strength that comes from naming your experience and finding peace in that awareness. From there, we can find a path to the next steps. Rather than pushing back on our creative process or lack of creative process, we can see there is strength in truthful storytelling through our photography. No matter how that story is told.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 267

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. I have been having some conversations with people lately about how they create their work. In the course of those discussions, I have found that a lot of people seem to focus on the next thing. However, in my experience, there is a lot of information to be gained by returning to your own photography library and looking at it with new eyes.

In this week’s podcast, we talk about a few different ways to dive deep into your older work looking for new patterns, concepts, ideas, ways of seeing and hopefully gaining some new insights into your process. There is a lot to be gained by learning to see patterns and ways of seeing even when we weren’t aware of them at the time we made the photos. Hopefully, if you take the time to do a little digging, you might be surprised at what you learn about your approach to photography.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 265

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. As we all have been forced to make changes to our daily routines, it got me thinking about time. Time is one of those things at the foundation of photography, and I believe, defines a unique aspect of photography as a medium and form of communication. I also have begun to really realize the awareness impact of having less time everyday can have on my approach to my work. As photographers, we are bound by our sense of time and relationship to time in our work. We can extend time, compress time, slice time or shift time. In each image is some how our relationship to time.

In this week’s podcast, time takes a center stage and I talk about how our approach to time, loss, memory, and abstractions alters our thinking and approach to making photographs.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 265

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. We recently added a new family member, Cora the dog, to the house. She is a loving, energetic ball of Aussie Shepard fur. Lori and I are working at training her to be a happy, well-adjusted, non-cat chasing member of the family. Part of that training is Lori, and I getting on the same page about the language we use when talking to her in training. After all up, down, lay, sit, stay, come, here, touch, and a ton of other words are meaningless to a puppy, yet to learn, we have to use the same words with her each time.

I also have been listening to the language around COVID-19 and the notion of social distancing being inaccurate. We need physical distance of six feet, which is no necessarily social distance. Social distancing can imply isolation and lacking contact on all levels of interaction, which isn’t entirely accurate. When you take these two things together this week, it got me thinking more and more about our language we use to talk photos. In this week’s podcast, we take a look, again, at how the subtle use of language can have a significant impact on how we think about and move forwards in our photography.

Also, if you are interested in learning about Photoshop from the safety of home. You can join me, and 19 other instructors, for a virtual Photoshop summit from April 13-17. You can register using the link below. The affiliate link, if you decided to upgrade to the VIP package will kick me back a little dollar and cents love.

https://danieljgregory.krtra.com/t/mr5y01WfKsrK

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 264

I hope that you and your family are safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. For a lot of us, we are following stay-at-home orders and not going out much. For those of you stuck in essential jobs, thank you for continuing to do your job. I have had several conversations with my photographer friends about how they are dealing with all of these changes. For many of them, while stressed about the general situation, they felt it was an opportunity to really dive into their work. While this has been true for some, for others not so much.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about how important it is to remember that not only is dealing with our current crisis a long road ahead, but so is photography a long road. Along that road will be many stops, twists, turns, and changes. What matters most is that you find your center and focus on the key things you need in your life now. For some that might be going all-in on photography and for others, that creative spark might seem gone. No matter where you are, know that the journey will continue. Finding your center and focusing on what matters most, keeping your energy up, and recognizing that sometimes we need to cut ourselves some slack when we aren’t getting done all that we thought we would.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 263

In this week’s podcast, we take a look at the importance of recognizing when you hit a turning point in your work. This might be technical, where you finally learn your workflow tools and feel confident editing. It might be in learning how to use some camera features that you always planned on learning. The turning point might also be more in your artistic vision as you learn to communicate more deeply what you are thinking and feeling behind the camera. No matter where you are in your process, each of these turning points furthers you on your journey and should be celebrated for what they are, a gift.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 262

