Here it is, my favorite image of 2016. As I had mentioned in part 1, I wasn’t able to go on any of my long trips that I typically do. I still found time to get out locally and was able to capture a fare amount of quality images including some new places I haven’t been to before. So I consider that to be a successful year.
My favorite image wasn’t my most popular even though it was up there. It wasn’t my most unique or breathtaking. There isn’t even a lot of special meaning behind the moment when I captured it. For me, it was just captivating and it pulled me in every time I saw it, which is the same goal I have for people viewing my work.
This year I was fortunate enough to live a few minutes from several canola fields (rapeseed). Canola is a crop that I have wanted to photograph for a while. The bright yellow flower is a great contrast for blue skies, sunsets, barns and is so different than most of the other crops on the Palouse. The first day I decided to head out and photograph the canola, my intentions were to explore and find some good compositions. This frame of mind is good for me because I can get tunnel vision sometimes when I have a specific shot in mind. When I arrived at the first field I didn’t have a lot of high expectations because it was next to highway and in the middle of a rural residential area. I still decided to drive around to see if there were any potential shots. I pulled off the highway and drove up the side road when about 100 yards in front of me a young buck walked across the road into the canola field. I stopped the car and quickly put my telephoto lens on my camera and double checked to make sure my settings for ready for wildlife. Then, I slowly drove up the road looking for the deer, which I had lost sight of. At this point I was starting to get excited about the potential for this shot. I was visualizing this buck just surrounded by canola. But I didn’t want to get ahead of myself because I needed to find the deer first. As I approached the spot where he crossed the road I started scanning the canola for him. I didn’t see any sign of him at first. Then, I saw this head pop up from the canola and he looked right at me. The Canola was so tall that when the deer put his head down to eat he disappeared. Now, I found him but I needed to get to a spot that I could pull over. Luckily, there was an intersection with a large area to the right where I could pull off the road and in front of the canola. I did my best to quietly park the car without spooking him. I carefully got out of the car and hid behind it using it as a blind. I was assuming this deer spent enough time in the area where it saw enough cars and new those they weren’t a danger to them as long as they kept some distance. As I began to photograph him I realized the canola was so tall I couldn’t get a clear shot of him. I opened the car door and used it as a step stool while resting my camera on the roof to stabilize it. This was just enough height to get a clear shot of the deer. The only issue now was the awkward way I was standing put a lot of stress on my back, which I have ongoing issues with, and was creating intense pain. There was no way I was going to miss this shot so I did my best to stay focused and suck it up. As I worked, the buck kept a close eye on me. He knew where I was and made sure to keep his distance while enjoying his dinner. Every now and then I had to switch doors to stand in and even move the car to get a better angle all the while the deer was getting his fill and working the camera like a runway model. After I felt I got what I wanted I did visit several other fields to look for shots but I was more focused on getting home to see my results. I followed up that day with several more trips to the fields. While I was looking for many different compositions, I was always hoping to see my friendly deer, snacking on the canola. On some of my trips I specifically went by the same field and waited to see if he or any of his friends would make an appearance but they never did. I look back and realize how fortunate I was to be in the right place at the right time with very cooperative wildlife.
This image has been on my bucket list for awhile. Every time I look at this photo I get caught up in it. Not sure if it’s because of the pure simplicity, the bright canola, the deer or everything, but it just makes me smile and I like when and image evokes that type of emotion in me. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
This is part 5 of my best photos of 2016 and the last one before I reveal my favorite of 2016 which may surprise some of you.
This selection of my top photos of 2016 is one of my most recent ones. I haven’t photographed many winter scenes and it is on my list to do more. The past couple of years really limited me because of the lack of snow and ice but I don’t have much of an excuse this year. This image I have a pre-visualization of what I was wanting to capture. With the air temperatures in the single digits I was hoping to capture the water vapor coming off the river along with the sun back lighting it. I was fortunate enough to have the perfect conditions including the cooperation of the sun. There was little wind but it was cold enough next to the river. This spot is along the Spokane river at the bowl and pitcher in Riverside State Park. The sun and water vapor combine to create a wonderful atmospheric picture and represent the conditions at the time.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
The next photo in my top images of 2015 is really two. I guess you could call it a tie but since they aren’t ranked then it really doesn’t matter. They are close to the same image but one is in portrait and the other is in Landscape format. The compositions are slightly different as well. Why I chose them is more from the approach aspect.
These images are a favorite for several reasons. First they are unique. This is something I am always striving for. They are also abstract in a way that makes you think, what are you looking at and what perspective is the camera shooting from. Then there is the sheer beauty of maple trees in fall. These images also got some of the most positive reactions out of any images I took this year.
On the day I took this images I was looking for some fall color. I hadn’t had much luck so far. I decided to go to the Japanese gardens in Spokane. The one problem this poses to photographers is there are no tripods allowed. For me that is huge since I shoot 85-90% of my images on a tripod. After shooting for a while I noticed several maple trees in peek color. I was trying to figure out how to get a different perspective. I wanted to shoot low, but without my tripod it was hard to stabilize my camera. After taking a few shots I noticed at the base of the trees, several trunks of the tree branched out creating a little spot where I could set my camera facing up. I quickly got to work. I would take a shot, review it, then change the settings and do it over again. It took many shots but I felt good about what I had captured. So good in fact that I wanted to come straight home and work them up. This kind of feeling has only happened a few times. After I went through what I had captured there were a couple images that turned out well and these are the results. The trunks of the trees reaching towards the sky with the leaves in full autumn color definitely made for one of my more creative images of the year.
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To catch you up if you haven’t read the previous posts, this is the third post about my favorite images of 2016. There is no order or rank except I did save my very favorite for last.
This next favorite image from 2016 was taken in the spring from Steptoe Butte in the Palouse. It was a great overall year to photograph the Palouse with the early spring and great weather. What I have been specifically waiting for the when the storms roll in. I am not fond of the wind and up on Steptoe it can be especially bad but there is potential for some beautiful dramatic atmospheric images with unique cloud formations, great light and vivid sunsets.
