52 Clicks | Week 24 | Water

The next up in our month of elements in our Project 52 was water. I think most of us would agree this was the easiest of the elements with there being so many ways to approach the theme. It was great timing as a big chunk of us experienced a heatwave. I personally hid from the heat in my air conditioned home, finding all the water images refreshing as I scrolled through my Instagram feed during our weekly mass post.

See how the p52 participants tackled the water theme. Be prepared to be awed by their brilliance. I know I am every single week.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Join Icelandic photographer Anna Guðnadóttir as she captures the magic of Egypt through her lens. From the awe-inspiring pyramids of Cairo to the vibrant coral reefs of Sharm El-Sheikh, Anna shares her travel highlights, favorite photography moments, and tips for shooting on the go.

52 Clicks | Week 23 | Air

Last week in our Project 52 we continued our month of elements with the theme air. It's been fun exploring the elements and how the p52 participants interpret them with their images. Air is a theme that can embody many atmospheric details, like wind, fog, lightning, etc. But it can also lean into more fun aspects, like bubbles, balloons, kites, etc. How would you capture the element of air?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Planning a theme park trip? Discover how to capture magical family memories without missing the fun. These simple photography tips will help you shoot smarter, pack lighter, and stay present during your vacation.

Colour is one of the most powerful tools in photography. Colour can evoke emotions, tell stories, and transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. In our Chase the Rainbow project we explore the beauty of a different colour each month. Whether that’s finding the colour in nature, around the house or setting up a scene with colourful props and clothing.

“In the world of colors, lilac is a gentle whisper” - Unknown

This month our colour was lilac. Lilac is a soft, pale shade of purple that feels feminine, youthful and elegant. It’s a soothing colour that creates a sense of balance and serenity. Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with lilac! 

52 Weeks | Week 22 | Earth

The month of June in our Project 52 is all about the classical elements, breaking them down into weekly themes. We've never done this before so it'll be a fun challenge and interesting to see how everyone interprets the different elements. We started with earth, and the p52 participants were definitely up to the challenge!

How would have you captured the element of earth?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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A photograph may be two-dimensional, but with the right techniques, it can feel like it extends beyond the frame. In this blog, you'll learn how to create the illusion of depth in your images using light, shadow, composition, layering, and more. Whether you're guiding the viewer's eye with leading lines or adding atmosphere by shooting through objects, these methods will transform your storytelling and visual impact.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the May FLOWERS Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 21 | Self Portrait

Last up in our month of genre sampling was self portrait. You cringed a bit just reading that, right? Well, you're not alone, because the majority of the participants in our Project 52 felt the exact same way. We, as photographers, feel much more at ease behind the lens. The minute you force us to step in front of it, panic ensues. Because we understand the level of vulnerability and bravery it takes to put ourselves out there in this way, we are doing this feature blog just a little bit differently. We are including every single image that was submitted for a feature.

Scroll through all the lovely faces (or in some cases, faceless) of the talented people who make up this group project. We all braved the dreaded self portrait week and survived. Not only survived, but created beautiful art that included ourselves, the "face" behind the names we've been seeing since the beginning of the year.

Do you shy away from self portraits or do you embrace them?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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In this blog, Amy Selleck shares her personal approach to focus stacking in macro photography, a technique that allows photographers to create incredibly sharp images with maximum depth of field. She breaks down when and why she chooses to focus stack, the equipment she uses, how she captures multiple focal points in-camera, and her step-by-step process for combining the images in post-processing. Whether you're new to focus stacking or want to refine your technique, Amy’s practical insights and real-world examples make this an accessible and inspiring read for any macro photographer.

52 Clicks | Week 20 | Surrealism

The participants of the Project 52 really tested ourselves last week with the next theme in our genre sampling month: surrealism. We thought forced perspective was hard, but this one challenged us even more. Surrealism encompasses a large net, leaving the theme wide open for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. We were given permission to really go for it, and you can tell by looking through the images that everyone took the assignment seriously. 

We shared our creative processes with each other, and let me tell you how interesting it is to be able to take a peek inside and glimpse the magic behind each finished product. We saw the beginning (SOOC), the in-between (the progress) and all the components used in the process (images, overlays, props, editing steps, etc) that led to the magical completed image. 

