Together, we’ll explore techniques that I love to use during the day. From the soft, gentle light of early morning to the dramatic contrasts at midday, and the warm, golden glow of evening light, each moment offers something special. In my course "Creative Light & Shadows", I share tips on how to make the most of these times, and help you push past the limits of your usual routine to experiment with different angles, moods, and compositions. Let's embrace the light—and its shadows—like never before!

52 Clicks | Week 29 | Leading Lines

You know what's fun about leading lines? Anything can be used, anything goes! Fences, lines on the road, trees, buildings, people, footprints. Anything that helps guide your eye through the frame or to emphasize a subject/object/point. The Project 52 participants were creative in their use of lines in last week's photography prompt on perspectives.

How do you use leading lines in your work? If this is a challenge that interests you, feel free to hop in our ongoing project! All are welcome.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Discover how self-portraiture can become more than a way to document your life—it can become a powerful tool for self-discovery. In this article, I share how a season of creative burnout led me back to myself through photography and explore practical ways you can use self-portraits to reflect on your identity, values, and the roles you play in life. Whether you're new to self-portraiture or looking for a deeper connection with your photography, these exercises will help you create with greater intention and authenticity.

52 Clicks | Week 28 | Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is just a fancy term for using contrasting elements (big/small, old/young, right/wrong. animate/inanimate, etc) in your frame. You can use it to evoke emotions, tell a story, add emphasis, infuse humor, highlight irony and much more. If you think you've never used this in your work before, you're likely wrong. You're probably using it without realizing it. That photo you took of your kid on a hill with a big sky behind them? Juxtaposition. That photo of your mom cuddling your baby? Juxtaposition. That photo of an old building among a bunch of new ones? Juxtaposition. Since you're already using it unintentionally, imagine if you used it intentionally?

The Project 52 participants dug deep last week to do just that, and it shows! Look at their work and see how using juxtaposition can cause tension, emphasize a certain point, aid in storytelling and much more. And if this is something that calls to you, you might just be ready to join a project like this. If so, it's not too late.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

In photography, colour does far more than add visual interest. It shapes the mood of an image, draws the viewer in, and helps communicate the story. In our Chase the Rainbow project, we celebrate colour by focusing on a different shade each month. Whether that’s seeking out the colour in nature, spotting it at home, or styling a scene with thoughtfully selected props and clothing, the project encourages creativity and seeing the world through a more colourful lens.

“There is certainly a red for everyone” - Christian Dior

July’s colour is red!

A bold, vibrant colour that symbolises passion, energy and strength, red naturally draws attention, making it a popular choice for branding, warning signs, and impactful designs. Red can evoke powerful emotions, from love and determination to urgency and anger. Reminding us of fire, roses, and autumn leaves, it conveys warmth and vitality, while its intensity gives it an unforgettable presence.

Enjoy looking through all our red images.

52 Clicks | Week 27 | Negative Space

Negative space is a great way to emphasize a certain mood, focus attention on the subject, highlight scale, and be creative in your composition. It's easy to hear the term "negative space" and think a majority of your frame needs to be empty or blank, but it's really more about the breathing room around the subject. This could be an uncluttered background, textured space (think: big sky, grass, trees, water, etc) or a blurred background that allows the focal point to stand out.

Look at the various ways the Project 52 participants used negative space last week. Is this a compositional tool you use often? If not, I encourage you to experiment with it! We're focusing on different perspectives all month, so feel free to jump in our p52.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Composition in photography shapes how an image is seen, felt, and understood. This post explains what composition really is, why it matters, and how learning to see the frame with intention can help you create stronger, more compelling images.

52 Clicks | Week 26 | Frame Within a Frame

For the month of July, we will be exploring different perspectives in our Project 52. The first one was to focus on adding an additional frame within the image. The frame could be super obvious (think: door frames, mirrors, windows, etc). Or it could be something more implied (think: layering with foreground/background items). Or the framing could be something creative (think: light painting, double exposure, etc). Whatever the chosen frame, the p52 participants showed off last week with their images.

If you're wanting a challenge like this, there's still time to hop in the project with us.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Nature photography has a way of changing how you see the world. What starts as a search for beautiful landscapes often becomes a deeper appreciation for the small details most people overlook. In this post, I share how photographing nature has taught me to slow down, notice the beauty in ordinary places, and approach editing with the goal of enhancing a moment rather than transforming it. If you love natural-looking edits and realistic colors, you'll find plenty of inspiration here.

52 Clicks | Week 25 | Favorite Place

If you had to choose a favorite place, where would it be? That was the final theme for our favorites month in our Project 52. The p52 participants chose either a favorite place they like to take pictures or a place that is special to them.

It's been a fun month exploring our favorite things, and I'm going to be a little sad to move on. But we have lots of weeks left in the project with plenty of other fun things to dig into. If this appeals to you, join us!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Want to take better photos with your phone? The key isn't having the newest smartphone—it's understanding what your camera can do. In this article, you'll learn five practical mobile photography exercises that will help you improve your exposure, focus, composition, portraits, and editing skills. Whether you're using the latest iPhone or an older model, these simple exercises will help you gain confidence and create stronger images with the camera you always have with you.

