How to See What Your Brain Is Hiding From You | Roxanne Bouché Overton

For episode 494 of F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, host Matt Payne sits down with Roxanne Bouché Overton, a Pacific Northwest–based photographer known for her imaginative approach to creativity through intentional camera movement (ICM), multiple exposures, and unconventional ways of seeing. Overton reveals her origin story—starting with a film SLR and a curiosity about multiple exposures—before delving into the neuroscience of perception, how our brains filter visual information for survival, and why breaking from this default allows for greater artistic vision.

Together, they unpack actionable strategies for cultivating creativity, such as seeking details rather than subjects, training your awareness for shifts in light and shadow, letting go of rigid photographic “rules,” and embracing unique viewpoints—even with simple gear or an iPhone. Overton shares philosophies like working in “liminal time” (always shooting toward the future) and reframing negative self-talk with positive, exploratory language. She highlights workshops, community, and varied education as keys to unlocking your own voice—not just copying others. The episode closes with Overton’s book and Substack newsletter recommendations, plus names four inspiring photographers for future interviews.

Links and Resources:

1. Get a copy of the Muench Workshops Destinations Magazine
2. Roxanne Bouche Overton
3. Support the show on Patreon
4. Roxanne Bouche Overton's Book, Awaken Creativity
5. Roxanne Bouche Overton's Creativity Newsletter (Substack)
6. Bluristic (iPhone app for creative long exposures)
7. Santa Fe Workshops
8. Shelly Vandegrift
9. Michael Clark
10. Jennifer Spelman

00:00 Podcast Introduction 01:09 Meet Roxanne Bouché Overton 04:11 How Perception Shapes Photography 06:54 Peripheral Vision & ICM 12:31 Community and Creative Kinship 17:43 Technical and Creative Aspects of ICM 22:27 Mobile and iPhone Creative Tools 25:00 Learning to See Creatively 33:02 The Infinite Journey of Creative Work 36:07 Cameras as Recording Devices 41:45 Gear Minimalism for Creative Freedom 43:13 Mindset Shifts for Awareness 52:19 Vocabulary & Positive Framing 65:10 Overton’s Book & Substack 74:33 Guest Recommendations 80:48 Wrap Up