While I may be a tad obsessed with reflections in my photography, using them in architectural images can take your shots from good to something much more interesting.

What surfaces can you use?

Don’t limit yourself to just windows. Is the building itself metal? How about marble? Marble can be extremely reflective and makes for some interesting added texture or patterns as well.

Keep an open mind about what you can use. Water fountains? Heck yeah. Information kiosks, you bet. If you can’t find anything that works, then pull out your phone or sunglasses and use those.

Not architectural, but just to show you a reflection in a water fountain.

How to capture the reflection in an information kiosk

Here are four benefits of using reflections when photographing architecture

Reflections can add depth and layers

Whenever you include a reflection or reflect any portion of your subject in a puddle, window or other shiny objects, you’ll easily add extra layers and depth to the image. Keep this in mind as you wander around looking for compositions.

Think about how, when you look in a mirror, you see the whole scene behind you. There is a depth to what you see beyond the surface of the mirror. By putting your subject, or part of your subject, as a reflection, you’re making the two-dimensional photo look much more three-dimensional.

Glass railing used to reflect the Rookery Building atrium

Just like any good landscape image, adding layers and depth is much more interesting and causes your viewer to wander around the image.

Reflections can help you create more interesting compositions

While architecture is pretty good at having its own interesting composition, sometimes a reflection added can create something different. Instead of all those straight lines and angles, using a reflective surface can throw in a few curves and wiggly lines.

It may be obvious, but sometimes a reflection will add symmetry to the scene. If you want a balanced composition, this is an easy way to do it. Although, fair warning, it may be too balanced.

Creating symmetry

A huge window works very well for reflecting larger scenes.

The result of an information kiosk reflection

Colors and textures

Depending on the reflective surface you are using, you can add extra colors and textures to your architecture. As mentioned above, marble can add in some really interesting color or textured effect. More muted metal, such as brushed aluminum, will add a softer glow to the subject.

As I’m writing this, I’m trying to think of reflective surfaces that are different colors. These are a few that have popped into my head. A blue or red metal mailbox (color depends on where you are in the world). White tile walls. Green metal recycle containers. A yellow street sign. The surface of your glass of red wine. Automobiles are excellent examples of different colors of a huge reflective surface.

Create abstracts

This is an easy one. Much of the time we tend to think of architectural photography as images of buildings, or real estate-type photos. While those are both true, there are many opportunities to create fine art abstracts with architecture. Here’s how:

Get in close. Really close. Maybe even pull out that macro gear and focus on small details of the architecture. Bricks, stone and metal can all be quite interesting up close and personal. If you don’t notice it right away, put the macro lens on anyway, or use the macro function on your phone camera and just move it around and see what you see.

Abstract lines and curves in Austin building

My personal preferred method of getting close is using my Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens. I love to zoom in on details, shapes, lines and angles. Again, just zoom in and move your lens around. Pay attention to what you see in the frame and when you find something that makes you stop, click the shutter.

No matter what you or how you use reflections in your architectural photography, don’t forget to just play. As usual, ask yourself what happens if … and the only limit is your imagination.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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A couple of weeks ago shared Abstracts as his theme for the week. I chose to go down the multiple exposure route by sharing images of one building in Chicago. Several people asked questions or commented on learning this technique. I thought I’d share a quick look at creating multiple exposures and how I tend to go about it.

What is Double or Multiple Exposure?

It’s an image where you create one image, and then create another (or more) on top of it.

There are different ways of doing this and with the cameras we have today, it’s generally easy to make happen.

You can create double or multiple exposures of one subject by moving your camera or yourself in between shots.

How do you create double or multiple exposures?

Or you can take one photo and then take another photo of a different subject. This can create some very interesting effects.

You can also use any number of plug-ins, apps and post-processing techniques to create your own double/multiple exposures.

What else can you do?

One other fun thing to do with double exposures: create a project with another photographer.

I’ve done this 4 times so far and have another roll of film sitting on my desk to load into my camera.

Each of you photographs a roll of film.

Be careful when winding it in and leave enough of the film out for someone else to reload.

You exchange film, shoot over what they shot and then have it developed.

The results are interesting and beyond what you can imagine.

Creating multiple-exposure images is another technique that is fun to just let go and create.

See what happens.

Ask WHAT IF?

I typically use 5 exposures when creating in camera multiple exposures. It keeps the image from being too messy and cluttered, yet enough to make the image more interesting.

I have a Canon 6D and it can do 2 to 9 multiple exposures. Check your camera’s capabilities. If you can’t do them in camera, try using post-processing to get the effects you want.

I am quite deliberate about the rotation or movement of the camera in between shots. The composition is still important and I’m very aware of the shapes and movement I’m creating. That said, sometimes it’s good to let go and randomly move the camera to see what results can happen.

PLAY!

Examples

Several examples of different subjects. The sky is the limit here; use your imagination to choose subjects you think might be interesting as a multiple exposure image.

HAVE FUN!

Here are a couple of other articles that may help you pick up that camera and create.

Do something different

Is play part of your process?

you might find this interesting.

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When I first opened the images he sent, certain of my photos popped right into my head. Or so I thought. I could swear I had a yellow raised hood, different from the one I used. Then, I scoured my archives more than once looking for an antique ambulance or fire truck; no luck. You’d think with all the car shows I’ve attended and images going back in my digital archives to 2010, this would have been an easier task. Maybe I have too many photos of cars.

Here are my pairings: perfectlights industrial image paired with one of my automotive photos.

I’d like to suggest you head over to ’s profile and check out his other industrial images. They are fascinating.

Beyond that, he has interviewed hundreds of photographers in his The Sunday Interview series.

The Sunday Interview

Share Perspectives - Photography & Writing

Since I’ve not picked up my camera in over a month, I decided to grab my little Kodak Charmera in the last week or so and look for some Everyday Shadows around the house.

Everyday Shadows is a series I’ve created over the years. Mostly, the images were created with my phone. There are also some in the series where I used my Canon 6D.

Over the years, I’ve learned the good spots around the house to see some interesting light and shadows. As always, the blinds in my office and the room next to mine provide interesting results.

This is from the room next to my office. The blue sheets and white pad made an interesting contrast. I hesitated when I took this one because the Charmera isn’t very good at bright, white light.

The next place I go to look for everyday shadows is our front room/living room. My husband & I debate what it’s formally called.

There are heavier curtains, but what creates lovely, light shadows and shapes are the sheer curtains.

The sun through the window onto the sheers creates interesting curves based on the flow of the curtains. You might be surprised by how many images of these sheers and the carpet I have. It’s kind of goofy.

I don’t typically venture outside when I’m looking for everyday shadows. Although typing that right now, I’ve gone back to look at my Everyday Shadows chapbooks and see that there are several outdoor images.

