The Perceptive Photographer

On this week’s episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I talk about the idea that editing may be one of the most personal parts of photography. Not that behind the lens isn’t important, but long before someone knows anything about us, they can often sense something in the way we process an image. After all that is a part of what we emphasize, what we remove, and how we shape what we see in the light, color, and mood of an image.

In the classic photography example of seeing, two photographers can stand in the same place and, in this case, capture nearly identical RAW files. They go home and when we next see them and their images, they have created completely different photographs in the editing process. One may lean into contrast and drama, while another chooses softness and ambiguity. Neither approach is right or wrong. Each simply reveals a different way of seeing.

So as you think about how your approach your work and those ideas becomes an act of being who you really are, start to think about how color grading can reflect emotional memory more than visual accuracy, and why our edits might say as much about who new are as the click behind the camera. I also wanted to leave you a little home work so I also talk about how revisiting old images can reveal changes not only in our style, but in who we have become over time.

Photography is often described as a way of documenting the world. But editing reminds us that photographs are also reflections of the people making them.

As I think about topics for The Perceptive Photographer, I spend a lot of time thinking about how we see not just with our eyes, but with our awareness. And oddly enough, as we approached May 4 which is Star Wars Day I keep finding those same ideas is in Star Wars. In many ways both photography and Star Wars are about perception from a certain point of view.

I often talk about the idea that the camera doesn’t create meaning we do. It’s about paying attention, noticing what others might pass by. “Trust your feelings” is really about shifting perception.

Light is everything in photography. It shapes mood, reveals emotion, and creates contrast. Star Wars does this visually in a way that’s hard to ignore. Darth Vader lives in shadow, while light literally becomes a symbol of hope and tension. It’s a reminder that every photograph has a frame and how we use the frame tells the story. How we use what we see and feel together tells the story.

One of the hardest lessons in photography is simply being present. You can’t force a meaningful image. you have to recognize it when it appears. That idea always brings me back to Yoda and his insistence on awareness and presence. Not the past, not the future but it’s just what’s in front of you.

So what I keep coming back to is this: photography isn’t really about the camera, and Star Wars isn’t really about space battles.

They’re both about learning how to see and tell a great story. Whether I’m watching the movie, recording a podcast episode or out with a camera, it’s still the practice of slowing down, paying attention, and letting the moment reveal itself.

Because in the end, the Force and photography start with awareness.

Welcome to episode 581 of the Perceptive Photographer. This week, I am sharing what I hope are five insightful suggestions to help you think differently about your work in your photography and deepen your creative practice. As I was digging into some new books, class prepping and thinking about some classic comedy and photographic techniques, I came up with five simple ideas for you to try out and see if it can jump start soemthnign in your work.

When we’re not curious, when we’re not interested in something, it becomes very easy to fall back on cliches.

Five and not Six and Half ways to play in your practice

1. Create a Contact Sheet
Remember contact sheets? Making a contact sheet, digital or printed, shows you all your photos in the order taken. This reveals your natural rhythms, patterns, and how you approach a scene. Are you shooting the same frame multiple times? Do you start wide and move in, or vice versa? Reviewing contact sheets helps you see (and refine) your habits.

2. Watch Out for Clichés
It’s easy to fall into the trap of the “iconic shot”. You know the sunset everyone else gets, the highlight of an event. Yet, what often matters most are the quieter, everyday moments. Next time you find yourself choosing between a crowd-pleaser cliche shot and telling something personal about your day behind the camera, consider what story really matters most for you. Photograph that.

3. Feed Your Curiosity
Let intense curiosity guide you. Whether it’s the way light falls or a unique gesture on the street, follow what genuinely sparks your interest. When you feel that surge of excitement, slow down and let those moments develop into more meaningful images.

4. Embrace Happy Accidents
Some of the best photographs come from surprises or unplanned moments. Not every shot needs to be perfect. Sometimes unexpected leads to inspiration. Rather than rushing to delete them, pause and consider what you can learn from these “accidents.” you might find your best shots are accidents. I know I have a few of those.

5. Practice “Yes, And…”
Borrowing from improv, always do the “yes, and” mindset with your camera.. Don’t shut down creative ideas but rather build on them. Same goes for inspiration and influence. Don’t replicate but rather expand the re[liation to new. Extending the conversations with your images by incorporate your unique view

Upcoming Events

Seattle Friends: Check out Into the Wild at the Seattle Art Museum Art Walk on May 7, 5:30–7:30pm. Free admission! I have four images in the show this month.

Whether you make a photograph, doodle in the margins, or shoot hoops with the trash can, try to do something creative this week. Let every click of the shutter be a “yes, and” for your own photographic journey.

Welcome to episode 580 of Perceptive Photographer. and today I want to explore the ever-evolving relationship we photographers have with technology. From the most basic cameras to today’s powerful digital tools, technology is always a factor but it shouldn’t determine how or why we create.

Embracing — and Moving Beyond — Technology

Photography has always been intertwined with technology, from pinhole boxes to today’s advanced cameras. While that tech is necessary, it shouldn’t dictate our creative vision. When you find yourself fixating on technical gear or settings, try resetting your focus: reconnect with inspirations like literature, cinema, or conversations that remind you of the why behind your image. That might unstick you a little and let you get back on track.

Know Your Own Creative Rules

Living with your own work, and especially your “bad” photos, reveals patterns: some of the hard rules you always stick to, and the soft guidelines you’re willing to break. For example, I have a near unwavering preference for straight horizon lines. In looking at my lesser work I can more easily gain an understanding as to the why behind this “issue”. For me, I learned it was about stability and feeling grounded which might not be the case for someone else, but at least I know my rules.

There’s No Substitute for Experience

No number of photo books or outside influences can replace the impact of making your own images. Every hands-on moment of shooting, processing or printing can teach us lessons that theory or observation can’t. I hope that when you spend more time with your work both good and not so good that you celebrate all those experiences, accepting errors and even bad results as essential to your creative growth.

Just a reminder about the upcoming webinar.

April 30th: “10 Organizational Things I Wish I Knew Early In My Photography” and if you can’t make it I’ll have a reply on my blog a few days later.

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Thank you for listening and being part of this creative journey. Remember: great photography begins not with the camera, but with a meaningful connection to what you want to see, say, and feel through your work.

Welcome to episode 579 of the Perceptive Photographer. This week, we explore the unexpected connection between the distillation of alcohol and the art of photography. This idea came to me when I was thinking about a visit to a local distillery mean years ago. I was amazed how the process of removing impurities from spirits mirrors the photographic journey of refining images to their essential core.

So this week I thought I would talk about the “triple distillation” mindset and how distilling your images, your intention, and your creative approach can lead to photographs that are clearer, more intentional, and truly resonate. Whether your work leans toward complexity or simplicity, I hpe that you can find someithng in this weeks episode on the value of eliminating noise/impurities from both in your frames and your mind to make more meaningful photographs.