52 Clicks | Week 4 | Micro-composition

We ended our first month in the Project 52 with micro-composition. This is an advanced concept that was brand new for most of us, and it certainly cannot be mastered in a single week. We all struggled to wrap our brains around exactly what it is. When broken down into its most basic parts, micro-composition is composing your image with the utmost care of all the details and how they interact with one another to create the larger scene. It is a technique we often use on some level without realizing it. When we intentionally use elements in a scene, or when we craftily arrange our subjects, or when we move around to get the perfect perspective, etc. These are ways in which we unconsciously use micro-composition. 

It becomes trickier when we are actively engaging these concepts because our minds tend to flick over to overthinking mode. Our biggest takeaway all week was to focus on the attempt and not the end results. We may miss the mark just a little as we go out and try new things, but we will never learn new things if we don't at least try them. Sometimes we learn the most when we try and then fail and then try again.

We are onto our next monthly theme in the p52. There's still time to jump in! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

52 Clicks | Week 3 | Asymmetry

Asymmetry was the next theme in our month of composition in our Project 52. It was a new concept for some of us, and there may or may not have been some familiar grumblings about how the project is off to a challenging start. And I may or may not have smirked a bit with gleeful pleasure because isn't that the whole point? To challenge ourselves?

On top of the already challenging theme, a majority of us also faced weather challenges. As in, dangerous sub-zero temperatures that forced us inside with our cameras (Hi, that's me!). As you scroll through the participants images you'll see a common theme: snow, winter, frost, liars who make people believe winter is a lovely season, more false advertising on the idea of a winter wonderland, and...dogs.

It's not too late to hop in! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

The second week of our composition month in our Project 52 was all about the rule of triangles. This sent a lot of us into overthinking mode as we hunted for triangles and/or tried to wrap our minds around the golden triangle composition. Incorporating triangles in your work is an easy way to make your images more visually engaging. Take a peek at a small sampling of the p52 participants' use of triangles.

If you're looking for a project that sparks your creativity and gets you thinking each week, there's still plenty of time to join us! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

And so we begin again. The 2026 Project 52 kicked off with what seemingly is an easy theme: center composition. The general consensus, though, is this composition is far trickier than meets the eye. I think you'll agree upon looking through a sampling of the participants' images below that they make it look easy.

We're just getting started on the p52, and there's still time for you to join! The project is open to anyone, no matter the skill level or genre. We have people from all over the world, and all are welcome! Sign up now to join!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

We finished up our last week in our month of basic compositions in our Project 52 with the theme of minimalism. I love the way minimalism can be so impactful with so little in the frame. It definitely utilizes the whole "less is more" concept. Do you use minimalism in your work?

Before moving on to our new theme for February, let's celebrate our final week in the first month of our p52 with these beautiful images. And don't forget, there's still time to join our project if you're wanting to jump on board! Click here to join.

xo

Angie Mahlke

As we continue on with our month of basic compositions in our project 52, we spent week three tackling rule of odds. Odd numbers tend to create a more captivating and aesthetically pleasing composition, but the p52 participants would probably attest to how hard it is to use it intentionally. The hardest issue we faced last week was finding things in odd numbered groupings or to think how we can use this composition creatively. Is this something you implement in your own work? Or do you prefer even numbers?

See how the participants used this composition. Be prepared to be hit with instant inspiration because they certainly nailed last week's assignment.

If you're looking for a weekly creative push, we'd love to have you in our group. Click here to join.

xo

Angie Mahlke

Week two of our Project 52 was dedicated to the composition most photographers would list as their "go to" composition: rule of thirds. It's so aesthetically pleasing and easy to comprehend once you imagine the tic-tac-toe grid as you're composing your images. Would you consider this your "go to" composition?

Enjoy your weekly dose of inspiration as you scroll through these beautiful images. If you're looking for something to get you picking up your camera, we'd love to have you join our p52! Click here to join.

xo Angie Mahlke

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