HT1256 - The Human Compulsion to Rank
There is a fascinating pattern I've observed every time I publish a new issue of Kokoro, the bi-monthly anthology of my photographic projects. I invariably receive a number of emails that begin, "My favorite project in this Kokoro is ..." I suppose it's natural for each of us to be attracted to those things we like, but the underlying premise is the irresistible compulsion to rank the choices from best to worst. Fascinating.

HT1256 - The Human Compulsion to Rank

HT1255 - Where Greatest Hits Images Come From
So many photographers I talked to set out to make a "greatest hits" image. They're in pursuit of that one spectacular image that will be worthy of matting, framing, and hanging on the wall above the fireplace. But when I look back through history at the images we now acknowledge as the greatest hits of photography, almost all of them have risen from a project in which the photographer was deeply engaged, not the result of an attempt to make a greatest hits image.

HT1255 - Where Greatest Hits Images Come From

HT1254 - When the Artwork Fights Back
I've always thought of the craft of photography as a battlefield where we photographers engage recalcitrant materials in a battle of wills. Sometimes the artwork just fights back and refuses to become what we envision.

HT1254 - When the Artwork Fights Back

HT1253 - Insulation Through Diversification
I learned an interesting lesson in my youth about showing work to others. Simply said, the more work you have to show, the better the chances are that someone will find something in your work that they like. This is known as insulation through diversification.

HT1253 - Insulation Through Diversification

HT1252 - Small Aperture, Big Dust Spots
I don't often need to shoot at the tiniest apertures, like f/22, but when I do there's always the possibility of introducing one of the worst plagues for the landscape photographer: dust spots on the sensor.

HT1252 - Small Aperture, Big Dust Spots

LW1310 - The Message
There is a school of thought in photography that advocates a perfectly objective point of view. But if "personally expressive photography" means anything, it means a subject point of view that includes a message the photographer is attempting to communicate persuasively. Without a message, there is no art.


You might also be interested in. . . 
Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. 
and...
"How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online. 
LensWork Online includes hundreds of hours of audio, video, and downloadable content - literally terabytes of content, content, and more content. All 1295+ of Brooks Jensen's podcasts, the complete Here's a Thought... video library, Looking at Images commentaries, Creative Labs and new channels for 2020 including Finding the Picture and Those Who Inspire Me (and Why). We add new content literally every day. You can learn more about memberships to LensWork Online at www.lenswork.com. 
And don't forget that all members can download the digital versions of LensWork for your tablet or computer. LensWork Online is the most content-rich resource for ideas and inspiration you'll find anywhere on the Internet.

LW1310 - The Message

HT1251 - To Risk Being Foolish
Nobody wants to be perceived as a fool, but this can be a particularly dangerous thought for an artist. If an artist doesn't risk being seen as foolish, they will only produce work that is safe, predictable, obvious, and thoroughly risk-free.

HT1251 - To Risk Being Foolish

HT1250 - Decisions
Making art is a series of decisions, one after the other, that eventually lead to the finished artifact. The success of the work of art is the sum of all those decisions. Assessing the consequences of those decisions is the creative path. In essence, the art life is one of revision and commitment.

HT1250 - Decisions

LW1309 - Nine Characteristics of The Art Life
I've often used the term "The Art Life" in my podcasts. But what does that actually mean? In this podcast I start that thought process, although a definitive definition of The Art Life is not possible. At least, however, I think The Art Life includes these nine characteristics.


You might also be interested in. . . 
Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. 
and...
"How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online. 
LensWork Online includes hundreds of hours of audio, video, and downloadable content - literally terabytes of content, content, and more content. All 1200+ of Brooks Jensen's podcasts, the complete Here's a Thought... video library, Looking at Images commentaries, Creative Labs and new channels for 2020 including Finding the Picture and Those Who Inspire Me (and Why). We add new content literally every day. You can learn more about memberships to LensWork Online at www.lenswork.com. 
And don't forget that all members can download the digital versions of LensWork for your tablet or computer. LensWork Online is the most content-rich resource for ideas and inspiration you'll find anywhere on the Internet.

LW1309 - Nine Characteristics of The Art Life

LW1308 - Photography Is About Relationships

There is no question that we live in a photographic world that is radically different than previous generations of photographers. Along with that come challenges and opportunities, no doubt. One of those is represented in a fundamental difference between the photographs of yesteryear and the ones we make today. Today's photography is all about relationships.


You might also be interested in. . . 
Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. 
and...
"How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online. 
LensWork Online includes hundreds of hours of audio, video, and downloadable content - literally terabytes of content, content, and more content. All 1200+ of Brooks Jensen's podcasts, the complete Here's a Thought... video library, Looking at Images commentaries, Creative Labs and new channels for 2021 including Exploring the Back Issues and Q&A with Brooks and friends. We add new content literally every day. You can learn more about memberships to LensWork Online at www.lenswork.com. 
And don't forget that all members can download the digital versions of LensWork for your tablet or computer. LensWork Online is the most content-rich resource for ideas and inspiration you'll find anywhere on the Internet.

LW1308 - Photography Is About Relationships

LW1307 - Look at This
There are three primary ways of looking at a photograph. Each of these ways can be amplified by your choice of processing. Conversely, employing the wrong kind of processing can confuse the issue and leave the viewer wondering what your purpose is.


You might also be interested in. . . 
Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. 
and...
"How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online. 
LensWork Online includes hundreds of hours of audio, video, and downloadable content - literally terabytes of content, content, and more content. All 1200+ of Brooks Jensen's podcasts, the complete Here's a Thought... video library, Looking at Images commentaries, Creative Labs and new channels for 2021 including Exploring the Back Issues and Q&A with Brooks and friends. We add new content literally every day. You can learn more about memberships to LensWork Online at www.lenswork.com. 
And don't forget that all members can download the digital versions of LensWork for your tablet or computer. LensWork Online is the most content-rich resource for ideas and inspiration you'll find anywhere on the Internet.

LW1307 - Look at This

LW1306 - The Pressure to Conform
Nothing is as dangerous for an artist than the pressure to conform. This has always been part of the art life, but it's reached new levels of pressure with the advent of social media. And by the way, this can work both ways: the pressure to conform and the pressure to be anti-social. Whether you are bound by chains of iron or chains of gold, you are still bound.


You might also be interested in. . . 
Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. 
and...
"How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online. 
LensWork Online includes hundreds of hours of audio, video, and downloadable content - literally terabytes of content, content, and more content. All 1200+ of Brooks Jensen's podcasts, the complete Here's a Thought... video library, Looking at Images commentaries, Creative Labs and new channels for 2020 including Finding the Picture and Those Who Inspire Me (and Why). We add new content literally every day. You can learn more about memberships to LensWork Online at www.lenswork.com. 
And don't forget that all members can download the digital versions of LensWork for your tablet or computer. LensWork Online is the most content-rich resource for ideas and inspiration you'll find anywhere on the Internet.

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process

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