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!
Top 25 from 2012
Praise the Lord for yet another awesome year of awesome photography! I hope you enjoy my top 25 favorites from 2012 as much as I enjoyed choosing them! “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it...
New Wallpapers Page!
Have you ever wanted to set a picture you’ve seen on this website as your desktop background? I am excited to announce that a brand new page on Lenspiration.com is now dedicated specifically for this purpose! On the new Wallpapers Page, you may download high-res...
Christmas Bells
Just wanted to post a picture before heading out tomorrow to spend Christmas with friends in North Carolina. This ornament on my families Christmas tree commemorates what I hope folks would consider to be a special time in history (ie. the year I was born) and is...
Christmas Cookies
Decorating Christmas cookies at Christmastime has been a Staddon tradition for as long as I can remember! It never ceases to amaze me how with everyone’s creativity, every cookie is somehow different every year. Tonight’s three hour decorating party was no...
Free Christmas Cards
Merry Christmas! What a fun and festive time of year. I must admit that I’ve been feeling the effects of the hustle and bustle of the season, but what a joy it is to know that I can rely on the peace that passes all understanding given by none other than the...
How to Choose an SLR
Another friend of mine recently asked me what SLR I would recommend they get for seriously starting into photography. While there’s no easy answer to this question, it is easy to follow steps to know for yourself which camera is best for you, serious or not. Below,...
Quick Redesign
“Can you throw together a quick redesign of this book cover before 5:00 this afternoon?” A friend of mine came over to my desk while I was working at IBLP HQ last month and handed me a small book. “It’s a book my father-in-law uses for his prison ministry and we...
Pic of the Month: November ‘12
The Glow of Faith Over the Thanksgiving holiday—that charming time of year which so mysteriously blends emotive recollection with cheerful anticipation—I visited Fort New Salem with the band of friends and relatives who had come to visit and celebrate the festive...
Sale Ends on November 30!
Save 10% to 25% on www.lenspiration.com Or click here to download a printable Order Form With the ability to print calendars on-demand now, I will not have an overstock to get rid of at the end of the year anymore. But I wanted to give some kind of a discount, so I...
Barbers DO Exist!
Here’s a great story I ran across today. It has nothing to do with photography, but I think it’s true and certainly gives a good dose of perspective. A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to...
Moon Over Mt. Rundle
Going through pictures, I couldn’t help but love the uniqueness of this capture! It’s one of few night shots I took in the Rockies last month simply because every day was filled from sun up to sun down to the point that I had not the energy to shoot from moon up to...
Pic of the Month: October ‘12
Life in the Thicket I don’t think I’ll ever forget that extraordinary morning at Lake Josephine in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, Montana. Everything fit together in a miraculous way. The timing was just right. Due to our travel schedule, my...
Lenspiration.com Updates!
Along with the 2013 Calendar, I’ve been working on making lots of tweaks and updates to the Lenspiration.com website! Here are a few of the more noticeable changes: Extensive keywording – I went through every picture on Lenspiration.com to make sure they are all...
How to Make a Difference
Tomorrow is election day. Use you’re freedom to make a difference in America by going out to vote! We might not have the best candidates in the world to choose from, but everybody will vote for somebody. And it’s not just a presidential race either. If you’re not...
Walking by Faith
Thank you so much for praying for the Journey to the Heart I was on last week! As evidence of God’s working, let me share about one fellow on my team who began to see God answer prayer even before he returned home to day. Starting with a small thing, he prayed God...
A Week in Northwoods
What a remarkable week it has been! There’s nothing else quite like spending time in the Northwoods of Michigan seeking God with a group of other young men dedicated to serving the Lord. We are on our way back to Chicago today, and look forward to seeing how the...
October Color
October in Glacier NP Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed,' and be thou cast into the sea;’ it shall be...
Away for a Week
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” These words from Romans 12:11-12 have been a driving force and encouragement to me over the past few weeks. And now I look...
The 2013 Calendar is Available!
Order online at www.lenspiration.com Or click here to download a printable Order Form Not everyone has a Lenspiration calendar hanging on their wall! Be reminded daily from Scripture how to practically love one anther with the 12 Ways to Love One Another 2013...
A Break at the Border
From all the pictures that I took on our recent trip to Alberta, this one stands out as one of my favorite. It was really the only opportunity we had to spend time for a family picture. After traveling in the car for hours on end through the unchanging landscape of...
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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
