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. 

52 Clicks | Week 16 | Juxtaposition

The next theme we tackled in our Project 52 was juxtaposition. This is the technique of placing two contrasting elements side by side within a frame to highlight their differences or create an interesting relationship. I think it's safe to say this was one of the harder themes so far in the p52 since it's not always easy to spot in the wild and may take more time and thought to come up with an idea. But the participants rose to the occasion and produced the high quality of images we've come to expect from the group. 

Would you say you're a fan of juxtaposition or does this technique stump you, too?

xo,
Angie Mahlke

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There’s something pretty magical about getting up close with nature and seeing all the little details most people miss. Whether it’s the texture of a leaf, the glisten of dew, or a tiny bug going about its day, I love capturing those small moments with my camera. But shooting nature up close isn’t always easy—it takes a different approach than what you might be used to. In this post, I’m sharing a few of my favorite tips and techniques that have helped me along the way, from getting the right depth of field to editing the final image.

52 Clicks | Week 15 | Leading Lines

Last week in our perspectives month in our Project 52 was all about leading lines. Leading lines direct the eye where you want it to go, almost like an arrow guiding you down the path. It was fun to see how the p52 participants used leading lines in their images.

xo,
Angie Mahlke

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My name is Ashley Maple, and I am a hobbyist photographer living in East Tennessee. When our fourth child Archer was born in 2010, my family began a devastating rare disease journey that continues to this day. After an excruciating year of testing following some concerning vision symptoms, Archer was diagnosed at 18 months old with a peroxisome biogenesis disorder. Peroxisomal disorders are rare, genetic conditions that cause deafness, blindness, global developmental delays, adrenal insufficiency, neurological issues, and feeding issues, and are almost always terminal in childhood. Understandably, our lives completely changed upon receiving this heartbreaking news.

“Red has always been my color, because red stands out.” - Ravyn Lenae

This month our colour was red. Red is strong and powerful, warm and passionate, confident and rebellious. It's a colour of extremes, symbolic of both good and bad. Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with red! 

52 Clicks | Week 14 | Framing

As our Project 52 continued with the perspectives theme last week, we centered our attention on framing. Framing not only adds depth and context but also enhances the overall composition, making the subject stand out and giving the photo a more immersive, focused feel. The p52 participants were creative in the way they approached this photo prompt, some using more obvious frames and others more abstract ones. What's your favorite way to use framing in your work?

xo,
Angie Mahlke

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As photographers and creatives, we can sometimes find ourselves in a bit of a rut. Other areas of our lives can become complicated or difficult and our mental health can take a hit. This can all have a negative impact on our creativity. We can find we have stopped picking up our camera completely and when we decide we want to start creating again, we can feel a bit lost and unsure how to get back into it. Especially if the break has been over several weeks or months. Our confidence, motivation and inspiration might be lacking. I have personally found myself in this situation before so I wanted to share with you some ideas that have helped me and can hopefully help you to rediscover your photography joy.

The month of April in our Project 52 is all about perspectives. Since perspective shapes how viewers view and connect with an image, it’s essentially a tool for controlling how an audience experiences and interprets a photograph. The first theme was scale. We often use scale to convey a sense of grandeur, intimacy, or to emphasize the magnitude of a landscape. Let’s see how the p52 participants used scale in their work last week.

xo,
Angie Mahlke

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Have you ever wondered how to capture that perfect portrait of a squirrel or a bird, only to end up with blurry or out-of-focus shots? We've all been there. The wildlife is fast, elusive, and unpredictable, and photographing them can sometimes feel like an impossible task. But don’t worry, I’m here to walk you through everything you need to know to start taking better wildlife photos—whether it’s the tiniest bird perched on a branch or a curious squirrel staring right back at you!

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

We concluded our storytelling theme in our Project 52 with the prompt "props." There may have been some grumbling when the word conjured up elaborate photography set-ups, but props can be as simple as an everyday item. Props assist in telling stories in your work. Don't shy away from them just because you're envisioning a photo shoot gone wrong. See how some of the p52 participants used props.  month for our Project 52 was negative space. Negative space is used to create drama or evoke emotions, and the p52 participants definitely created drama and evoked emotions with their images. Do you find yourself using negative space often or do you typically steer clear of it?

If you'd like to push yourself creatively this year, consider joining a photography project like this. Click here to join!

xo,
Angie Mahlke


Colour is one of the fundamental ingredients for creating a strong, compelling image. It plays a huge role in visual storytelling; drawing the eye to the subject as well defining the setting and mood. In this blog, I share 5 ways of enhancing your work by using colour with intention.

Next up in our storytelling month for our Project 52 was negative space. Negative space is used to create drama or evoke emotions, and the p52 participants definitely created drama and evoked emotions with their images. Do you find yourself using negative space often or do you typically steer clear of it?

If you'd like to push yourself creatively this year, consider joining a photography project like this. Click here to join!

xo,
Angie Mahlke

Hi everyone! I’m Jess Riley, a hobbyist photographer from the U.K and I love to play around with adding overlays and blur effects to my images in Photoshop. I’m on the blog this week to share my introduction to using ‘Path Blur’ in Photoshop and hopefully inspire you to have some fun exploring this tool with your own images!

We continued on with our storytelling theme in our Project 52 last week, focusing on movement. Adding movement to your image is an instant way to breathe life into it, whether the action is stopped, blurred or implied. The p52 participants blew me away with their use of technical skills like panning, ICM, light painting, multiple exposures, etc. How do you incorporate movement in your work?

If you'd like to push yourself creatively this year, consider joining a photography project like this. Click here to join!

xo,
Angie Mahlke