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!
The Next Adventure
The Chicago O’Hare Airport is a wonderful place. Every international trip I’ve taken has begun there. None of these trips have ever been for the sole purpose of picture taking, but it certainly pays to bring a camera along. Though I am attracted to the distinctive...
Two Perspectives
Most people are happy when spring begins to appear. But one sad thing about spring coming is that all the snow melts. Then it rains. And rains. And then, because it’s really still winter, it gets cold again and everything turns to ice. Most people are unhappy about...
Understanding Design!
Do you know the basic rules of design? Do you know how to use Photoshop to create anything you want? Do you wish you could lay out brochures and other print material in InDesign? That’s what last weeks Desktop Publishing course at Verity Institute was all about!...
Pic of the Month: February ‘11
Under the Sun Have you ever considered that all your wonderful camera equipment is not much more than this: weeds? Both will eventually break down. One more quickly than the other, of course, but neither of them will last very long. And why do I say this? To warn...
The Journey North, Part VI
There is one last photography-related activity worth taking note of: an activity most unique to anything I have ever experienced. In, or should I say beneath, a portion of downtown Rochester, New York, there remains an old, abandoned subway tunnel. Allen, my friend...
The Journey North, Part V
The fact that it took pretty much all day to travel by car and train from Beachburg to the US border at Niagara Falls, resulted in the serendipitous event that I arrived at the falls after dark. I can attest that Niagara Falls is spectacular at night. But it is...
The Journey North, Part IV
The last evening and morning in Beachburg was probably the most picturesque. It was clear, which was uncharacteristic of my stay in Canada. Having gone to bed late, due to travel the day before and a desire to take pictures that night, I almost missed the colorful...
The Journey North, Part III
The day I visited Parliament Hill, situated on the banks of the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada, was probably the most intense of the entire trip. There were deadlines to meet and established limits to the amount of time spent in various places. The rhythm was...
The Journey North, Part II
As we approached the the colossal structure known as Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, near Magog, Quebec, I felt the thrill of excitement that accompanies every photographer upon entering a particularly photogenic location. However, the opposition was clearly...
The Journey North, Part I
If you can, do it. It’s not always possible--nor is it always right--to do everything. But if it’s possible, and if it’s right, do it! I have not traveled often by myself, nor do I recommend it, but over the past two weeks, the pieces fit together perfectly to...
A Huge Blessing
That’s right; completely sold out! Thanks to you and the many who purchased Lenspiration’s Observe 2011 calendar, I have no more left to sell. The endeavor was a success! “. . . if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all...
Pic of the Month: January ‘11
Full Moon in January It’s fun to go though pictures of the past month as I sit in my cozy little office looking outside at the blowing snow and thinking about the blizzard warnings here in Chicago. There was snow on the ground for most of January, and it appears as...
Tracking Down the Right Tripod
The principles of finding the right tripod is not much different than finding anything else relating to photography, such as a compact camera. Therefore, having just finished going through the process of researching and purchasing a new tripod, I will expound more...
Shootout at the Bridge
It’s not often that I get to go on a photoshoot with someone else. But when a friend called me last night to ask if I would like to accompany him on a night photography venture, I readily jumped at the chance. It wasn’t anything fancy; just a stroll down to where a...
Use Your Skills
Along with photography, I enjoy doing layout and design projects on the side. A business in Connecticut needed a simple sheet explaining how to pay bills using PayPal. After talking over details with the company, researching the PayPal website, and conducting a...
How to Choose a Compact Camera
George poked his head into the office. “I’m heading off to Australia tomorrow for the annual ATI Conference” he said. “Would you be the one to ask for a camera to bring along with me?” Yes, I was the guy to talk to. But what camera would I give him? The old Nikon...
The Sun Makes All the Difference
Last Thursday, I received one of those urgent phone calls from Mr. Gothard’s office! With only one hour of sunlight left in the day, I was commissioned to photograph a hotel close by that IBLP is in the process of purchasing: the Drake Hotel of Oak Brook. My...
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New month - new photo assignment! And this one is pretty sweet. 🙂 Our goal is to take beautiful photos that reflect the truths of Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Get all the details at the link in bio!
Another behind the scenes shot....thanks to @real_lukas_n Though I usually use a tripod for landscape photography, there was no time in this situation where it was literally raining. When I saw the distant mountains after pulling in for only a short time at this open-to-the-public farm, I knew there was a shot somewhere. This vast field of flooded strawberry plants was the foreground I was looking for, offering perfect leading lines to the triangular peak framed by the sweeping mist.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#farm #landscapephotographer #shootingintherain #rainyday #behindtheshot
New blog post! The last bit of light after sunset doesn`t take long to disappear. Sparkling stars were peering through the pinyon pine boughs above us. We were in the deep shadows of dusk as we picked our way down the rock strewn trail back to the parking lot. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Behind the shot photo.... When it`s rainy, and you`re not on lights`s time table, there`s time to chat with friends while you`re out in the field! 🤩 Thanks @real_lukas_n for the second photo! --
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#outdoorphoto #lowkey #mystery #photographyfriends #explorenc
Happy Memorial Day! Let us honor their sacrifice by using our freedoms not to do as we please, but to live as we ought. #freedom #integrity #selfcontrol #memorialday #Godblessamerica
New blog post! Rain poured down in torrential waves as we made our way through the Smoky Mountains. We had gotten up insanely early—long before dawn—to make the most of our time photographing at the high-elevation overlooks before the storm. But now the rain was coming down so hard that even the most dedicated among us didn’t feel like stepping out of the car for a photo. Until we rounded a bend and saw... Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on Tuesday, May 26 as we look at "Glowing Scenery" photos. . . Register at link in bio!
Foreground element, framing, leading lines, human element, vibrant color.... Definitely one of my favorite shots from EXPLORE Springtime in the Smokies.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#photographycomposition #photoworkshop #composition #landscapephotography #springtime @greatsmokynps @blueridgenps
Before/after....look at the difference! A little editing is just what it needed to make it pop (IMO). What do you think?
"For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills." Deuteronomy 8:7-9 Every time I photograph a waterfall I should thank the Lord for letting me live in such a blessed land.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#waterfall #verseoftheday #landscapephoto #thankful #godsblessing
New blog post! The photographer who makes decisions based on comfort won’t get out in the field, even in a place like the Smokies—and therefore won’t come home with any photos. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
The photo assignment for May is live! Take beautiful, landscape photos that have a warm, glowing sense to them. Photos could include warm sunlight glowing at the end of a path, over water, over a stream, in a field, or over a mountain. Details at link in bio.
New blog post! Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Someone got a photo of me taking the group photo at Family Conference last week! @familyconfs @alertacademy #familyconference #eventphotography #groupphoto #eventphotographer #adventurous
A quick stop in Paris for a selfie! 😄 #paristexas #travel #selfietime #texas
So much fun to photograph a family conference as an actual family! (Thank you Rebekah for the photo!)
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#family #behindthescenes #together #teamwork #wvphotographer
On the lookout for puddles on a rainy first day of Conference!
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Family-friendly place to learn photography! www.lenspiration.com
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#rainyday #homeschool #conference #familylife #puddlejumping
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on Tuesday, April 28! Register at link in bio.
