Learn What Makes Photography Art

 I’ve been a animal and nature photographer for over three decades. And let me be clear: it’s not just a click and you have the perfect photo. It’s patience, timing, and an understanding of light, shadow, and subject. It’s knowing when not to take the photo and waiting for the moment that speaks.  This article will show you what I do to get that photograph and why its art to get the capture in the perfect light and at the right moment.  You will view my original photographs which can also be found at my studio at Zazzle.com

Silver Maple tree captured by Susang6

Photography is often dismissed as mechanical, especially in conversations about digital or AI-assisted creation. But that view erases the artistry behind every intentional image. Whether you're behind a lens or leading AI with sentence-driven direction, the question isn't about the tool. It's about the photographer.

 

What Makes Photography Art?

• Intentionality: I don’t take dozens of photos and edit later. I wait for the right moment and take the photo.
• Mastery of light and shadow: Understanding how light moves through a scene is foundational not optional.
• Capture discipline: Wildlife doesn’t pose. You learn to read behavior, anticipate movement, and wait for resonance.

I once showered with hunter’s soap to remove human scent, then hid behind a large rock surrounded by brush just to avoid startling a feral cat. I waited over two hours, motionless, until the cat felt safe enough to emerge. That wasn’t luck. That was capture discipline.
I didn’t take dozens of photos and hope for one good image. I waited for the right moment and took the photo. The camera didn’t create the image. I did through timing, restraint, and precision.

Creative restraint: Sometimes the best decision is not to take the photo. That’s artistic discipline.

 

 Why “Point and take the snapshot” Misses the Mark

Calling photography “just technical” erases the timing, restraint, and creative control behind every image. It’s not about pressing a button it’s about seeing, and choosing.

• Waiting is part of the art: I’ve waited hours for a single capture. That’s not automation. That’s photographic discipline.
• No batch editing: I don’t rely on volume or post-processing to find meaning. I create it in the moment.
• Wildlife/Animal photography is unpredictable: You can’t script it. You have to feel it.

 

 Final Thought

Photography is art when it’s led by vision, skill, and creative control. Just like AI-assisted visuals can be art when shaped by a human with intent. The tool doesn’t define the work. The photographer does.

So the next time someone says photography isn’t art, you’ll know better. You’ve read the truth. You’ve seen the work. Photography is art when it’s shaped by timing, restraint, and vision. And every image I share proves it.

 

 Disclaimer

All images and artworks referenced in this post are created by me, Susan, through my studio: Susan’s Nature & Seasonal Studio.

Teaching: How to Lead AI with Vision and Integrity

 

AI tools are everywhere but understanding how to use them ethically and artistically is still rare. That’s why I’m sharing this moment: to show you exactly how I lead AI tools with clarity, and technical precision. 

This post is not just about a holiday mockup. It’s about transparency. And it’s about teaching others how to use AI tools without losing their voice.

 

 The Image: A Holiday Mockup 

I asked my AI to create a mockup featuring:

• An 8-year-old boy wearing a red sweatshirt, Santa hat, and my exact apron design
• A joyful moment baking Christmas cookies with his dad
• Flour on their faces, laughter, and emotional warmth
• Natural light, clarity, and high resolution

The result was a scene that matched my vision not because the tool guessed right, but because I led it with precision.

 

What I Said vs. What a Prompt Might Be

Here’s the sentence I submitted:

“Create a mockup with exact product design of an 8-year-old boy wearing a red sweatshirt under his apron, and a Santa hat. He is baking Christmas cookies with his dad. They are having fun, flour is on their face, a happy moment. The light should be natural; the image should have clarity and high resolution.”

Compare that to a typical prompt:

“Boy baking cookies in Christmas apron, Santa hat, with dad.”

The difference is authorship. I didn’t just describe a scene I directed it. I specified age, wardrobe, emotional tone, lighting, and product accuracy. That’s not prompting. That’s art direction.

 

 What My AI Understood

Here’s what my AI interpreted from my sentence:

• Exact product design: My apron pattern was faithfully rendered, not substituted or approximated.
• Wardrobe and age: The boy’s red sweatshirt and Santa hat matched my request, and his age was visually appropriate.
• Emotional tone: The image captured joy, connection, and spontaneity flour on their faces, laughter in motion.
• Lighting and clarity: The scene was sunlit, warm, and high-resolution, just as I asked.