On this day I was looking at the weather forecast and there were storms moving through the area so I headed out. I traveled through some rain and grey skies but wasn’t discouraged because at any minute it could clear up. As these small storms move through, the sun can pop out behind them and create some breathtaking rainbows. So, as I am driving I am always looking for a potential spot where I can compose a shot if the clouds move through and a rainbow shows up. As I drove up Steptoe Butte the rain slowed down and the sun was coming out. As I came around the east side there was a beautiful rainbow just hovering over the patterned fields of the Palouse. I quickly found a place to pull over and snapped away. The rainbow quickly faded but I knew this was a good sign for the start to my day. I slowly worked my way around the butte looking for shots. I really wanted to get some of the wildflowers but the wind was not letting it happen. As sunset was approaching I found myself at the top of Steptoe. Another large dark cloud was moving in and looking to smother the sun. I was a little disappointed because there probably wouldn’t be a very colorful sunset. While there were many photographers lined up waiting for it, I just didn’t have much faith anything would materialize. I decided to start driving down and if things changed I could find place to capture the sunset. As I got close to the bottom, the sun started to peek between the dark clouds and the horizon. While it wasn’t earth shaking I figure I should stop and try to get a few shots. I found a fence and some wildflowers that would work for subject matter and clicked away. The sunset was just good enough that I wanted to find another view point and get a couple more shots. As I grabbed my camera/tripod and turned to walk back to the car, I saw it. There was no way I could miss it. The clouds to the east were catching the last light of the day and turned vivid shades of pink and purple. I thought to myself, this is it. This is why I came out here today. I didn’t want to drive anywhere for fear of missing the colorful sky so I scrambled to find a composition in the spot I was in. This old section of a fence surrounded by wildflowers was it. I worked as fast as I could, capturing all angles. The wind slowed down enough that it was manageable. There were a couple of other compositions I managed to photograph as well but I don’t think they captured the bright colors in the clouds as well as this one did.
While the color sky was amazing, there was one other thing that made this image special. This was the day after Prince had passed away. Like many others, I listened to his music growing up and his death was a big shock to me. In this moment, I felt like Mother Nature was celebrating Prince with some purple skies. So, this image was a tribute to the great rock star Prince. The title of the image, A world of Never Ending Happiness, is a lyric from his song “Let’s go Crazy”. I thought it was a good representation of the image. So, here it is, “A World of Never Ending Happiness”.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
This is part 2 of my best of images for 2016. To recap, I am doing each image individually. The images aren’t necessarily my best or most popular, just favorites of mine or ones that have special meaning.
The next photo I choose is also a product of the warm and wet spring we had. I tried to get out and shoot as much as possible, from the wildflowers to all the local parks and gardens. This image comes from Manito Park in Spokane. It is an image of a magnolia tree in full bloom that is back lit from the setting sun. At first glance the image just looks like a typical shot of a tree. On closer inspection you will see how I tried to get as close as I could to the flowers. I used a wide angle lens to not only capture the blooming flowers but also get as much of the tree in the composition. This wasn’t easy. I had my tripod raised up as high as it could go and I was standing on my tippy toes to look through the view finder to make sure I was getting the image I wanted. This is what I came up with in the end. These beautiful trees are growing on me as a spring favorite.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
In the Past I have done a list of my top images of the year. I am going to change things up just a little. I am still going to pick what I think are my top images of the year but I am giving each image their very own blog.
I didn’t take any big trips this year, not that I didn’t want to. Sometimes life happens and your priorities change. Because of this I had to stay local. In a way that was a good thing because it really made me work on finding new places to shoot and look for different views of popular places. These images aren’t ranked in any particular order except for the last one, which is my personal favorite.
The first image is one that shows off the incredible spring that we had. It was warmer than usual starting in January but we also got a fair amount of rain. This was a perfect combination for an early and abundant wildflower season. One of the flowers that took full advantage of the unusually warm spring was the arrowleaf balsamroot, the flower that looks like a small bouquet of sunflowers. They were everywhere. In this particular image I wanted to capture the flowers with the spring light from a low perspective giving an up close and personal feel to the image. I took this picture in Hamblen Park, in Spokane to also show how people don’t have to go too far to enjoy all the wildflowers. The balsamroot were so thick it looked like a yellow carpet in the forest. They are one of my favorite spring flowers and this year was the first where I was able to capture some images that really highlighted this beautiful wildflower. It will be quite some time before we have another spring that will produce a bumper crop of wildflowers like it did this year so I hope you were able to get out and enjoy them.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
So, you and your husband were invited to a Christmas party but you have to travel separately because you are going straight from work. He is off earlier than you and will be bringing the kids. You also ask him to stop by the store and pick something up because it has been “one of those weeks” and you didn’t get around to making your famous Christmas treats. Upon showing up you check in o n your family and double check to see if he picked up some goodies.
With a responding smile and look of “I did good”, he points to the table of carefully arranged Christmas snacks. In the middle you see a plastic grocery bag that is semi camouflaging a plastic bakery container. Then you think to yourself, “at least he got the kids here”.
We have all been there. Christmas is a busy time and we never have enough time to do everything we want. But when we do end up scrambling, at least we want to make it look like we put some effort into it. Now if your husband had a nice, decorative tote bag to hide the store bought food in, it would be a lot less embarrassing.
A simple fix until you get there to pull out the treats and present them in a way that doesn’t make them look like they are straight from the store.
This is just one of the many uses for the artistic tote bags I offer for sale. Yes they are more expensive than typical reusable bags but these feature unique art on them. They are stylish and washable. They come in several different sizes and styles. And they are so irresistible but practical you will want several.
These bags are extremely practical for any family. They can be used for groceries. They are perfect to take your workout clothes to the gym. No more will your child have to use a plastic grocery bag to carry things when they go to a friend’s house (I know I wasn’t the only kid that did this).
They are also great for a carry on for plane flights or taking what you need to the park or beach. Now you can have one that has an image of a favorite vacation spot or a scene of your home town.
Not only are they something for you and your family but there are many uses for them as a gift. If someone doesn’t have room on their wall for a print of their favorite place but you know that would make a special and personal gift. Well, get that image on a tote bag and they can take that memory everywhere they go. The tote bags also work well as a gift bag that the recipient can use well after they open the gifts in the bag. Buy a few tote bags and keep a couple for back up gifts. Maybe you have a work party and need something for a gift exchange but forgot. Get a bottle of wine and some Christmas sweets and you will have a gift that everyone will want to steal.
Outside of prints, this is the one product that I have purchased several for gifts and myself. The colors are true to what you see on your screen (if your monitor is calibrated) and the quality is really great. Everyone that I have given a tote bag too has been really impressed with it.
So, if you are looking for that hard to shop for person or you just need to some for yourself, these classy high quality tote bags are a great choice for the upcoming holiday season that can be used all year long. Now is the time to plan and order to avoid the rush.
To check out any of these tote bags or the hundreds more I have on my site please click on any image or follow this link, Tote Bags and Weekender Tote Bags . Please contact me if you have any questions.
Today, in the world of photography it takes a lot of work to make it. Many of us still work other jobs just so we can finance our photography business. Throw family into the mix and we wonder how we are going to find time to succeed with our photography. From taking pictures, editing, marketing and everything in between, the precious minutes are few and far between.
One of the more time consuming parts of photography is the whole editing workflow process. Photographers, more than ever, need to be very knowledgeable of industry leading editing software. Yes, getting everything right in camera is so critical but there is always going to be some final touches needed. To stand out in this competitive business, being good at editing is important. Sometimes no matter how efficient you are at editing, it still takes a lot of time. Because of this I am always on the lookout for ways to create a more effective workflow while still having control throughout the process. At the same time I don't want to sacrifice quality for a "quick fix". There is one company I have found that gives me a solution for what I am looking for in my editing workflow.