Will we go on from this surrealism week and continue to create in this genre? The majority of us would probably say no, but the lessons learned are invaluable. And who knows, maybe we'll see glimpses of surrealism-inspired components in our future work because I think this week left a mark.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Have you ever looked at a photo and felt an instant connection without really knowing why? It’s not just the subject that draws you in — it’s the way the image is composed.

Our brains are wired to process visual information instinctively. We prioritize contrast, follow paths, group shapes and colors, and look for balance without even thinking about it. Good composition works with these natural instincts — guiding the eye, evoking emotion, and strengthening the story you want to tell.

Without it, even beautiful subjects can fall flat. With it, even the simplest scene can feel rich, dynamic, and unforgettable.

52 Clicks | Week 19 | Intimate Landscape

The next theme the Project 52 participants tackled in our genre sampling month was intimate landscape. If this is a new concept to you, as it was to most of us, think of a wide landscape shot, now narrow it down to where you are isolating a smaller area of that landscape to focus on. That's your intimate landscape. It lies somewhere in the middle of a full scale landscape and a closeup shot of a single detail. 

Because of its broad definition, though, a lot of us were struggling to determine whether we were getting it right or completely off the mark. That's the beauty of our P52, though, we aren't overly picky about the technicalities. It's more about the act of picking up our camera with the intentions of learning and growing.

And, as always, the resulting work blew me away! It appears there is not a challenge we don't take head on and run away with it. See for yourself; and then go out and attempt an intimate landscape of your own. You just may discover a new love.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Struggling to get consistent, natural-looking skin tones in Lightroom? Learn how to use RGB values for accurate color correction across different lighting conditions and skin tones, plus practical editing tips you can apply right away.

"Green is the color of nature’s hope, ever blooming, ever eternal." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

This month our colour was green. Green is a fresh, calm and harmonious colour, the colour of life and growth. There are more shades of green than any other colour. Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with green! 

52 Clicks | Week 18 | Night Photography

It's a new month, which means a whole new theme in our Project 52. This month we are doing a round of genre sampling, which means we will all be quite outside of our comfort zones for the next four weeks. The challenge will be a great way for us to try new things and maybe, possibly find something we didn't even know we liked. Or...we might just check it off our list and move on because it's not for us, and that's ok, too.

First up in our genre sampling was night photography, and this one proved to be a challenge right off the bat for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere since it gets dark much later this time of year. The group stayed up late (despite their incessant grumblings) and lugged their cameras outside for some jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring images. I have yet to get my own personal night photography image, and I'm both intimidated and motivated by the amount of talent in this group.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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We sat down with Élodie to explore the evolution of her artistic path, the philosophies behind her teaching, and the transformative power of connecting with your own unique vision. Whether you're just picking up a camera or years into your craft, this conversation might just help you listen more closely to the creative voice that’s been waiting to speak.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the April WEATHER Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 17 | Forced Perspective

We just completed our hardest theme to date in our Project 52 - forced perspective. Forced perspective is a technique that uses optical illusion to make objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they actually are. If you've never attempted this technique before, you may not realize just how challenging it really is. Typically, the p52 group is mixed, trading turns each week on which themes are hard for us.  I think it's safe to say we all collectively cursed this theme, struggling to come up with ideas, battling the logistics required to pull it off, and growing frustrated with the multiple attempts that nearly ended us.

You know what, though? We did it! We persevered, and I am so very proud of us. We may never, ever try this technique again, but we can walk away with all our newfound knowledge that can be applied in the future. It's so much more fulfilling when we challenge ourselves, even if the process isn't always enjoyable.

Have you ever tried forced perspective? Are you now inspired to challenge yourself?

xo,
Angie Mahlke

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You Took That with Your Phone?!

Have you ever been captivated by a photo, only to discover it was taken with a mobile phone? What is it that distinguishes a good mobile phone photo from a bad one? How can we seamlessly integrate our mobile photos with our DSLR photos to create a unified portfolio? What tools can we use to produce the best images with a limited camera? How can you elicit the reaction, "You took that with your phone?!" Let's explore five ways to enhance your mobile photography and create images that you're eager to share, inspiring you to push the boundaries of what your phone can do.