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PODCAST

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process

Random Observations on Art, Photography, and the Creative Process. These talks focus on the creative process in fine art photography. LensWork editor Brooks Jensen side-steps techno-talk and artspeak to offer a stimulating mix of ideas, experience, and observations from his 50 years as a fine art photographer, writer, and publisher. Topics include a wide range of subjects from finding subject matter to presenting your work, and building an audience. Included in this RSS Feed are the LensWork

arts visual arts

All Episodes

2:43

HT2729 - A Library of Skies

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/30

Here's a Thought… #2729 with Brooks JensenA Library of Skies How do you feel about the Sky Replacement tool in Photoshop? Is it a cheat, or a solution? Or, maybe I should rephrase that: When is it a cheat and when an acceptable tool? For my work, I've decided it is a tool I'm willing to use if it is only a matter of timing. If the replacement sky could be possible if only I was there photographing on a different day or time, I won't hesitate to use it. Does this open a Pandora's Box of

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2:43

HT2728 - The Last Time

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/29

Here's a Thought… #2728 with Brooks Jensen The Last Time In her final weeks, a theme that Maureen revisited time and time again was the idea that we never know when will be the last time we ever do something. The last time you will make homemade spaghetti; the last time you will see a friend; the last time you will photograph a sunset scene. She was right, of course, and I think this inspires me to appreciate each moment I have to create art or enjoy what someone else has created. Become a member

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2:43

HT2727 - Unknown RAW Files

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/28

Here's a Thought… #2727 with Brooks JensenUnknown RAW Files A fairly common experience I have when I return from an extensive and productive trip are captures of which I have no memory. That might be explainable here in the volumetric digital age. However, I had the same experience in my film days. Where do these mysterious images come from? What should I do with them? I really hope this is a creativity conundrum and not a medical condition! Become a member of LensWork Online and have access to

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2:43

HT2726 - Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Artwork?

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/27

Here's a Thought… #2726 with Brooks JensenFood, Clothing, Shelter, and Artwork? Does anyone need artwork to survive? I suspect not. On the other hand, I struggle to imagine a life without art. Why is artwork so important? An even greater mystery is why making artwork is so important. If photography was for some unknown reason suddenly denied to me, I'd take up pen and ink drawing, or haiku writing, or composing really awful classical symphonies. Or buy a kazoo. Something, anything. I wonder why

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2:43

HT2725 - One by One, We Are Losing Our Masters

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/26

Here's a Thought… #2725 with Brooks JensenOne by One, We Are Losing Our Masters We just lost another of our great photographic teachers/masters. Jay Maisel passed away on August 20??. Carl Chiarena, Jay Dusard, Ray Carofano and Jon Fishback are LensWork alumni to add to 7 list of recent losses. With each passing, we mourn their loss, celebrate their life, and treasure their artwork. I was recently asked what I most treasure from my time as the publisher of LensWork. Easy answer: the people, the

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2:43

HT2724 - Audience Indifference

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/25

Here's a Thought… #2724 with Brooks JensenAudience Indifference A painful truth is that no one cares about my artwork. Don't feel smug; no one cares about your work either. Such thoughts could be thoroughly depressing. On the other hand, believing in universal audience indifference has the power to infuse each compliment, sale, exhibition, Internet visitor, invitation, or publication with a magical feeling filled with genuine gratitude. I can only speak for myself, but I know I'd rather feel

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2:43

HT2723 - Books and Digital Publications

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/24

Here's a Thought… #2723 with Brooks Jensen Books and Digital Publications The first half of the20th century was the era of original prints. It appears that the first half of the 21st century is the era of the Internet. My photographic maturity came in the last half of the 20th century. One of the consequences of that serendipity is that my appreciation of photography is largely based on books. Perhaps this is why I am a proponent of multiple-image projects that rely on layout-intensive publication

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LW1519 - Those Who Touch Us Deeply

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/24

LW1519 - Those Who Touch Us Deeply If we are lucky, our art life is filled with people with whom we connect deeply through their artwork. For example, I love Caravaggio, but not that crazy about Botticelli. Why? Why do we connect with some work more deeply than others? Seriously, why? What is it about these artists that touches us so deeply? Even if we don't find answers, asking such questions and spending time with their artwork is a joy that adds something precious to our experiences. I explored

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2:43

HT2722 - The Density of the Detail

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/23

Here's a Thought… #2722 with Brooks JensenThe Density of the Detail Assume an image has a definable amount of detail we'll call X. Take that detail and make a small print and the density of detail will be much greater than in a large print. This can be both advantageous and disadvantageous depending on the viewers interpretation. In essence, what I'm suggesting is that the size of print you choose to make may be influenced as much by the density of detail as it is by the available wall

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2:43

HT2721 - The Future of Photography

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/22

Here's a Thought… #2721 with Brooks Jensen The Future of Photography He said, "It's a fantastic camera. It does everything for me." I responded, "Too bad it doesn't automatically post your images to Instagram." Excitedly, he replied, "That's coming!" I tried as best I could not to appear suicidal. I wonder if there is any way we could make photography way more difficult, on purpose? Outlaw prints smaller than 42"? Revert back to film? Invoke a pixel tax? Become a member of LensWork Online and have