I am often amazed at how often we get caught up in the most simple of problems. It doesn’t matter if it is as simple as picking a new camera or picking out what image to edit and print. We can spin around and around trying to get a problem resolved that we have made more complicated than it needs to be. Many times, the best images, solutions and ideas have a simplicity to them. Not that they aren’t complex in composition, meaning or structure, but rather our experience of those images and ideas make them more than the sum of their parts.
In this week’s podcast, we take a look at some of the simple mistakes we can make as photographers and how to put our best foot forwards to getting what we want out of our photography.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 261

As photographers, we should be making prints. There are a whole host of reasons why we should make prints: the materiality of it, shareability, improved seeing, longevity, or some other reason you might have. We also spend a considerable amount of our time looking at photographs that are mere reproductions of the original image. In this week’s podcast, I tackle the importance of looking at the best prints and reproductions possible. Often when we think about someone’s photographs, it is from copies we might have seen on the Internet or in a book. In many cases, those will pale by comparison to the original work (and in some cases exceed). As viewers and creators of photographs, we need to make sure that we are putting our best foot forward in our prints and also contextualizing the work of the others so that we can properly evaluate their work.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 260

Photographers are an odd bunch. We often find our conversations drifting from one absolute to nothing be absolute. One area that I have always found interesting, and seems to fit this back and forth, is how approach and talk about composition. When you learn about photography and photographs, we talk about the rules of composition, elements of composition, and how they should be followed. Then as soon as tell people to follow them, we ask them to break the rules to be exciting or showcase examples of a photographer who has been able to make interesting photographs by not following the rules.

In this week’s podcast, I take a look at how our misguided approach to thinking about and discussing composition can be a problem. We will look at how photographs with composition and not subject are no better than images with good subjects and no composition. Ultimately, we need to understand how various elements of composition come together in a photograph to help us understand and appreciate the photograph, intention of the photographer, and possible meanings of the photograph. While composition might be all about connecting and making space and dimension in a photograph, as photographers, our ability to understand composition is central to getting work created that speaks to who we are as photographers.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 259

It is really easy to feel overburdened when working on your photography. There is so much to learn, photograph, and share that you can quickly start to feel like you are under a tremendous amount of pressure to deliver. It might be pressure for time, expectations being met, desire, or just plain ego. No matter the cause, the notion that we are under so much pressure to produce that we get stuck might be caused by how we think about production and creating meaningful work.

When we get under too much pressure, it can result in us not having a chance to create meaningful work. We begin to think about all the things that can go wrong or breakdown in our process rather than celebrating the good. What we need are some release values to help us identify and remove some of the pressure. In this week’s podcast, we take a look at how the idea that pressure and production of images are related and some techniques or release values to help us move past and get out from under this feeling.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 258

I was having a conversation about the advances in camera technology and how at some point in the not to distant future the camera will make a perfect captured frame with exact colors, focus, infinity depth-of-field possibilities, etc. My friend was all excited about that possibility. I, in turn, asked what happens when the camera is no longer to blame for a bad photograph? And if it isn’t the camera, how is that different today.

In this week’s podcast, we dive into that question of what is really at the core of a bad photograph. Over the course of the podcast, I talk about how if we assume the great camera exists, what impacts will that have on how we critique, edit and review our work and the work of others. In the end, I realize that even with today’s amazing cameras, it might be time that we stop making excuses for not seeing as if they were rooted in the camera faults because one day, that may not be an option.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 257

A sacred place or thing historically as been often associated with the worship of a deity or god. However, something can be sacred, even outside the context of religion. There could be places, people, ideas, or things that inspire, stimulate, are worthy of honor, or hold meaning in our lives. These sacred things could be very personal or allow us to connect with something bigger than just ourselves.

In this week’s podcast, we talk about how our approach to sacred can impact our photography. In some cases, it can shine a light on what matters to us when we photograph. Other times, it might help us understand why we gravitate towards one photograph over another. Other times, it might help us not pick up a camera out of respect for someone else’s sacred place. As we discuss this notion of sacred in photography, I hope that it gives you a chance to reflect on what is important to you in your work and how your work might be able to provide you with an opportunity to honor what really matters to you.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 256

A friend recently recanted a story to me about how, when he was in school, they were only allowed to shoot one roll (36 frames) a week for homework. No more than that one roll for any week. He talked about how each frame became more critical because of the discipline and experience you had to have to get the best of the week in those 36 frames.