Sleeklens has developed products for both Lightroom and Photoshop to help all types of photographers streamline their editing workflow with presets, brushes and actions. For me I prefer to do most of my editing in Lightroom so I use the presets and brushes workflow from Sleeklens. Being a landscape photographer the “Through the Woods” workflow collection has great tools with 51 presets and 30 brushes to make my workflow more efficient.
Why I like working with Sleeklens is how easy it was to integrate into my workflow. Software can be intimidating and frustrating at times. The installations instructions make is so simple. Unlike other plug-ins I have installed in the past, there is no stumbling around my computer files wondering if I did it right. They also offer great customer service to help guide you through your instillation.
No sooner than installing it, you can get right to work using it. In the Develop module you can choose a variety of presets from an “all in” one preset that makes all your adjustments at one time to a base preset and some fine tuning presets. There are also brushes that go along with the presets. Simply pull up the adjustment brush and choose from the drop down menu at the top. All the brushes are conveniently labeled as to what they will do and help me turn my image into exactly what I want. Then, like with all presets and brushes, I can adjust the settings to my liking.
I wasn’t looking for something to speed up my editing; I wanted to make the process more efficient. Sleeklens does that and more. With just a couple clicks and a few slider changes, I have my image looking exactly like I envisioned. I have a before and after image of some sunflowers where I used the Through The Woods workflow preset “extending DR – Crisp and sharp”. It really made the image “pop”, especially the center sunflower where I want the most of the attention focused on. Click on the images to see a larger version of how the preset enhanced the photo.
Sunflowers "Before"
Sunflowers "After"
If you are looking for something to help improve your editing workflow, I would highly encourage you to check out Sleeklens and the quality products they offer. The Staff is comprised of experienced photographers and designers that have worked in the industry for many years and understand the passion photographers feel towards creating a top quality images. To specifically check out the landscape workflow that I use you can go here. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, Sleeklens workflow solutions will help you with your image editing and maybe get some of the invaluable time back that we all need in our lives.
I have had my images printed in various formats to hang on walls, printed on tote bags, cell phone covers, printed in books and enlarged into murals. No matter how it is printed I get the same excitement every time. My image in one way or another has evoked some type of emotional response that resonated with the buyer and I feel that connection. But one of the latest uses of one of my images got me a little more excited than usual. A winemaker from Walla Walla chose and image of mine to be on the label of her chardonnay wine this year. But for me it is more than just my image on a bottle of wine.
The Bottling Process The bottling process takes place in a semi truck. It starts on the right of the image where the bottles are placed on the conveyor and then get cleaned/sanitized, filled and labeled. It wraps around and ends on the left side of the photo where Ashley(in the blue jacket) boxes the bottles.
Winemaker Ashley Trout has started a new winery called March Cellars. You can read more about her past experience on the website. She is not only passionate about wine and her new label but has a specific vision for her new winery.The name, March Cellars, comes from the last month that a party in the 1800’s could head out west and make it alive. March Cellars pays tribute to those that have ventured west in that era, into the virtual unknown to start a new life. The images she choose for her wines reflect the overall theme of the winery, “The west: the finest line between discovery and despair”, a saying you will find on many of March Cellars website pages. So, I consider it an honor to have one of my images carefully selected to be on a bottle of wine and help represent the theme and vision of March Cellars.
I was even more excited to be invited to the bottling even for the Chardonnay.
First Glass of March Cellars Chardonnay
While not one of the more exciting parts of wine making it represents the culmination of hard work to create this great wine. For me it is interesting to see a little of the behind the scenes of part of the whole process. Ashley even offered me a glass from the first bottle. Without being chilled or aged in the bottle it was outstanding. While my image on the bottle was only a small fraction of the process of the making of this chardonnay It will be one of the most memorable and cherished uses of one of my photos.
Oh, and the image of mine that she chose, “Frosty Bison”. An image of 3 bison in Yellowstone covered in frozen fog. An image, at the time, I tried to capture the hardships of bison in Yellowstone. With the temperature well below freezing and blanketed with frost eating dead frozen grass, I thought it captured what the bison go through to survive the harsh conditions of the Park.
The other thing I will mention is the whole experience in working with Ashley was very positive. After talking to her a little and seeing her in action during the bottling process I realized how genuine, passionate and a complete professional she is which is why I have no doubt she will be successful with March Cellars.
The Bottling ProcessA view of the bottling process from the outside. The forklift is bringing palates of empty bottles for the beginning of the line as the conveyor belt on the left is where the boxes full of wine come out.
Bottles filled and labeled
If you are a fan of chardonnay or any wine I would highly recommend trying this wine from March Cellars. Information for buying it can be found on the website. Or, if you are planning on being in Walla Walla check to see if they have any events going on while there. You can get more information from the March Cellars Website or on Facebook.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please feel free to leave comments and share. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook , Twitter , Pintrest or on Instagram where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
So, you took some pictures and posted them on Instagram. A lot of people liked them and had some nice things to say about them. But you feel like you are ready to show them off in a different environment. Go for it! It would be nice to have your images up somewhere. Unfortunately the fridge is dominated by the kids art including that 4 year old macaroni art that is half eaten by the dog, but still to precious to toss. Your hall is covered by family portraits. While nice and sentimental, they still aren’t photos you took. But seriously why limit yourself to your own home. Think bigger and prestigious. Some place where everyone can enjoy them and they are out of reach from the family pet and greasy little fingerprints. Yes, put them in a gallery. You may be thinking that, while your works of art may be great in their own special way, they might not be worthy of a gallery. At least not yet. Plus, you know it takes a lot of work and it can be expensive. Let me tell you, there is a way that’s not only easy but free to put those timeless and captivating images of yours into a gallery…. Where they belong…. For the world to see.
Here is the solution to all your problems. It is called Instamuseum. Yep, a simple little app that allows you to put your images into a gallery and share it with whoever you want. You have your choice of 4 galleries including the Louvre (how cool is that!). The app is free and simple to use. After a little information from you it collects your images and creates a gallery that can even be viewed in VR. You can view your gallery on Sketchfab(also a free site). This is a fun little app that you can share the link with whoever you want. The only downside to this is you can’t select the images and it only works with Instagram. Hopefully this will change so you can create different galleries. Here is my gallery of images.
While this may have not been the "brick and mortar" gallery you were hoping for, it's a start.So, go create your amazing gallery and enjoy your images larger than life on a wall for all your friends to see. I would love to see what you have done so if you want, please share your gallery in the comment section.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook , Twitter or on Instagram where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
In 1935, American Eastman Kodak invented a tripack color film they called Kodachrome. This wasn’t the first color film to it was a big step towards modern color film and prints. For many years black and white was still preferred mostly to the cost of developing color. It wasn’t until the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that color film and prints became the norm for photography and black and white slowly faded away.
