Paul MacPherson
Urban photographer with a 28 mm field of view.
Honesty over perfection.
https://paul.macpherson.photography
youtube.com/@paul.macpherson.ph…
- Self-portrait project day 18. Today I wanted to perfect the simplest, IMHO, least artistic light portrait configuration. One flash on camera, camera on a tripod, one background. #portrait #portraitphotography #selfportrait #selfie #photography
- I’m building 3–4 bodies of work across multiple genres—on purpose, on a deadline. This is where I’m at in the genre selection process: portraiture, urban landscape, abstract street… and maybe documentary if I earn it. #photography #urbanphotography #portraitphotography #abstractstreetphotography
- Weeks of self-portraits taught me the technical reps. Now I’m taking a tentative chiaroscuro style into real sessions—with a 5-point portrait checklist built to help build the human connection. #photography #portraitphotography #chiaroscuro #selfportraits paul.macpherson.photography/bq6x
- In today’s self-portrait, I am feeling rather anonymous 🤣 Self-portrait project day 16. #portrait #portraitphotography #selfportrait #selfie #photography
- Two street photography shots from yesterday, one abstract, one more traditional. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto #abstract
- I just completed my full 2026 summary of Ansel Adams’ The Camera—key takeaways from every chapter + links to each chapter's post. #Photography #AnselAdams #TheCamera #PhotographyFundamentals #Visualization #Composition #DigitalPhotography #PhotoPractice paul.macpherson.photography/go/k41d
- Day 15 self-portrait: I’m done “trying stuff.” I’m choosing a language—chiaroscuro. One light, deep shadow, and the confidence to reveal only what matters. #photography #portraitphotography #chiaroscuro #blackandwhite #Toronto #creativepractice #selfportrait paul.macpherson.photography/go/uxws
- Yesterday, the temperature in Toronto was balmy -8 degrees Celsius, so I went for a walk. #scape #UrbanScape #CityScape #UrbanGaze #urbanlandscape #photography #fujigfx100rf #gfx100rf
- I’m treating photography like a product: market fit before I burn 105 weeks. What actually sells in coffee table books, galleries, and corporate spaces—and where the friction lives. paul.macpherson.photography/go/732y #photography #photographybusiness #prints #photobook #portfoliostrategy
- A few more self-portrait snaps from today's session. I am enjoying the high-contrast black-and-white treatment on these. #portrait #portraitphotography #selfportrait #selfie #photography
- Rubin for the spark. Adams for the finish. Two engines, one process—play in the field, craft at the desk, and finish like it matters. #Photography #CreativeProcess #AnselAdams #RickRubin #FinishingWork paul.macpherson.photography/fundamentals...
- Abstracts from today. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto #abstract
- Sunset tonight, about 10 minutes ago in fact, from my rooftop in Toronto. #scape #UrbanScape #CityScape #UrbanGaze #sunset #sunsetphotography
- Amateur vs pro isn’t talent—it’s systems. I’m building workflows that produce a body of work worthy of a gallery wall or a book deal. paul.macpherson.photography/go/4b4m #photography #streetphotography #photographypractice #creativeprocess #portfolio #artistsonbluesky
- Tonight, I caught a quick snap, well, not so quick really, I was on my roof with a tripod and a shutter speed of 8 seconds. It was a one-and-done. 🥶 #scape #UrbanScape #CityScape #UrbanGaze #sunset #sunsetphotography
- Making” vs “taking” photos is an Ansel Adams lesson that won’t leave me alone: no intent = no repeatable process = no real improvement. This post is my line in the sand. #photography #anseladams #makingnottaking #creativeprocess #bodyofwork #deliberatepractice paul.macpherson.photography/go/xofp
- Another from today's Self-portrait session, day 7. #portrait #portraitphotography #selfportrait #selfie #photography
- Toronto cold snap = indoor training block. Six self-portraits, one constraint: 28mm discipline. Repetition until the look becomes automatic. #photography #selfportrait #portraitphotography #flashphotography #streetphotography #28mm #toronto paul.macpherson.photography/personal-sty...
- Adams starts w/ visualization—not settings. Seeing the photo before you shoot. My 2026 take. #Photography #AnselAdams #TheCamera #PhotographyFundamentals #Visualization #DigitalPhotography #CreativeProcess #PhotoPractice paul.macpherson.photography/fundamentals...
- Self-portrait project, day 6 It's -30 degrees Celsius with the wind chill here in Toronto today. So my self-portrait project continues. #portrait #portraitphotography #selfportrait #selfie #photography
- Self-portraits started as winter portrait practice. Surprise outcome: empathy. Being the subject changed how I’ll direct and photograph other people. #Photography #SelfPortrait #PortraitPhotography #CreativePractice #Toronto #TherapeuticPhotography paul.macpherson.photography/go/hr4f
- Day 5 of my daily self-portrait project: today’s study was quiet gravity — tight framing, hands as an anchor, low-key directional light, and honest B&W texture. #Photography #PortraitPhotography #SelfPortrait #BlackAndWhite #LowKeyLighting #PhotographyPractice paul.macpherson.photography/cy37
- Three from College Subway Station in Toronto yesterday. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto #abstract
- Some more abstract photography from yesterday. Olga Karlovac and Ernst Haas heavily influence my approach to the abstract. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto #abstract
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- The Camera → The Negative → The Print, updating for a digital workflow. New "Fundamentals" blog series. #photography #creativepractice #postprocessing #AnselAdams paul.macpherson.photography/cb8x
- I stepped outside for about 90 seconds and got this snap. #scape #UrbanScape #CityScape #UrbanGaze #sunset #sunsetphotography
- Winter can slow the pace, but it doesn’t have to stop the work. Some thoughts on using self-portraits to keep portrait photography moving through constraint and repetition. #photographypractice #selfportrait #portraitphotography #creativeconstraint paul.macpherson.photography/photography-...
- My favourite snap from today. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto
- Three more from the archive. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto
- Photojournalism doesn’t have to be rare to matter. Some thoughts on self-assignment, repeatability, and showing up consistently to build real stories. #photojournalism #visualstorytelling #photographypractice #longtermpractice #authorship paul.macpherson.photography/photojournal...
- Three from the archive. #streetphotography #street_photography #photography #candid_moments #candidphotos #streetphotos #streetphotographers #PhotographersOfBlueSky #eastcoastkin #toronto
- Style isn’t chosen. It’s what’s left after repetition, consistency, and commitment. #photographypractice #personalstyle #repetition #authorship #longtermpractice paul.macpherson.photography/personal-sty...