As he was talking, he mentioned that each frame was more precious than he imagined when he started. That got me thinking about the notion of precious in photography. This week’s podcast takes a look at how we approach the things we photograph, places we photograph, and ideas we photography as a container for what is precious to us. Rather than focusing on what is sharable, likable or not, this week I talk about how we can shift our approach to thinking about work and creating work so that each of however many frames we take are precious little gems.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 255

A recent trip to the store had me overhear a couple talking about how opposites attract. I couldn’t get that idea out of my head and how it might apply to photography. I eventually made a list of opposites that I could think of related to photography. As I completed the list, I realized that many of these are no opposites that attract or repel but rather work together.

This week’s podcast takes a look at how to develop a list of opposites and how diving deeper into the word pairs can lead to a shift in your approach to seeing behind the camera and appreciating your photography. It doesn’t matter what you photograph or how far along you are in your process, getting a better understanding of your mental framing and approach to your work with this exercise might lead you to some interesting insights.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 254

Ok, maybe there isn’t really wrong research. I do think there is the research we do before a trip that can have us create work that isn’t our best. In this week’s podcast, I talk about how your approach to researching where and what to photograph at any given location can be a problem in creating your work. I think research is essential when planning for a trip or outing. However, I do believe that if we spend most of our research time looking at other’s photographs online of the same places can negatively impact our work. Those images set a tone, expectation, and “correct” way of seeing that can become an undue influence.

Rather than looking at photographs of places you plan to visit, I would encourage you to do your research by reading about the history, culture, and spirit of a place. Maybe some novels or poems that are set in the location. Perhaps you look at some travel blogs but skip digging in on the images. The more your imagination can work to help you think about what you might photograph, the better. When we spend time looking at other images, we run the risk of replication, duplication, or disappointment because of the quality of light isn’t the same. By shifting how we prepare for that trip, we might be able to find a better way to approach our photography. With that new approach, we might get more photographs that we enjoy.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 253

This week’s podcast takes a deeper dive into the question we discussed last week about facing difficult times in your creative process.
I think everyone gets stuck sometimes and ends up in a dark place when creating.

There are times when you have to take photographs because the bills depend on them being made, but even then, those photographs can be hard to make. You have a voice in your head telling you that things are hard, can’t be done, and you just aren’t feeling it. At times you feel like you are on the road to nowhere. When that happens, what is a photographer to do?

In this episode, I try to talk about some of my feelings when this happens and what I focus on to help with the process. I also talk about how focusing on the measure of photography, reasons for photographing and the power of feeling lost in the dark has as you turn the corner on your process — learning that being nowhere can help you find what is inside your own voice and show you that you are better today because of what you did yesterday.

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones

Episode 252

As we kick off 2020, I thought I would make this week’s podcast all about the five most common questions I got asked in 2019 that weren’t related to camera gear or printing. I thought each question was exciting and provided an interesting insight into the creative process.
Here are the questions I talk about in the podcast this week. I hope that you find the questions as enjoyable as I did.
1. What was the biggest lesson you learned in 2019?
Importance of saying no.
2. How long does it take to become a professional photographer?
Depends on how you define professional
3. Do you have any good books for me to read?
Art can help by Robert Adams
Photowork: 40 photographers on process and practice by Sasha Wolf
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
4. How do you know when to work in black and white?
That is all about how the photograph will make me feel when in black and white or color.
5. Do you ever get stuck in your process and feel like you can’t create following your process?
Absolutely all the time consistently never goes away frustrated often…

Gear used in podcast

One of the questions I get asked frequently is what sort of equipment do I use to record my podcast. I have used a variety of equipment in the three years that I have been recording, but here is the current list of equipment that I am using. Also as an FYI and full disclosure, the links are affiliate links to Amazon.

Rode Procaster XLR microphone
Rode Boom Arm
Rode PSM Shockmount
All three Rode components a kit
Focusrite Scarlet 2i2
Adobe Audition (part of creative cloud subscription)
LogicPro X
Macbook Pro
OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
Headphones