Lenspiration Blog
Welcome! Wherever you are on your photography journey, learn to take better photos through the photography tips and stories you'll find in the following free articles. By learning from the experience of others, you can also start taking pictures that you're excited to share with others!
A Pipe Organ in Vermont….and Random Thoughts on Property Releases
With the soon-ending Pipe Organ assignment on my mind recently, I couldn’t help but ask my friends if they knew of any nearby….. We were visiting the Moore family over the New Year’s holiday up in Vermont. New England sure seemed like a great place to find pipe...
How To Not Let Photography Stress You Out
The other day I was on vacation driving down the road with my family. And it was beautiful! The afternoon sunlight was shining brightly for the first time that day. The sun was right on the horizon, right at golden hour. There were dark clouds in the east, and the...
Am I Willing To Wait For It?
My brother David plucks an ear of corn from the plethora of stocks that tower above him in the family garden under the warm, late-afternoon sunlight. He pulls away the husks to reveal for the first time the luscious fruit of his labors. But let me ask. Was it only...
The Search For A Pipe Organ
With Christmas just around the corner, I thought it was unique that the need for a picture of a pipe organ just happened to come up (see the latest Shoot to Serve assignment, Pipe Organ). Now, I have to admit, even I sorta thought this to be a daunting assignment....
Do Cameras Take Pictures?
When you see a beautiful picture, was it the camera or the photographer that took it? I’d say the answer is, both. Of course it was the photographer that initiated it. It was the photographer that envisioned the pretty picture, brought the camera to the right spot,...
The Confessions of a Landscape Photographer
Oh the allure of landscape photography…. To travel to the most beautiful places on earth! To get lost in the wonder and awesomeness of God’s creation! To experience the adventure of the unknown and encounter the realities of the wilderness! I’ve longed for it. I’ll...
Is It A Lens, Or Does It Just Look Like One?
I shifted my position on the pew once again. Am I the only one who fights the battle to banish drowsiness on Sunday mornings? It’s not that the Sunday School lesson wasn’t interesting….we were engaged in an intriguing study of human nature as characterized in the...
Playing With A New Perspective
The kind of mood you want viewers to feel when they look at your photo begins with how you decide to frame up your shot. There's a lot of power behind the perspective you decide to shoot from! As I was thinking about how to best shoot this month's Shoot to Serve...
Am I Getting Consistent Results?
I am by no means an HDR expert, but as far as I know, there are two main ways to go about processing photos in a way that showcases a high dynamic range: Tone Mapping and Exposure Blending. I’ve have had fun playing with Tone Mapping in programs like Photomatix and...
The Ultimate Purpose of Any Photograph
Not too long ago, I saw a picture that irked me. It’s not that it was “evil”. It was just that it contained stuff that didn’t impress me as being “good”—morally upright, exuding the qualities of unquestionable integrity. Stuff like this doesn’t always bother me....
Looking for Waterfalls!
“Summer in West Virginia was very wet this year. Autumn has been no different. Why not take advantage of it and go take some pictures of waterfalls?!” This is what went through my head when the current Shoot to Serve photo assignment, Beautiful Waterfalls, came...
Oh, Those Miserable Dust Bunnies!
We all know what dust bunnies are, right? They’re those little balls of dust that gather on the floor after having not swept or dusted for a long time. But do you know dust bunnies are in photography? You have most likely seen them in your pictures before. They are...
A Photographer’s Perspective on the Kavanaugh Proceedings
Been following politics recently? I don’t very closely, but it has been interesting to observe from afar the events surrounding the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court….from the perspective of a photographer. Here are 3 things that I’ve been...
Hyperfocal Distance, Explained!
Ever wondered how pro landscape photographers get an entire image to be in tack-sharp focus, from the detailed foreground subject all the way to the distant, background elements? It’s because they understand an intriguing concept called “Hyperfocal Distance”. And...
The Day I Lost My $600 Phone in Tijuana, Mexico
I use the camera on my phone a lot, especially on mission trips. It’s handy for getting selfies, taking videos, and capturing memories where a DSLR is not practical or safe. However, the fact that they are so handy also makes them easier to lose. This selfie was...