I liked the chair leg lining up with the shadow on this one. To be honest, I’m not sure I saw that as I was looking at the shadow when I took the shot.

The patio table on our back patio has provided numerous photographic opportunities. It’s been used as a subject, backdrop, background and even as a type of filter. It’s a mottled-looking glass table and makes some pretty cool light and shadow play.

I may have been a bit too close for the Charmera to handle on this. The mottled light, leaf and shadow caught my eye and to get this image, I had to place the camera along the chair back, looking down into the chair cover.

There are many times a day when I’m distracted by the light and shadows on my desk. Today, I grabbed the Kodak Charmera, which sits at the base of my monitor, and snapped this image.

I’ve not caught up with creating little zines of the Charmera Chronicles. Something else to add to my list that I may or may not get to.

You can find my chapbooks and the Charmera Chronicles here:

Chapbooks & Zines

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In October 2025, I attended a workshop with Andrew Pielage, Wright in Milwaukee. We stayed at The Johnson Foundation, Wingspread, explored nearby Frank Lloyd Wright homes and properties and of course, Wingspread.

I’m finally making my way through the images.

The above image is the front view of Wingspread. It’s such a beautiful building and the entire property is peaceful and gorgeous. It was a wonderful place to stay, learn and create.

There are a few paths around you that you can wander when you’re not in meetings or classroom settings.

This is a side view of the cantilevered Juliet balcony.

Another view of the Juliet Balcony. The Juliet balcony was built at the request of one of the Johnson children.

I was fascinated by these vines at Wingspread. They create such interesting shapes and textures and add to the organic nature of the architecture.

The Crow’s Nest at Wingspread is the other feature of the home that was a request of the children. The other is the Juliet Balcony I mentioned above.

The Wingspread Interior

As we move inside, you’ll see that it is every bit as, if not more so, stunning as the outside. This main family room is incredible with its 4-way fireplace and interesting ceiling.

A more detailed view of the chimney and ceiling in the fireplace room.

If you’ve ever visited a Frank Lloyd Wright property, you know he was a master at the use of light. This is down one of the hallways

This is the last one for now. I’ll write up another blog post at some point to include more from inside and outside.

This was shot from the balcony/2nd floor that overlooks the fireplace room.

Andrew FORCED me to use my tripod during this workshop for at least 10 minutes. Thank you, Andrew!

As you wander around any Frank Lloyd Wright building, you’ll find so many shapes, light and shadows. They are really a photographers dream to photograph.

If you’ve ever wanted an immersive Frank Lloyd Wright photography experience, I highly recommend Andrew Pielage's workshops.

To learn more about The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread.

Read more from the Wright in Wisconsin Workshop:

The Burnham Block

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

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I’m quite sure I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I am a winter person. Fresh snow and cold temperatures invigorate me. That crisp air I live for.

That also means I enjoy being out with my camera looking for winter compositions. Every winter many photographers wait eagerly for the temps to drop low enough for ice to form on the Chicago River.

The ice floating on the river adds a new look to the city. While many choose to photograph large river sections using wide angles and including the buildings, I do my thing.

I choose to find unique compositions. Looking for unusual scenes and ways to incorporate the ice, water and architecture make me excited to photograph this area.

Capturing the city’s skyline mirrored in the river is a favorite pastime, but when ice adds its artistic touch, the photos become truly captivating.

It’s funny, these images were created during a group photo outing. Everyone else was capturing the wide views, the bridges, the buildings and the cityscape along the river. There are so many opportunities for photos it can be overwhelming.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by so many options, zoom in! Pick one thing to concentrate on. It’ll help clear your head. This is likely why I tend to photograph details.

I found it important to pay attention to where things were in the frame and in relation to each other. If a piece of ice was an inch or two in either direction it could be covering up a part of a building. Or, I found that the buildings created unique framing opportunities for the floating ice chunks.

Some of the compositions made it appear that they were upside down or that I had flipped the image over. This one with the flags could potentially work if I flipped it the other way as well.

Honestly, many of these could be flipped but then I don’t think they’d appear as abstract. People looking at them wouldn’t necessarily stop and spend time trying to figure out what they are seeing.

I’m always fascinated by nature. These ice pieces breaking off into interesting shapes and how they interact with each other was mesmerizing.

Creating some of these images required patience. I waited until a piece of ice moved out of the way of what I wanted reflected in the water. Patience to watch where the ice was moving to, how it was forming new shapes and little windows of water.

When framing buildings I wanted to make sure I included those people would recognize. Even if it took them a second to figure out. This one is the iconic Wrigley building.

In the end, the ice is the star of this series in my opinion. When these semi-transparent pieces showed up I was able to use them to create reflections and it made the images seem surreal.

You can find these images in the Abstracts Gallery.

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I used to do a series of 9 images on my Instagram feed for several years. It made for a nice, consistent aesthetic. During that time, I’d ask my audience for suggestions.

When I asked for suggestions for my Series of 9, Bjorn Kleemann contributed this one.

“Let’s see 9 variations of The Bean (aka Cloudgate).”

I loved this suggestion.

The reason I love this series is that it is in line with something I try to convey in all my images and what I think about quite a bit when I’m out taking photos. I also love to inspire others to see and think in this way.

The Bean is one of the most photographed places/objects in Chicago. It’s a must-see spot when visiting Chicago, but how do you create an image that is different than what you’ve already seen? It’s not easy. Sure, go ahead and get your ‘tourist shots’, the whole Bean, your reflection in the Bean, the underneath alienesque reflections and the other usual suspects. Then what?

Then, I suggest putting your camera down. Walk around, take in the sights, sounds and feel the energy that is usually buzzing around the Bean. What else can you see? What is something only you would notice? What is your own, unique perspective on the Bean? It’s a challenge to find something different, but it’s fun to see if you can.

The Bean: View One

This is one of my favorite shots I’ve taken of the Bean. I titled it “Meet Me at the Bean”. It was one of those right place, right time shots, but the thing about right place/right time shots is that you still have to be looking and seeing what is going on, being completely aware of the compositions as the people and yourself move around. You have to be completely aware of the light. In this shot, it was the light that grabbed me. The sun lit up the woman in the shot and created that wonderful long shadow. It also created contradicting shadows by bouncing off the buildings in the background.

Every time I am at this location, my main goal is to see it and shoot it differently.

The Bean: View Two

There are so many ways to shoot reflections in the Bean. Again, my goal is to find something different. Is this? I’m not sure, but the best way to find that image is to keep taking photos, move your body, turn the camera at an angle, or hold it high above your head or down on the ground. Change your perspective.

The Bean: View Three

Reflections can be game-changing for an image. The Bean is perfect for creating unique images using reflections.

