In mathematics and statistics, delta is the measure of change. Strangely enough, I find this a useful concept in processing my photographic artwork. What is the delta (change) required between the scene captured and the artwork I envision? My role as a creator changes dramatically depending on the delta between the image capture by the camera and the finished photograph.
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HT2650 - The Question Answered by the Caption
11.06.2026 | 2 Min.
HT2650 - The Question Answered by the Caption
First, let's admit that not every photograph needs a caption. If a photograph does need a caption, it can be useful to consider the question the caption is intended to answer. For so much of landscape photography, for example, the question is Where is this? With that as the question, providing location in the caption makes sense. But, is that the most important question? Is "Where?" more important than "Why?"
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HT2649 - Overwhelming Beauty
10.06.2026 | 2 Min.
HT2649 - Overwhelming Beauty
Sometimes I really struggle as a landscape photographer. When the scene is overwhelmingly beautiful, one would think that making a successful photograph would be easier. It's not. The more beautiful the scene before my camera the more difficult it is for me to make manifest my personal response. I'm reduced to using the camera as a recorder rather than as a medium of personal expression. Said another way, the more beautiful the scene the more my picture looks like everyone else's.
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HT2648 - One Hundred Compositions
09.06.2026 | 2 Min.
HT2648 - One Hundred Compositions
Let's say you find yourself in a fascinatingly photogenic location and decide to work it intensely. We've all had this experience at one time or another. What often happens to me is that the first dozen or so images are cliché, the easiest ones, the ones that probably copy other photographers, even if I'm unaware of their images. The next few dozen images might be my own, and are usually accompanied by a thrill. That emotion carries me downstream with enthusiasm. It's then that the real challenge starts has the easy ones are exhausted and I find myself swimming upstream where the most personal artwork inevitably can be found.
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HT2647 - New Work
08.06.2026 | 2 Min.
HT2647 - New Work
Here in the 21st century, the volume of creative work that is being produced leads people inexorably to over-value the new. I don't recall anyone ever asking me to see work I did 25 years ago. The question is always, "What have you done that's new?" Or perhaps, "What are you currently working on?" I can't help but think that they're asking to see my work that is yet unproven and has not survived the test of time. Why is "the new" of greater interest than our proven, previous work?
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Über LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process
Über LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process
Über 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 Podcasts — posted weekly, typically 10-20 minutes exploring a topic a bit more deeply — and our almost daily Here's a thought… audios (extracted from the videos.) Here's a thought… are snippets, fragments, morsels, and tidbits from Brooks' fertile (and sometimes swiss-cheesy) brain. Usually just a minute or two. Always about photography and the art life.
Brooks Jensen is the publisher of LensWork, one of the world's most respected and award-winning photography publications, known for its museum-book quality printing and luxurious design. LensWork has subscribers in over 73 countries. He is the author of 13 books on photography and the creative life -- the latest books are The Best of the LensWork Interviews (2016), Photography, Art, and Media (2016), and the four annual volumes of Seeing in SIXES (2016-2019).