Five Frames

A Subtle Kind of Beauty

In the stillness of Eldorado Canyon, the dramatic cliffs weren’t what caught my eye. It was a soft flicker of light on a cluster of leaves, tucked away in the shade. Easy to miss, but impossible to forget once seen.

It wasn’t the kind of scene you'd find on a postcard or feel the need to share quickly. But it stopped me. Not because it was bold, but because it was present. A quiet reminder that not all beauty needs to declare itself. Some of it lives in the stillness, waiting for someone to slow down and see it.

It made me think about how beauty often arrives unannounced. Not to impress, but to connect. Not to stand out, but to speak to something deeper. The kind of beauty that asks nothing of us but attention.

These are the moments that tend to echo the loudest. They stay with us, even after we’ve moved on.

Photo Challenge

This week’s creative challenge: Photograph a Sound

Technique: We don’t usually think of photography as a way to capture sound. But when you slow down and really tune in, sound and sight start to blend. 

The rustle of leaves, the babble of a creek, the call of a bird in the distance - those aren’t just background noise. They’re invitations to notice.

Why it works: This prompt trains your brain to think symbolically and heightens your sensory awareness. 

Instead of just “taking a picture,” you’re tuning into your environment in a deeper way - looking for movement, texture, rhythm, and mood.

Try this: Head outside and photograph something that makes sound - a rustling tree, a rushing creek, or a songbird. 

• Don’t just document it. Capture it in a way that feels like sound. 

• Let your composition, focus, or motion blur speak for the noise.

What does a whisper look like? A roar? A rhythm?

Let your ears guide your lens.

If you post a photo inspired by this challenge, tag me @heatherporephoto - I’d love to see it and might feature a few in my Stories.

Embrace the Mess: Photographing Wild Nature

We spent the last issue tidying up the wild.

This time? We’re throwing out the rulebook and letting nature get messy. Sometimes that’s exactly what makes it beautiful.

Here are a few ways to embrace it:

• Fill the frame with complexity.
  Instead of searching for “the” subject, let the whole scene become the subject.

• Look for hidden patterns.
  Repeating colors, shapes, or textures can bring a little quiet to all the noise.

• Use a small aperture for depth.
  (Think f/11, f/16.) Keep more of the layers in focus so the viewer’s eye can wander.

• Trust your instincts.
  If it feels alive and intriguing when you frame it, you're onto something.

Photographing chaos isn’t always about taming it, but letting nature be exactly what it is.

Fiction as a Creative Catalyst

I used to think reading fiction was a luxury I didn’t have time for, especially with a growing list of creative projects. But over time, I’ve realized it’s one of the most reliable ways to reset my perspective and spark new ideas.

Fiction doesn’t just entertain. It shifts the way we see, feel, and interpret the world. A well-written story can change how we approach the scene in front of our lens or a blank page.

If you want to dig a little deeper, these are worth a read:

• The Neuroscience of Your Brain on Fiction

• Sparking creativity through reading

Sometimes the best way to get out of a creative rut isn’t to push harder, but to step into a story and let it take you somewhere new.

The Art of Seeing

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."
— Dorothea Lange

I start off my website’s About page with this quote, and the more time I spend with a camera in my hand, or even just walking with one slung over my shoulder, the more it rings true.

We often think photography is about capturing something beautiful - a striking view, dramatic light, a rare moment. But I’m starting to believe it’s really about the practice of noticing. And not just notice the obvious, but also the quiet things. The things that don’t shout for our attention.

Noticing is slow work. It doesn’t show up with a headline. It’s the moment when a shadow stretches across a trail just right, or when a single leaf rests against a rock like it’s exactly where it should be. These aren’t the shots that get the most likes, but they stay with me longer.

Photography, at least the way I’ve come to experience it, pulls me out of the rush. It gives me a reason to pause. It teaches me to see more fully, not just what’s in front of me, but how I’m experiencing it. And in that space, something shifts. I’m more present. More open. More alive.

I used to think creativity was about making something impressive. Now I think it’s about being awake to the world, and letting it move you.

Because maybe photography isn’t about finding beauty. Maybe it’s about recognizing that it’s already there.

I’d love to hear from you! Have a question, suggestion, or want to explore a collaboration? Get in touch!

Help spread Five Frames. Share it with other photographers, artists, writers, and creatives.

If you were forwarded this message, sign up here to receive it each week. It’s free!