The Bean: View Four

Another way to find unique images is to experiment. Don't be afraid to play with your camera settings. What happens if I do this? Try some long exposures using ND filters, or at night without filters. Also, experiment with post-processing. Again, what happens if? Move sliders, click on presets, change tones and colors. There are infinite possibilities. This reminds me, I need to get down there and experiment using multiple exposures.

The Bean: View Five

Sometimes perspectives may not be so obvious. Wander around the entire area you are shooting, look for unique vantage points, higher or lower (think upstairs/balconies or downstairs in a park) or wander a little further out. Find interesting framing opportunities like this one. I keep repeating this, but it pays to pay attention. Watch and SEE what is around you with the plan of shooting a unique image in your head.

The Bean: View Six

Focusing on the details or honing in on smaller parts of a larger scene can help to create unique images. We don't always need to see the whole scene to know what it is we're seeing. Zoom in, crop in, and only photograph small areas of a larger object. All of these things can bring a new perspective to something that has been photographed and seen many times.

The Bean: View Seven

Adding other elements to your shots can add something different and some interest to an otherwise same old, same old image. Here, I used the handrail and found a fall leaf to just add a pop of color to focus on.

The Bean: View Eight

One of the easiest ways to get new perspectives and different images is to photograph at night. Not only that, but also change your typical view.

The Bean: View Nine

Look for the abstract. Make people think and question what they see or ask you how you did that.

Looking at these images again, I realize it’s been a while since I’ve been to the Bean to create images. It might be time to head downtown again.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the bean; the tips and methods can apply to any subject. I use the same concepts when I photograph cars and architecture.

If you’re interested in prints of the Bean, check out my Chicago Gallery. They’re not all there, but many of them are. Let me know which one you’re interested in and I’ll add it to my shop.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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The first stop on our England/Scotland road trip was Oxford. We were only there for one night. Dropping our bags at our apartment, we headed out to enjoy the incredible weather and find some dinner.

As we walked to the apartment from the bus station, we noticed an outdoor food market and decided to come back there to get something to eat.

The booths offered food of all types, including Korean, Moroccan, Turkish, Italian and more. It was a colorful place. The food was good and just what we need.

After fortifying ourselves, we set out to find a pub or somewhere to get a glass of beer for Mike and wine for me. After all, it was our first day of vacation after not having traveled for three years. We figured we’d find a spot that had some outdoor seating as we wandered in the direction of our apartment. Instead, we popped into a pub near the apartment and got directions to a lovely pub that had a very nice outdoor garden area.

On our way to the pub, we followed the path along the River Thames, it was such perfect weather. This old power plant caught my eye as we got close to the pub.

These are a few images of the Old Power Station in Oxford, which is now Osney Power Station – University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. A unique combination of restoring and saving the old and adding new to it.

The Punter was right along the River Thames and perfect to sit down, relax and enjoy the weather before we headed back to the apartment to crash for the night.

We took our time and walked in the opposite direction on the path along the Thames.

That was it for us in Oxford. Someday, I’d like to spend a little more time there exploring the libraries.

If you’d like to read Mike’s (my husband) take on our trip, you can check out his blog post on Oxford here.

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Chicago’s Riverwalk is an amazing place to spend some time. One day is likely not enough for this beautiful 1.25-mile-long path along the Chicago River. The whole area has many features perfect for photography.

The Riverwalk is segmented into six general areas. Let’s take a walk through them in order.

The Marina (State to Dearborn)

In this section, you’ll find boaters docked so they can enjoy the restaurants.

Also, the namesake of this area, Marina City overlooks this section.

The Cove (Dearborn to Clark)

Here you can rent kayaks and stop for some snacks along the way.

All along the riverwalk, take a look at the water. You’ll see some pretty cool architectural reflections from the buildings on either bank. Then look up at those buildings, and you’ll see the reflections of buildings and more in their windows.

It all makes for some interesting abstract photography.

The River Theater (Clark to LaSalle)

This area has trees for shade from those hot summer days and is considered a unique oasis along the riverwalk. It also includes a sculptural staircase linking Upper Wacker and the Riverwalk offering pedestrian connectivity to the water’s edge and seating.

The Water Plaza (LaSalle to Wells)

The Water Plaza features a fountain that is great for children and families to engage with water at the river’s edge. I may be a little obsessed with this spot. It is one of my favorite areas to photograph.

The shallow fountain provides incredible reflections of the surrounding bridges and architecture along the river.

The Jetty (Wells to Franklin)

Floating wetland gardens are the main attraction in this section of the riverwalk. There is a place to learn about river ecology, fish and bird watching here.

This is also the perfect spot to watch and photograph Art on the Mart, the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, projecting contemporary artwork across the 2.5-acre river façade of the Merchandise Mart. Also, take a look down at the river for abstract reflections and people walking along the riverwalk.

The Boardwalk (Franklin to Lake)

This is the spot where the three branches of the Chicago River come together, also referred to as the Confluence. You get great views of each branch of the river from here. The Confluence has an accessible walkway, continuous access to Lake Street and a great lawn that provides a space for the public to sit and watch the river flow by. Colorful Adirondack chairs in the lawn area would be great for family photos.

From this location, you can photograph the Santiago Calatrava Constellation sculpture across the way at River Point. I would suggest crossing the river and checking it out up close along with the River Point building as well.

The bridges

Don’t forget the bridges all along the riverwalk. Be sure to head up to get some photos of the bridges themselves and of the cityscapes, you can see as you look up and down the river.

When you are down on the riverwalk, the sections that run under the bridges are also quite interesting — architecturally and reflectively.

The Chicago Riverwalk is becoming one of my favorite places to wander and spend time with or without my camera. Whether you enjoy architecture, street and even portrait photography, the possibilities here are endless.

If you ever get a chance to take in the Chicago Riverwalk, here is a list of restaurants, activities and a map for your visit.

Would you like to join me for a private photo tour?

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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Concert photography is something a little different for me. I’m not a people photographer first of all but photographing concerts is a whole other animal.

Stage lighting is something to be mastered if you are photographing concerts. It offers dramatic looks in photographs in both black and white and color.

For my husband’s 65th birthday, we had a private concert/party at Fitzgerald’s Nightclub in Berwyn, IL. It’s an iconic music venue in Chicagoland. Mike contacted three of his favorite bands and they were on board.

The Vulgar Boatmen

Typically The Vulgar Boatmen only do a residency in the Chicagoland area once a year. They made an exception for Mike’s party.

The Silos

The Silos, led by Walter Salas-Humara can really rock out and also have an arsenal of emotional songs.

The Waco Brothers

A Chicago staple and so much fun. The Waco Brothers have been touring and cranking out new music.

It was a party and a concert

The Canon 50mm F1.8 lens is great for this type of photography. It handles the low light well and can be counted on to be sharp.

