Session 1: Mid-Summer Masterclass: Impressionist Photography Series

Session 1:
Rediscovering Your Creative Voice Through Light

Welcome to Your Creative Awakening

Summer’s golden hour isn’t just about perfect lighting—it’s about remembering why you fell in love with photography in the first place. This masterclass begins with the most fundamental element of impressionist photography: learning to see light as your primary subject.

The Light Hunter’s Toolkit:

• Chase the Magic Hours: Dawn and dusk aren’t just recommendations—they’re your creative lifelines. Set three alarms: 30 minutes before sunrise, 2 hours before sunset, and 30 minutes after sunset. Each offers a different emotional palette.
• Window Light Stories: Position subjects near large windows during midday. The soft, diffused light creates natural vignettes that feel like painted portraits.
• Shadow Play: Don’t avoid harsh midday sun—embrace it. Use shadows as compositional elements, creating mysterious silhouettes and dramatic contrasts.

Real Story from the Field: Last summer, photographer Maria Santos was struggling with creative block until she started a “light diary”—photographing the same corner of her garden every hour for an entire day. By evening, she had 12 completely different images of the same scene, each telling a unique story through light alone.

Post your images on our Facebook group

​https://www.facebook.com/groups/878244939696285​

Use #MidSummerMasterclass when sharing your work—I’ll be personally commenting and celebrating your progress!

To go dipper check out this Summer ICM Guide—an 98-page, richly illustrated resource packed with practical techniques, creative exercises, post-processing tips, and seasonal inspiration to help you make your most expressive work yet.

Get it here: https://evapolak.com/summer-guide.html