I have been working as a photographic educator for a long time. I have noticed in working with others something that has mirrored my own education as an artist which is the approach to viewing photographs.

In this podcast, we break down the basic approach someone might take to view a photograph either their own or someone else’s work. I have identified three main buckets that I think people fit into to when looking at work.

The first bucket is the how bucket. This bucket is the biggest bucket and has people focus on asking questions about a photograph was made. What as the filter, camera, flash, etc. In many ways, it is the least informative set of questions, but I believe it is asked so much because we think there is a technical skill or reason we like a photograph or not.

The second bucket is why you took a photograph. This bucket is all about understanding the reason you pushed the shutter. What about the image did you like enough that you would click the button on the camera.

The third bucket, and most significant in my opinion is the where bucket. Not as in where were you physically standing, but where were you in your heart and soul when you clicked the shutter. What was in all aspects of your being when you made the photograph. What are the aspects of your being when you look at the photograph?

All three have value, but I think that if you spend the time to understand where you were in your life, thoughts and being when you created your images you might find a path to your best work.

Gear used in podcast