Since this was a celebration and I wasn’t there to be the photographer, I decided to only take my 50mm lens. That way I didn’t need to carry anything other than my camera/lens. No extra gear or a camera bag to worry about. I made sure I was able to enjoy the music and visit with friends and family.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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In the last two weeks, Mike & I have been to a lot of live music. We attend quite a few live music shows regularly, but this was a lot, even for Mike.

I took my trusty Kodak Charmera (see story at the end of this one) to see how it faired in concert environments, from a bar to a theater to a small music venue.

We actually drove up to Milwaukee to see Gary Numan, which was amazing. I left the camera in my pocket for that. I’m pretty sure it would have been far too dark.

Next up, The Silos. We tend to see them whenever they play in the area. This time, they performed at Fitzgerald’s Night Club in Berwyn, IL. It’s a great place to see live shows, as it has three on-site locations with music: two indoors and one outdoor patio.

I didn’t hold out a lot of hope for the Charmera in here. We were not too far from the side stage, but it was pretty dark in there.

Honestly, I could have taken my Canon 6D in with me. They’re very good about allowing people to photograph shows there. This is where we had Mike’s 65th birthday bash and I photographed that using my 50mm lens (before I sold it). I’ll post that story next week.

The next night, we went to see Robyn Hitchcock. What a great concert! I forgot what a great guitar player he is. It’s been years since we’ve seen him with a full electric band.

We were in the fourth row here. When the stage was lit up, as you can see, the images aren’t too bad. I have a lot of very dark/mushy images, though, as it’s not nearly bright enough in this theater. Then again, it all depended on what lighting was happening on stage.

For the last song, Robyn grabbed his acoustic guitar and strolled out into the audience. Being in a bright spotlight helped black out the background and the Charmera did fairly ok with this situation.

On Sunday, we attended the last day a local (Chicago local) bar was going to be open. They were established in 2008 and the owners are retiring.

There were 10 bands on Sunday, about every hour from 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm. We got there around 4:15 and stayed until around 9:15. Whew, too crowded, too hot and too much standing for me.

It was quite fun, though. We specifically went to see The Waco Brothers, another band that played at Mike’s birthday. Also, Mike’s nephew-in-law is the drummer in another of the bands that was playing.

I initially thought I’d take my Canon 6D and 100–400mm lens. I’m so glad I didn’t because it was so jam-packed with people that there was no way I’d have been able to shoot very easily.

Mostly, I held up the Charmera and hit the shutter button, hoping for the best.

Distance matters with this camera. We started further back and ended up moving up closer. Those images turned out a bit better.

I framed shots the best I could while holding the little camera far above the heads in front of me, as much as I could anyway. This image is the only one I cropped because there was too much extra stuff in it. I liked the two singers in the corner here.

Composing basically blind, between the teeny, tiny screen on that camera and holding it up high at arm’s length meant I couldn’t see what I had in frame. I love winging it, though, so that’s what I did.

Stay tuned for The Charmera Chronicles from the UK, as we finally, after three years of not traveling, head off on a holiday. I won’t write those up until we’re home.

Read more of The Charmera Chronicles here:

https://laurinovak.substack.com/t/kodak-charmera

I’ve also been making The Charmera Chronicles Zines - you can find those here:

Charmera Chronicle Zines

Four years ago, I went to Los Angeles with my husband to attend a one-day music festival. We took a few extra days to do some exploring.

Equipped with my two-page list of architecture and sites I wanted to photograph, I quickly realized there was no way I was going to see most of my list.

Thankfully, due to the time zone difference, we were up and out early each day. That made it perfect for avoiding crowds in some of the places. It also meant that some of the locations weren’t open yet, so we didn’t get to go inside a few of them.

A half-hour at Griffith Observatory

Since 1935, the Griffith Observatory has been open to the public. It’s one of those spots that everyone recommends when they find out you’re going to Los Angeles.

We got there early and just wandered around enjoying the views. Griffith Park is quite large and surrounds the area of the observatory. It’s a beautiful location overlooking Los Angeles.

For me, I was off to find some unique architectural perspectives and a few images that a client might use for a project.

And of course, the tourist shots as well.

Not quite a half-hour at the Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl wasn’t on my list of stops, but we passed by the road leading in a few times, so we figured, why not stop? Luckily, it was on a day that it was open to the public. If you’re planning on going, I would suggest double-checking to see what days the public is allowed in to look around.

After being there and seeing this iconic venue, I really want to plan a trip to attend a concert.

Hollywood Boulevard in 40 minutes or less

This was not on our must-see list, I’ll be honest. We were close, though and had some time, so figured why not. It’s touristy to the max and definitely not the type of place we typically spend time when we’re traveling.

But when in Hollywood. It was interesting and fun to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars and the handprints at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (which is now called the TLC Theater).

As always, my eye is drawn to the architecture and there were a few buildings that caught my attention in the short time we were there.

I would imagine that this is a fantastic location for street photography, although it may be a bit crowded. Definitely all types of characters and people wandering around, though, from tourists to performers and those dressed up in Mickey Mouse and Spiderman costumes.

Two hours at The Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad Museum

For me, these were the pièces de résistance.

I’ve long been a fan of Frank Gehry and his work. The list of places I have to photograph his work is long. Finally, I’ve been able to cross the Walt Disney Concert Hall off my list. Not completely, though, because I’ll definitely be back.

Gehry’s designs change with every second the light changes. It is fascinating to see. Having two hours was not nearly enough and like in other places on this trip, we arrived quite early and while I did get to go inside the concert hall in some areas, The Broad was not open yet.

The Broad Museum was designed by the architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. It holds its own next to the concert hall and they work well together. This is another place that will offer up many possibilities at different times of day, depending on the light. It’s also a great place to practice patience and just wait for the right moment to happen.

One hour at The Getty Museum Campus

The Getty Museum Campus is a place that one could visit once or twice a month and still feel like they’ve missed something. Because we only had an hour, I focused on the architecture. Yet another location on my list, but not nearly enough time. Besides the architecture by Richard Meier, the Getty Museums have incredible exhibits. I wandered through one exhibit of photographer Imogen Cunningham’s work. And a quick walk-through of the Writing for the Camera exhibit. Those were a definite bonus as quick as it was.

Under two hours at Santa Monica Pier

The last stop before the day of the concert. My husband had to put his feet in the ocean, so we chose to drive to Santa Monica Pier for lunch. It’s a fun spot, but far too touristy for me. We walked by Tongva Park, which I think would be interesting to go back to. There are some very interesting architectural sculptures there and the park was designed in partnership with Frederick Fisher & Partners.

We also passed by Chez Jay, which my husband was quick to point out was the local hangout for the main character in the Goliath TV series. It actually has quite a long history.