52 Clicks | Week 24 | Favorite Time of Day

Do you have a favorite time of day? Either to grab your camera and snap away or to simply enjoy life's little pleasures. That was last week's prompt in our Project 52. The p52 participants documented a time of day they gravitate toward when taking pictures or some part of their day they find extra special. 

So what time of day would you choose for this theme? You could always hop into the project and do just that!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

If you've ever struggled to keep a fast-moving subject in focus, back-button focus might be the game-changing technique you've been looking for. Instead of using the shutter button for both focusing and taking the photo, back-button focus separates those tasks, giving you greater control over your camera's autofocus system. Whether you're photographing wildlife, birds in flight, sports, or active children, this simple camera setting can help you track movement more effectively, react faster, and capture more keepers.

52 Weeks | Week 23 | Favorite Viewpoint

Most of this photography project is spent going out of our comfort zone and learning new things. New techniques are introduced. We're encouraged to try different compositions. The point is to discover the great big wide world of photography. So now that we're hitting the pause button with our favorites theme, it's been fun focusing on the things that bring us joy. It's been a great reminder that we don't always need to strive for the next goal. Sometimes we can just do what makes us happy.

Last week we explored our favorite viewpoint, and I think you'll agree with me that the p52 participants really understood the assignment! If this appeals to you at all, we'd love to have you in our Project 52.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

In photography, colour does far more than add visual interest. It shapes the mood of an image, draws the viewer in, and helps communicate the story. In our Chase the Rainbow project, we celebrate colour by focusing on a different shade each month. Whether that’s seeking out the colour in nature, spotting it at home, or styling a scene with thoughtfully selected props and clothing, the project encourages creativity and seeing the world through a more colourful lens.

“All the best things in life are free: love, smiles, friends, family, pets & companions, thoughts, sunsets & sunrises and especially rainbows.”  - Anthony T. Hincks

June’s colour is rainbow!

Not just one colour, but every colour together. A rainbow appears when light is refracted through raindrops, creating a beautiful spectacle across the sky. Often seen as a symbol of hope, renewal, and brighter days after a storm, the rainbow reminds us that beauty can emerge from challenging times. It is also widely recognised as a symbol of Pride, celebrating diversity, inclusion, and the vibrant spectrum of people who make up our communities.

Enjoy looking through all our rainbow images.

52 Clicks | Week 22 | Favorite Subject

Sometimes the easiest way to find your way out of a creative rut, or to rediscover your original joy in photography, is to focus on all your favorite things. The month of June in our Project 52 is all about our favorites. We started with our favorite subject.

As it always seems to happen with open-ended themes, we may have spent a fair amount of time overthinking things. Once we got past the idea that we didn't have to pledge our undying love and devotion to one single subject as our most favorite, then things got rolling. 

Scroll down to see what the p52 participants chose as {one of} their favorite subjects. It's an interesting mix of people, pets, wildlife and nature.

What would you choose as your favorite subject to photograph? If a month of favorites sparks your creative flame, you can still hop in our project!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Film photography is about more than nostalgia. Discover why so many photographers are falling back in love with film and how you can confidently start shooting film yourself.

52 Clicks | Week 21 | Chiaroscuro

The fun thing about any photography project is learning new things and challenging ourselves. That's how we learn, right? And isn't that the goal? Last week in our Project 52 we introduced a term that is brand new to most of us: chiaroscuro. It's a word that is even hard to pronounce (a Google search gave me differing pronunciation so it still remains a mystery to me), so it seems big and scary. But the interesting part is that once people discovered what it meant, they realized they've already been doing this technique all along. They just never had a name for it.

So what does this intimidating term mean? Literally it translates to bright-dark. And to break it down in simple terms, it's just an artistic technique that emphasizes the high contrast between lights and darks with the goal of creating a three-dimensional image. Google it to learn the art history behind it if you'd like! 

In the meantime, scroll to see how the p52 participants used the technique. I bet after seeing these examples you'll realize it's something you've been doing all along, too.

If you'd like a weekly challenge like this, it's not too late to hop in the group!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Struggling to figure out why your skin tones look slightly “off” even after hours of editing? In this post, I’m breaking down some of the biggest mistakes photographers make when editing skin tones in Lightroom, including colour casts, inconsistent white balance, and workflow issues that can make editing feel frustrating and random. I’m also sharing how understanding RGB values can help you create more natural, believable skin tones with greater consistency and confidence.

52 Clicks | Week 20 | Silhouette

Silhouettes rate up there as one of my favorite photography techniques. They're a fun way to get creative, but they can be challenging. The trick is to make sure your subjects don't turn into indistinguishable black blobs. Scroll down to see how the Project 52 participants tackled this theme.

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke