Creating abstract photos is something I enjoy quite a bit. One method that I like to use is to use my macro lens and play with mixing oils with water. 

The soft and subtle natural oil hues create very simple monotone images. 

More colorful abstract art is created using: colored lights, food coloring, or using patterns in a way that they get reflected on the oils. You never really know what is going to happen and the same thing never happens twice which is something I enjoy immensely about this technique. 

Natural and artificial lighting can really play some fun games bouncing off the oils. I find it helpful to not play by any rules when creating abstract designs so it is one of those elements of photography that I just enjoy. 

If you like these fun abstract images, shop my Abstract Art Collection at my Gift Shop!

I found these sunglasses while I was out on McDade Trail the other day. I was a bit torn. On one hand I don't like to leave litter if I can remove it. On the other hand we are all in the Covid-19 social distancing era and I kind of didn't want to touch them.  

I stood there circling them and pondering things when I noticed my reflection. In the end, I shot the image above and left them there. I'll pick them up and throw them away another day when I'm more secure in the idea that some time has passed and if they have any virons on them they will no longer be infectious. 

The resulting image inspired me though. Found objects are a simple means to a creative photo.

They are things that happened to be there when you happened to wander by and see them. How you photograph them depends on: what camera equipment you happen to have with you, and, how you happen to 'see' it in your head. ​It's all very random and I love that. 

Macro photography is a very easy way to get creative with your photos. Certainly you can do all sorts of setup shots, and that's wonderful, but even just walking around looking in the grasses will inspire you. It's a weird little world down there. Walk slowly and you'll see it. 

I have kind of a Do No Harm philosophy. I don't cause excess stress to animals and I never kill insects just to photograph them. My results then tend to be often less 'technical' but more unexpected, and I'm OK with that. 

​Bees do what bees do. Not necessarily what humans think bees should be doing. I think it's more fun to photograph them that way. 

Where I roam, dead things are not uncommon. Fish, dogs, deer, muskrats - all sorts of things. My dead animal collection is a blog in itself.

Mostly they are unpleasant to find, but, often they are certainly things that you do not see everyday and usually not things that most people time much to look at. 

​Is it 'creative' to photograph dead animals? I don't know. I guess it depends on how your photograph it. 

Often you can extend the creative limits of your equipment with software.

​The image below was shot with a 24mm lens but to get wider I shot two images and stitched them together. Doing this is a great way to get more creative with your landscape photography without the need to buy or rent new lenses. 

Let your imagination run wild. Don't be shy. Make mistakes. But most of all, create! 

10 Tips To Get More Creative Photos

1. Slow down - look at things a little longer, find the odd things in the scene 
2. Take a new angle - go high, go low, look for new ways to look at the subject
3. Get close - get REAL close if you can, and then get real far away
4. Use prime lenses - they make you move your body so it throws you out of your comfort zone
5. Don't use auto settings - learn your camera controls so it sees what you want it to see
​6. Be the Bee - let animals/insects be themselves, they will do more interesting things that way
7. Try pinhole photography - it breaks all the rules
8. Use whatever equipment you have - it's not technically right or wrong, it's creative 
9. Bokeh - make the blur count, play with the blur, be the blur
10. Use reflections - water and windows are great for this 

Be sure to follow me on social media (links are in the footer), share this blog with your photog friends (links also in the footer - please and thank you), and visit my Gift Shop for wall art, coffee mugs, reusable shopping bags, and much more! 

Be well my friends. 

Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre example of the raw, rugged beauty of coastal Maine. It's a beautifully wild example of life along the Atlantic Ocean and a place I have explored several times but still haven't seen all there is to see. 

I have a tenancy to stick to the shore areas of Acadia, because I live in an inland state, the ocean is therefore quite fascinating to me. There is a clean contrast of flowing water and immovable granite here that I have not photographed to satisfaction just yet. 

There is also a quiet vastness in Acadia no matter when I go. I'm sure there are peak times but I generally find it to be a tranquil visit no matter the month or day. 

​Humans are very small in this landscape. Seabirds are much smaller but yet very powerful predators in this environment. Small sea animals make a their livings in shallow tidal pools and in the crevices of the immense granite slabs. 

I look forward to returning to Acadia and exploring the coastal and inland areas more slowly and deliberately. 

​If you would like to see more of my Acadia National Park images - check out my Gift Shop  

Single use plastic bags are quickly becoming a thing of the past and our environment will quickly be thanking us for this trend towards reusable grocery bags.  As a nature lover, and lover of nature photography, I am delighted to see so many people taking a more active roll in caring about our environment.  

My gift shop is proud to provide a large selection of stylish shopping bags to support these positive environmental initiatives.

This gallery contains some sample tote bags from my "Bridges" collection. This ever growing collection currently includes photography from the Pocono Mountain and Catskills. Featuring bridges such as: Milford Bridge, Roebling Aqueduct Bridge, Lackawaxen Train Bridge, Dingmans Ferry Bridge, and Tusten Stone Arch Bridge.

Doing your part to maintain a clean environment has never been so stylish! These bags are all perfect for personal use, business use, and gift giving!

All bags are made with a soft durable fabric and ship in 2-3 days. See more of the description on the product links. 13" x 13" bags start at just $19.50!

​Shop for tote bags now: ​https://amelia-pearn.pixels.com/shop/tote+bags

Looking for larger bags? Check out the Weekender Bag Collection. These 24" x 16" bags are made of the same high quality materials but include heavier straps with optional colors all for just $39.50!

​Shop Weekender Bags now: ​https://amelia-pearn.pixels.com/shop/weekender+tote+bags

For wall art, coffee mugs, home decor, and other items:  
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I have a curated selection of my best

• Landscape Photography
• Nature Photography
• Macro Photography
• Fine Art Photography
• Wildlife Photography 
• Underwater Photography 

on my Fine Art America portfolio. 

​Fine Art America has a wonderful array of products that you will be proud to display in your home and office, or, share as gifts to your clients.  
​
General Gift Shop link: ​https://www.ameliapearn.com/gift-shop.html