Using our time the best we could in Los Angeles

Because I had researched some of these locations ahead of time, mostly the architectural sites, I already had some idea of what I could create once I got there. That helped me just get the camera out and start taking photos. So, even though the time was limited in each location, I was prepared to make the best of it.

I still need to plan my return trip.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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All images ©Lauri Novak

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A fellow photographer just asked for help because they have been in a photography slump for the last four months. I thought I’d share my reply and ideas to help us all when this happens. Face it — it happens to all of us sooner or later.

Just get out and photograph something

Sometimes, just getting out with your camera and shooting anything or everything helps. Don’t worry about creating good images, just shoot what you feel, what you want. Even if you delete them all, it’s the act of doing it, of getting out even when you don’t feel like it, that will get you moving back to feeling like creating.

Create a personal project that pulls you out of your slump

Pick a subject or theme to shoot for. Make it a weekly or daily thing. Give yourself a deadline. This could range from portraits of strangers to documenting the growth of your garden. Maybe it’s something that you’ve thought about before but never acted on.

I have an Everyday Shadows theme that is an ongoing series. What makes this so easy for me is that I mostly use my mobile phone to grab shots of the shadows I find around the house. This has been going on for a year or so; it helps me ‘see’ images and find photos to create and some days it helps crank my creative brain back up.

Read and learn about something new

Pick up a photography book or research online ideas for things to shoot. There are so many aspects of photography. Is there something you want to learn more about or is there a photographer who paved the way for us all that you would like to read about? Is there an editing technique you’d like to try? Go for it — I guarantee it will spark your creativity and get you motivated to create.

Go to a museum

Take in art and be inspired by the colors, light and compositions in paintings. We can learn a lot about the basics of these things by studying the masters and other artists. Even statues can teach us about form and shape. Be inspired.

Phone a friend to get you out of a slump

Call up a photography friend and make a date to go out and wander with your cameras. Again, this doesn’t have to be about creating your best image ever; it’s about. Being around someone else who shares your passion will help reignite your motivation. Sharing ideas and just seeing what someone else sees can be helpful.

Watch old movies (or new ones)

Many of the older films have incredible cinematography. Pay attention to the light and shadows used to create mood and emotion. There are also newer films that do a good job of this, but the older films are free of computer-generated imagery and had to rely on music and lighting to make their audience see and feel each scene.

We all go through this. All of us. I have barely picked up my camera in the last four months myself. Time to take my own advice and get out of this slump.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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If you’re like me, you dislike having your photo taken, don’t you? Most of us prefer to be on the other side of the camera, taking the images. There is something to be said, though, for using ourselves as models and test subjects to learn how to shoot portraits and learn general photography.

Would you do that yourself?

Think about images you see of models. Sometimes they are in precarious positions, scary locations or uncomfortable environments. By trying some of these things yourself, you can better empathize with your subjects and help them to feel more comfortable.

Using tools

Learn to use Tether Tools

Tethering your camera to your computer can make this process a whole lot easier as you can see what you are shooting as you shoot it instead of running back and forth to your camera.

Remote

Another tool to save you from setting the self-timer and running to the spot to pose.

Flash

Learning flash can be fun when you are your subject matter. Ask yourself when you are setting up, what happens if I do this or this? Take the shots, see where the light is, figure out the best settings, rear-curtain sync, etc. Change the settings and take the shot again. Doing this as you shoot and seeing the results makes it much easier to make tweaks to your settings and is a great way to learn how to use it, what each setting does, and how to create the light you want.

Lighting systems

When you get your first lighting system, be it constant or strobes, you’ll want to make sure you know how to use it before you take it all out on your first job with you.

Experimenting with self-portraits

Here are a few ideas to try out. Playing with long exposures and creating motion is a fun way to experiment. Another fun thing to do is to take multiple shots of yourself and learn how to composite yourself into one shot. Learn how to shoot double exposures in-camera. Want to experiment with props? Grab a mirror or two and play with reflections. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Use what you have

Don’t feel like you have to have the latest and greatest equipment to make amazing self-portraits. The images in this post were shot using natural light, desk lamps and floor lamps. I used my $20 Canon Wireless Remote and whatever I could find available to use as props, where there were props.

Get creative. Be like McGyver. You’ll not only get the shot, but you’ll also stretch your mind and creativity by trying to figure out what can and will work.

These are just a few of the things you can learn by doing self-portraits. How comfortable are you in front of the camera?

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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When my husband and I were planning our Route 66 trip, I researched where there were Frank Lloyd Wright buildings along the way. Westhope was one of those I wanted to stop to see.

We missed a few on the first day, as that was our longest day and we only stopped at certain sites. You know, like the Gemini Giant, I’ll head down to find them at some point because they’re not all that far from where we live.

Westhope, though, was one I didn’t want to miss. So, as we headed out of Tulsa, we stopped by. It was for sale at the time and I see that it sold for a reduced price of $3.56 million. It had previously been listed at $8 million!

I figured if someone was wondering what I was doing wandering around the property with my camera, I could tell them I was interested in buying it. (In my dreams!)

Westhope Details

Westhope is on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1929. It is one of the largest homes Wright ever built.

As is his style, it is quite open and there is a lot of natural light. Mind you, I could only peek in the front door to see inside.

The grounds are also beautiful, with a pool and gardens around the side and back of the house. Can you imagine living here? I can.

It is a 10,000-square-foot house with 5 bedrooms, 4+ baths, and sits on 1.5 acres of land.

Frank Lloyd Wright always incorporated the outdoors in and outdoors out. Living space flowed between the inside and outside spaces and this home is no different from what I could see.

Unfortunately, there are no tours of this FLW property. At some point, maybe the new owners will be open to allowing the public to see inside once in a while.

You can find out more about this property and see many more images here:

Renewed Westhope on the Market. From the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservatory, January 17, 2024, updated November 21, 2025.

I always love the details FLW put into his work. Little ceramic tiles in some locations and this address plate here at Westhope. He used these details as a signature of sorts, like an artist would sign a painting.

If you’re a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, I think this is worth stopping to see if you’re in the area. Be mindful if someone moves in, though, even without anyone there, I felt a bit funny wandering around.

You can see more of my Frank Lloyd Wright stories here.

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I finally got out with my ‘real’ camera this weekend. This isn’t about those images, though.

Welcome to the Charmera Chronicles, where I share the images I’ve created using my Kodak Charmera camera.

What is a Kodak Charmera Camera, you ask?

It’s a teeny, tiny camera that fits on my key chain. The image quality is not great, but that’s not the point. The point is to have fun with it. At least that’s the point of it for me.

Part of the fun of this is that I’ve been putting together a zine/booklet so I can share what I’ve captured with the Charmera. You’ll find a link to the zines at the end of this story, along with the other issues of The Charmera Chronicles, here on Medium.

