Newsletter
Newsletter

Office

Systems, frameworks, and reflections on making the work and structuring a deliberate creative life.

My Lightroom Folder Structure Is Just Year > Month →

A simple Lightroom folder structure for long-term photo organization. I use Year > Month folders, stable camera filenames, and Lightroom metadata to keep the archive readable, searchable, and usable for decades.

How I organize photos in Lightroom (a simple system that scales) →

A simple Lightroom workflow built for long-term scalability. Learn how to organize photos using a single catalog, a Year > Month folder structure, metadata, Smart Collections, and backups that keep your archive searchable, approachable, and future-proof.
Featured

How to tell stories online →

For years I thought I was simply exploring and taking photos. Only later did I realize I was repeating a pattern: go out, collect, return, interpret, publish, repeat. This issue maps the loop that turns wandering into a creative practice.

Photography in the Age of AI: Lessons From 25 Weeks of Experimentation →

Over 25 weeks, I tested whether AI can match the emotion and imperfection of human photography. The results? AI is fast and functional but still sterile. Here’s what this experiment reveals about the future of photography in the age of AI.

Subscribe to my new weekly newsletter: Closer →

Closer is a weekly newsletter where I take one of my photos, ask AI to describe it, then see what kind of image it can generate from its own description—an ongoing experiment in the capabilities of AI, and what that means for humans.

Could a simple tap help ease anxiety? This app idea says yes →

I haven't made an app. I'm pitching the idea of an app. One that doesn't exist currently (to my knowledge) but could exist. Using the iPhone's Back Tap functionality to alleviate and 'track' anxiety

Please take ownership of your work. Nobody else will →

It's been about four weeks now. Two hours per day, on average. Loading in the image previews, looking at the contents of the images, and titling everything based on the location they are shot in or the people pictured. Sometimes both. It's an endless stream.

The last Fujifilm X100V film simulation recipe you will ever need →

I use my CC recipe about 80 percent of the time. Maybe even 90 percent. That film sim can, in my opinion, be used for everything.

Fujifilm X100V sample images for new buyers →

I can imagine people going through similar phases as I have when looking for a camera like the X100V. Hopefully, my experience and work with it can provide some perspective for new buyers.

My six favorite Fujifilm film simulation recipes →

I think we can all agree that Fujifilm's film simulations are amazing. That's why I have created six film simulation recipes that have been living on both my Fujifilm X100V and X-Pro3 for the better part of a year now.

Work smarter not harder: AI is here to stay and so are artists →

I don’t think AI is ‘going to take our jobs’. I do, however, think it’s here to do all the jobs us humans don’t necessarily want to do. Which mostly overlaps with jobs that humans are not really good at anyway.

2022 In review: one year of monthly newslettering (and some other things) →

This is the one-year anniversary of this newsletter going out monthly! I want to use this first anniversary to reflect, but also share some accomplishments, statistics, and ideas for the future. I'll end with some personal notes.

How to protect your work from oblivion →

I look up from the screen and notice the orange glow outside. 'This would be the perfect time to go for a walk', I think.

De Lens Loves You and De Ontluiking →

In this issue I have more things to sell (watch me try to navigate a sales pitch without making you feel like you are mere customers to me) and I have a, rather big, announcement to make.

Archiving my work and doing the YouTube thing →

This time, I wish to vent about the importance of building an archive for your work — a little on how I build mine — and a new YouTube video.

Finding purpose and alignment as a photographer →

This time, I want to talk to you about finding purpose and alignment. If that sounds a little vague to you then I understand. I used to think the same.

An introduction to Dialogue, my first email newsletter →

I’m Mitchel Lensink and this is Dialogue, an infrequent newsletter about photography & other things.

It’s almost 2021 and I’m starting a mailing list →

Do I think people are interested enough in what I have to share? I have no clue. I don’t have the illusion that I unequivocally deserve your attention. I can ask for it though.