Highland School HouseLocated just off US Highway 2 in Eastern Washington, The Highland Shool House sits in wheat field. Also known as the Baird Shool, this one room school house has seen better days. One of the many interesting sights one can see on the backroads of rural Washington.
Many people now days prefer color photography. With the exception of a few the art of black and white photography has faded. Yes, most everyone sees in color so I understand why they would prefer images in color. As photographers we tend to cater to what the public wants. It helps us sell more. Besides, if the image isn’t in color how are we to enjoy a beautiful spring landscape of wildflowers or the different vivid uniforms of teams during a sporting event? We love that “pop” of color. It draws us in to the image and makes us say “wow”. It also blinds us.
I have to admit, the majority of my galleries are of color images. My preferred style is dramatic landscapes with dynamic lighting and color. But if we strip away all that color, we can really what the image is made of. Many times we don’t see the true essence of an image until we view it in black and white. Without color we now focus on the composition, the light and how it falls on the subject and creates shadows. And what really stands out for me in black and white is the textures and patterns.
So here is my challenge to you: when you look at a black and white image, explore it. Go beyond the surface and see what you feel. Examine it. Let it take you in. Many times the story can be so much richer.
I know you may still love your color photos and feel they offer more than a black and white image would. Still, try viewing several black and white image to notice all the elements in the image. I think you will be surprised. The final images at the end are a comparison of the same composition. One in color and the other in black and white. I really love the story the color image tells but I like the black and white image more. Study both of them for yourself and see what you find.
Hint:click on the image to open in it in a larger version to enhance your viewing experience.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
From a professional standpoint, the gear I use aren’t toys but sometimes industry outsiders(my girlfriend) refer to them as such. Yes, I am one of those that would love to have the latest and greatest camera gear if my wallet would allow me. I also know that the skill to use a camera, processing software and everything in between is just as important. For the moment I am going to focus on the technology side of how I became a photographer and how it will impact my future in the industry.
The moment I became hooked on photography was in 2003. Before I get to that I will back up even farther. I have always liked taking photos but it has been to document the moment more than anything else. When I was around 7 years old our family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. For the trip, my parents allowed me to use an old camera of theirs that took black and white 35mm photos. I had so much fun being behind the lens and clicking the shutter button. At one point on the trip we saw a bull moose in the Madison River and I almost used up all my film trying to capture the moment. Needless to say I came home with a lot of shots of the moose and not much else.
Growing up I always had some type of camera. For a while it was the 110 format film camera. Then I convinced my parents to get me a Disk film camera. They seemed so cool at the time. Eventually I got an Olympus point and shoot 35mm camera. Most of the time I just used my camera to capture memories from trips, family, and friends. My interest with photography didn’t go much further than that. I think because once the picture was taken I then had to wait for the roll of film to be used up. Then it would take a while to get it developed. First, my parents would usually wait until we had several rolls of film to get developed. That could take several weeks or more. Then when we sent it away it could take up to 2 weeks before we got it back. There was nothing like seeing Christmas memories in the summer.
Fast forward to 2003, I was looking to upgrade from my 35mm point and shoot camera to a digital camera.
Gasworks ParkOne of my first night photos I took. I realized the limitations of my cameras ability to capture detail with very little noise. While I did experiment with light painting and a few other night shooting techniques, I didn't take that many night shots because of the limits of my camera.
Some type of higher end point and shoot that allowed for some creativity and had manual settings. I was a soccer coach and wanted it to document the season and create end of the year slide shows. I knew I would use it for more but that was what I was planning on using it the most. By this time, I also had also become fan of technology. I got the bug when my parents got me a Commodore 64 computer when I was in High School. They wanted me to have something more useful than the Atari game console I wanted. This really kick started my craving for tech.
So, back to buying my first digital camera. I was in our local camera store looking at point and shoot digital cameras. In my research I had narrowed it down to a Canon and Nikon. Digital photography wasn’t fully accepted at this point. Many pros who shot with film weren’t too excited about the digital revolution that was about to happen. For me, I wanted digital because I was able to easily download images right from my camera to my computer and see my results instantly. I loved that. So, after talking to the salesman about the different types of digital cameras, he showed me a couple of DSLRs. I wanted a camera that was easy to learn at first but I could grow with. It didn’t take much to sell me and I ended up walking out with my first DSLR. It was the Canon Rebel. The camera that really helped start the DSLR revolution.
I actually waited a day to open up my new camera, which is so unlike me. I was patient and read through the manual to figure out how to use my new digital camera. I finally felt confident enough that I was ready to test it out. So I put the camera in a backpack and road my bike down a trail that I often ride to capture a few images. My first stop was a wildflower. I snapped a few shots of it and some more broad landscape shots.
My FirstThe first image that I took with my new Canon Rebel DSLR and helped me get hooked on photograph.
As soon as I got home I hooked my camera up to my computer and downloaded them. It was instant! I was blown away and now hooked! I couldn’t wait to go back out and take more images. Soon I was taking pictures of everything. I found nature and landscape to be the most alluring to me. I joined online photo communities and shared my images. This is where I was first humbled especially after taking my first big trip to Southern Utah. I didn’t quite fully understand why some of my images were OK and others were nowhere close to capturing the beauty that I saw.
Bryce SunriseOne of my image from my first photography trip that I was actually happy with. After comparing it to other images from the trip that didn't turn out I realized I needed to learn a lot more about photography.
So, as I realized that I have so much more to learn, I did everything I could to educate my passion. I bought books about composition and lighting, learned my camera inside and out, studied images of great photographers , and worked hard on sharpening my post processing software skills. I really couldn’t get enough of everything photography. Then there came a point when I wanted to upgrade. It was really after my second DSLR purchase that I was pulled into the digital photography vortex and felt I needed all the latest gear I could get. But, I couldn’t really afford it so I resorted to dreaming instead. Through time I did add more lenses and upgrade cameras several more times. As I try to keep up with all the advancements in photography it becomes overwhelming, in a good way. But now, as I look to add to my collection of “toys”, I mean tools, there are more choices to consider. Full frame, how many pixels do I need, should I go mirrorless? How much of these improvements are really important? Will they really help me?
Through my development, I have followed several photographers that I consider to be some of the best in the business. One thing I have noticed is that there are a few that seem to always be on top of the industry while others have faded. New advances in photography gear seem to come out every day from improvement on a lens to new processing software to the latest camera. For me, I can’t afford to always upgrade to the latest or buy the top of the line gear. But I have learned from these expert photographers like George Lepp, what type of advancements will help me and how I can apply that to what I already know.
An example of new technology that I have been keeping an eye on is from a company called Light. Their outside of the box thinking on a new camera technology called the Light L16 has really got the industry talking and photographers like me excited about its possibilities. You really have to check out this video to understand what I mean.
As I carefully evaluate what type of camera will best fit my needs, I can’t help but think what the next advancement in this amazing field will be and how will help with what I want to achieve with my photography. There is always a learning curve that may be steep at times but I am willing to make that climb in the name of photography.
