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Try an alternative approach to nature photography. Try shooting like as an artist rather than a documentarian. Feel free to break as many rules as you like.

For the full story on this read my full blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/alternative-approach-nature-photography/ or click the "Click Here For More Information" button.

Unity of Houston is a non-denominational church in Houston. The church’s architecture is very unique and non-traditional. As a result, I wanted a non-traditional photo to highlight the unique design. The first shot I took was a detail view looking skyward up the glass spine of the building. This spine is the centerpiece of the architectural design and is the first thing that captures your interest. For my second shot I chose a more conventional composition. Basically, I backed away from the building to capture the entire structure but trying to still emphasize the spine as the focal point. Although the composition is conventional, I decided to continue with the non-standard processing of long exposure black and white.

For the full story on this read my full blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/unity-of-houston/ or click the "Click Here For More Information" button.

This week I got a good reminder on the importance of perseverance and patience in photography. This wasn’t a new lesson but one I was happy to re-visit nonetheless. A useful reminder is something we all need occasionally to help keep bad habits from slowly tarnish our photography skills. Sometimes you may have to re-shoot multiple times but still be patient enough to wait for right conditions.

For the full story on this read my full blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/perseverance-and-patience/ or click the "Click Here For More Information" button.

Qualified assessments of "great for an amateur" etc., lull us into thinking our photography is great. It can be fool’s gold for our ego. In any other case it wouldn't be considered great. Why this matters and what to do if you receive this kind of feedback.

For the full story on this read my blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/qualified-assessments/ or click the or hit the "Click Here For More Information Button"

A black and white fine art, long (6 minute) exposure photo of the Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park. It is more commonly known as “The Bean”. When photographing an iconic structure, it is very difficult to come up with an original composition. For example, just about any possible composition for the Eiffel Tower has already been done. But we make our photos anyway. Even though we weren’t the first it is a way of saying, “I was there and this is my image”. Somethings are so beautiful and iconic they just beg to be photographed over and over. The Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”) sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park is one such place. It may not have the history and stature of the Eiffel Tower but it calls to us nonetheless. So, this is my take on “The Bean”.
For the full story on this photo read my blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/cloud-gate-the-bean/

In one of my earlier blog posts I talked about not rushing the creative process either while taking the shot or when processing it. This included understanding the importance of marinating in the creative process. Marinating in this case means stepping back from your work for awhile. Because you are emotionally invested in it and may not be able to objectively judge your work.
This is why I was happy to see an interview with author Stephen King on the CBS Sunday Morning Show. About 3 minutes in to the interview, King mentions he has just finished a novel and is letting it marinate. He goes on to say that if you don’t, it is too easy to say that the work is no good. Conversely, thinking it is the best work ever done is even worse. King is talking about a different art form but the importance of marinating in the creative process is the same.

For the complete blog post including a video of the interview please visit https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/the-importance-of-marinating-in-the-creative-process/

A friend and fellow photographer recently related an unusual experience they had in a discussion with a professional photographer. They asked the professional if they had seen a photo by a well-known photographer. The professional replied, “Oh no, I never look at other people’s work.” Unfortunately, my friend wasn’t able to follow-up on that comment. In our discussion, about it we both felt it was a rather strange practice not to want to study other photographer’s work. Or is it? Let me tell you why you should study other photographer's work.

For the complete blog post please visit https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/why-you-should-study-other-photographers-work/

𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 - 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗫 - Located at the confluence of Onion Creek and Williamson Creek, these creeks join and meander through the park over limestone formations and two waterfalls. In the grand scheme of waterfalls, these two falls aren’t jaw-dropping spectacular. The falls are about 15 feet in height. What they lack in height and drama they make up for by completing the scene; rock formations, trees, quiet (normally) streams and a waterfall or two.

A traditional waterfall shot has the waterfall filling a major portion of the frame. I chose to show the Lower Falls encompassing the entire scene since the falls by themselves are relatively small. The Lower Falls is still the subject, I just wanted to show it in context to its environment. Given all that, I needed to pay extra attention to some composition and post-processing techniques to indicate the falls as the subject.

For the full story on this photo read the my blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/mckinney-falls-state-park-lower-falls/

During a recent getaway trip to Central Texas, we stopped at Lange’s Mill along Threadgill Creek. It’s a beautiful old grist mill. For being built in 1849, it looks to be in pretty good shape. They don’t build them like that anymore. At first glance, the siting of the mill relative to the creek appears strange as it above and set back from Threadgill Creek. However, the water wheel was on the left side of the mill (hidden from view behind the trees in front) powered by a stream from the hill behind the mill. It would have been fun to explore inside the mill but it is on private property and well posted as such.

For the full story on this photo read the my blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/langes-mill/

Timothy H. works security at Jones Hall. Although we did not know each other agreed to let me photograph him in his work environment.

This is a blend of styles; environmental portraiture and street portraiture. With environmental portraits, you pose people in their normal environment. Typically, this is at work or home. It is a way of presenting and defining a person in relation to their normal environment; where they work or live. Their environment is part of their story and helps bring out their story in ways a standard studio portrait cannot.

Street portraits are also posed but the subjects are not models. Street portraits are of strangers you approach in the street and ask to take their photo. The subjects agree to pose for you but unlike studio shots there is not a lot of setup and preparation. Although posed, they are very candid in nature. These types of portrait can be considered a sub-genre of street photography. However, the subjects are not posed in street photography and usually they don't know that you are taking their picture.

For the full story on this photo read my blog post about it at https://mikeschaffnerphotography.com/environmental-street-portrait/