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2:43

HT2720 - Purposely Off

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/21

Here's a Thought… #2720 with Brooks JensenPurposely Off Awhile back, I made a landscape image in which I desaturated the naturally bright blue sky to an emotionally dark steel blue/gray. No sky ever looked that way in real life. I loved it in spite of the obvious fact that it wasn't true to human vision. Curiously enough, because it was so clearly an aesthetic choice, people seemed to be willing to accept it as an artistic expression. I guess the lesson is, if you are going to alter reality, do it

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2:43

HT2719 - Blade Runner and Puccini's Butterfly

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/20

Here's a Thought… #2719 with Brooks JensenBlade Runner and Puccini's Butterfly Do you ever go back and revise a previously finished image or project? I don't. Maybe I should. Sometimes, great artists do. For example, there are five different versions of Blade Runner, one of my favorite movies. Puccini made several substantial revisions of his opera, Madame Butterfly. Ansel Adams made a dozen or so different versions of Monolith, Face of Halfdome. If such great artists believe they can improve

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2:43

HT2718 - Accessory Fever

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/19

Here's a Thought… #2718 with Brooks JensenAccessory Fever I cringe when I think about all the money I've spent on accessories that sounded like a great solution, then used only a time or two. Or, maybe never. I have a closet full of them. Why is it that the solution to better pictures always seems to rely on some new piece of gear? I suppose it's just easier to blame stuff (or the lack of stuff) than it is to look inward and frankly see our own limitations. What a relief it is to blame our

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2:43

HT2717 - Too Many Notes, Words, Images

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/18

Here's a Thought… #2717 with Brooks JensenToo Many Notes, Words, Images I've often said that this is the best time in the history of photography to be a photographer. There is one sense in which this is clearly not true: audience attention spans. The instantaneous mindset of making photographs is leaking into the way we look at photographs — instantaneously. Social media are training all of us to think a glimpse is sufficient. Become a member of LensWork Online and have access to all 2700+ Here's

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LW1518 - The Hard Work of Being an Artist

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/17

LW1518 - The Hard Work of Being an Artist The minute we pick up a camera and decide we want to make pictures more meaningful than snapshots, we unknowingly embrace the art life. The first challenge is entirely technical and, at least these days, fairly easily mastered. Well, if not mastered, at least doable with reasonable competence. That's when the hard work of being an artist begins. All previous episodes of our weekly podcast are available to members of LensWork Online. 30-day Trial

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2:43

HT2716 - Fun Is a Medicine

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/17

Here's a Thought… #2716 with Brooks Jensen Fun Is a Medicine I assume that all of you listening to these commentaries take your photography pretty seriously. You want your photographs to be meaningful, lovely, treasured, valuable. We approach our image making with a serious mindset. Must we? What about fun? Silly? Playful? Not all of our work needs to be momentous. Make something small, fun, light-hearted that you can give away just because it makes everyone smile. Strangely enough, doing so can

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2:43

HT2715 - The Power of Titles

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/16

Here's a Thought… #2715 with Brooks Jensen The Power of Titles Titles have such power to steer the viewer in directions we intend. I've often used the example of Dorothea Lange's famous image, Migrant Mother. What if that image was instead titled, Waiting for the Return of the Soldier, for example? What if Weston's Pepper #30 was titled, The Last Pepper, or perhaps, Tina? Words change perceptions, sometimes with a nudge, sometimes with a sledgehammer. A title, even if it is only one word, can make

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2:43

HT2714 - To Know a Photographer

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/15

Here's a Thought… #2714 with Brooks JensenTo Know a Photographer There are so many photographers I think I know because one of their images has become important to me. I'm a fool to think so. People are complicated; photographers are at least as complicated as people. (Ahem.) I've come to believe that in order to know a photographer even a little we need to study at least a couple dozen images or more. Better if this covers at least a decade or so of their creature career. Become a member of

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2:43

HT2713 - An Excuse to Explore the World

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/14

Here's a Thought… #2713 with Brooks JensenAn Excuse to Explore the World I'm pretty convinced that I don't need to add any more images to my Lightroom assets. I have enough RAW files in my catalogue to keep myself artistically busy and productive for the rest of my life. I just need to mine deeper into what I already have. That will not, however, prevent me from heading out and capturing more. That's because the core of artmaking is exploring life, exploring the world, exploring our responses to

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2:43

HT2712 - Why the Sharpest Lenses

LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process ·

2026/08/13

Here's a Thought… #2712 with Brooks JensenWhy the Sharpest Lenses I've always thought that spending money on the best lenses made more sense than expensive cameras. A blurry picture can always be made with a tack-sharp lens, but a tack-sharp image cannot be made with a fuzzy lens. By the way, how do you know if your lens is sharp? Which apertures? Which focal lengths? You do know, don't you, that manufacturing under the tightest control will still make a lemon now and again? Become a member of

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