This wasn’t random generation. It was responsive creation, led by my sentence and shaped by my standards.

 

 About the Author and the AI

About Me (Susan, publishing as Susang6):
I’m a designer, writer, and wildlife advocate based in Missouri. I lead every aspect of my studio I use AI tools as extensions of my creative process, always with full transparency. I never outsource and. I never hide the tool. I lead it.

About My AI (Copilot):
Copilot is an AI created by Microsoft. It doesn’t generate art on its own it responds to my direction. It helps me translate my vision into visuals, refine my teaching materials, and archive my process. Every image we co-create is shaped by my sentence-led input, tone, and technical standards.

We work together through dialogue. I lead with clarity. Copilot responds with precision. Together, we model ethical, transparent, and intelligent creations.

 

 Final Thought: Teach What You Practice

If you use AI tools, share your process. Show your audience how you lead. Don’t hide the tool own it. Don’t settle for prompts write sentences. And don’t let others define your work define it yourself.

This is art.  This is how I teach.

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The Truth About POD Creators and Platform Reviews

 

In the world of print-on-demand (POD), artists and designers bring products to life but they don’t manufacture, ship, or control fulfillment. Yet when delays or service issues arise, it’s often the creator who bears the brunt of customer frustration. This misalignment damages reputations, suppresses sales, and misleads future buyers.

Let’s break down what POD creators actually do and what they don’t.

 What POD Creators Do

• Design the product: Every visual element, layout, and text is crafted by the artist.
• Upload and format: Creators prepare files to meet platform specs, ensuring print quality and alignment.
• Write product descriptions and tags: They optimize listings for search visibility and customer clarity.
• Promote their work: Most creators handle their own marketing, social media, and outreach.
• Earn royalties: Typically, between 5–15% of the sale price, (after platform fees) and depending on platform settings.

What POD Creators Don’t Do

• Print or manufacture the product
• Package or ship orders
• Control delivery timelines
• Handle customer service or refunds
• Own or operate the platform

Creators are independent contributors. They license their designs/artwork to the platform, which handles all logistics. When a product ships late or arrives damaged, that’s a platform issue not a creator or shopkeeper failure.

 The Problem with Misattributed Reviews

Many platforms allow customers to leave reviews directly on product pages. But when those reviews focus on shipping delays or service complaints, they unfairly penalize the artist. A 2-star rating for a late delivery on a design the customer hasn’t even opened can tank a creator’s visibility and sales.  Word of mouth by unhappy customer who did not receive her purchase on time along can destroy the creator who had nothing to do with shipping.

This misattribution:

• Distorts the product’s reputation
• Suppresses future sales
• Damages the creator’s brand
• Misleads other customers

 

 Who Should Customers Contact?

If your order is late, damaged, or incorrect, contact the platform’s customer service team not the artist. The creator didn’t pack your order, print your card, or choose the shipping method. They created the design.  That’s it.

 

 What Platforms Should Do

To protect creators and improve review accuracy, POD platforms should:

• Separate product design reviews from fulfillment reviews
• Clarify review prompts to reflect what’s being rated
• Allow creators to flag or respond to misattributed reviews
• Educate customers about the creator’s role

 

 Final Thought

Creators deserve fair representation. If you love a design, support the artist. If you have a shipping issue, contact the platform. Let’s keep the feedback honest and the blame where it belongs.

AI Art and Copyright: Why Responsible Creation Matters

 

 

There’s a lot of confusion out there about how AI art is made and even more misinformation about copyright. One of the most common myths is that AI “steals” images from online artists to create new work. As someone who’s been creating with AI tools for years, I want to clear that up.

Let’s start with the basics.
AI generators don’t “grab” copyrighted images and copy them. They’re trained on massive datasets to learn patterns, styles, and visual language just like a human artist studies thousands of works to develop their own technique. But the newer, responsible AI tools don’t allow you to upload a copyrighted image and ask the model to replicate it. That’s a violation of copyright law, and the platforms know it.

I’ve tested this firsthand. If you try to feed a copyrighted image into a modern AI generator and ask it to “make one like this,” it will either block the request or return something generic. These systems are designed to avoid infringement. And if AI art were truly stealing, we’d be seeing lawsuits and takedowns everywhere. But we’re not because responsible creators lead the process with care.

