Pixels

Those of us who love nature photography enjoy the outdoors and its endless beauty. But how much do we stop to reflect on what it’s telling us about its own place in the world, and what it can tell us about ourselves? Michele Sons has a message that's so needed in this increasingly virtual world, as she invites us to connect more fully with our surroundings. Michele also encourages us to approach o...

How does someone go from the strictest of photographic arts – photojournalism – to building a body of work based on one of the most abstract forms of photography there is? I’m pleased to welcome Kaisa Siren to the conversation. From her home base in the Arctic Circle, Kaisa has explored both far afield and close to home. We chat about how she realized ICM as a way to balance her creative energy, m...

Ready for something a bit different that might make you rethink having people - or even yourself - in the frame? I'm joined by Sara Kushner, and we talk about how she got started putting herself in the frame, why her work can't be classified as glorified selfies, and what emotional, logistical, and technical aspects you want to consider if you're thinking about trying out self-portraiture. Even if...

When it comes to improving our photography, we often focus on a few areas: our creative vision, our technical and processing skills, and our gear. Those are all important, but they’re missing a critical element: YOU. In this conversation with Alister Benn, we talk about what it means to bring yourself to your photography, his evolution into creating autobiographical images, and what role story and...

We have a million ways to plan out every aspect of our photography time, but my guest today invites us to leave room for the unexpected and in doing so, to be open to what pulls at our eyes and hearts. Wendy Bagnall is a photographic artist who lives in England. The natural landscape is the inspiration behind her work, which is an interpretation of what she sees. Wendy’s approach is unrestrictive...

Michael Pach's decades of experience and adventures shine through in his thoughts on what it means to be creative, practicing mindfulness, the appeal—and sometimes challenges—of astrophotography, and forming relationships with whatever we point our camera at. Mike Pach, owner of 3 Peaks Photography & Design, is an internationally known, award-winning photographer, speaker and author with more...

What makes someone a photographer, and who decides? Shanda Akin has experienced a journey from the air force to the arts and has lots to share about how we see ourselves as photographers. Her love of learning is our good fortune, as we talk about valuable lessons she’s picking up in her pursuit of a Master of Arts in Photography, how we can make sublime images, and the power of projects to spark o...

Cole Thompson joins me for a wide-ranging and engaging conversation. You’re going to hear his thoughts on why ego is the enemy of vision, the value of seizing the moment, and the stories behind a few of his favorite images. And of course, we talk about his well-known and sometimes controversial practice of photographic celibacy. Watch this episode on YouTube Connect with Cole: Website: http://Cole...

Is there such a thing as loving photography too much? If we asked my guest today, the answer would definitely be NO! Her enthusiasm is inspiring, and so is her honest sharing about her path as a photographer. I’m pleased to welcome Martha Montiel to the conversation. She shares how her style has evolved over the years, what she’s learned from having world-class mentors, and why it’s beneficial to...

Let's talk about a word we sometimes avoid when talking about our photography: PLAY. I embrace the concept even as I use every other word to describe the process. What's up with that?! Here's why play should be taken seriously and a few ideas to help shift our mindset. By the end, I hope you'll agree with me: play is the way! In the YouTube version of this podcast, I share images throughout that r...

When you bring together an engineering mind with a creative heart and insatiable curiosity, the result is the amazing work of Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero. Through our conversation, you are going to experience her as the embodiment of a spirit of play, experimentation, and thoughtfulness. We talk about how her multi-disciplinary background informs her photography, the role of community in connection and i...

Are you ready to ask yourself some big questions in the spirit of being a more expressive photographer? Guy Tal is my guest, and he's going to inspire you to think more deeply about your relationship to photography and creativity. The word “existential” comes up more than once, so I hope you’re game to take a fascinating philosophical journey with us. We talk about photographic promiscuity, the ro...

Mindfulness might be something of a buzzword, but when it comes to our photography, it’s worth the effort to make it a practice, and my guest today gives us some useful tips on how to do that. In this episode, I’m speaking with photographer Beth Young. As you might expect when you get two Beths together, we had a great time, talking about embracing slow photography, finding order in chaos, how con...

