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Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Amateur vs pro isn’t talent—it’s systems. I’m building workflows that produce a body of work worthy of a gallery wall or a book deal.
paul.macpherson.photography/go/4b4m

#photography #streetphotography #photographypractice #creativeprocess #portfolio #artistsonbluesky

Amateur vs Professional Photographer: The Real Difference Is the System

The difference between amateur and professional photographers isn’t talent or getting paid—it’s systems, consistency, and building bodies of work. How I’m turning “talented amateur” into professional ...

paul.macpherson.photography

January 27, 2026 at 9:43 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Day 5 of my daily self-portrait project: today’s study was quiet gravity — tight framing, hands as an anchor, low-key directional light, and honest B&W texture.

#Photography #PortraitPhotography #SelfPortrait #BlackAndWhite #LowKeyLighting #PhotographyPractice

paul.macpherson.photography/cy37

Daily Self-Portrait Project: A “Quiet Gravity” Portrait Lighting Study (Day 5)

Day 5 of my daily self-portrait project: a low-key black-and-white “quiet gravity” study using close framing, hands as an anchor, and directional light—built to sharpen my portrait toolkit through win...

paul.macpherson.photography

January 23, 2026 at 5:47 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Winter can slow the pace, but it doesn’t have to stop the work.

Some thoughts on using self-portraits to keep portrait photography moving through constraint and repetition.

#photographypractice #selfportrait #portraitphotography #creativeconstraint

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

Winter Can’t Stop the Work: Using Self-Portraits to Learn Portrait Photography

A reflective look at using self-portraits to keep portrait practice moving through winter—embracing constraint, repetition, and intentional learning.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 19, 2026 at 6:32 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Photojournalism doesn’t have to be rare to matter.

Some thoughts on self-assignment, repeatability, and showing up consistently to build real stories.

#photojournalism #visualstorytelling #photographypractice #longtermpractice #authorship

paul.macpherson.photography/photojournal...

Repeatable Photojournalism: A Self-Assignment for the Coming Weeks

A reflective look at repeatable photojournalism through self-assignment, focusing on consistency, authorship, and building meaningful visual stories over time.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 17, 2026 at 11:09 AM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Style isn’t chosen.

It’s what’s left after repetition, consistency, and commitment.

#photographypractice #personalstyle #repetition #authorship #longtermpractice

paul.macpherson.photography/personal-sty...

Style Is the Residue of Repetition: How Photographic Voice Is Formed

A reflective essay on how photographic style emerges through repetition, consistency, and long-term practice rather than talent or inspiration.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 17, 2026 at 2:11 AM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

I’m not afraid of AI.

I’m more interested in what photography needs to remain human: imperfection, hesitation, presence, and choice.

#photographypractice #imperfection #authorship #presence #creativeprocess

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

There Has Never Been a Better Time to Suck at Photography

reflective essay on imperfection, authorship, and why photography needs humanity more than perfection—especially in an age of AI-generated images.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 16, 2026 at 2:12 AM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Hunting and fishing are two very different ways of seeing the street.

A few thoughts on approach, patience, and presence in street photography.

#streetphotography #photographypractice #visualthinking #presence

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

Hunting vs Fishing in Street Photography: Two Ways of Seeing

A reflective look at hunting versus fishing in street photography, exploring how intention, patience, and presence shape different ways of working.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 15, 2026 at 3:50 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Portraits don’t stop at the edge of the frame.

Some thoughts on environmental portraits as a second project for me, and why context and presence matter as much as the subject.

#photographypractice #environmentalportraits #intentionalseeing #presence

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

Environmental Portraits as a Second Project: Intent, Presence, and Practice

A reflective look at approaching environmental portraits as a secondary project—exploring presence, context, and how setting informs the portrait and the practice.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 15, 2026 at 7:46 AM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Three sessions a week.
105 weeks.
Two to four finished bodies of work.

I’m documenting the slow process of building real photographic portfolios—not chasing singles or algorithms.

Full video: paul.macpherson.photography/uzzp

#photography
#streetphotography
#photographypractice
#longformwork

January 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Not every image we make is a photograph.

A few thoughts on the difference between a snap and a photograph, and why intention and presence matter.

#photographypractice #intentionalseeing #visualthinking #presence

paul.macpherson.photography/7eqf

The Difference Between a Snap and a Photograph: Intentional Seeing in Photography

A reflective essay exploring the difference between a snap and a photograph, and why intentional seeing and presence matter in meaningful image-making.

paul.macpherson.photography

January 10, 2026 at 2:59 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

When the light goes flat, realism isn’t the only option.

A reflection on using in-camera motion to lean into abstraction and stay engaged with street photography when conditions stop cooperating.

#photographypractice #streetphotography #in-cameramotion

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

ICM in Street Photography: Turning Flat Light into Abstract Expression

A reflective look at using in-camera motion in street photography—choosing abstraction as a response when light, contrast, and form fall flat.

paul.macpherson.photography

December 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

What happens when you deliberately step back?

A day photographing with a 200mm prime, and how distance reshapes perception, decision-making, and presence.

#photographypractice #visualthinking #presence

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

Stepping Back: A Day with a 200mm Prime

Lately, my photographic world has been defined—almost rigidly—by the 28 mm field of view. It’s the lens through which I’ve learned to walk the city, to stay close, to remain present, and to commit …

paul.macpherson.photography

December 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Good photography isn’t just about what’s in the frame.
It’s about awareness of everything happening around it.

A few thoughts on situational awareness and the photographer’s eye.

#photographypractice #visualthinking #situationalawareness #presence

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...

Situational Awareness and the Photographer’s Eye: Seeing Beyond the Frame

Explore how situational awareness deepens a photographer’s perception — refining the ability to see, anticipate, and respond to moments beyond technical settings.

paul.macpherson.photography

December 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Henri Cartier-Bresson wasn’t a sniper.

A reflection on why the “decisive moment” is so often misunderstood—and why it has more to do with attention and patience than speed.

#photojournalism #decisivemoment #visualthinking #photographypractice

paul.macpherson.photography/photojournal...

Henri Cartier-Bresson Wasn’t a Sniper — Why the Decisive Moment Is Often Misunderstood

There’s a myth that refuses to die in photography. It goes something like this: the great photographers saw everything coming, raised the camera once, pressed the shutter once, and walked away with…

paul.macpherson.photography

December 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM

Paul MacPherson

@paul.macpherson.photography

Before the lights come up, the work begins.
Planning, intention, and the small decisions that shape a Friday night shooting live music—before sound, sweat, and uncertainty take over.

#photographypractice #livemusicphotography #creativeprocess

paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...