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 Guy In Orange
I wiggled my way through the dirt and stretched upward to search the air. Yay, more rain! This would be my opportunity. The past week’s unusually warm days and heavy downpours had loosened up the earth. Winter was passing. Sap was flowing in the maple trees. The...
Heading Back To The Hoosier State!
There’s nothin’ quite like making breakfast over an open fire! Biscuits on a stick. Sizzlin’ bacon! I will not soon forget that foggy morning in November, 2006. A whole group of us guys had come early to spend the whole day at Turkey Run State Park in western...
Meet The Photographer From New Zealand!
I stood behind the Lenspiration table, watching people trickle past my booth. Maybe I was grabbing a bite to eat. Maybe I was actually sitting down, giving my feet a much needed rest. Being almost 5 years ago, I forget the details exactly. But I do remember when a...
On Assignment: Glowing Scenery
Yes! A landscape photography assignment. My favorite! But the weather put an interesting twist on my plans as I set out to find what I was looking for before the deadline.I had so much fun exploring with the Farrells. I took pictures of all sorts of random things!...
Why I Went To Washington DC
I could hardly believe it. After days of discussion, combing our calendar and shifting back and forth between pros and cons, Julianna and I finally decided . . . we were heading to Washington D.C! Within a matter of hours, we coordinated a place to stay with...
Getting around the “De-ghosting” Problem
Everyone loves sunset photos! But photographing a sunset is not easy. The dynamic range between the bright sky and the dark foreground is too incredible for the camera to pick up. If I expose for the sky, the result may be nice color, but at the expense of a dark...
On Assignment: Joyful Pictures
Months ago, an great idea was suggested. Last week, we acted upon it! I found myself walking down a quaint little street lined with houses headed to a special destination with friends. Golden hour was just around the corner, and the three of us photographers took...
Looking Back At 2022
Looking back at the year 2022, it’s incredible to think that the 12 Lenspiration Shoot to Serve photo assignments were photographed by 39 different photographers, submitting a grand total of 800 different photographs! Now that’s a lot of work and creativity...
3 Snowy Photo Editing Tips
Merry Christmas from Lenspiration! As we dwellers of the northern reaches of the northern hemisphere begin taking snowy photos, here are 3 little tips that I hope you find helpful in editing them to perfection! 1. Change canvas color to white Here’s a snowy photo...
Comparing Rebels
Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to buy the camera that’s best for you? Brieanna sure did when she started the topic Best Cameras for Beginning Enthusiast!! on the Q&A forum. But I’m so glad she posted something. I learned a lot as we worked together...
Analyzing Lens Flare
I don't often visit gun ranges, but this one held an attraction worth stopping for. We were on our way north to spend Thanksgiving with Julianna's family and we made sure to factor in some time for checking out three crosses I had observed on a hill close to home....
On Assignment: Homeschool Schoolwork
I’ve been filming and photographing photo assignments every month for the past 4 years, and what happened while preparing for this month’s assignment, the 12th and final one of the year, had never happened before! It was a sort of miracle, you might say, how we...
The Waterfall I Can’t Get Away From
I stumbled on a waterfall 11 years ago that I’ve never been able to get away from. In 2011, I visited Kent Falls State Park, Connecticut, for the first time. It was a cool, mid-October morning. With not a soul around, I enjoyed several hours by myself exploring and...
On Assignment: Scenes of Calvary
I was so excited to have a concrete, outdoor subject to shoot for an assignment this time! I even had a few leads as to where exactly to find this subject. But what I found was definitely not what I was expecting! Here’s how things unfolded on my first attempt at...
If Only I Had More Time!
I love running Lenspiration! But running Lenspiration is also a lot of work. . . . A few weeks ago, things were piling up. On top of the the regular weekly tasks, I was dumping lots of time into the Lenspiration calendars. Time was ticking, and decisions had to be...
How In The World Did We End Up Here?!
It might as well have been a dream. A stair case winds up into the sky.A ball of light dispels the pre-dawn darkness.My best friend stands by my side.Invisible currents carry autumn leaves through a sea of golden light.A photographer’s heaven!But it wasn’t a dream,...
Revealing the Best (and the Worst) from the Calendar Candidate Survey!
Back in September, via the blog post Which Are Your Favorite Photos?, you voted on which photos should go into the 2023 Lenspiration calendar! Well, your votes have been tallied, and the 12 have been chosen! Now, let me show you how I arrived at the 12 . . . When...
On Assignment: Communion Bread & Cup
With no grape juice in the refrigerator, can you guess what I used as a substitute? I had a lot of fun with this month’s real-life photo assignment, Communion Bread and Cup! This assignment is a great opportunity to get some practice in still-life photography! The...
Top 10 Student Photos From the Latest Photo Assignment!
While Julianna and I were settling into our home in West Virginia, the Lenspiration photographers were busy at work photographing the September photo assignment! The assignment? Photographer at a computer. The publisher? Lenspiration! We needed good photographer...
My Obsession With Old Schoolhouses
Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to rate and comment on the photo candidates for the Lenspiration 2023 calendar! I have a fun system for processing the info you provided to choose the 12 winning photos and will plan to share that with you some time soon!...
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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