The Truth Will Set You Free….Even In Critique!
We go through such great pains to get an amazing picture. Like, a super amazing picture! And then someone critiques it. “You should have done this. And this. And oh, this too. And this, of course.” We respectfully nod our heads. But inside, the storm rages! “You...
A Look At The “Other Side” Of A Photo Not Often Talked About
A printed photo has two sides, obviously. A front and a back. But emotionally speaking, every photo has two sides as well. The front is the side we talk about much….the photo itself. Is it a good photo? How does it make the viewer feel? Is the message the...
Do I Recognize Opportunity?
If you happen to be up on Lenspiration’s photo assignments, you’ll have noticed that the current assignment is “Friendship”. In short, the assignment is to be on the lookout for a photo op that illustrates the idea of Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man...
7 Ways to Reduce the Awkwardness of Lugging Around Your DSLR on a Day Hike
The via ferrata trail guide surveyed the full frame DSLR I had clipped on to my photography waist strap as the group gathered for the opening safety briefing. “No, I’ve never seen anyone bring a camera that big on the via before.” For the umpteenth time, I...
The Story I Never Told
We all love to hear stories that reveal the power of God and His amazing hand at work. But what about those stories that don’t have a good ending? Do you have a few of those? Are you living in one right now? When a story is in the making, it’s usually not one...
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What are we up to?
Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
Calendar season is in full swing!
Original calendars are shipping, I`m working on Personalized orders almost every day, and I`ve been enjoying helping other photographers get their photos ready for their Artist calendars!
To keep the momentum going, I decided to offer a mid-season sale . . .
🎉 This weekend only, get free shipping on orders of 25+ Original or Personalized calendars, until Monday, Oct. 19, using the coupon code 2027SHIPFREE. It`s the only bulk-order sale I plan to offer this year, so don`t miss it! 🎉
Order calendars at lenspiration.com/original
I had heard enough about Nubble Light to get up at 3am to drive a few hours from where I was staying in New Hampshire to the Maine coast to photograph it at sunrise! That was back in 2015, and was my first time to Maine. A few minutes after this photo was taken, the sky erupted in vivid pink, but I still come back to this photo as my favorite for it`s quite drama and illusion of movement in the blurred waves.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#mainecoast #nubblelight #landscapephotography #shutterspeed #lighthouse
Time to get back to posting pretty pictures! The Art Show, Lenspiration stuff, and the 2027 Calendars are funny to post about, but hearing about those things is probably not the reason you`re following this account. 😊 So, let`s head out to Minnesota on a frigid, February morning! I had flown into Minneapolis the night before, picked up a rental car, and started driving north in preparation for shooting a wedding in Fargo. I car camped in a Walmart parking lot half way, and got up before dawn to drive the rest of the way. As the sky started to get light, I began looking for an exist that might offer something interesting to photograph. Nothing presented itself on that flat, endless prairie of western Minnesota. I took a random exit, knowing I had no more time left before the sun would came up. Then, out of nowhere, this fantastic old schoolhouse appeared next to the road not a minute`s drive from the Interstate! Needless to say, I rushed to find a pleasing composition before waiting only a few minutes to snap this shot of the sun peeping up over the horizon in just the perfect spot.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#landscapephoto #behindtheshot #storytime #sunrisephotography #minnesota
Wrapped up the festival with 1st place in our division in the parade, thanks to my brothers help decorating our family fan. 🤗 First time ever for Lenspiration to be in a parade!
The Lenspiration 2027 calendars have arrived!! I`m starting to put them in the mail beginning TODAY! So excited to get them into your hands. 🎉
Haven`t ordered yours yet?! Place your order at link in bio.
New blog post! The Apple Butter Festival Art Show is around the corner, and I intentionally curated the gallery to showcase 40 photos from 40 different states. Here are some clues on guessing the states! Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
We just launched October`s photo assignment, and our goal this month is simply to work with a family you know to take their family photos.
Whether you have done a family photo shoot or not, don`t worry! We will guide you through the assignment with ease. When you’re finished, you’ll be genuinely glad you took the time to complete it.
