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Retirement gave me control of my time. I’m gradually learning that I also need to respect how much energy I actually have.

Why I’m finding AI most useful when it works with me, not instead of me Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself using AI in a slightly different way. Not to write something for me. Not to generate an image. Not even simply to answer a question. Instead, I’ve had ChatGPT open on one screen while I work on another. It sounds simple, but I’m beginning to think this may be one of the most useful ways I’ve found to work with AI. Recently, I was testing a Google Workspace setup

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I’m simplifying my photographic life by stepping away from fixed commitments and making more room for flexible communities, informal meet-ups and the freedom to simply enjoy taking photographs. Over the past few days, I have been thinking quite a lot about simplifying my life. That includes my relationship with Photography. Not simplifying the photography itself, but simplifying everything that has gradually built up around it. Groups, talks, competitions, challenges, ideas,

A modern car comes with an extraordinary amount of information. I discovered exactly how much when Adele recently bought her new Toyota Yaris Hybrid. The owner's manual is 507 pages. The navigation manual adds another 281. There's a 100-page multimedia guide and a further 14 pages of specifications for the car. That's 902 pages altogether. Somewhere amongst those 902 pages is probably the answer to almost any question we might have about the car. Finding it is another matter.

One of the things I've discovered about retirement is that having more control over your time doesn't necessarily mean you get to spend that time doing what you planned. Over the past few weeks, I've had a fairly simple list of things I wanted to get done. Finish sorting out my photography studio. Get back to taking photographs. Do some writing. Spend time in the garden. Generally get back to some of the things retirement was supposed to give me more time for. It hasn't quite

I went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park recently and spent about three hours taking photographs. I have no idea whether any of them are particularly good. "Strangely, that might be the best thing about the whole afternoon." Photography has been part of my life for years, but it's very easy for something you enjoy to acquire expectations. You start thinking about whether an image is technically good enough. Is the composition right? Is the light interesting? Would I put it on the w

A couple of weeks ago, I gave this blog a fairly substantial redesign. It had previously sat alongside my business website, Keith Burton Photography, but over time it had stopped feeling useful in that form. The blog was still there, but it no longer really reflected everything I wanted to write about. Redesigned blog that works better on all platforms, from large monitors to mobile screens. So I decided to broaden it. What started as a simple tidy-up turned into a much bigge

Some photography days are memorable because of the pictures you take. Others stay with you because of the people you meet, the conversations you have and the ideas you bring home. This day managed to give me a little of everything. I had gone along to a photography roadshow, partly to listen, partly to learn and partly because it felt good to be doing something photography-related away from home. Two of the speakers were people I know, Glynn Dewis and Stephanie Thornton, so t

I usually wake up between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. I start my day with some stretches and light exercises to help my body get moving. Once I’ve done this, I may take the dog for a short walk outside. I then eat breakfast and usually get stuck into some reading or another activity on the computer in my office. I then attend to my caring responsibilities, preparing breakfast and looking after the person I care for. Around mid-morning, I usually get around to doing some photography, w

Today marks a bit of a fresh start for my blog. For the past three years, I’ve mainly used this space to write about photography. At first, that meant sharing my thoughts on building a small studio, improving my portrait work, and hopefully moving towards a few more commercial shoots. That was the plan. But life has a habit of moving things around a bit, doesn’t it? Over time, I’ve realised that I need this blog to become something a little wider. Still about photography, yes

I’m thinking of putting together a live online talk and demo for photographers who are curious about AI, but not necessarily interested in using it to generate images. This would be about something much more practical. I want to show how AI can help with the bits of photography that often get in the way of actually taking pictures: planning trips, organising kit, managing schedules, keeping track of ideas, reviewing what worked, and making better decisions afterwards. The ses

I have been thinking recently about how easy it is to make photography more complicated than it needs to be. Not the technical side, although there is plenty of opportunity to make that complicated too. I mean the whole business of planning photography. Planning projects. Planning shoots. Planning themes. Planning locations. Planning lighting setups. Planning what the final image might look like before I have even picked the camera up. Now, don’t get me wrong. Planning has it

I recently read Logging Off by Nick Spalding, and I really enjoyed it. It is a funny, easy-going book, but underneath the humour there is a message that feels very familiar. The story follows Andy Bellows, a man whose life has become completely tangled up with technology, social media, apps, notifications and all the little online habits that slowly creep into everyday life. Eventually, he is pushed into trying a digital detox, and that is where the comedy, chaos and reflecti

In this post, I will share my personal experiences with competitions and critique groups, explain the benefits of constructive feedback, and explore how these opportunities foster creativity and drive progress.

By Keith Burton 🎧 Listen to the Podcast Version - CLICK HERE I’ve also explored these ideas in a companion podcast, where AI-generated voices bring the discussion to life in a conversational format. It’s a slightly different take on the same themes—perfect if you prefer listening over reading. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to work closely with my local camera club, helping guide a rapid shift toward digital engagement and sharing. What started as a necessity qui

In my local camera club newsletter, just before Christmas, we were asked to consider the question 'What photography exploits do you plan to pursue in 2026? Well, I have been away from regular photography activities and the camera club for most of the past two years, and this question has been getting me thinking. You see, I had a busy year of shooting in 2023, during which I travelled and worked on many projects, both indoor and outdoor. However, I had a sudden, unexpected vi

It's been a year since my last blog post, as I've been fully engaged in our whole-house renovation project throughout 2024. This shift in focus has prompted me to reevaluate my previous plans for last year. Spending so much time online while working with the builders has highlighted my need to adopt healthier online habits. I now want to make positive changes to support my personal growth and my photo creative journey ahead. It didn't seem significant at the time since I only

I have been a Lightroom Classic user and advocate for almost a decade. Although I had tried the cloud-based CC version multiple times, I always found it needed more functionality. I needed more essential features found in LR Classic to suit my needs. I also have a vast catalogue of over 50,000 images, so managing them requires a well-designed tool and significant storage space. However, Lightroom has undergone significant changes during the last year, bringing about some prom

Capturing life moments through photography has never been easier than with smartphones. They have revolutionised how we capture and share our experiences, allowing anyone to be an aspiring photographer. However, with the abundance of options and settings available, mobile photography can be overwhelming for beginners. To help you get started, this article provides a walkthrough of ten essential tips that will help you get the best out of your mobile phone photography. ‍ 1. Cl