Chris Duncan: Light as a Hierarchy

#521 In this episode of the podcast, we explore the art of creative expression in photography, with valuable insights from Cris Duncan, Alanna O'Neil, Matt Payne, and Ave Pildas. Their journey underscores the importance of understanding and mastering light, embracing personal style, pursuing authentic experiences, and curating one's archival collection. You'll learn actionable steps to refine your craft and capture images that resonate with emotion, narration, and individual perspective.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Understanding Light: Cris Duncan emphasizes the indispensable role of light in photography, shedding light on techniques to master flash and natural light to shape your images.
• Personal Style: Alanna O'Neil encourages photographers to infuse their personal interests and emotions into their work, fostering growth while maintaining a core style.
• Authenticity in Photography: Matt Payne advocates for creating real, unmanipulated photographs that truthfully represent the moments and experiences captured.
• Archiving Work: Ave Pildas underlines the value of organizing and categorizing your photographic archive to build meaningful projects and leave a legacy.

PHOTOGRAPHY ACTION PLAN

1. Master Light Techniques: Experiment with both flash and natural light setups. Start by practicing indoor portrait sessions with different lighting angles and modifiers, such as umbrellas.
2. Explore Personal Interests: Identify themes or elements that consistently attract your attention and incorporate them into your photography. Create a mini-series based on these interests.
3. Stay Authentic: Focus on capturing authentic moments. Avoid over-manipulating images and experiment with minimal edits to enhance the truthfulness of your scenes.
4. Organize Your Archive: Begin categorizing your existing photos by themes, dates, or locations. Use descriptive file names and consider digitizing any physical prints or negatives.
5. Create Projects: Use your organized archive to develop small photography projects or series. Share them on social media or personal blog posts to gain feedback and recognition.

RESOURCES:
Visit Cris Duncan's Website - https://cjduncan.biz/
Visit Alanna O'Neil's Website - https://alannaoneil.com/
Visit Matt Payne's Website - https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/
Visit Ave Pildas' Website - http://avepildas.com/

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with Raymond!

• Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle
• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!