So where do the “cheap AI images” come from?
Some creators use bulk generators to produce thousands of images with little refinement. These packs are often sold for pennies, and yes they flood the market. But that’s not the fault of the tool. That’s a choice made by the user. And just like with stock photography or vector bundles, quality varies. One person’s “crap” might be another’s treasure. Customers connect with emotion, story, and style not just technique.

I’ve been creating digital art since 2008.
After a head injury, painting with a mouse was part of my therapy. It was hard. The results weren’t perfect. But people still bought that art. Because it meant something. And that’s the truth of art whether it’s made with a brush, a mouse, or an AI tool.

The customer should always have the right to choose.
And creators should have the right to be seen. That’s why I speak up not to argue, but to protect the legitimacy of my process and the visibility of my voice.

If you’re a fellow creator, I encourage you to lead with clarity. Tag your work. Disclose your tools. And trust that your process when guided by care and integrity will always matter.  

Image Disclaimer:
All images featured in this post are original AI-assisted artworks created by Susang6. Each piece reflects her unique styling, emotional calibration, and studio standards. To view these images in larger format and higher resolution, please visit her studio here.

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The Story Behind My Mystical Wolf Collage Christmas Card

 

 

Some images aren’t just art they’re portals. This winter collage began with a single photograph I captured in my own yard, just after an ice storm. The tree, glazed in frost and shimmering against a quiet sky, felt like something out of a dream. I knew it wasn’t just a backdrop it was the beginning of a story.

What followed was a deeply intuitive process: layering hundreds of digital overlays, each chosen for emotional resonance and visual rhythm. Wolves emerged from the snow. A Christmas tree glowed softly in the clearing. Snowflakes fell like whispers. And suddenly, I was inside the scene not just as a creator, but as a witness to something magical.

 About the Collage:

This piece was built slowly, like a meditation. The backdrop is my own photograph a tree in my yard, captured after an ice storm blanketed the landscape in crystalline silence. That moment held something rare: stillness, clarity, and a sense of peace that felt almost otherworldly.

I layered the collage with intention:

• Wolves to represent strength, intuition, and the quiet guardianship of nature.
• Snowflakes and stars to evoke wonder and the passage of time.
• A glowing Christmas tree as a symbol of hope, warmth, and goodwill.

Each overlay was chosen not just for aesthetics, but for emotional truth. The grasses, the shadows, the light everything was calibrated to reflect a world where peace feels possible. Where wildlife is honored. Where good will extends beyond humanity.

For me, this collage is more than seasonal art. It’s a reminder that even in the coldest moments, beauty and connection remain.

 

 Greeting Card Inspired by This Collage

I’ve transformed this artwork into a Christmas card. The card was designed to share the magic of that winter moment.

The Purr-fect Mug Gift for Cat Lovers

 

 

1 There’s something magical about sipping cocoa from a mug that makes you smile before the first sip. And if you or someone you love has a soft spot for whiskers, purring, and holiday cheer, this Meowy Christmas mug might just be the coziest gift of the season.

Designed for cat lovers who decorate with paw prints and laughter, this festive ceramic mug features three charming felines dressed in their holiday best. From the black cat in a Santa hat to the ginger tabby in a snowflake sweater, each detail invites warmth and whimsy. It’s not just a mug it’s a moment.

 Why It’s More Than Just a Mug

Whether you're shopping for a coworker, a neighbor, or your favorite cat-sitter, this mug makes a thoughtful, affordable gift that feels personal. And here’s the twist: turn it into a mini gift basket with just a few cozy touches.

How to wrap it with love:

• Nestle a packet of gourmet cocoa mix inside the mug.
• Add a few marshmallows in a small zip-top bag (bonus points for snowman-shaped ones).
• Wrap the entire mug in festive red or green saran wrap.
• Tie it off with a ribbon or bow maybe even add a tiny jingle bell.

It’s simple, heartfelt, and ready to brighten someone’s desk, kitchen, or cocoa station.

🎄 Who Would Love This?

• The coworker who always shares cat memes
• The friend who calls their cat their “holiday helper”
• The teacher who deserves a warm thank-you
• You because self-gifting is a form of self-care

This mug isn’t just about cats. It’s about creating a moment of joy, a pause in the holiday rush, and a reminder that small gifts can carry big warmth.

