Gold Sharon Tenenbaum Photography - Talk & Learn Patreon Series

252 Talk & Learn Video Recording August 26, 2025 - B&W

Black and white photography strips away color, allowing the viewer to focus on form, shape, and texture. The success of an image relies heavily on tonal range and contrast, which can be exaggerated to heighten drama or create mood. Because we don’t naturally see the world in black and white, not every color image will translate effectively; colors that differ in hue may render as the same tone of gray, causing important elements to blend together. This is why intentional use of light, shadow, and contrast is crucial — B&W photography transforms reality into abstraction, emphasizing structure and emotion over color.

With the help of Photoshop, we can refine a black and white image so it truly matches the vision we had when capturing it. By selectively adjusting contrast, brightness, and tonal separation, we can emphasize the distinctions we noticed in color but that may have flattened once converted to grayscale. This post-processing step lets us recreate the depth, drama, and balance we envisioned in the moment, ensuring the final black and white photograph reflects the image as we saw it in our mind’s eye.

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254 Talk & Learn September 9, 2025 - Fashion
Fashion in photography goes far beyond clothing — it can be an expression of beauty, a bold personal or cultural statement, or even an environmental commentary on consumerism and sustainability. However you choose to approach it, remember that a compelling fashion image must always tell a story. Don’t let the garments or the concept stand alone; weave them into a narrative that resonates. And as always, pay close attention to the fundamentals — thoughtful composition, intentional use of light, and a clear point of view are what transform a fashion photograph into something truly memorable.

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255 Talk & Learn September 16, 2025 - Still Life
Still Life photography is one of the oldest and most versatile genres in the medium. At its heart, it’s about taking everyday objects — whether simple or elaborate — and arranging them with purpose to create something visually striking and emotionally resonant. Composition plays a central role, guiding the viewer’s eye and giving balance to the frame, while lighting sets the mood, from soft and contemplative to bold and dramatic. Colors add harmony or tension, shaping the overall atmosphere of the image. But perhaps most importantly, a strong still life goes beyond aesthetics — it tells a story. Whether it’s a reflection on beauty, time, memory, or culture, still life photography invites us to look closer and discover meaning in the details.
A few things worth noting:

Positive vs. Negative Space. What items/subjects are chosen to be part of your story?

Background (texture, colour etc.), Lighting (mood).

I highly encouraged participants to choose a topic beyond the traditional fruits and flowers!

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256 Talk & Learn September 23, 2025 - Water
Water is one of the most versatile subjects in photography, offering endless creative possibilities. It can be calm and reflective, capturing mirror-like surfaces and serenity; dynamic and powerful, freezing crashing waves in motion; or abstract, transforming into patterns, textures, and light play. Whether used as a subject or a backdrop, water invites photographers to experiment with shutter speed, composition, and perspective to convey mood and story — from tranquility to drama.

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257 Talk & Learn September 30, 2025 - ANTHROPOMORPHISM
Anthropomorphism in photography is the art of attributing human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human subjects — whether animals, objects, or even landscapes. A photo of a dog with a knowing grin, a tree that seems to bow, or a teapot posed like it’s whispering a secret can all invite viewers to connect on a deeply personal level. The key is not only in spotting these human-like qualities but also in using composition, lighting, and perspective to emphasize them. By doing so, photographers create images that are playful, thought-provoking, and rich with story — transforming the ordinary into something surprisingly relatable.

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258 Talk & Learn October 7, 2025 - Negative Space

Negative space in photography is the intentional use of empty or open areas around a subject to create balance, focus, and emotion in an image. Rather than filling the frame, negative space allows the eye to rest and naturally draws attention to the main subject, often evoking a sense of simplicity, calm, or even isolation. It can be achieved with skies, walls, water, or any uncluttered background — but the key is using composition and light thoughtfully so the “empty” space becomes just as powerful as the subject itself.

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259 Talk & Learn October 14, 2025 - Fantasy

The photographic theme of Fantasy invites you to step beyond reality and create worlds born of imagination. It’s about transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary—where lighting, colour, and composition work together to blur the line between dream and reality. Props, costumes, digital manipulation, or even clever in-camera techniques can all be tools to tell a story that feels otherworldly. Whether it’s whimsical, surreal, or darkly magical, a successful fantasy image always has a strong narrative at its core—one that draws viewers into a world that exists only through your creative vision.

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260 Talk & Learn October 28, 2025 - Silhouette
The photographic theme of Silhouette is all about storytelling through shape, contrast, and mystery. By placing your subject against a bright background—sometimes during sunrise or sunset, but also when midday light is at its strongest, creating those extremely high contrast scenes. This technique reduces the scene to pure outlines and forms, and the deliberate loss of detail invites viewers to imagine what lies within the shadows, turning a simple shape into a powerful emotional statement. Composition, timing, and the balance between light and dark are key. When done well, a silhouette transforms minimalism into visual poetry.

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261 Talk & Learn Nov. 4, 2025 - Staircases

The photographic theme of Staircases offers endless creative possibilities for exploring form, rhythm, and perspective. Whether grand and ornate or minimalist and modern, staircases naturally lead the viewer’s eye through the frame, creating strong lines and dynamic compositions. They can symbolize transition, mystery, or progress—inviting us to wonder what lies above or below. Pay attention to the geometry, light, and shadows that define their structure; often, it’s these subtle elements that turn an ordinary staircase into an extraordinary photographic subject

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Sharon Tenenbaum Photography 262 Talk & Learn Nov. 11, 2025 - Street Scenes
Observing and framing the world as it unfolds around you, finding meaning in the ordinary and beauty in fleeting moments. Composition, timing, and light play crucial roles in revealing the rhythm and emotion of the street. Whether it’s the geometry of architecture, the interplay of shadows, or the expressions of passersby, great street photography tells a story of place, culture, and the human experience.

