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!
I Couldn’t Find a Good Overlook….
….so here’s what I decided to do! https://youtu.be/cIS0n6C6P0g Behind the Scenes Insights A fellow from church first told me about 5 Points. He knew I liked photography so when I asked if he could recommend of any nice places around to take pictures, he said...
A Practical Use for “Split Toning” in Lightroom
I haven’t found many practical uses for the Split Toning panel in Lightroom. I probably hadn’t opened it for months! It’s one of those panels that seems to provide more of an artistic spin on editing photos versus the natural feeling that I'm usually trying to go...
Directing the Eye Using Overexposure
Here’s some real-world composition for ya! I wasn’t planning on creating this video, but because finding, composing and tweaking this shot turned out to be so “textbook perfect”, I couldn’t help but step back and quickly explain how it came together. ...
“How You Can Take Amazing Photos in 4 Simple Steps”
Ultimate Bundles is offering a free Video Series on basic photography called “How You Can Take Amazing Photos in 4 Simple Steps”. As far as I know, it’ll only be available until February 25! I just finished reviewing it and am happy to say that, based on...
Learning How to Intelligently Predict Beautiful Times to Take Pictures in the Outdoors!
What if you could predict beforehand if it was going to be a beautiful sunrise tomorrow morning? Or a beautiful sunset tonight? Or the next night? What if you could intelligently calculate ahead of time if a particular snowfall was going to be particularly...
Embrace the Unexpected!
In the photographer’s pursuit of beauty, he relies on many factors that are outside of his control. Of course, he hopes and plans for conditions favorable to fulfilling his goals But sometimes the conditions are less favorable than expected. Sometimes more...
On Assignment: Shooting for the Cover of a Magazine!
Ever wondered what it was like to shoot a photo that was featured on the front cover of a magazine?! Well, it is a nice idea, but I actually don’t know what it’s like yet….none of the photos I’ve ever taken have been featured on the front cover of a magazine. But!...
This Morning’s Incredible Super Blue Blood Moon!
Did you hear about the incredible natural phenomenon that happened this morning? I’ll let NASA explain all the juicy details about it…..what I was interested in was taking pictures of it! Here’s what excited me about it: Though where I live it was not going to be a...
Behind the Shot: Forgotten
We arrived just in time. The last rays of direct sunlight were still shining strong on the western side of the church when we pulled up. I hopped out of the car and plunged into the thigh-deep drift of snow piled beside the road. With considerable effort, I made my...
On Assignment: Shooting for the Cover of a Book
Ever wondered how you're supposed to conduct a photoshoot for the cover of a book? Well, I wish I could tell you! Even after shooting for this STS assignment, I still wonder how it's supposed to be done! Despite my desperate lack of experience, I started with the...
The Photo That Won the “New Life” Contest
The “New Life” Shoot to Serve photo assignment was a very popular one. As you can see below, there were quite a few photos submitted! Which one would you choose as your favorite? Ben, over at Sharpening Character was the judge for this contest, but it’s interesting...
Behind the Shot: Sky Rock Overlook
The Shoot to Serve assignment that expires tomorrow, Woman Worshiping God, has been on my radar for several weeks… Problem is, I don’t live near any epic overlooks or “perfect” locations that the assignment demands. Yes, I live in the “Mountain State”, but the...
Share Your Favorite Places to Take Pictures!
I just spent some time adding some new locations to the Scouting Guide! One of the new locations, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas, is just one of those perfect spots for a fun, family outing that could be enjoyed by the whole family, both photography...
Re-Thinking “Dark” and “Light”
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a photographer, I’m sure we’ve all taken pictures during special events of one sort or another! And whether it was a holiday celebration, a birthday party, a wedding reception (anything festivity-related), I’m guessing it...
Ever Heard of the “Glowy Effect”?
Ever heard of the “glowy effect”?If you haven’t, that’s ok because, well, I just sorta made it up the other day. For the current Shoot to Serve assignment, Glowing Sunlight, I simply didn’t know how to clearly explain the effect I was envisioning would be an...
Behind the Shot: Stormy Mountain Majesty
Stormy Mountain Majesty Denali National Park, Alaska Downloadable as a free desktop wallpaper for Lenspiration subscribers This is what sunset looked like at 9:30pm on that beautiful, Alaskan summer evening. “Pretty late, for a sunset,” I thought. And it...
Crazy Photography Camping Trip!
Back in July, I took some relatively random video clips of my photography camping trip in California! Jonathan compiled them into this little video: Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch more videos from the life of a landscape...
Interview With The Forefather of the FEW Conferences
Remember the Sharpening Character VersePic contest I mentioned in the recent blog post, A Request For Something A Little Different? Well, as it happened, the verse I submitted for their contest was chosen for their most recent VersePic…and since Andrew, the...
How Do You Deal With Temptation?
I love Sunday evenings! Especially after the time change. It gets dark so early one can sit down and enjoy a good book for what feels like “late into the night” without it actually going late into the night! Last night I was reading William Gurnall’s “The Christian...
A Request for Something a Little Different
Did you know Sharpening Character is celebrating their 100th episode? While it’s always fun to take pictures for their VersePics on STS, I thought it would be fun to participate in their special “100th Episode VersePic Contest”…instead of submitting a picture for...
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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




















