Crafting stories in light

Welcome to A Visual Narrative's blog, where I explore the art of storytelling through light and lens. Here, I believe that mastering controlled studio techniques unlocks the door to creating compelling and visually stunning narratives about the natural world. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, join me as I delve into the techniques that empower creative freedom and narrative discipline, applicable to subjects of all sizes.

Technical empowerment, creative freedom

My blog is dedicated to providing you with the knowledge and skills to transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary stories. I will guide you through mastering professional studio lighting and technical control, empowering you to produce visually dramatic and detailed narratives of natural history specimens. Expect informative, curious, instructional and inspirational content that elevates your photographic journey.

Explore our featured topics

I will be covering a range of topics, including:

  • Lighting Masterclasses: Deep dives into shaping light, not just adding it.
  • The Godox Workflow: Tutorials on using the Godox system (and others) for complex multi-flash setups, softboxes, and grids.
  • Sculpting Shadow: How to use controlled light (flash and LED) to build drama, reveal texture, and control reflections on shiny subjects (like beetle shells).
  • DIY Studio Solutions: Budget-friendly guides to building controlled lighting environments for macro work at home.
  • Precision Focus Techniques: Mastering the detail required for natural history.
  • Specimen Spotlight: Each post highlights a specific subject from your collection (e.g., "Things in Jars," dried leaves, bones, or beetles) and explores the narrative potential within it.
  • From Specimen to Story: Case studies on transforming a static object into a compelling narrative.
  • Narrative through Texture: How to light and compose to emphasize fragility, age, or resilience.
  • Ethical Sourcing & Presentation: Discussions on collecting, preserving, and respectfully presenting natural history subjects for studio photography.
  • The Documentary Eye: Applying documentary storytelling principles (context, character, emotion) to a non-living subject.
  • Focus Stacking Explained: Step-by-step guides on capturing and processing images for extreme front-to-back sharpness in macro work.
  • Tilt-Shift for Detail: Using selective focus (or tilt-shift principles) to isolate and guide the viewer's eye within a complex natural subject.
  • The Studio Mindset: Teaching the documentary rigor of planning an image.

From specimen to story

Each blog post acts as a case study on a narrative that I build: Subject (a botanical sample) → Narrative Intent (its fragility) → Technical Execution (using a macro lens and soft LED light to emphasise texture). Join me as I uncover the stories waiting to be told through careful observation, meticulous technique, and a touch of imagination.