Overlays are added elements; light, texture, colour, even another image, layered on top of your original photograph during post-processing. Adding one or more overlays to your image can elevate it to the next level, bringing it into alignment with your creative vision. Overlays can add depth, vibrancy and atmosphere, bringing a finishing magical touch to your work.


Continuing on with our black and white theme in our Project 52, last week we focused our attention on photographing a scene. Capturing a scene in black and white photography requires a different approach than color photography. Things you want to pay extra attention to are tonal range, contrast, texture, and composition.

The p52 participants showcased a wide variety of subjects, and it was such a hit of dopamine seeing all their images. Like I mentioned last week, I'm nursing a bad case of my recurring winter rut, so the inspiration dump was a much needed salve to my creative soul. I hope it has the same effect for you! And if you're looking for a creative home and want to join our project, there's still time.

One of our many discussions this past week centered around ruts and how some of us can count on them like clockwork to show up at the same times every year. For me, I always find myself lacking inspiration in the winter months. I credit these kinds of projects to help me move through them instead of simply putting the camera away until it passes. Looking through the p52 participants' images you'll never be able to pinpoint who among us is also struggling with inspiration. They're all so incredible. See for yourself! And if you find yourself in a similar position lacking inspiration, feel free to jump into our project to get you picking up your camera regularly.

xo

Angie Mahlke

Presets are a great way to add consistency to your photographs and streamline your workflow, saving you time! We all love to save time, especially when it comes to editing. More often than not, I find myself using the same adjustments on most of my images; +15 contrast, +10 clarity, +5 vibrance, and so on. You can buy presets in different styles from artists you admire, or you can easily make your own. After making similar, if not the same exact adjustments to hundreds of images over the years, I have found creating my own Presets in Lightroom can really help speed up the editing process, even if it’s a few minutes per image. Plus! You can apply presets when you import images, saving even more time!!! Here’s how you do it:

We continued with our month of black and white themes in our Project 52 last week, focusing this time on textures. Textures become so important when removing color in your images because it adds visual interest, whether it's providing a tactile element with the sense of touch, depth by differentiating various items within the frame or simply adding intrigue. I encourage you to go on a hunt for textures the next time you're exploring black and white photography.

One of our many discussions this past week centered around ruts and how some of us can count on them like clockwork to show up at the same times every year. For me, I always find myself lacking inspiration in the winter months. I credit these kinds of projects to help me move through them instead of simply putting the camera away until it passes. Looking through the p52 participants' images you'll never be able to pinpoint who among us is also struggling with inspiration. They're all so incredible. See for yourself! And if you find yourself in a similar position lacking inspiration, feel free to jump into our project to get you picking up your camera regularly.

xo

Angie Mahlke

Together, we’ll explore techniques that I love to use during the day. From the soft, gentle light of early morning to the dramatic contrasts at midday, and the warm, golden glow of evening light, each moment offers something special. In my course "Creative Light & Shadows", I share tips on how to make the most of these times, and help you push past the limits of your usual routine to experiment with different angles, moods, and compositions. Let's embrace the light—and its shadows—like never before!

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.

“I’m having a magenta day. Not just red, but magenta!” - Stephen King

This month our colour was magenta; a vibrant shade of pink. Magenta is a fun, inspiring and uplifting colour.  Many of us found this colour a real challenge to find, so enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with magenta! 

All February in our Project 52 we are focusing on black and white photography, with each week having a specific sub-theme. Last week we tackled shadows. Experimenting with shadows is a great way to add depth and creativity with black and white photography, instantly creating visual interest with contrasting light within the frame.

See how the p52 participants used shadows. It's always such an overflowing source of inspiration looking through all their images.

There's still time to jump in the project if you're looking for a creative outlet this year.

xo

Angie Mahlke

Do you ever feel straight-up bored with your camera? Do you miss the thrill of exploration and discovery when you first picked it up? I remember learning to shoot in manual, and then systemically picking off topics to master like shooting in golden hour, posing families, editing workshops, etc. Everything was new and exciting, and I could see the literal results of my learning in front of me.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the January LEADING LINES Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

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