The Perceptive Photographer

I am participating in the Photoshop Creativity Summit at the end of the month and one of my sessions is on the processing of framing and getting your work onto the wall. That session has really had me thinking about the impact of finishing the work and what it means to finish the work. Over the years, I have made a lot of photographs that have been processed or even printed that just ended up on t...

In episode 521 of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I dive into the Hawthorne effect and its impact on photography. I chat about how observing and photographing can change our behavior and perception. Reflecting on my own experiences, I discuss how having a camera in hand alters my awareness and creative process. I also touch on the differences in photographing people versus landscapes. Don&#82...

In this episode of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I celebrate the podcast’s ten-year anniversary, marking its 520th episode. I reflect on the significance of milestones in my photographic journey and the evolution over the years. I emphasize the importance of recognizing and celebrating achievements, no matter how big or small. I encourage you to look back at your past work to ap...

In this episode of the  Perceptive Photographer  podcast, I take a step back to reflect on the evolution of a photographer’s journey—your journey, my journey, and the ever-changing creative path we all walk. I share some of my own experiences that shifted my relationship with photography, and I explore the pressures that come with making images in today’s world. Maybe you’ve felt it too—that weigh...

In this episode of  The Perceptive Photographer , I explore the nature of knowledge—what we know, what we don’t know, and the even more elusive realm of what we don’t know we don’t know. This idea is especially relevant in the creative process, where growth often comes not just from refining our skills but from stepping into the unknown with curiosity and openness. One of the key themes I dis...

In this episode of  The Perceptive Photographer , I explore the idea of focus—not just in terms of sharpness or camera settings, but the deeper reasons behind why we take the photos we do. Using the classic journalistic questions—who, what, when, where, why, and how—I reflect on how these can help us connect more emotionally with our work. Photography isn’t just about capturing what’s in fron...

In the latest episode of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I dip my toe back into the pool of critiquing photographs. Critique is more than just forming an opinion; it’s a structured approach to understanding and evaluating photographic work. In this episode, I’ll try to offer up some advice to help you improve your critique skills. We start with a Quick Look at critical Theor...

In episode 515 of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I talk about the importance of finishing work in photography. As I prepare for an upcoming art show in Seattle, I reflect on the clarity and sense of accomplishment that comes with completing projects. There are lots of insights that come from finishing work Completing work, I believe, reveals a photographer’s identity and intentio...

In this episode of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I talk about what makes a photograph “good.” But before we dig in, I just wanted to say my thoughts for those affected by the fires in Southern California. This episode is all about the qualities that define a good photograph, such as the photographer’s skill, the uniqueness of the image, and the thought behind it. I a...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, I kick off 2025 diving into the topic of photography critique. After a quick update and thanks to everyone for their support as I dealt with my medical issues, I wanted to dig into how photographers can approach feedback. Instead of just answering questions about their work, I suggest flipping those questions to gain deeper insights. This fil...

Happy New Year everyone. In this episode, I share a bit about my recent experiences with health issues that have affected my energy and productivity, which have also led to a brief hiatus from work. So thanks to everyone for reaching out and much gratitude for your support As we approach 2025, I cheated and recorded a podcast when I am supposed to be off work, and I wanted to share five wishes for...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, we are going to dig a little deeper into the visual language of photography. Before we jump into our topic, I did want to let you know if the energy is a little off it is due to some recent struggles with medication and anxiety, which are hopefully getting resolved. As we jump into our topic, there is a connection between how understanding vi...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I dig into the topic of distractions in photography, focusing on not just the technology of AI generative tools that remove unwanted elements from images, but how we think about distractions in our work. These new tools have impressive capabilities and their potential impact on a photographer’s approach to composition can’t be eas...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, I tackle two listener questions. First, I dive into the role of language in photography, discussing how articulating thoughts about my work can deepen personal connection and understanding. While some argue that photos should speak for themselves, I believe language can enhance this visual storytelling. Then, I respond to Christine, a long-ti...

Hey there, fellow photography enthusiasts! Welcome to another episode of “The Perceptive Photographer”. We’re diving into episode 508, which coincides with the hustle and bustle of Cyber Monday. While the world around us is caught up in the frenzy of consumerism, I want to offer you something else to focus your attention on over spending some cash on something you don’t nee...

In this episode of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I dive into the theme of balance in both life and photography. I kick things off with a quote from Ani DiFranco about striving for balance over perfection and dive into an expeirence many years ago in a yoga class, where I noticed how balance—or the lack of it—can reflect broader life. Over the past week I have been thinking about how t...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, I spend some time reflecting on the passing of the influential photographer Paul Caponigro. I really admired Paul and got to meet him several time and so I wanted to shared a few personal stories about Paul, including some lessons and anecdotes on his approach to photography. I also wanted to touch on the current tension and anxiety so many a...

In this episode of my podcast, the Perceptive Photographer, I dive into the concept of “layers” in photography, drawing inspiration from the movie “Shrek.” You know how Shrek says ogres have layers? Well, I believe photographs do too, with multiple layers of meaning. I chat about how elements like composition, emotions, and even political implications can add depth to an im...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I dive into the importance of working the balance between simplicity and complexity in our photography. It all started with me finally starting to learn how we see complexity in a scene and how distilling them to their core improved my work. This simplification isn’t about minimalism but about focusing on the core elements. I Don’t forg...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, I dig into how we go about dealing with mistakes and unexpected outcomes in our creative process. The topic came to mind in thinking about why sometimes bad things happen in my process, and yet, other times it is just a “happy accident.” I wondered how much of that was my reactions to the errors verse the errors themselves. I star...

In this episode of podcast, I ponder and dig into how perception shapes our understanding of photographs. It all starts from thoughts of donuts from Oscar Wilde and mirror from Ralph Waldo Emerson. With their quotes in mind, Igot to thinking about how much of our perception is subjective and influenced by our mental state and not actually factual. As you look at your own work, one of the things in...

In episode 501 of “The Perceptive Photographer,” I really open up about the concept of “mailing it in” when it comes to photography and creativity. Hitting the milestone of 500 consecutive episodes got me thinking about how crucial it is to stay truly engaged and not fall into the trap of complacency in our creative journeys.  So with the podcast this week, I want to encourage you to stay foc...

In this special 500th episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I reflect back on my journey in podcasting and photography. I am very grateful for your listening, support, and friendship which has been instrumental in keeping me going to reach this milestone. In this week’s episode, I dig a bit into the creative challenges and expectations that come with being a photographer, discussin...

Hey there! I’m excited to share the latest episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast. This episode is particularly special to me as it marks the 499th episode, leading up to the big 500th milestone. In this episode, we dig into the importance of understanding the purpose behind a photograph and how you can learn to see better by critiquing before you ever grab the camera. To help you with thi...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I delve into the continuing dialog and conversations around the evolving role of generative AI in photography. Reflecting on my recent experiences, I share frustrations about people’s reactions without justification and start to set the stage for a broader discussion on AI’s impact. As I always try to call out, there is a differen...