As always, thanks for reading and please feel free to comment and take a little extra time to look through my galleries.
Note: The first 3 images were taken with my first DSLR
Do you ever look at a photo and it brings up all these memories? Sure that is one of the great things about photos but has an image ever taken you somewhere or evoked some type of feelings that kind of surprised you? Maybe it is in conjunction with something else and it helped stir an emotion that you didn't even relate with until looking at the image?
For me, I experienced it with the following image. It is just a simple image with a rural road. When I started adding keywords and other information, I had glanced at the image again and thought of the John Denver song, "Take me home, country roads". From there I went on a long journey down memory lane. Growing up, my parents played all of John Denver's music. It wasn't until I was older did I realize how much his music related to my parents. I group up in the country, well removed from paved roads and even neighbors. Now, my parents have moved to a small city. They still hold on to the farm we grew up on, mostly for my dad. He loves to come back and do small work around place. He is a country boy at heart. So, seeing this image just took me there. A country road that is taking my dad home. Of course I had to go find the song and play it along with many other John Denver hits.
Have a great day and I hope you view an image soon that makes you smile about something close to you.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
Like most photographers, I am constantly challenging myself. From always improving my camera and post production skills to trying to capture new subjects. This year I was able to capture an image of a Sun Halo. In years past when I have noticed on, I have struggled to find a good composition. Unless the sun is low to the horizon, it usually takes up the whole frame of the camera. This where challenge lies with a good composition to make the image interesting enough. I have photographed a sun halo in the past but it has just been the Halo in the sky and nothing else. Well, this year while I was on Wickaninnish Beach near the town of Tofino, I was able to get a composition that consisted of more than just the sky with a sun halo.
What is a sun halo? This is an atmospheric phenomena know my many names, like 22 degree halo, sun halo and icebow to name a few. Simply, it is a large ring around the sun that can be colorful like a rainbow. These circular halos are produced by light interacting with ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. Sun halos were used as part of weather lore as a means of weather forecasting before the development of meteorology. It was used as a sign that there will be rain in the following 24 hours. This is fairly accurate because cirrostratus clouds that cause them can signify an approaching storm. Coincidentally, we had a good rain storm the next day.
Back to the image. I was eating lunch on a bench at Wickaninnish Beach when I first noticed the halo. The colors were really vibrant at the time. I scrambled around to look for a composition, and found this piece of drift wood that also helped block part of the sun. By the time I got set up the halo was already starting to fade but I was able to get a few images that I was satisfied by.
While I was finally happy to capture a good image of a sun halo I will continue to look for better or more interesting compositions. As for my challenge(s) this year? There are many but the best one will be something I wasn't even expecting or planning.
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work and sale info with discount codes. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
2015 has been my best year yet as a photographer. I feel that my skills have developed more and I am taking on different subject matter. I have sold almost twice as much as the previous year, and I have been branching out into some new styles. Here a list in no order of my top images of the year. Now not all these images were taken this year but they were worked up and released this year.
This first one is from the Palouse. I finally got a sunrise trip to Steptoe Butte and was well rewarded. I love the tones of yellow with the rolling hills in the foreground and the mountains in the background. This is the true Golden Hour!
Jeanelle and I have been talking about going to Vancouver Island for several years now. I have always had a hard time venturing away from my "go-to" spots but I do like a new adventure. After our first day I was kicking myself for not making the trip sooner. The whole Island is amazing and has so much to offer. We spent several days on the West Coast near Tofino. This image was from a small beach that can be accessed from town and is more popular with the locals who just want to relax and enjoy nature. It didn't take me long to find my spot to capture sunset. As soon as I took a few shoots, I knew this was going to be a image that I couldn't wait to see when I got back home.
Tonquin Beach SunsetThis isn't one of the biggest beaches around Tofino or the most popular, But it is arguably the prettiest
. Tonquin Beach is a small beach that is popular with the locals. After a short hike the sandy shoreline greets you. It is easy to find a private place to set up a chair and watch the sun go down or do a little exploring.
I offer a variety of landscape, nature and wildlife images and fine art digital paintings. I also have many agricultural, farming and countryside images as well. Most of my work is from around the Pacific Northwest, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, British Columbia, and Alberta. Please look through my galleries or visit my website to view my full portfolio.
All of my work is original and copyrighted. The watermarks will not be on your final print. Thank you for looking and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
This is am image that I actually took in the fall of 2014 but struggled with how to work it up. I got frustrated because I couldn't do it justice. The light was amazing. Fog and the thick forest softened the light and created a magical curtain that blanketed the picnic area. It wasn't until I experimented with a few black and white versions that I new this is how the photo was meant to be presented.
This next photo is one of my favorites if not my favorite of the year. I also have a version in Black and white that I almost like more as it shows off the textures and shadows. On this day I didn't have a very successful day shooting sunset. Because of all the fires, the hot weather, no clouds and so much dust and smoke in the air it was tough to get a something I was happy with. On my way down from Steptoe I saw this tree and figured I would try some shots of it since nothing else worked. The moment I got home and opened this image on the computer screen I knew I had something special. Everything from the last rays of the sun to the shadows bouncing off the hills in the background.
Every year there is a farmer that plants several fields of Sunflowers. They are not always that accessible and then when they are it can be tough to find a good composition. The other issue this year was the heat. We had an extremely hot summer. Almost as soon as theses sunflowers opened did they start to wilt so there was a small window to get some quality shots. But as I have found, there is something special about a field full of sunflowers and even an average image can be interesting.
Sunshine and HappinessAnother year brings a new field of sunflowers. A farmer in northeastern Washington rotates his crops every year so it is a guessing game as where he will plant his crop of sunflowers. When they are grown and fully mature, they will be harvested for bird seed. Until then they are a field full of sunshine and happiness for everyone to enjoy.
I had several images that I took at sunrise around the docks of Tofino that I was fond of so I picked the one that was by far the favorite by visitors to my websites. This one was actually worked up and presented as a tribute towards a horrible boating accident that happened a little over a week after we had left. Jamie's whaling station (located on the far right of the image) had one of their tour boats out looking for whales when it capsized killing several tourists that were on board. A beautiful sunrise is a great symbol for hope and new beginnings.
The next image would fall more in the category of digital painting. It is still a photo that I took but I have worked it up through an application that gives it a painterly look. This year I have been doing a lot more digital painting image in hopes to diversify my portfolio. This is also one of those images that I took several years ago but was never happy with it until now.
While there were many more that deserve to be on the list, I welcome you to be the judge and pick out your favorites on either one of my websites. I also want to send out a huge Thank You to all that have followed my journey this year and those have have purchased my images. I can't wait to see the challenges that 2016 brings in the chase for amazing light. Thank you again and have a Happy New Year!
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work and sale info with discount codes. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
As I was thinking about ideas for blog posts it came to me that it was time for me to reveal a little something about me as a photographer. Pull the curtain back as they say. Not too far but just enough to give you a little more of an idea of who I am. So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite things that I like to photograph.
