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 StatementsThe 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 WorkChallenge 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 CroppingThe 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 TitlingIn 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 CollectionThe 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 2024Before 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.
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Gear used in the podcastOne 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
Evolution, revolution and rants
Five ways resistance can impact your photographic process
Interview with Dave Cross
Defining your best work
Defining value in the image: snapshots to fine-art
Diving deeper into photo inspiration and influences
Symbolic meaning and thinking in photography
The reason does matter
When it is practice and when is it insanity?
Discussing the concept of presets both in software and as a mindset for photographers
Imitate, Influence, Inspire: Lessons from ‘Art and Fear’
Key elements to thinking about your work as projects instead of images
Keeping perspective before and after the click
What can happen if you don’t revisit your work
Seeing the shots with community
Five bad habits to drop like a hot potato
Questions of quality: The viewing of a great Photo
Sights and Insights: Starting 2024 with a Photographic Mindset
Finding inspiration in quotes on photography and connecting
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