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

Do you often feel uninspired to pick up your camera inside? Do you look out the window and long for pretty golden light or lush green backdrops? Do you feel like your home is too dark, boring, or even ugly to shoot in? If so, I have a challenge for you - a light study challenge.  Choose one of the three methods below and experiment with overlooked spaces.

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

Winter is one of my favorite times to experiment with diptych photography, a storytelling technique that pairs two images to create a powerful visual narrative.

In this blog, I’ll first dive into what a diptych is, why it’s such a compelling storytelling tool, and why winter is the perfect season to master this technique. Along the way, I’ll share three niche tips to elevate your winter diptychs and help you capture stunning, meaningful pairings.

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

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!