The first one that always gets me excited is waterfalls. As far back as I can remember I loved waterfalls. As a kid when my parents would take me on hikes I struggled at about 5 minutes in. I was tired, bored, and wanted to go back. But if I knew there was a waterfall, I would race you there. I could not wait to see it. As I got closer and could hear the roar of the falls the excitement was overwhelming. I was a cautious kid but something about waterfalls would draw me in. I would explore all around and could spend what seemed like hours. But when it came time to leave, it was not met with the same enthusiasm as the trip to the falls. Mostly because a majority of the hike back was uphill.
Fast forward to today and as a photographer I still have that same child like enthusiasm for Waterfalls. There are so many things that draw me in to a waterfall. First off, the overall beauty of the surrounding area is the first thing that hits me. I am just overcome with all the natural beauty and how the waterfall just enhances everything around it. Next, each one is different. Some big, others small, some are in the open others on the side of the mountain. No waterfall is the same. Plus throughout the year, it can change as well. An example of this is in Glacier National Park, there is a waterfall known as running eagle falls or trick falls that has two distinct looks.
Fern FallsOne of two small but amazingly beautiful waterfalls tucked away in northern Idaho. First, the drive up the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene river is work the trip all by itself. Then after a short drive on a very rough forest road you reach a small parking lot. Only a short hike brings you to Fern falls and a little farther past, Shadow Falls. Both are located on the tributary of Yellow Dog Creek. Perfect for a short walk and maybe a picnic. Ever since I first saw pictures of this waterfalls I have been planning, dreaming of a trip to this place. Not knowing what to expect when I actually get there, I knew there would be some great potential for some quality photos. The surrounding forrest really makes this image, filtering the light even during the brightest part of the day. The biggest issue was the force of the falls created breeze that blew the some of the branches and vegetaion around. I did want to capture a little motion but I didn't want the image to have a lot of bur. Most of this work was taking several exposures in post production and hand blending them to give me the final image that I had envisoned.
In the spring when the water flow is high, the falls comes over the top. But when the water flow lessens it drops through a hole on top and comes out under the usual drop off creating a smaller waterfall. The other thing that I just love about waterfalls is the sound. The power generated from the water dropping and hitting the pool below. There is just so much mystery that surrounds each and every waterfall I travel to. As a photographer my challenge is to first try to capture the beauty that nature has created. I want to share this with everyone I can. Then I want to explore every inch of the falls. I take images from all angles and find a view that someone hasn’t already done yet. Then at some point, I stop taking pictures and just take it all in. There is something so calming and relaxing about waterfalls to me. There is a place nowhere like it. I try to visually capture the area and moment as well.
Falls at First LightSwiftcurrent falls, one of the spectacles of Glacier National Park.
Partly to help when I work up my photos but also because there are just moments that can’t be captured in a photo, so I want to remember and feel it later. I guess I could say waterfalls are a muse and inspiration to me. Like a beautiful model that has taken an eternity to look perfect for a photo shoot, I feel I must do it justice and capture all the beauty of the waterfall to the best of my abilities.
I know there are many that share the same allure to waterfalls as me but for different reasons. For me, they are so much more than just a great subject to photograph. Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I post my latest work and sale info with discount codes. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America.
In most areas where we live, Autumn is at peak color or on it's decline now. As we step out our front door, we are greeted with a medley of leaves and a scene that indicates a change is in the air. At this point our senses are starting to be overcome with everything Fall.
Portland Japanese MapleThis famous Japanese maple tree is located in the Portland Japanese Garden. It only stands a little over 4 feet tall. Photographers travel from all over to capture its beauty in autumn. On a busy weekend there can be a line of 10 or more photographers waiting to take their turn capturing this amazing tree. In its peek color, the maple has a canope of red and orange leaves that filter out most of the light. The light is at its best in early afternnon when all the leaves are back lite and they seem to glow. While this tree is the most famous attraction in this Japanese Garden, it isn't the only. There is beauty every where.
The soft crackle of of leaves under foot to the ever distinct smell of fall which may be a combinations of rain, foliage and weather. Our traditional senses take in everything at light speed with sight, sound, touch, smell and yes, even taste. What our senses do with this information impacts how we perceive the event know as Autumn. Everyone that I talk too loves some aspect of fall. It maybe be the colorful foliage to the change of weather. I really think that fall affects our senses more than any other season. As I talk to people about their every day activities or even the upcoming holidays, more commonly than not, a feeling brought on by fall comes into the conversation. It may be how there is a chill in the air and they are bundling up more to going to the park to enjoy the season, to the type of food they are now cooking. As the season progresses our minds are stimulated and overwhelmed with everything Fall creating all sorts of emotional attachments to the season and what lies ahead. As a photographer, I also try to keep the traditional senses in mind when capturing fall images. I hope when people are viewing an image, all those senses are stimulated once again through all the elements they see and all those positive and happy thoughts about the Autumn are relived.
Autumn EuphoriaTucked away just out of sight by most that pass by is as spot that depicts everthing I love to see in fall. Changing colors of leaves, cascading water all highlighted by moss. With all the big waterfalls as the attraction in Silverfalls State park, many times places like this go unnoticed and are preserved for the few that discover it.
Path to Multnomah FallsThe main pathway that visitors use to view Multnomah Falls.
I hope you are finding time to enjoy fall and take in all that this incredible season has to offer. All of my images are available for purchase on this site and at Fine Art America .
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I not only post new work but sale info and discount codes.
50 Shades of Fall: The Anticipation
by Mark Kiver
Ohhh, my favorite time of the year is so close. I can start to smell it in the air as the weather changes. Mornings become cool and crisp with a fresh scent and just a hint of chlorophyll as it starts to disappear from the leaves. While this signals the change of seasons, it is much more to me. Something starts to overcome me as I get giddy. Yes, the romance of autumn has begun.
I start to envision forests of multicolored trees, and I can hear and feel the crisp leaves under my feet. Waterfalls surrounded by shades of yellow, green and red. There is just something about fall that gets me going. Now the pursuit and courtship of this amazing season is in full swing.
Months and sometimes years in advance I research some of the best spots to visit. I start to scour the internet for fall color maps. I visit forums to find out what fellow leaf-peepers have discovered and I check web cams to monitor the color change. It becomes an obsession that is the only thing I can think about at times.
Flowing Through AutumnThe Wenachee River flows through Tumwater Canyon in Washington State. Just outside of Leavenworth in Washington State, trees and bushes explode with autumn color. Low clouds block any chance of the sun peaking through and drop rain on the canyon floor while snow falls near the peaks. A true fall day with perfect temeperatures, this area is full a beauty. It is only a matter of time when the colors leave only to be replaces with a blanket of snow and different type of beauty fills the canyon.
There is so much beauty to be found in this, my favorite season, I get desperate and try to capture as much as I can before it is gone. Autumn is much more than just changing leaves for me. It truly is a wonderful time with so much to offer. Through this series I would like to share my experiences of the fall splendor.