It's interesting that, as someone who appreciates control, I've chosen both a photography approach (abstracts, intentional camera movement) and an artistic medium (alcohol inks) that require a willingness to lose control. Wisdom from Rick Rubin and "The Creative Act" gets us in the frame of mind to loosen our grip and trust the process. Part 2 in a series exploring creativity cross-training. Watch...

Almost every single person I’ve interviewed for this channel has had one question for me: "Have you talked to Sarah Marino yet?" Well, with this episode, I can now say yes, I’ve talked with Sarah Marino! And she’s as thoughtful and generous as ever with her insights. We talk about nature first principles, reciprocity with our subjects, reasons to keep our worst photos, how her photography has evol...

We all hear music differently, and some of us SEE music and translate that to visual art. Jerad Armijo's otherworldly photography is a visual diary of his lived experiences, partly informed by the sounds that bring colors to his imagination. We talk about his experience of chromesthesia, as well as lessons from his early mentors that give us valuable information about how we can start to define ou...

Photographer Brie Stockwell has an energetic personality with a serene visual style. We talk about that paradox, along with finding inner peace amidst chaos, the importance of interpreting and experiencing photographs from different perspectives, and the need to detach from external opinions and focus on one's own creative vision. Brie shares her journey as a photographer and the importance of emb...

Love always happens when you're not looking for it. Let's explore how to become better photographers by putting down our cameras and being swept away by creative play. This is the first in a series of episodes about creativity cross-training. Mentioned: Kristy Swanson: https://www.kristyswansonart.com/ John Barclay Pixels episode:     • What Makes Your Heart&nbsp...

In this episode, I’m joined by TJ Thorne. TJ has an open, curious, and playful approach to photography that comes out clearly in this conversation. We discuss comfort zones, expectations, and experimentation; balancing business and creativity and the challenges of monetizing artistic work; and moving away from popular trends to find your personal visual voice. About TJ Thorne TJ Thorne is an Orego...

Of the photographers I've followed over the years, Stephanie Johnson has been on the most transformative journey. Our conversation explores the significance of imagination and curiosity in the creative process, using our cameras and post-processing as tools to achieve our vision. My favorite part of this chat was Stephanie sharing her insights on the importance of giving oneself permission to play...

What makes an image "art" is more than just the observable elements; it's about evoking emotion. How can we expand our creative vocabulary to include the emotional response to images we see? And what role does social media play in helping us to do that? I make a case for practicing meaningful engagement and offer a challenge to help us all express ourselves more fully. Images referenced in this ep...

In this episode, I’m joined by Pamela Sherlock in a lively and thought-provoking discussion about curating our own work, representation in photography, stretching ourselves with self-portraiture, and the value of being part of a community of artists as a way to sustain and expand our creative energy. Pamela is a photographer with a master’s degree in theology. Some of the questions her work asks a...

Just because we're in a fabulous location doesn't mean we'll produce fabulous photos. I share my experience, along with three lessons learned, from time in the forest during a Creative Exploration workshop with TJ Thorne. Coming to you while on vacation in "Up North" Michigan! Images referenced in this episode will be available soon at https://www.bethbuelowphotography.com/pixels-episodes/gorgeous...

Join me in a lively conversation with John Barclay where I find myself feeling so inspired that I lose track of time! John shares his insights and thoughts into emphasizing the importance of using photography to make your heart sing. We discuss a myriad of topics from inspiration, creative ruts, how to inspire yourself through your own work, and much more. About John John Barclay is an award-winni...

In today's episode I am joined by Angie McMonigal, a fine art and commercial architecture photographer based in Chicago. Angie strives to bring a detailed, thoughtful perspective to her work, whether for clients or through the workshops she leads. Having grown up surrounded by nature yet fascinated by the big city she's called home for more than two decades, she brings the meditative calm of her u...