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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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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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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"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

Click here to join!

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

Click here to join!

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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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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“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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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

Click here to join!

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

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

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

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.

“Artists use purple to speak to the soul, a color that transcends words.” – Frida Kahlo

This month our colour was purple. A majestic colour associated with royalty and luxury, as well as a sense of mystery, magic and spirituality. Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with purple! 

The month of March in our Project 52 is all about storytelling. The first weekly theme was layering. Since photography is a two-dimensional artform, we are always on a mission to create an illusion of more—how to make the photograph appear three-dimensional. The most effective way to do so is by adding depth using layers.

It was fun seeing the creative and unique ways the p52 participants used layering in their photos last week. Do you like using layers or is it something you struggle with?

Don't forget, you're always welcome to join our project. Click here to join!

xo,
Angie Mahlke

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the February LOW LIGHT Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!