For now, I am filled with anticipation for what nature will bring in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, I will just tease you with some of my images from past escapades as these are what I have to help fill the void until autumn fully arrives. Maybe they will stir and evoke some of the same emotions that I have, in you.
All my images are available for purchase in a variety of print types and home décor products at either of the following sites. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Oxbow Fall reflectionA calm Autumn morning in Grand Teton National Park, Mount Moran surounded by fall colors reflects in the Oxbow bend.
Multnomah From AfarMost images of Multnomah Falls are from the common view points. This is from right off the path from the parkinglot. It includes several elements that show the character and history of the area. The beautiful top of the falls are surrounded by autumn color. The creek that drains from the falls runs under a bridge for the historic Columbia Gorge Highway.
Swiftcurrent Falls in Autumnlooking up Swiftcurrent Falls on a overcast autumn day
Please feel free to leave comments. I also encourage you to join my email list and visit and follow me on Facebook and Twitter where I not only post new work but sale info and discount codes.
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As I look ahead to figure out where my photography will lead me this year I first look back at what I have done last year. For me it was a huge year in growth and finding my identity as a photography. This is so important to me in helping me figure out my next steps which will be huge.
As I look back I had some great trips and adventures but I also focused a lot on what I have in my own backyard. The Pacific Northwest has so much to offer. From the roadside traveler to the backwoods adventurer, the sights are endless.
Autumn and IronNested in the east side of the north cascades of Washington State is Tumwater Canyon. There is a lot of history associated with the early days of the railroad. Today it is also know for great folige color when fall rolls around. This is the pipleline bridge, which is now part of a trail that follows the Wenachee River to a dam that was once used to power electric trains through the cascade tunnel. For me, it is the perfect setting for amazing fall photos.
Silver Falls Historic DistrictNestled in the Willamette valley, Silver Falls State Park in Oregon is unique and special place. Where the South Falls Lodge and outbuildings stand today is where a once small community called Silver Falls City use to reside. Around 1883, about a dozen families called this town home for about 40 years. The Great Depression had a huge effect on Silver Falls City it soon was no more. But the Civilian Conservation Corps was brought in construct buildings, bridges trails and other infrastructure. This was the beginning of Silver Falls State Park. Today, it is one of Oregon's most visited parks with many of the structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Even closer to home, practically right out my door, is the unique and awe inspiring Palouse. But this year I wanted more than just landscape images of this beautiful area, I wanted more photos of how the land is actually worked. The crops, the harvest and the people. I accomplished some of that but I do have a lot more to work on.
Palouse in SpringStart with a unique landcsape of rolling hills for farther than the eye can see. Next, cover those hills with various natural texture patterns and color shades. Then, add great natural light. Yes, this is a landscape photographers Heaven. The golden hour on the Palouse in Eastern Washington turns the extraordinary into an amazing beautiful scene like no other. To photographers, this is Art. But for the farmers of this rich land, it is a symbol of their hard work.
Days EndJust outside of Cheney, in Eastern Washington farmers scramble to get thier harvest in. They are not just racing against daylight on this day but also storms the can drop large amounts of rain or even hail that can damage crops. On this day rain did cut short the harvest. Hopefully it we dry out for tomorrow. This farmer is working on his barley crop.
So, to get a little more inspiration and drive for the coming year I have created a slide show video of images from all my photography adventures from last year, 2014.
2014 A Year In ReviewImages from my photography adventures in 2014
I hope you enjoy it and as always, my images are all available for purchase in my gallery. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for looking,
Mark Kiver
Reflecting back on the year I would have to say it has been one of the best for me as far a growth as a photographer. I think I have produced some of my best work yet. I have also worked out of my comfort zone and tried some different subject matter which I have found to really like photographing. My focus this year was more local. Not just around my home town but in the Pacific Northwest. There is so much to see in this beautiful region and I realized I need to explore a little more and also strengthen my portfolios of these areas. Looking forward to 2015 I plan on concentrating more on the Pacific Northwest and on farming scenes. I have so much access to farming in my area and I really think that this is an area that isn't focused on that much from a fine art perspective. A note about the following images, they are not just about the most visually appealing photos or overall quality but they also have to do with achieving personal goals as well.
So, here are my top 5 images of 2014 in random order.
The first on my list is Fern falls. Located in the Idaho Panhandle, the hardest part about getting here is the drive. There are 2 falls located on a short hike from the parking lot. The second waterfall is called shadow falls. This image stuck out as one of my top for the year because I have been wanting to go here for several years now. I have seen several images of the falls and had a composition in mind on arriving if all the elements were in place. When I got to the falls, it was more beautiful than I even imagined. The green from the moss, plants and trees really helped make the falls stand out. The old trees at the base of the falls helped with the composition and the dense forest filtered the light to give the surrounding area a nice even glow. I couldn't have asked for better conditions. The biggest challenge was the force of the falls was blowing some of the surrounding vegetation so I had to take several images to blend them together manually to keep the image a sharp as I could.
The next image that in my top 5 is one that is from Steptoe Butte looking down on the rolling hills of the Palouse. The spring is the busiest times of the year for me at my two other day jobs so I am not able to get out and photograph as much as I want. For the longest time I have wanted to capture an image of the Palouse in spring with all the green fields of the various young crops. On this day the weather was very cooperative. Not a lot of wind with some clouds in the sky to create the perfect light. As the sun set the golden light painted the fields and the shadows created a stunning contrast. While I was satisfied with finally getting a spring shot of the Palouse, I am also now driven more than ever to get many more. This is just a beautiful and unique landscape that has endless possibilities.
One of the projects I have wanted to do for a while is document harvest. I finally was able to do that. A good friend, Trevor Smith is a local Farmer. He has built his business from the ground up, never handed anything and has had to work for everything that he has. This is really true of most family farms. I was privileged enough to tag along during several of his farm operations this past summer and not only captured some great images but found a new area of focus form my photography that I am going to explore more in the coming years. It was hard to just choose one harvest image. I was really excited about several that I shot, and that doesn't happen often. The reason I choose this one is I think it represents so many different elements. Not just from The Smith Family Farms but from many grain farmers in the region. This year was a bad year for wheat with many sad stories that followed low yields from harvest. This image not only shows harvested grain fields of several farmers but the ominous storm clouds in the background. Weather has so much to do with farming. Farmers can work as hard as they possible can, doing everything right, but if they don't get some help from the weather then it could be a real struggle . What I see in this image is how weather can play a huge part in what happens to the crops of dry land farms plus it is about harvest which is the culmination of all the hard work for the year. On this day it was just a cloud burst but enough to shut down harvest for the night but also a reminder of how powerful mother nature is.
