In today’s photography, it’s floating with colour emulsions pasted directly into the cameras. Everyone seems to seek that special colour profile to stand out from the crowd. Colours don’t do the trick alone though. It’s not enough to add a profile and then that’s it. As with black-and-white photography, it’s important to practise and understand what happens inside the frame.

A colour photo isn’t a good photo if the colours don’t add something to the image. It needs to add a feeling or a mood that makes it worth looking at. Seeking colours is as demanding for the photographic eye as it is to balance a black-and-white photo. 

Vivid colours show in photos especially when shot in bright daylight and sun, where a cloudy day will not reflect the colours the same way. Both can be good but must be understood to make the best of it. 

Practice is a great part of getting better. Repeatedly looking for colours and seeing how they work in a photo, will make it easier to do a good photo later, based on the experience gained from repetition. 

We all appreciate colours differently, and for some red is awful and for others it’s beautiful. Photograph mainly for yourself, and then like-minded people will like your work, seeing what you are seeing. 

When I walk the streets, or simply take a picture of our dog at home for example, I do it with my experience from practising. At times I do not even think about it, because the repetition is anchored so well in my brain, that I instantly see the motive and if it should be in colour or black-and-white. All are taught by doing it over and over again.

I learn what I need to learn, to understand the equipment best possible. Therefore I cling to simple cameras and often use one lens for most of my work. So I can have my eyes wide open for what I want to capture, rather than fumbling with complicated menus.

Eyes wide open

Photography is about being able to see. Seeing life. Seeing forms. Seeing objects of interest.

This demands having eyes wide open to observe and explore. It can be the smallest and simplest of things that are elevated and brought to attention with a camera.

I am nerdy when it comes to the expression and artistic approach to photography. I love digging deep into composition, colours or grey tones, and the way we look at a photo. What works and what doesn’t? The classic photography and the photography that doesn’t apply any rules to it. It’s all a magic world open to be explored.

I bring all this into teaching. There is no reason I shouldn’t pass on the tips and tricks gathered through more than 37 years of practising and understanding photography. Engaging workshop students in photography and opening their eyes as wide open as possible is my pleasure. Installing confidence in operating your camera, controlling light, framing and seeing the world with your lens. 

Check out the workshop schedule for 2025. Places are filling up, so please reserve before they are gone.