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Sharon Tenenbaum Photography 263 Talk & Learn Nov. 18, 2025 - Fill The Frame




The photographic theme of Fill the Frame is about commanding every inch within your image’s borders. Instead of leaving empty areas or negative space, this approach pushes the subject right up to the edges of the frame, creating intensity, intimacy, and impact. It’s the visual opposite of using negative space—where openness invites calm and contemplation—while filling the frame immerses the viewer directly into the scene. This technique highlights texture, color, and detail, transforming ordinary subjects into bold visual statements that burst beyond their boundaries.

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264 Talk & Learn Nov. 25, 2025 - From Below


The photographic theme of From Below invites you to see the world from an unexpected angle, transforming familiar subjects into something bold and powerful. Shooting from a low perspective emphasizes scale, drama, and form, but it’s not just about tilting your camera upward—it’s about using that perspective to tell a story. The challenge lies in combining originality with strong composition, light, and structure, so that the image feels intentional rather than accidental. When done thoughtfully, photographing from below can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, revealing new ways to experience shape, space, and emotion.

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249 Talk & Learn Video Recording August 5, 2025 - Student Work


August 6

This Talk and Learn session was dedicated to celebrating and reflecting on the incredible work created by participants of the Series Development Course. This session was focused on observing the submitted photographic series. We saw what elevates a series from a collection of images to a powerful, cohesive body of work. We also explored elements like thematic consistency, visual style, narrative flow, and emotional resonance—key ingredients that make a series truly stand out.

Equally important is the vision statement that accompanied each series. This short piece of writing acts as a guiding light, offering insight into the photographer’s intent, thought process, and creative journey. A well-crafted vision statement not only frames the viewer’s understanding but also amplifies the overall impact of the work.

Whether you're presenting or simply observing, this will be an inspiring session filled with learning, insight, and a celebration of creative growth.

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265 Talk & Learn Dec. 2, 2025 - Minimalist Architecture
The photographic theme of Minimalist Architecture celebrates simplicity, balance, and precision. It’s about distilling a structure to its purest visual elements—line, form, light, and shadow—while removing anything unnecessary. Minimalist architecture photography often relies on clean compositions, strong geometry, and subtle tonal contrasts to create a sense of calm and order. Every detail matters: the alignment of edges, the direction of light, the relationship between solid and void. When done well, the image becomes more than a record of a building—it becomes an expression of harmony and visual restraint.

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266 Talk & Learn Dec. 9, 2025 - Complementary Colours
Focusing on hues on using hues opposite each other on the colour wheel—such as blue and orange, red and green, or yellow and purple—to create striking visual contrast and balance. This theme emphasizes the power of colour relationships to draw the viewer’s eye, enhance mood, and add vibrancy to a composition. Photographs exploring complementary colours often highlight how opposing tones interact, making subjects pop against their backgrounds and giving images a dynamic, harmonious energy. It’s not just about colour accuracy; it’s about using contrast creatively to tell a story or evoke emotion.

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267 Talk & Learn Dec. 16, 2025 - Homage to Frank Gehry
With the announcement of the passing of Frank Gehry, an architectural visionary, we will dedicate this session to images that honor his work. Gehry was known for balancing bold artistic intent with practical considerations, creating structures that were both expressive and functional.
For this session, please submit photographs of his buildings that go beyond simple documentation. Aim to convey a story, mood, or interpretation—something that reflects how you experience his architecture. For example, the two images above, titled “A Moment of Clarity,” were created inside the Cleveland Clinic for Brain Health in Las Vegas. In them, I aimed to depict the complexity and confusion of thought, contrasted with a brief spark of clarity. This kind of conceptual approach is exactly what we encourage: using Gehry’s forms to communicate meaning, emotion, and narrative.

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268 Talk & Learn Dec. 23, 2025 - People Within Places
The photographic theme People within Places explores the relationship between human presence and the environments they inhabit. This theme emphasizes capturing posture, movement, and emotional cues to convey the sentiment or story of the person—or people—within a clearly defined space. Whether subtle or dynamic, human gestures and interactions should feel intentional and meaningful, adding depth and narrative to the image rather than simply occupying the frame.

Equally important is the place itself. The setting should be thoughtfully composed, adhering to strong principles of composition and architectural awareness. Lines, forms, light, and spatial structure should support the subject and contribute to the overall story. In People within Places, the environment is not just a backdrop—it is an active participant, shaping context, mood, and meaning alongside the human element.

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269 Talk & Learn Dec. 30, 2025 - Self Portrait
The photographic theme of Self-Portrait goes far beyond a literal image of the photographer. It is an exploration of identity, emotion, and personal narrative, conveyed through intentional visual choices. Using a range of techniques—such as light and shadow, reflections, motion, abstraction, framing, or symbolic environments—the photographer becomes both subject and storyteller. Each decision, from composition to timing, helps communicate an inner vision or state of mind, allowing the image to suggest who the artist is, how they see the world, or what they wish to express in that moment. A successful self-portrait invites the viewer into a personal dialogue, revealing meaning not through explanation, but through visual language.

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270 Talk & Learn Jan. 6, 2026 - Multiple Exposures
The photographic theme of Multiple Exposures explores the layering of time, movement, and ideas within a single frame. Whether created in-camera or in post-processing, this approach allows photographers to move beyond literal representation and build images that feel expressive and narrative-driven. Techniques may include intentional overlap of subjects, image stacking, or the use of different blending modes to control how elements interact with one another. Each layer contributes meaning—adding rhythm, tension, or emotion—and when used thoughtfully, multiple exposures become a powerful storytelling tool, transforming separate moments into a cohesive visual statement.

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