Shelby X Creative Portrait Workshop
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Shelby X Creative Portrait Workshop

I had a blast hosting a sold out workshop at my studio this past weekend. Thank you to my students for coming from places as far away as Boston, Seattle, and the Cayman Islands. Shout out to my incredible models (@yesandso seen here) for making it easy to turn these techniques into moving art.

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We Are More Than the Sum of Our Parts: A Photographic Pushback Against Artificial Intelligence
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

We Are More Than the Sum of Our Parts: A Photographic Pushback Against Artificial Intelligence

Many AI images look are impressive at first, in a too-good-to-be-true kind of way. Interiors brag gravity-defying architecture, or scenic terrains depict features that have never before been seen on this planet. However, there is inevitably an element that seems off when viewing these images. They are too perfect, and lack the tactility and weight that feels believable, a phenomenon referred to as the uncanny valley. This begs the question, are AI images a success or a failure? Are they successfully creating visions of an ideal human or world according to some programming and an amalgamation of stock imagery, or are they a failure in coding, with the author lacking the awareness to include nuance and imperfection in their vision? Its these details that, I’d argue, that inform us that a person or a place is real…

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Kinstugi and the Art of Self-Care: Adult Survivor of Childhood Abuse
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Kinstugi and the Art of Self-Care: Adult Survivor of Childhood Abuse

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing a broken vessel with a precious metal, such as gold or platinum. A repaired vessel isn’t the same as it was before the trauma, nor is it diminished. The essence of the original vessel is still there, but golden scars now trace the lines where the fracture occurred…

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Warped and Fragmented Portraits of Rachel
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Warped and Fragmented Portraits of Rachel

I had a blast playing around with a range of different prisms, refraction panels, and ring lights last week with @rachelluree. As always, these effects were created in-camera, with the only post work done being color grading in Lightroom.

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Images From January's Creative Portrait Workshop
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Images From January's Creative Portrait Workshop

Here are a handful of my favorite images from January’s Creative Portrait workshop. I’ve been teaching workshops since 2011 and have been slightly modifying the format each time until I found the current iteration. I now cap the two-day class at five students, which allows for more hands-on time and exploration of each technique. Since there are endless variations that can be created from any one of the techniques that I teach, I start by showing the class three iterations, and then I guide them, one at a time, in helping them fold it into their own visual style. This allows students to really retain the knowledge, as well as work it into their personal style.

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Fluid Portraits Commission by Unsplash+
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Fluid Portraits Commission by Unsplash+

These images were all created using in-camera effects. No Photoshop was used— only color grading in Lightroom.

I was recently commissioned by Unsplash+ to create a library of fluid portraits. Last year I began working on a new body of images where I explore fluids and in-camera multiple exposures. My Canon 5DIV allows me to select an image from my memory card and overlay it on my viewfinder, when in “live view”, which allows me to intentionally compose multiple exposures. Even though I know more or less how the fluid and the portrait will merge, there is always a moment of surprise when the final image pops up on my screen. As you can see in the gallery below, the same fluid shot will produce wildly different results depending on how the subject is light, the clothes they’re wearing, their hair, the complexion of their skin, etc. This makes each image a one-of-one.

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Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback Editorial for Road & Track Magazine
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback Editorial for Road & Track Magazine

I’m excited to share this editorial that I did for @roadandtrack magazine. I’ve been working with fluids such as food dye and ink a lot lately and decided to use them in this shoot to create an elemental feeling, fitting with the theme of the issue: air. I find a still life to be harder to photograph than portraits because there are no happy accidents. All you get out of a shoot is whatever you put in.

Huge thanks to @cassidyzobl for the trust and opportunity. Swipe for #BehindTheScenes

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Facing My Shadow Self
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Facing My Shadow Self

Five years ago my dear friend and mentor Sara Lando challenged me to turn my camera on myself, but I wasn’t ready. In the time that has passed since I was her student, I have been faced with more than a few dark nights of the soul. I have been forced to look critically at what I’ve experienced and endured in my life, and learn to accept all of it— the good with the bad— because the whole messy lot of it is what makes me, me. As such, I am warily venturing out into a new series of self-portraits…

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Astral Projection: Psychedelic Fashion Shoot with Foxx Smoulder
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Astral Projection: Psychedelic Fashion Shoot with Foxx Smoulder

In an effort to keep things interesting as well as continue to evolve as an image maker, I’ve learned to embrace an element of chaos in my portrait sessions. In the case of this shoot I set up a series of controls, such as a strobe and a projector, and then I added the unpredictable element of video…

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New Flower Portraits and a Fine Art Print Sale
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

New Flower Portraits and a Fine Art Print Sale

Historically, whenever I create something that I’m really excited about, I immediately get overwhelmed (this latest shoot is case in point). I’ve thought about reasons why it may affect me in this way, and here are just a few…

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Photo Shoot with a Projector and Prisms
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Photo Shoot with a Projector and Prisms

New work with @fulltime_babe. Been continuing my trip down the prism rabbit hole. I’ve learned the importance of waiting to edit a shoot until I’m in the proper headspace to really explore where the images want to go. The smallest tweak to my color grade can completely change the vibe of an image.

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Glowing Halo Photo Shoot (In Camera Effect)
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Glowing Halo Photo Shoot (In Camera Effect)

This glowing halo effect is latest technique that I’ve been exploring. The possibilities are as exciting to me as they are overwhelming. I want to dive in and try everything at once, but I’ve learned to let the process dictate the pace…

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I Discovered a New In-Camera Glow Effect
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

I Discovered a New In-Camera Glow Effect

This was my first shoot exploring a new technique, and I’m ecstatic at the potential. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’d love to shoot a music video in this style, so hit me up if you’re in the market for one.

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Images From the Glow Photography Workshop
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

Images From the Glow Photography Workshop

Here are a few selects from my “Glow” workshop this past weekend. One of my favorite things about teaching is that I often end up discovering new things, such as this concentric circle halo effect that I stumbled upon…

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The Galaxies Within Us: In-Camera Multiple Exposure Portraits with Liquid
Nick Fancher Nick Fancher

The Galaxies Within Us: In-Camera Multiple Exposure Portraits with Liquid

My latest with @yungallyce, exploring the galaxies within us. My upcoming exhibition is on October 14 (in just 12 days!) and I’d love to see you there. If you’re unable to attend in person but are interested in acquiring some art, you can order books here. If you’re interested in order prints, you can view the proofs and email nick@nickfancher.com with the filenames and sizes that you’d like.

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