I hope you enjoy being on this creative journey with me.

Sunday morning, I had had enough of feeling down, heavy and uninspired. I grabbed my hiking boots, my camera and my Charmera and headed out.

Hawthorne Hill Nature Center is a nature park run by the city I live in. I’ve driven by it many times, yet I’d never explored it. It’s rather small, but lovely despite nothing quite blooming or turning green yet.

With my Canon 6D and 100–400mm lens, I was noticing all of the tree and branch reflections in the water. The Charmera is more limited to a wider view, so I framed up the trees and clouds for this image.

I was drawn to the shapes of the branches and the lines made by the reflections. In some of my other images, I purposely focused on the reflection and not the branch. The Charmera focuses on the whole scene, fixed-focus plastic lens. It does not have autofocus or manual focus capabilities, relying on a “point-and-shoot” approach where the lens is optimized to keep a broad range of distances in acceptable focus, a technique often called hyperfocal focusing.

I’ve learned after using the Charmera three other times that it doesn’t do well at close range. 2 1/2 feet is about the closest it recommends. So far, I find it difficult not to get closer. It’s kind of funny as I find myself stepping back from a subject when I almost always move closer or zoom in.

Quite a good lesson in using restrictions to learn more and to push myself to see differently than I would typically.

It’s quite fun not to worry about the technical things, and quite honestly, I can barely see the little screen to compose the images. That’s the hardest part of using this little camera. I realized there is a tiny viewfinder; I’ll try that next time.

From past outings with the Charmera, I’ve learned not to include a bright sky or a bright subject, as the image tends to be completely blown out. This makes me keep my eyes peeled more at eye-level or looking down to see what I can find. These vines seem to become part of the tree they’ve climbed.

Looking at this image, the depth of field isn’t too bad. That’s something I didn’t pay much attention to before with this camera.

It was a bit windy, so taking images of these tall grasses was a crap shoot. I wasn’t sure if they’d turn out or not, but I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the contrast between the light plant and dark tree reflections, yet both had similar shapes.

I’m so glad I made myself go out. and explore the new to me Hawthorn Nature Center. The fresh air does wonders and being in nature is always a tonic for me. The Kodak Charmera is still amusing me; I don’t think that will stop. It’s such a novelty.

You can find the rest of The Charmera Chronicles here:

The Charmera Chronicles #2

The Charmera Chronicles #3

And, if you’re interested in seeing my little zines:

LINK: Here’s the first one; for some reason, it won’t embed.

And here’s the second video:

You can buy these in my shop if you’re interested.

I’m having a lot of fun creating these!

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

• Like, comment or share my stories. This is free to do. Sharing is caring, as they say.

• Have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with me.

• Go shopping on my Fine Art Photography site. There are prints, limited edition prints, a book and handmade chapbooks and zines.

I use this phrase or something similar in my photography teaching, writing, and images. Unique perspectives are my thing; they define much of my photography.

Originally, I wrote this for the theme Perspectives for the Weeds & Wildflowers Publication on Medium. I was ready to jump on it.

One of the things I push myself to do in my photography and life is to see the world differently.

It’s not always easy to see the good or find the beauty in a person, place or situation. But if we try hard enough, we can.

Of course, we all go through periods when something blocks our typical sunshiny perspective. There are clouds, but then I love clouds, so that can flip my perspective once again to see the beauty.

As in photography, it is work to find the best or better perspective in life. When things seem bleak or unchangeable, that means to me that I have to push myself harder to find a different way of looking at the situation.

Usually, it means there is a lesson to be learned. Something I needed to be taught or reminded of came to light through this process.

Change Your Perspective or Point of View

Remember when you were younger and stood on your head? What did the world look like from that perspective? Or hanging on the monkey bars made us see the playground in a different light.

Were we aware of that effect on our mindset or brain when we were eight years old? Not likely, but who knows what sticks with you throughout your life?

Sometimes, to change our situation or mood, it might be helpful to be that kid again. Pick up a kaleidoscope and look at things through that.

What if you put on a pair of rose-colored glasses, literally? Does seeing it that way affect your thought process? Power of suggestion? Who knows? But it might be fun to try.

Slow Down

When I go to a location I’ve been to hundreds of times, I stop and look around. I get down on the ground, and I look straight up or down. I changed my perspective to find a different composition.

Doing this also makes me notice things I wouldn’t have seen if I hadn’t changed my perspective.

Maybe focusing on a larger area, a bigger issue or problem can change our perspective. We get caught up in only seeing the details or a small portion of what’s going on.

Think about the person you come across during your day who seems angry, sad or unhappy and isn’t very friendly. Instead of jumping to the conclusion that they’re not a nice person, change your perspective to wonder what’s going on in their lives that is causing their mood. Be kind; you never know what someone is going through.

For the most part, I’m looking up. In my photography and life. I’m an optimist and work at keeping my perspective in line with staying positive.

From time to time, there are puddles in life, and in that case, I set my camera down and create puddle reflection images. If I don’t have my camera, I splash in the puddles. Always try to have fun.

2024 and 2025 were years of restraint for us here at home. We have not been able to travel as we usually do. That makes both my husband and me a bit irritable at times. We like to go places, explore, and experience new places. Both of us have our down moments because of this, and the reason for it.

We stop and talk about how lucky we are despite the ‘stuff’. It’s all in our perspective of the situation and our focus on a positive outcome.

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

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On a Sunday last April, my husband and a couple of friends took my stepson to a local brewpub to see Terry Byrne play. My stepson is 32 and has cerebral palsy; he is in a wheelchair and is blind. He LOVES music. We take him to see live music as often as we can. Terry is a singer/songwriter that Mike & I ‘discovered’ one Sunday afternoon about two years ago.

As we drove home that Sunday, we talked about how clear it was that Terry understood and appreciated what his music meant to Ryan (my stepson). We discussed the fact that not all musicians we see understand or appreciate what they are doing. One of our favorite singer/songwriters in the area, who was a friend of mine, passed away in 2018. We miss him, and Ryan misses his music. He understood what the music meant to Ryan. He got it.

I decided that night to email Terry and thank him. I would not typically reach out to a musician or band we’ve seen personally, but I knew it was the right thing to do in this case. We’ve seen Terry perform quite a few times now and he feels like a friend.

This is the email I sent:

I just wanted to say thank you for what you do. I think when we first met you up at Pier 290, Mike mentioned that a friend of ours, Michael Heaton, had passed away back in 2018. Michael was a local favorite and played consistently at local venues. We also knew we almost always had music to take Ryan to in the area.