View details at link in bio.
All frames and prints have arrived! Now to assemble all 30bof them . . . before the @salemwvofficial Apple Butter Festival art show begins next Thursday!
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#westvirginia, #festival, #applebutter #salemwv #diyart
New blog post! Discover simple, practical snack ideas that make travel days smoother and healthier. These easy, packable options keep you energized whether you’re commuting, road‑tripping, or heading out for a full day of photography. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Take a close-up look at the Lenspiration 2027 Calendar physical proof with me! 🎉Pre-order your calendars NOW to be included in the first batch of shipping!
✅ View pre-order link in bio.
Why visit a landscape photography art gallery? Here are at least 8 ideas....
1. An invitation to slow down
2. You experience similar feelings to being at iconic places... without the travel
3. A mini vacation without leaving town
4. Expands knowledge of places you didn`t know existed
5. A worshipful mood for magnifying the Creator, Jesus Christ!
6. Generates conversation about far off places and interesting subjects
7. Broadens appreciation for detail, color combinations, and photographic composition
8. Helps discover or refine your own tastes
Why would you visit an art show? Let me know in the comments!
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#artshow #fineartgallery #landscapephotography #creationproclaims #seetheworld
I`ve been preparing for the Apple Butter Festival Art Show in October and needed a shot that said "Wisconsin". I had some generic scenic photos from across the state, and no photos of cheese. But when I started playing around with this round barn image that I originally intended to be documentary, it really started to grow on me. I took it in the middle of the day, on the way home from attending church, almost as an after thought. It was even in late October, after the leaves had fallen, a bad time of year for color. But the light, composition, and dramatic clouds all worked together to pull it out of the forgotten archives and into my gallery portfolio! And if you didn`t already know, Wisconsin has the most round barns of any state in the US, and speaks heavily of the rich dairy heritage of the area.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#onlyinwisconsin #roundbarn #fineartgallery #storybehindthephoto #behindtheshot
I`ve been printing calendars since 2009, and there`s something very interesting that I`ve discovered.
I always included a verse of Scripture and the lyrics of a nice hymn on each month. “What a great way to share God’s Word and connect with my neighbors in a meaningful way!” I thought.
Some neighbors took them courteously with a smile. Some neighbors opened right up and we would talk for half an hour or more! “You mean, you took these photos?” they would ask in surprise.
The reason friends and neighbors connect so well is because it’s not just a regular calendar. It’s an “I-know-the-photographer” calendar. It gives neighbors a glimpse of who I am, what I do, and what I’m like.
📷 And you can do the same, with your friends and family, or in your community, with Artist’s Calendars! 📷 View details at link in bio!
As photographers and artists who are Christians, every time we share our work, we offer a small, concentrated glimpse of God’s glory as it has been revealed to us. And in sharing it, we invite others to pause, to wonder, and to recognize the fingerprints of the Creator woven into the ordinary and the extraordinary alike.
Wow. What an opportunity for us photographers to use our skill, our talents, our art—for the glory of God!
Whether it’s through a calendar, or if you share your photos in another way, be encouraged to let your photography act as an avenue of God’s beauty and the reality of Christ in you to the world around you.
Interested in printing your photos in a calendar? Learn more at link in bio.
#artistscalendar #printyourphotos #fineartphotographer #calendarforartists #christianphotographer #christianartist #customcalendar
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching next Tuesday! Register at link in bio.
Uncle David came over to help Mordecai and I put together a sign for the Apple Butter Festival Art Show! #applebutterfestival2026 #applebutterfestival #artistatwork #workingwithkids #onlyinwv
New blog post! The journey to my first ever fine-art exhibit has been pretty crazy. But the purpose behind it is so fulfilling. Read more at link in bio!
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Become a photographer: www.lenspiration.com
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#artexhibit
#fineartphotography
#salemwv
#landscapephotographer
#wvphotographer
@salemwvofficial
A snapshot that encapsulates the fun Mordecai had on a farm with friends the other weekend. 🤗 #farmlife #familyfun #funonthefarm #fruitoflabor #akidslife