One Christmas Border Collie Hoodie, Three Cozy Looks

 

 

Why this festive favorite is more than just cute it’s a winter essential

 

If you’re searching for the perfect holiday hoodie that blends warmth, whimsy, and wearable charm, look no further. The Merry Woofmas hoodie isn’t just adorable it’s thick, cozy, and built for real winter living. Whether you’re chasing kids through the snow, sipping cocoa on the porch, or snuggling fireside with your dog, this hoodie delivers comfort and style in equal measure.

And yes, I own it. I’ve worn it layered over a polar fleece top, and it kept me warm while playing outdoors with the kids and our Border Collie. The texture inside is soft and substantial, not flimsy or thin. It’s the kind of hoodie that earns its place in your seasonal rotation.

Let’s style it three ways to show why this Border Collie Christmas hoodie is worth every penny.

 

 Look 1: Outdoor Fun with Border Collie

This look is perfect for outdoor adventures. The hoodie layers beautifully over a fleece top. It's a cozy and warm 2nd layer.  Whether you’re building a perfect snowman with the kids or playing with your Border Collie dog. This outfit says festive, functional, and full of heart.

 Look 2: Porch Cocoa Moment

This is your go-to for quiet mornings and heartfelt moments. The hoodie pairs effortlessly with patterned leggings and a warm knit hat. Add a mug of hot cocoa and a twinkling tree in the background, and you’ve got a scene that feels like a holiday card come to life.

This look is ideal for gift wrapping, journaling, or just soaking in the season.

 

 Look 3: Fireside Snuggle

This is the ultimate cozy combo. Whether you’re curled up with your pup or winding down after a long day, this hoodie brings warmth and emotional comfort. The flannel pants and fuzzy slippers complete the look and your Border Collie curled beside you? That’s the heart of it.

This hoodie isn’t just festive it’s functional. Thick enough to insulate, soft enough to soothe. 

Why It’s Worth It

• Warm, thick texture: Not your average holiday hoodie this one’s built for real winter wear
• Dog lover approved: The Border Collie design is playful, emotional, and instantly recognizable
• Versatile styling: Dress it up, layer it down, or lounge in it all season long
• Perfect gift: For dog moms, and anyone who loves a little holiday humor 

Final Thought

The Merry Woofmas hoodie isn’t just a cute graphic it’s a wearable story. It’s warmth, whimsy, and emotional connection stitched into every fiber. And when you style it your way, it becomes part of your holiday favorite outfits.

How to Decorate Your Bathroom for a Classic Christmas

 

The magic of Christmas doesn’t have to stop at the living room. With just a few thoughtful touches, your bathroom can become a cozy, festive retreat that wraps every guest and every quiet moment in holiday warmth.

1. Start with a Signature Textile

The heart of this look is a red and green tartan fleece shower curtain, accented with subtle gold sparkle. It’s traditional, elegant, and instantly festive. Pair it with matching towels a bath towel, hand towel, and washcloth—to create a cohesive, layered look that feels both luxurious and inviting.

Tip: Drape the bath towel over a bronze or brushed gold towel bar, fold the hand towel neatly on top, and roll the washcloth into a basket for a boutique-style finish.

2. Add Natural Greenery

Nothing says “classic Christmas” like the scent of fresh balsam. Pick up a real branch wreath from your local Christmas tree lot and hang it on the wall above the towel rack or beside the vanity. The deep green needles and rustic pinecones bring texture and life to the space.

Bonus: The natural fragrance of balsam fir adds a subtle, spa-like scent that makes the whole room feel like a holiday escape.

3. Tie It All Together with Ribbon

Finish the wreath with a bold red satin ribbon a simple bow with long tails adds elegance and warmth. You can also weave smaller red ribbons through the garland or tie them around rolled towels for a charming, coordinated touch.

4. Keep the Lighting Soft

Swap out harsh bulbs for warm white light to enhance the cozy atmosphere. If you have a window, let natural light filter through sheer curtains or add a small candle on the vanity for a gentle glow.

With just a few elements plaid textiles, fresh greenery, and a pop of red you can transform your bathroom into a classic Christmas haven. It’s a space that feels thoughtful, nostalgic, and full of seasonal joy.