Ever since then, we’ve tried to find another singer/songwriter/band that we could enjoy with Ryan. While Ryan loves all types of music, sometimes the guitar solos and drum solos are too much for him. We’re so glad we randomly stopped at Pier 290 on that Sunday.

On Sunday morning, I was reading and this passage made me think of what you do (along with many of my other creative friends):

“Success has nothing to do with your outer life and what other people think of you. It’s about the richness of your inner life and the way you show up in the world with genuine consideration for others.

And it’s about the joy, beauty and wonder that you find in the world and how you share that through the way you live.” (from the book Kokoro by Beth Kimpton).

Other musicians are always happy to perform for Ryan — play to him, but not many show the joy they feel when he lights up from a song they play. You do that, you can tell it brings you joy to share your gift.

So thank you!

That made me feel good and I hoped that Terry would feel good about receiving it. I did not expect a reply, I mean, it’s like saying thank you to someone for saying thank you.

But sometimes you touch people as they have touched you. His reply blew me away. I will share some of it here; some of it was part of his personal story, which is not mine to share.

“The reason Ryan brings me so much joy is that he emotes in a way that many of us are incapable of. He feels the same emotions that we all do in our connection to music; however, his response is unguarded. It is pure, it is true and it is good. He conveys his response to songs without reservation or thought of appearances or perceptions. When I see his response of pure joy, it affects me greatly because it is the same exact way I “feel” about music, but with him it is something I get to witness firsthand.

As a performer, I feed off the energy that I am receiving from the audience. The energy I receive from not just Ryan, but y’all’s whole group is some of the best an artist could ask for. Music has helped me in so many ways, so in my second chance at life, I have tried to use my talents to do everything I can to use music to help others as well. With you guys, I feel I may be accomplishing that in some way. I’ve been able to do a lot of amazing things in my career, but these are things that give me the greatest feeling of fulfillment.

So happy to have met y’all. Looking forward to seeing you guys a lot more in the future.”

Excuse me while I wipe the mist from my eyes, again. Such a heartfelt and meaningful response. It made me realize that we, the collective we of the world, don’t do this often enough. It’s a simple thank you to someone who has made your day, week, month, year or even a particular moment.

It doesn’t have to be some sweeping gesture. Someone could have picked up the car keys you dropped in the parking lot at the grocery store or held the door for you as you entered the store.

Saying thank you not only makes you feel better, but it also makes the receiver feel better. Hopefully, they’ll feel the same as I do about this reply and pass it along to the next deserving person.

You can find Terry’s Music and his story on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s a video of one of his original songs:

If you are in the Chicago, Western Suburbs, or Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area, I recommend seeing him perform.

After reading ’s post the other day, it made me think of this story and I wanted to share.

Here is Jim’s post:

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Welcome to Issue #3 of what I’ve started calling The Charmera Chronicles. (The other two issues are linked at the bottom of this story.)

The use of my little Kodak Charmera has sparked another little creative project. I’m still figuring out exactly how it’ll end up, but I think it will be a printed Zine with images from my Charmera camera outings. It will likely be free or at a very minimal cost, because, let’s face it, the image quality is kind of crap. Who would pay for that? But I can’t continue to keep giving stuff away like I do, including my time.

It was finally nice out, warm(ish) but windy. I went to a local forest preserve to wander around the woods. Much-needed nature time. Ahhhh, breathing in that fresh air and listening to the leftover leaves crunching feeds my soul.

I had just had a conversation with my husband about being tired of taking images just for the sake of taking images, without a purpose. Typically, I would grab my camera and 100–400mm lens to take with me on these hikes. The images I create usually end up deleted or taking up space on my hard drive and never see the light of day. So, not much point (obviously not in this mood I’m in lately with my work).

Besides, the camera slows me down when I'm walking and hiking, and I need to get off my rear and MOVE more. That is where throwing the Kodak Charmera keychain camera in my pocket comes in. I can pull it out, frame a quick shot, and keep walking. I know that I am not creating portfolio pieces and not having to think about settings at all makes it just that, a quick snap.

This is only the third time I’ve used the camera. I am still trying to find the ideal lighting situation. As with the first time I used it, bright sunlight doesn’t work so well.

I do think I got better about the distance that worked best, though. A few times, I caught myself wanting to get closer, but remembered that the close-up shots didn’t work well at all.

My eyes were drawn to quite a few shadows. It was so bright and harsh that shadows were easily photographed.

I am still getting used to this Charmera aesthetic (for lack of calling it mushy photos, haha). Being used to tack-sharp images for most of my photographic life, it’s hard to embrace the lack of clarity this camera offers.

The puddle photo turned out better than I expected. There will be more experimenting with puddle images in the future.

All in all, it was great to get outside, get off my rear and be in nature. It’s fun to throw this little camera in my pocket and know I can make myself laugh with it as I’m hiking through the woods.

Here is a video of one of my ideas for the Charmera Chronicles. This is a combined idea, as I think I’ll use the handmade paper for something else. We’ll see where I end up with these experiments.

Just out of curiosity - would you sign up to receive a handmade zine/booklet similar to this? This isn’t the final version; I’m still experimenting with papers and binding methods.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m enjoying making things and so far, I’ve been giving everything away. At some point, I at least need to cover my postage costs. I’m open to your ideas and suggestions here. This is kind of new territory for me. Thank you!

The Charmera Chronicals Posts #1 & #2:

#1: The Kodak Charmera

#2: Architectural Kodak Charmera Fun

If you are enjoying my stories and would like to support my art and writing, you can choose one of the following ways to do so:

• Like, comment or share my stories. This is free to do. Sharing is caring, as they say.

• Have a cup of tea or a glass of wine with me.

• Go shopping on my Fine Art Photography site. There are prints, limited edition prints, a book and handmade chapbooks and zines.

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Well, I tried. Half-heartedly.

I know quite a few people who participate in the 52Frames Challenge. It’s a website/community that has been running since 2011, an impressive length of time in this day and age of sites that come and go so frequently. They obviously are doing something right.

I’ve had an account on the site since 2022, but never participated. I signed up to keep up with some of my photography friends and their creative journeys.

This year, since I wasn’t using my camera much, I decided that this project would push me to create a new image each week. And it did, until this week. I have to admit, the whole thing felt like a chore and something I HAD to do, not something I wanted to do. This wasn’t helpful for me.

Here are the nine images I submitted for each weekly challenge and the extra challenge that is offered each week. I’ll talk more about not participating more at the end of this story.

What I wrote about this image:

I decided I needed to get this done today. I’m not one to spend hours on this stuff, so I know I could produce a better result. Deciding to participate this year is a motivation to use my camera each week.

We have a double patio door, which lets in amazing light; it was my main source. The second light was a floor lamp in the corner. If I weren’t so lazy, I would have moved the floor lamp closer to myself to get a better light triangle on my shaded cheek.

