Beyond the Ordinary
Photos with a Twist - Photo of The Week Winners
Welcome to another exciting edition of Behind the Picture Magazine!
This week's photo assignment challenged photographers to bring a fresh twist to their usual niche.
The goal? To capture something unexpected and exciting.
No room for the mundane here—think bold, dynamic, and full of pop!
Every photo review episode, CARTY selects the "Photos of the Week," celebrating the most captivating and creative work to be featured in Behind the Picture Magazine.
Steve Carty (CARTY) is a 33yr pro and has a super active YouTube channel.
He created the Carty Method, a Pro Photographers Education System designed to help us shooters transition to making a living with our cameras.
One of the biggest and most valuable part of the Carty Method is the Community, which consists of talented photographers just like you.
This Weeks Assignment
Let’s dive into this week's "Photo of the Week" winners.
Before we get started, let’s get into what this weeks assignment actually was.
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: Your Work with a Twist”
Create a Horizontal Image with a Twist. It needs something. A pop. A Twist.
must be within your niche.
must be submitted Horizontal image.
submit your image 4000px wide x 100 dpi. Leave height blank.
Be inspired by this week’s stunning photography showcase!
Michael Stimatze
Inspiration Behind The Picture?
My inspiration was from the quote: “When the tool you have is a hammer, it is hard to eat spaghetti” by David Allen. I was researching an upcoming Substack article I am working on.
Biggest Challenge During This Assignment?
Realistically the biggest challenge for me to make this photo was my location. I am traveling for work and working from a hotel room. I also had to fly out to this location, so my gear is very limited. I have a speedlite as my only artificial light. I had to rig up a diffuser using wax paper and a picture frame and make a reflector with foam core and aluminum foil.
What advice would you give fellow photographers who are struggle with stepping out of their comfort zones?
Ego is the obstacle. Having an emotional connection to the work we create hinders sharing the work. Let go of that attachment and don’t take constructive criticism personally.
Social Media Handle:
Instagram: @mestimatze
Substack: Mike Stimatze
Danyel Van Kleef
Where did you draw inspiration from to create this photo with a twist?
My inspiration came from within and looking around my house to get ideas, also I had no one to do it with so “self-portrait” Then I remembered I had a tub where I take ice baths sometimes then it started to unfold, something with water and sports than the Olympics and well, there it was.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this photo with a twist?
I had a different spot but couldn’t get the water there, secondly running between the camera and the tub, jump in and get the position right with the right amount of water splashing off my body to create more drama before the timer ran out, and not to forget the floor was full of thorns that I been picking out of my feet the days after.
What advice would you give to fellow photographers who struggle with stepping out of their comfort zones?
First of all a quote from “David Bowie” In short, when you are in water and you can still feel the ground, go a little deeper that’s where the magic happens.
Secondly, get out of that box, challenge your fears, get rid of distractions, cancel Netflix and read Atomic Habits by James Clear, oh yeah and take cold showers, look at Wim Hoff the Ice Man ( I am not kidding).
How does it feel to win your first-ever photo of the week submission?
It makes me more confident & it feels like I am on the right track It is a great motivator and I am truly happy to have found this place, I woke up the next day after 5 hrs of sleep buzzing with ideas, so yeah a great feeling, thank you all.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @danyelvankleef
Facebook: @danyelvankleef
LinkedIn: @danyelvankleef
Substack: Danyel’s Substack
Ana K
Where did you draw inspiration from to create this photo with a twist?
I look at photography every day. I also draw a lot of inspiration from everyday life by observing people, light, shadows, and human interaction.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this photo with a twist?
The biggest challenge for this assignment was coming up with an executable idea. Eventually, I created an image that had been on my mind for some time. I faced some challenges executing the image. By the time I was ready to take the shot, the sun was not in the right spot. I had to use a diffuser to block the sun for an evenly lit image.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @AKphotography.2020
Instagram: @my.ottwa.photos
Tom Fox
Where did you draw inspiration from to create this photo with a twist?
