Can You Guess That State?
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!
Can You Guess That State?
Blog Archive
Stories & Expeditions
Inside the Making of My First Ever Fine‑Art Exhibition!
Inside the Making of My First Ever Fine‑Art Exhibition!
I slowly walked through the hushed room, looking at the beautiful watercolor paintings hanging on display panels or laid out on tables all around me. The artist was across the room, showing my brother some of his paint-mixing techniques. It wasn't fancy. But it was...
Sunrise Composition Tips from a Photo Adventure on Ragged Mountain
Sunrise Composition Tips from a Photo Adventure on Ragged Mountain
It has been a long time since I set my alarm clock for 3:30am. But there was no way around it!
Sunrise was at 5:31am.
I wanted to be on location at 5:00am. If it took half an hour to hike to the overlook, I needed to be at the trailhead at 4:30am. Google Maps said it was a half hour drive to the trailhead, giving me a departure time of 4:00am. And because I figured it would take half an hour to shake the sleep out of my eyes, get ready for the day, pack up some snacks, and put on my hiking shoes . . . I needed to set my alarm for 3:30am.
5 Reasons I Love July (As a Photographer)
5 Reasons I Love July (As a Photographer)
Summer's here, and I'm so excited for it. As a photographer, here are the top 5 reasons I'm lovin' this July!
The Cost of a Relaxing, Sunset Photo Shoot with Family
The Cost of a Relaxing, Sunset Photo Shoot with Family
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.
How We Took Amazing Rainy-Day Photos in the Smoky Mountains
How We Took Amazing Rainy-Day Photos in the Smoky Mountains
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...
Rainy Day in the Smokies
Rainy Day in the Smokies
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.
A Picture‑Trail Through the Desert
A Picture‑Trail Through the Desert
I had an unusual opportunity to wander the desert at my own pace. No schedule. No rush. Just me, my camera and the desert waking up around me...
One Simple Mistake that Ruins Great Photos
One Simple Mistake that Ruins Great Photos
As you may have read in earlier blog posts, I had thoroughly enjoyed photographing the sunrises, sunsets and golden hours at the Grand Canyon during a trip to the southwest in July. I was beyond satisfied with the great photos I had. . .
The Rarity of a Perfect Winter Scene
The Rarity of a Perfect Winter Scene
As a landscape photographer, there’s a part of me that genuinely looks forward to the kind of winter cold that brings snow, ice, and blizzards! Those are the days when the world is transformed—when every branch becomes a brushstroke and every field a blank canvas....
A Divine Composition: 9 Providential Encounters on Jekyll Island
A Divine Composition: 9 Providential Encounters on Jekyll Island
Have you ever read the poem, "Disappointment - His appointment, change one letter and I see that the thwarting of my purpose is God's better choice for me. . ." After a year of planning and then cancelling our October EXPLORE Meet Up at Jekyll Island, choosing a date in January had its risks.
Who Wins the Prize for the 10 “Most Unique” Photos of a . . . Door?
Who Wins the Prize for the 10 “Most Unique” Photos of a . . . Door?
Photos of a door? You read it correctly! For the Jekyll Island EXPLORE Meetup we did a unique photography challenge. “Go find a door and take 10 artistic photos of it. The one who comes away with the most unique set of 10 photos wins!” Yeah, I know. Sounds rather difficult. If not downright strange. But you should try it sometime!
The Jekyll Island Sunrise I Didn’t Choose
The Jekyll Island Sunrise I Didn’t Choose
I could hardly believe I was actually on my way to Jekyll Island! I’m not even sure when I first heard about this small, unassuming island off the coast of southern Georgia. Maybe it was in an old issue of Outdoor Photographer I pored over when I was young. Or...
Grand Canyon Photography: A Prime Sunrise Spot
Grand Canyon Photography: A Prime Sunrise Spot
We had found the Desert View Watchtower overlook to be a fantastic sunset location with its sweeping views to the west. I had taken a chance with sunrise at Grandview Point and discovered it to be the ideal location for that time of day. We hiked into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail for an adventurous midday activity. And we were blown away with the incredible sunset God gave us at a small, yet ideal location at Navajo Point, complete with open views of the Dragon Bravo wildfire on the North Rim.
Grand Canyon Photography: A Perfect Midday Activity
Grand Canyon Photography: A Perfect Midday Activity
After a short yet exhilarating hike into the Grand Canyon, it was so refreshing to get back to the car where Julianna and Mordecai were waiting. The day had hardly started, only just after 7:30am. We pulled out a yummy breakfast and kept warm and comfortable in the plush seats of our brand new rental vehicle. From where we were sitting, we could look out over the canyon with the rising sun now flooding the majestic rock walls.
Grand Canyon Photography: Searching for Ideal Sunrise Locations
Grand Canyon Photography: Searching for Ideal Sunrise Locations
My alarm went off at 4:00am sharp. Though I didn't feel like getting up, I was too excited about the potential of what would be happening that day to snooze the alarm for even one minute. I quietly slipped out of the tent and started the car. Julianna sleep-walked...
Keeping Family Vacation Blissful
Keeping Family Vacation Blissful
It's amazing how easy it is to lose track of time when you're on vacation! The morning dawned over our campsite with a lazy reddish glow. A light breeze dried up the last drops of rain clinging to the sides of our tent. By the time I got back from an enjoyable...
How I Survived the Demands of Photographing an Outdoor Wedding in the Middle of Summer
How I Survived the Demands of Photographing an Outdoor Wedding in the Middle of Summer
I've learned what I need to do before and during the wedding day to make sure I don't get exhausted. But this year, I was asked to photograph a wedding in July that would put everything I knew to the test!
Does Aperture Affect the Thickness of a Lightning Bolt in a Photo?
Does Aperture Affect the Thickness of a Lightning Bolt in a Photo?
After an enlightening workshop in Pennsylvania and a busy HEAV Convention Photography Team, we were headed back to familiar territory. Our spring travels had taken us away from home for 5 weeks! But before crossing the finish line we wanted to make one last stop: a...
6 Takeaways from a Photography Workshop That Didn’t Quite Go As Planned
6 Takeaways from a Photography Workshop That Didn’t Quite Go As Planned
It was about as normal a summer afternoon as it gets in Pennsylvania. Hot, sunny, and humid. A typical June day in the countryside along the wide Susquehanna River. But the events of the day were all but normal!
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