But I used my camera and I used my tripod, which is another intention I have for 2026. So win-win.

Post-processed with Lightroom Classic and Luminar Neo to sculpt the light a bit better and soften it up as a whole.

Challenge: Self-Portrait, Extra Challenge: Rembrandt Lighting

What I wrote to go with the image:

“ Echoes in the Current ”

Twice this week, I got the camera out of its bag. On a roll.

As usual, I was not patient with what I was trying to do at home with the first attempt at an idea I had.

The main reason I decided to start participating this year was to get my camera out (which mostly means getting out of the house, to me). So, today I went to a couple of my go-to locations nearby. It was far too windy to get the image I thought I might get.

I love reflections and the textures of the fallen trees in the water. This was in a creek run-off from the river.

Challenge: Rule of thirds, Extra Challenge: Symmetry

What I wrote with this image:

“ A Favorite Spot ”

I knew where I would go for my image as soon as I saw the theme and challenge. It may be cheating or me being lazy to go to this bridge because I’ve photographed it hundreds of times. This one may not be the best, but it made me get out of the house with my camera. That’s the goal.

Challenge: Get Low, Extra Challenge Leading Lines

What I wrote to go with the image:

“ On the Ceiling ”

My grand ideas were crushed when I ended up not going to Chicago on Monday as I had planned. Then the weather decided to give us the coldest temperatures we’ve had in quite a few years. So, twice I wandered around the house to see what I could see. I took some images looking down the stairs to the basement, but in my head, looking down isn’t the same as getting high. It could be, I suppose, but it wasn’t registering with me that way.

I typically put my camera on the floor and ground, a lot! So, why not do the opposite for Getting High? The ceiling fan in the kitchen seemed to be in the most interesting location. Add my stepson in the living room to help with the perspective and I think this works alright.

Challenge: Get high, Extra Challenge: Use a drone — well, this put a stop to my trying to create an image that used the extra challenge prompt because I don’t own a drone. That made me realize that it really didn’t matter if I did the extra challenge or not.

What I wrote to go with the image:

“ A Necessary Chair ”

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do this week. An old image of my stepson’s wheelchair next to an indoor pool popped into my head. We didn’t get out much and trying to stage a photo with the wheelchair in our house doesn’t work all that well. As I put him in the van to go to the movies, I pulled out my phone and shot this view. If nothing else, I’d use it if I needed to.

Another image I shot with my phone was at the movie theater: Ryan, his chair and empty theater seats. Unfortunately, the phone is not good in low light and he is constantly moving his head and hands. It’s a big mushy mess of an image!

I thought they both told a story, but this one turned out better.

Challenge: Chair, Extra Challenge: Tell a Story

What I wrote to go with this image:

“ Feathery ”

It’s been years since I pulled out my bag of feathers. This was the perfect challenge to set up my tripod, use my macro lens, light box, corn syrup and water. I’m so out of practice and so not patient. I took enough photos to satisfy the challenge this week using my tripod and my camera.

Challenge: Complementary Colors, Extra Challenge: Product Photography (nope, didn’t participate in extra challenge.)

What I wrote to go with this image:

“ Unexplored Camera ”

A few weeks ago, I purchased a Kodak Charmera. It’s a teeny, tiny little camera that fits on your keychain. I had only taken it out once to play with it, so I decided that it would be my unexplored entry for this week. Exploring this unexplored little camera to see what I could do with it.

We went to the Art Institute of Chicago on Wednesday and I took it with me. I intended to photograph what I would typically shoot with my Canon 6D — architecture, angles, light and shadows.

The camera produces 1440x1080, 1.6 MP, very low-resolution images. It is so much fun.

this image: ISO 153, 5mm, f3.0, 1/50 sec.

It’s nice to let go of the technical part of your brain and just create with it.

Challenge: Unexplored, Extra Challenge: Involve a stranger

What I wrote to go with this image:

“ Cliché ”

Yep, it’s cliche, meh and about all that worked for this week. I was aware of the images I was taking as I wandered around a lake on a mini getaway. But my attention was on other things and not focused on the challenge. So you get cliché.

Challenge: Shallow Depth of Field, Extra Challenge: f/1.4 (again, didn’t do the extra challenge because I don’t own a lens that goes to f/1.4)

What I wrote to go with this image:

“ Curtain Shadows ”

This is one of my favorite window light shadows in our house. I love the way the shadow moves around the corner in this room as the sun moves.

Challenge: Window Light, Extra Challenge: Include shadow

Why I’m Done

There you have it, 9 weeks, 9 images. These nine images are a peek into my being lazy with photography. Another reason to stop participating in the 52 Frame weekly challenge. It isn’t pushing me to do anything different than I typically do, or have done before. In fact, several of these images are shots I knew I could get easily and had taken before. In my mind, that’s not doing anything to help me, except getting me to use my camera.

Ok, there’s that. I found myself this past week, not wanting to create an image for the sake of getting out my camera and creating an image. That’s not a good reason for me. I have participated in photography themes and challenges for 15 years. I’m over it. Done with it. Not inspired by it any longer, at least not right now.

I’m not saying they are a bad thing; in fact, I feel quite the opposite. Because of these challenges and themes I’ve photographed for, I’ve grown and learned a ton as a photographer. They are a great way to get out of your head sometimes and create something different or unique.

Another reason I participated over the years is for the community. I’ve remained friends with many of these other photographers over the years. I don’t feel the need to be part of yet another group. I’m a bit of a loner and I’m ok with that.

The bottom line is, I’m burned out on the “creating and posting images just to post images “ mentality of the online world. I ran a photography community for a few years, I tried engaging, I tried getting people involved. The main reason the majority of photographers jump into new communities, or hop on new social media platforms, is to just post photos and run.

For now, for me personally, I’m enjoying making things using my images. Making things by hand. Handmade books, booklets, cutting paper and pasting it to other paper. Printing my images on different types of papers and substrates. I’ve also been practicing Zentangle and Neurodrawing.

Photography has almost always been a solo activity for me. I enjoy the quietness behind the shutter, the thought process, the looking for compositions and subjects that spark something in me. I know this is contradictory to posting online, but it isn’t important to me to share just for the sake of sharing. I’ve used my images to teach, inspire and motivate others. My images have been used in business and published in books. There is a purpose there in that. Again, for me.

We are all in different phases of our creative lives. We all have different personalities and needs for sharing our art. We all have different whys. Some need to be recognized and win contests. Some are content with just the creation part. Some of us have tried all of the above to see where we fit in the photography/art world. Some of us are still trying to figure that out.

It’s all ok. It’s all part of the process.

@Alison Spence Montillet wrote about 52 Frames in 2022. She shares many of the same feelings I have now.

My experience with 52Frames

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