I’m not really sure exactly where the idea came from, but some recent screenshots of the new season of “Severance” that’s coming out definitely solidified the idea.
The juxtaposition between balloons and suits is one that will almost always catch my interest. It makes me stop and think, it makes me ask questions. I wanted to do the same with this piece, and force viewers to stop in their tracks and be perplexed.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this photo with a twist?
Honestly, the wind and the heat. Wind kept blowing balloons into thorny bushes, and the heat kept popping them. We started with 12 balloons, and by the time this shot came to be, we only had this one left.
The weight I had attached to the balloons wasn’t strong enough to hold them down. My friend/model put the weight in his bag, which kept them mostly in place. Changing location helped us find this spot which was perfect for what we wanted.
What advice would you give to fellow photographers who struggle with stepping out of their comfort zones?
Just do it. Even if it’s baby steps, just work your way out of it. The more you can force yourself outside of your comfort zone, the more rewarded you’ll be by your work.
Practice, practice, practice. Especially on days you’re not feeling motivated. Some of my favorite photos have come from situations where I didn’t feel like shooting.
Social Media Handle:
Instagram: @tomfox_photos
Best In Show
Exemplary Shots That Steal the Spotlight
What is Best In Show?
Best In Show is an honor awarded to photographers who truly excel in our photo review assignments.
It’s more than just a title—it signifies that the photographer has not only won the Photo of the Week but has also earned the coveted Carty stamp of approval.
This is one of the highest recognitions a photographer can achieve in our community, especially when taking on these challenging assignments.
It represents not just a beautifully polished piece of work but also a portfolio-worthy creation.
These assignments are specifically designed to push photographers beyond their comfort zones, helping them to hone their skills and elevate their craft.
But don’t just take my word for it—hear directly from the Best In Show winners of our 'Photos with a Twist' assignment!
Géran Raath
Where did you draw inspiration from to create this photo with a twist?
I’ve always been a huge Scott Choucino fan and since being in Carty’s accelerator I’ve realized the need to shift my niche to products. For this assignment, I wanted to play with contrasting textures and the rough Lego and smooth blue paper with the razor became a concept I could develop. So the razor transitions the texture from rough to smooth as it would in shaving.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this photo with a twist?
Distortion vs lighting. From the angle I was using to make the shot more interesting, compared to a top-down shot, the grid of the Lego stubs converged. I wanted them to be perfectly vertically aligned. Since I did not have a view camera to shift and tilt the rear standard I had to adjust the plane of the Lego sheet. This messed with the lighting falling on the stubs. In the end, I shot the Lego at a slant and adjusted the keystone in the post.
What are your thoughts on your photo winning 'Best In Show'?
It’s an honor getting Carty’s approval. He is an industry professional with great experience and an uncanny teaching ability. If a photo I create gets his approval, it’s in my portfolio.
Social Media Handles:
Website: géranraath.photography
Instagram: @géranraathphotography
Colin Blair
Where did you draw inspiration from to create this photo with a twist?
You know that scene in the movie, Alien (1979), when the baby Xenomorph pops out of that guy's stomach? That was my inspiration.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating this photo with a twist?
Honestly my biggest challenge was coming up with an idea worthy of submitting. I tried two other ideas prior to my final shot and after failing to execute them I thought I was beaten for the week. I believe those what I'll call, "failure reps", were instrumental in my success, because once the inspiration and the idea hit it all came together.
What are your thoughts on your photo winning 'Best In Show'?
It's certainly a great feeling to win best in show and have my hard work pay off. Knowing I am one photo closer to having a portfolio that will someday soon showcase the value I can bring to potential clients is what is really important though. But now I need to keep meeting or raising that bar.
Social Media Handle:
Instagram: @arrestingphotons.
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Watch the live replay of this photo submission
Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographers community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
BTP Carty Instagram @btpwithcarty
Woaw! Very interesting. I hope to participate in the next one.