As the frost deepens and snow blankets the world in white, winter offers a magical canvas for creativity. For many, the cold might be an excuse to stay indoors, but for me, it’s an invitation to explore the captivating world of frozen bubble photography.

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.

“Let the blue sky meet the blue sea and all is blue for a time” - Moncy Barbour

This month our colour was blue; a calm and tranquil colour that can be associated with both icy cold, crisp wintry days and warm, sunny summer days. It’s the most popular favourite colour and can evoke feelings of trust and loyalty. Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with blue! 

And so we begin again with a brand new Project 52. We're starting the year with a month of basic compositions, first up being center. Do you use this composition often? Do you find it easy or hard? I think the p52 participants would agree it's harder than they initially thought as some of us struggled to intentionally shoot a center composed image last week.

You wouldn't know anyone struggled by looking at the hundreds of images that flooded my feed on Sunday during our mass post. That was an inspiration overload! What a great start to our 2025 project. 

If you're looking for a personal project for the year, there's still time to join. You, too, can get your weekly dose of inspiration from such a talented and overwhelming encouraging group.

xo Angie Mahlke

What if I told you that no matter where you are—an uninspiring office building, a cluttered home, or even a random gas station in the middle of nowhere—you can create breathtaking photos? The secret lies in your ability to harness and shape light.

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

Well, we can officially call it on the 2024 Project 52. That's a wrap! And what an amazing year it was, full of inspiration and learning and digging deep on the weeks we just weren't feeling it. 2024 saw us going out of our comfort zones, challenging ourselves, finding ourselves, and growing so much in the process. Whether you finished 12, 27 or all 52 weeks, that is a huge accomplishment you should be applauding yourself for!

Before we go, let's have one final post full of all your inspiring images. Week 52, our final week, had us finishing up the month of creative themes with diptychs. 

We're about to start our 2025 project, so if you're wanting to commit to a photography project in the new year, click here to join!

xo,
Angie Mahlke

We asked the p52 students to choose their favorite image from the project (which is no small feat, trust me) and let us see inside their heads a bit as they reveal why they chose that particular photo or what the project has meant to them. This blog post is evidence of the power of photography projects and the people who do them right alongside you. 

If you're wanting a similar experience in 2025, I invite you to join us as we start all over again with a brand new theme schedule and prompt list.

xo Angie Mahlke

Last week in our Project 52 we concentrated on another creative technique - intentional camera movement. Most of us have never attempted ICM before, and it yielded far more fails than successes. It's one of those techniques that you either love or hate. It's hard to argue how unique the results are, though. It either produces a painterly effect or an abstract piece of art. Have you ever tried ICM? Where do you fall, hate it or love it?

We have one week left of the 2024 p52 and then we're headed straight into our 2025 project. Would you like to join us?

xo,
Angie Mahlke

Tis the holiday season and we wanted to come together and share our festive holiday images!

Enjoy these beautiful holiday inspired images from our community!

The next photo prompt in our month of creative themes in our Project 52 was bokeh. It's that magical time of year where festive bokeh takes over, flooding our feeds with colorful bokeh dots. But that's not the only way to use bokeh. Some of the p52 participants chose a subtler approach with a creamy bokeh background instead. Which way do you prefer to use bokeh in your work?

It's hard to believe there are only two weeks left in our 2024 project! Where did the year go? No worries, though. We are starting all over again in 2025. If you haven't signed up yet, we'd love to have you join our group!

xo,
Angie Mahlke

The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative with your photography. With twinkling lights, festive decor, and an abundance of inspiration, there’s no shortage of opportunities to experiment with new techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just looking to add some festive flair to your portfolio, here are four creative ways to capture the magic of the season. Which one will you try?

Colour is one of the most powerful tools in photography. Colour can evoke emotions, tell stories, and transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. Each month we explore the beauty of a different colour as it appears in the world around us. Whether that’s finding the colour in nature, around the house or setting up a scene with colourful props and clothing.

“Put on your red shoes, and dance the blues” - David Bowie

This month our colour was red; a colour of romance, power, danger and of course Christmas! Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created using this colour. 

We are finishing up our Project 52 with a month of creative themes meant to push us out of our comfort zones and experiment with new things. The first creative theme was intentional blur, and the p52 participants used a variety of techniques to achieve this, from Lensbaby lenses and freelensing to playing around with motion blur and light painting. Do you have a favorite way to intentionally use blur in your work?

If you're interested in joining a photography project in the new year, the 2025 run of 52 Clicks is now open for registration. We'd love to have you join us. Click here to join.

xo,
Angie Mahlke

Ah, the ambitious dream of a year-long photography project! It’s like signing up for a marathon, but with a camera in hand instead of running shoes. Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Hi, I’m Angie, and I’ve completed multiple year-long photography challenges (specifically p52s, where you take a photo each week). I’m here to help you not only get past the halfway slump but cross the finish line with confidence.

Wondering how? I’ve got some practical tips to keep you inspired and motivated, so you won’t end up swapping your camera for a nap. Let’s dive in—are you ready?

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the November Golden Hour Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

To conclude our Fun with Light month in our Project 52 we tackled the theme silhouette. Silhouettes are a great way to get creative. There are so many different ways to capture silhouettes, from small shapes against a big sky to framing your subject in a window. The p52 participants certainly didn't slack on this assignment and came up with a variety of inspiring approaches to the theme. See for yourself! Now you want to go capture some silhouettes, right? I don't blame you. The talent in this group is hard to ignore. Their creativity is contagious.

The signup for the 2025 project is now open. We'd love to have you join us next year!

xo,
Angie Mahlke

This Thanksgiving, we'd love to take a minute to acknowledge the feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for the good things in life.

Even if you don't celebrate this American holiday, join in the celebration of thankfulness with us! The world can be a bit dark sometimes, so let's sit in our gratitude for a moment.

Next up in our Fun with Light month in our Project 52 was the theme pocket of light. Finding that little slice of light to add drama, isolate the subject, direct your eye or any other reasons is a creative way to use light. It's a great experiment to hunt for this kind of light and figure out fun ways to experiment with it. Do you ever go on light hunts?

I was gushing about how this week rates right up there as one of my favorites because of all the talent that kept sweeping into my Instagram feed during our mass post. The level of creative genius in the p52 group is mind-blowing. Enjoy a small sampling of their work.

xo,
Angie Mahlke

Having photography as a passion, whether it’s your profession or a beloved hobby, means there’s always more gear we crave, as well as other handy accessories, and charming photography-themed finds that make perfect gifts. Here’s a curated list, in no particular order, and across a range of budgets, of my favourites to spark some ideas for your wishlist this Christmas. Feel free to share this blog with your loved ones (perhaps with a few items highlighted) or maybe just treat yourself!

Have you ever come across a fun dog image and you wonder “how in the world did they execute that image?” I have to admit that same thought crossed my mind time and time again. Today, I am sharing my entire creative dog photography process with you.