Context Shapes Shape
In the image, there is a rectangular box with a red triangle inside it. If this artwork was entitled ‘Campground’ the triangle would become a tent. If it was called…
Take a Chance
I have often heard a photographer dismiss her image because the finished work was not the result she was going for. It happened by accident. The fact is, Chance has…
The Selfie as Art
Selfies have been happening since the fifteenth century when Painters such as Masaccio and Andrea Mantegna added their own images to the crowds in religious paintings. In later years, Rembrandt…
A neophyte sits in silence, seeking mastery. A belly full of ambition and desire. Ideas and messages from the Akashic circle around awaiting the moment to land.
Allegory
An allegory is an abstract idea communicated with concrete images. It is the parable told through images or relatable characters. Allegories are a comment on the human story and are…
The Figure-Ground Relationship
When using vision, the eye sees one thing at a time. The object of focus is ‘figure’. The rest of the perceptual field that falls into the background, is ‘ground’.…
Wabi-Sabi
“Wabi-sabi is about the minor and the hidden, the tentative and the ephemeral: things so subtle and evanescent they are invisible to vulgar eyes.” Leonard Koren wrote those words…
Attractive Bias
In reading about art and design, I discovered something called 'Attractive Bias.' It is also known as look-ism. It has to do with how our perceptions of beauty affect our…
Using the 80/20 Rule in Your Photography Workflow
The Pareto Principle, commonly known as the 80/20 Rule, states that 80% of effects come from 20% of the causes. This rule has been studied and observed in large systems.…
Using Positive & Negative Space to Achieve Image Balance
Artists use Negative and Positive Space to achieve balance in an image. It refers to the area that forms the image. Positive and Negative Space exist as a unit, just…
A Primer on Leading Lines
When we look at an image, the mind likes to make connections to see a whole concept. Leading lines help this happen by creating a continuance between the main subject…
Going Beyond the Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is an excellent guide to composing images. However, be careful not to lean too heavily on the rule to make your composition. As my mentor, Robin…