Episodes

In the first episode of my new In Conversation series, I sit down with my friend and fellow photographer Ken Carlson to talk about his decision to pursue an MFA in photography. Ken’s path to grad school isn’t the usual one—and that’s exactly what makes his story so insightful. From a career in veterinary medicine to deep dives into critique and artistic voice, Ken brings a unique perspective to what it means to grow creatively, stay curious, and learn with intention. We talk about a lot in this...

In this episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I spent some time digging into a concept that’s easy to overlook but deeply important: the point of entry in photography. It’s that first moment of connection—the thing that makes you stop, raise your camera, and engage. Sometimes it’s obvious: striking light, bold color, or an expressive face. But often it’s more subtle, like a mood, a memory, or something you can’t quite explain. That entry point isn’t just a visual cue—it’s a clue to why you mak...

In this week’s episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I take some time to reflect on the people who shape us, the dual nature of photography, and the internal compass that guides our creative work. Episode 537 feels especially personal as I honor my mentor, Seth Thompson, and revisit the big questions that keep me engaged behind the camera. Seth isn’t just someone who taught me how to see color—he teaches me how to think about it, how to push beyond the surface of an image, how to chase deeper...

As a photographer, I’ve often found myself drawn to the allure of the “bucket list” shot—the iconic landscape, the famous cityscape, the image that everyone seems to want in their portfolio. In this episode of the Perceptive Photographerpodcast, I explore why this mindset can actually hold us back, and how shifting our focus to personal expression opens up a deeper, more fulfilling path in our photography. The problem with chasing trophy shots is that it narrows our field of view. When I’m focu...

In Episode 535 of The Perceptive Photographer, I explore a topic that’s been on my mind for weeks: the art and practice of seeing in photography. Not gear. Not technique. Just the fundamental skill of observation and connection. One of the highest compliment I can get on a photograph is: “That’s a well-seen image.” It tells me I noticed something others might have missed—and that I was able to translate that moment into something that resonates. But real seeing goes beyond just having a good ey...

In this episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I talk about the connection between form and content—especially during editing and sequencing. These stages shape how our photographs are experienced, and understanding this relationship is key to making work that resonates. A photograph doesn’t hold our memories—it only shows what’s in the frame. While we may have deep personal stories behind our images, the viewer brings their own interpretation based solely on what they see. That’s why I focus ...

In the latest episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I dive into the often-overlooked balance between the rational and irrational aspects of photography—and how wisdom emerges when we learn to navigate both. On the rational side, we have the technical tools: aperture, shutter speed, ISO—each essential for crafting a well-exposed image. But there’s a danger in getting stuck there, chasing technical perfection at the expense of emotional resonance. The irrational side of photography is where cre...

In this episode, we dive into The Americans, Robert Frank’s groundbreaking photo book that reshaped the way we think about documentary and street photography. Frank was born in 1927 in Switzerland. Growing up with Nazism, he had deep skepticism of authority. After moving to American in 1947, Frank received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1955 and set off on a cross-country journey to photograph everyday American life. Over the course of 10,000 miles, 28,000 images he selected a core 83 images that c...

In the latest episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I found myself thinking about Steve Jobs. You know that classic moment in his presentations when he’d pause, turn back, and say, “Oh, just one more thing…”? It was his signature move—something small that ended up being hugely impactful. And it got me thinking about photography. That idea—just one more thing—has stuck with me. It’s become a way to look and critique my own work, and in this week’s podcast, I dig into how paying attention to on...

In the latest episode of The Perceptive Photographer, I found myself diving into the heart of photography — not just its surface beauty or technical perfection, but the deeper meanings that lie beneath each image. Too often, we rush to label photographs as “good” or “bad,” but real growth comes when we ask better, more thoughtful questions about the work we encounter (and create). Book Club As part of that spirit of deeper exploration, I’m excited to announce a new project: the launch of a Pho...

In this episode of The Perceptive Photographer podcast, I dive into a topic that often goes overlooked in our digital world: the significance of print sizes in photography. I think you’ll find that how we choose to print our images can fundamentally change how they’re seen—and felt. If you really want to dig in to this more, I’m also running a workshop on fine art printing, where we’ll explore all of this in much more depth. If you’ve ever wondered how to take your digital files and make beautif...

Embracing the Art of Seeing: Overcoming Overthinking in Photography In this latest episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, I dig into a common challenge many photographers face: the transition from enjoying photography as a creative outlet to overthinking the process in pursuit of “better” photographs. This shift can often lead to a disconnect between what photographers see and what they believe they should be capturing. Let’s break down the key insights and actionable advice from this ...

Welcome to episode 526 of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast. I want to share these insights with you, focusing on the distinction between photographing individual subjects (things) and the relationships between those subjects within a frame. This episode is about understanding how elements within a photograph relate to one another and how your relationship with the subject can influence the final image. The Meaningful Image Workshop Before we dive into the main topic, I want to mention an ex...

In this episode of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, we discuss the impact of the “New Topographic—A Man-altered Landscape” exhibition on modern landscape photography. The New Topographics opened in 1975 at the George Eastman House, curated by William Jenkins. Unlike traditional landscape photography from earlier in the 20th century, employing romantic lighting and composition to evoke feelings of awe and beauty, the new topographic presented a stark, documentary-style approach. Instead, the...

Welcome back to another episode of the Perceptive Photographer podcast, as we continue our exploration of the distinctions between simplicity and minimalism in photography. If you missed the first part, I highly recommend catching up at some point with part one where I cover some of the more central differences between the two. While simple compositions can be clean and balanced, minimalism takes it a step further by intentionally focusing on space, form, geometry, and shape. Every element in t...

Welcome to another deep dive into the world of photography! In episode 523 of the Perceptive Photographer Podcast, released on March 17, 2025, I wanted to take a moment to honor my late brother on his birthday, which coincides with St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll be raising a toast with a glass of Midleton Irish whiskey in his memory tonight. I had promised this two-part podcast as while back but just now am getting to it. So thanks to all the listeners waiting on the concepts of simplicity and minimal...

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 the hard drive or in a box. Yet some of these images make it to the wall. When they do make it to th...

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’t forget about the upcoming photography events, including the Photoshop Creativity Summit 2025 and the ...

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 appreciate your progress and to celebrate your own creative milestones.

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 weight of expectations, the pull of past successes or missed opportunities, or the feeling that you should...

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 discuss is the role of play and experimentation in creativity. As children, we naturally embrace play, testin...

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 front of us; it’s about understanding our motivations, the emotions we bring to the moment, and how we translat...

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 Theory and m ethodology Critical Theory: This refers to the assumptions and ideas we bring to the critique. It has its roots in ...