From Camera to Print: The Process Behind Each Photograph

For me, photography is as much about the process as it is about the finished images. It has become one of my most cherished meditative and creative practices where patience, presence, and playfulness collide. And occasionally, I come away with some cool photographs too!

If you've ever wanted a peek into my process, this blog covers all the bases.

The Inspiration

Most of my work begins as a nature walk. As a recovering workaholic, I had to re-learn how to slow down. I found that walking through gardens with my camera in hand helped me do just that.

Fitted with my macro lens, my camera lets me examine small objects up close: the serrated edges of a leaf, the subtle dusting of pollen, a petal gathering dew drops. The awareness and appreciation of nature's delicate details was (and still is) incredibly healing.

That's what I hope comes across in my finished artwork: a feeling of calm, a sense of wonder, a breath of fresh air.

The Art of Noticing

Before I ever click the shutter button, I spend time simply looking. I explore every path and plant possible, taking note of what catches my eye.

Once I settle on a subject, I explore different camera settings, techniques, and angles. Here, I'm not going for perfection; I'm going for creative play.

But macro can be a challenge. Even a slight breeze or a shift in my stance can change the entire image.

However, I still choose to go handheld over using a tripod. Why? Because tripod adjustments take too long, pulling me out of my flow state. Going handheld gives me the freedom to explore without the extra equipment.

To get a perfectly in focus shot, I put my camera into manual focus and high speed continuous mode, clicking the shutter button as I press the camera body slightly towards the subject.

Flow state saved, and focused photo achieved!

The Editing Process

After selecting my favorites in an initial round of culling, the next thing I do is convert all the images into black and white.

You may be asking why would I remove all the beautiful greens, yellows, reds, pinks, and purples from my plant and flower photos.

It's not because I hate color.

It's a creative constraint. An intentional limitation I have set for my work. In the absence of color, I focus more on composition, tone, and texture.

I ask myself: if color isn’t there to grab your attention, how can I still make this image as strong as possible? It’s a game. A challenge. 

From there, my goal with editing is to maximize impact. Contrast, composition, and tonal depth are my areas of focus.

Sometimes the photos I thought would look incredible once monochromatic fall flat instead. Other times, photos I thought would never work as a black and white take my breath away.

My job is simply to remain open to the possibilities. I'm always amazed at the results.

These are the photographs that you see here. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!