Our photo prompt this week for our Foto Rx 52 is water. We want to make these prompts as accessible to everyone as possible, if there’s not a beautiful body of water near you, think outside the box–raindrops, bathwater even the stillness of a glass of water could be beautiful. We edited these images with our Portland Modern + Moody set, it instantly imparts a more moody vibe to your shot with the subdued tones, deep shadows and milky grays.  It’s not too late to start your Foto Rx 52 (so you’ll make it a 48 or 35 no biggie!), shooting consistently will be the fastest way to becoming a better photographer. Follow us on Instagram for more inspo and edit examples. Shoot this week’s prompt and use #fotorx52 so we can find you and cheer you on.

We have included some resources that include photographers that have water as a muse. We are hoping that these resources inspire you even if you aren’t a photographer, you could follow along and use the same prompts for illustration and even writing, get creative it’s the fastest way out of a rut (not just a creative one).

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Photo shot with Fuji Xt10

Image edited with Portland Modern + Moody

Edited in Photoshop CC

Some photographers we admire with water as a muse:

His horizon’s feel like modern abstract art, most utilize long exposure

A wedding photographer turning her refined eye to the sea

These swimming pool shots are aces

Speaking of pools these are not to be missed…

dyptich by michelle p.

Last week our prompt for our Foto Rx Co. 52 project was ‘blur’ so I wanted to share some resources for a technique called intentional camera movement for those that wanted to explore blur more. I found this technique on accident and couldn’t wait to try and share (that was about 6 months ago). I broke out the camera this week and felt completely uninspired (good thing we have a 52 week project or my camera would be collecting cobwebs!). After I finally got around to doing it, I was so dejected, I thought the images were rubbish.  Being the good friend that Michelle is she gently nudged me and asked where my blur images were (note, if you are doing an ongoing photo project make some friends that will make you accountable). I downloaded the images and did some quick edits mainly using our ‘magic pill’ action to get a good base edit, adjusting the white balance and sharpening and you know what?  I didn’t hate them! They aren’t how I envisioned but they have opened up the door for potential further exploration and that my friends is what gets me excited–experimenting (makes my inner scientist giddy).

I am linking to all the resources that I referenced to learn the technique and some inspiration images. It’s a super easy technique, you just need a camera that you can adjust your aperture and shutter speed. The results have a wonderful painterly feel and they are impossible to replicate, which I really love.  Hopefully you will get inspired and give it a go!

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ICM the complete guide tutorial

Painting with light

Simple guide to ICM

14 tips to get the most out of ICM

Intentional camera movement and the landscape

Creative landscape shots using ICM

ICM technique

How to create impressionistic photographs

ICM Winter Abstracts

Michael Orton on ICM

Foto Rx Instagram

Foto Rx Magic Pill Action (really transfers a blah image instantly!)

Edited Photoshop CC

Camera used and lens

Collection of great ICM images

C.Friel

Andrew S. Gray

Doug Chinnery

Our photo prompt this week is ‘blur on purpose’ this is one of my all time favorite photo techniques, it’s super easy and can make even the most mundane subject become artful. It’s perfect when you are ruing that you have nothing to shoot, no light, no whatever your excuse is not to shoot. Michelle snapped this in the passenger seat of her car, through her windshield with her mobile phone and I love how she was able to capture such mood, the rain and blur combined create a wonderfully unique painterly effect!

If you are on the fence about starting a photo project, this is a perfect one to join in. The prompts are easy enough that you shouldn’t be stressed finding something to shoot, you can go back and re-do the previous prompts, plus you have us cheering you on! Shooting consistently will be the fastest way to becoming a better photographer. Michelle and I once taught a 30 day photo class and we were astonished by how quickly our students progressed, we even saw many of them go on to careers in photography, one student even was tapped to shoot for Conde Nast Travel and Leisure, they found her because she was shooting and sharing her assignments. Who knows where a simple little photo project can take you? Are you game?

We have linked resources below as always with some added inspo!  Are you doing any creative projects for 2018?  We’d love to hear from you!

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Foto Rx Instagram

Photo shot with Iphone 7

Image edited with Portland | Modern + Moody

Edited in Photoshop CC

Blur inspiration

We LOVE this!

Great photo class with Annie Liebovitz

photo by michelle p.

We are still here and we are still doing our photo a week project!  I have attempted many failed 365’s, never a 52 but a photo a week seems to be doable (confession Michelle has been doing most of the shooting but I have been doing some editing!), teamwork, right?  If you are in a photo rut we do hope you join us on our Instagram feed, it’s never too late to participate. We know one of the fastest ways to advance your photography skills is just by shooting on the regular, we promise that it has worked every. single. time.  Week two our word prompt was ‘shadow’, Michelle used a broken magnifying glass and created a spectacularly graphic image! I hope this is motivation for those of you that feel that you need to invest in props, just see things with eyes anew.  This week our prompt is ‘white’, again a simple shell found on the beach was shot on white cardstock, the texture and the subtlety of the tone on tone is just sublime.  We so hope that you join us, this is getting so good!

We have linked resources below as always with some added inspo links!  Are you doing any creative projects for 2018?  We’d love to hear from you!

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Foto Rx Instagram

Photo shot with Fuji XT10

Image edited with Foto Rx B + W Photoshop actions (coming soon!)

Edited in Photoshop CC

Annie Liebovitz teaches photography!

Some favorite photography books