This next image is one that I got really excited about. The Cedar Creek Grist Mill. Another place that I have been wanting to get a great image from. The difference about this place is I have been here in the past and was never able to get an image I was happy with. The last time I visited the Cedar Creek Grist mill, the light was slightly harsh, the fall color was past peak and there wasn't the small waterfall coming from the mill which I think adds a lot of interest to the image. This year the colors were so much better. When I first arrived I had the place all to myself. The light was also perfect. It was slightly overcast so there was a nice even light. I had a lot of fun with the mill and photographed it from every angle possible. What I liked about this composition was the added element in the creek. There was foam that was created by the small cascades on the creek. The exposure I took was just long enough to catch the patterns of the foam in the water giving the image a sense of motion. While there is still room for improvement, in my opinion, it will give me a good reason to return to this great place.
The last image on my list might possible be my favorite of the year. There was some luck involved with this by being in the right place at the right time. This year I made my first trip, of hopefully many more, to Silver Falls State Park in Oregon. While the waterfalls are definitely the highlight of the park, there is a lot more to see. For this image I was working on trying to capture some unique shots of South Falls. I had taken many shots from all around the falls but I just wasn't feeling like I had got the shot I wanted. I figured I would walk back and try to capture some shots of the historic lodge. On my way, I was literally stopped in my tracks by the filtered light rays breaking through the trees. To enhance the scene even more a small tree with bright red leaves was highlighted. Not knowing how long this was going to last I through down my backpack and scrambled to get my gear set up and a shot composed. While the light is the star of this image there are so many other elements that make this photo so strong. The brick path with the subtle leading lines that leads into the giant trees creating a sense of mystery. The small tree with the red leaves that is highlighted to stand out from all the large trees. This is just an image I love to look at and gets more interesting each time I view it.
So, there is my list of the top images of 2014. I am sure you might have others that you might prefer and I would love to hear what they are. Art is subjective and everyone sees things just a little differently. I hope you enjoyed and please share.
The time has come when we try to figure out what we want, need and have to get people for Christmas. As the Holiday shopping season starts earlier each year so does the stress of what to get people. How many times do you end up buying something that you later regret? You saw and ad for something that at the time sounded like it would be good or you ended up settling for something meaningless because the person is hard to shop for. Do you ever wonder 6 months or a year later if that person enjoyed your gift? Do they still have it? Or is that expensive electronic doohickey already broken. Let's face it, we have busy lives and when the holidays come we have more going on and less time to do it in. Thinking about gifts for everyone sometimes gets lost in all that. Hopefully I can make your gift shopping a little easier this year and point you in a direction that you might not have thought much about.
Stores carefully and strategically place products that they think you should have. Television force feeds us all the trendy and must have gifts. Well, you don't have to give in to this. Have you thought about supporting a small business? What about a photographer or any artist for that mater? Many haven't even considered this option but I am here to convince you why this could be a great option. Opening a gift creates an emotional reaction. The very first sense that is activated is sight and what they eyes take in to create that emotional feeling. We don't typically think of this when shopping but this is what happens. A gift from a photographer can make sure that emotional response is definitely a positive one. Here are seven reasons why I think You should buy Christmas gifts from a photographer.
1) Photographers offer more than just prints. A matted and framed print of a favorite place, hanging on the wall is a really special gift. But today there are more options than ever. Canvas prints come in all types now and can add that extra special touch. Metal prints, one of my favorites, are a growing an popular choice. Some images will stand out more than others on metal so make sure to ask the photographer if that is a good option. The nice thing about canvas and metal prints is you don't need to have it framed, they are all ready to hang as is. Photo books are another option. You can't decide on just one image from photographer. Create a coffee table photo book with many images. Don't have much room on your wall, a calendar is a great option. Another favorite of mine is the acrylic cutting board. Practical as a regular cutting board but it can also be displayed and dress up the kitchen. These are just a few of the products that photographers now sell. Some photographers stick with the traditional fine art prints, many others (like myself) are diversifying and offering many other high quality products.
2) A Fine Art Photo is something that will last a long time and is more than just a trend. How many times have you been digging through your parents attic and found one of your gifts just collecting dust. Yes, that signing fish was cute for 10 seconds and your dad laughed at the commercial every time he saw it. but that is about as far as it goes. Even your expensive smart phone only lasts for a few years. A fine art print is something that can grace the walls of a home or office for years, will hold its value and can be proudly handed down through generations.
3) A photograph can have a powerful positive impact for someone.
Staring into a zen setting of a waterfall can be so relaxing. Or an image of the streets of Paris that hangs in your office. It motivates you on those hard days of working reminding you it is all worth it because soon you will be walking down those same streets on your next vacation. Then, there is that photo of an exotic location that almost sends you into a dream every time, and takes your mind off everything. They can remind us of an amazing trip, take us away to a special place or just make us smile, on daily basis. The association we have with photos can be very powerful.
4) Photographers are personable. Unlike the big stores that are more concerned about sales than anything else, Photographers love to develop that relationship with their clientele and more importantly we love to talk about our work. If it isn't already part of the product of buy, the photographer can send you a story about the image or even sign it to make it more personable.
5) There is a history and a story behind each image a photographer takes. A photographer hopes to stir some type of emotion in the viewer. Something that draws them in and makes them think a little bit longer and hopefully create an attachment. So, you find that image you want to buy for someone because there is a place you know they love and this image captures it perfectly. But many times there is a story or history about that place that can make it even more personal. Something that will add more to the meaning of the gift.
6) You know exactly where your money is going. Photographers are the epitome of small business. Contrary to belief, most of their time is spent on the business side with marketing and selling. Photographers are hard working. It isn't just about clicking the shutter button on the camera and a great image is created. The images are well thought out. Sometimes months in the making with research and planning on how and when the image should be taken. There can be a lot of risk and sacrifice for the reward of a great image. While shopping on big online or box stores, most of your money doesn't even stay local. Who knows where the items you purchased where actually made. You buy from a Photographer, you know it is "made in America", which is refreshing for a change.
7) It is so much easier now days to find and buy products from photographers. If you don't know any local photographers, a quick search on the internet will help you with what you are looking for. You can look under the image tab of your Google search to find the photos you are wanting. Most photographers have their own personal website that you can browse their work. Another option is to look at POD(Print on Demand) sites like Fine Art America or Crated. If you want to get that one-on-one personal service try a local gallery or craft shows. A lot of photographers make their living doing the craft show circuit. This is an opportunity to actually talk to the photographer and find local images.
There are many more great reasons to buy from a photographer this season. Hopefully some of the ones I shared will not only convince you but also take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping. Then come Christmas day, when everyone opens the gifts you purchased from a photographer, you will know instantly you did good.
This is one of my favorite times of the year when the leaves of all types of deciduous trees and bushes start turning from green to various shades of yellow, orange and red. Landscapes complete change. The weather also starts to change. Not only do the temperatures drop but there are more days with unique weather that add to this special time of year with rain, fog or even snow. Here is a selection of beautiful fall photos
Tumwater Canyon just outside of Leavenworth Washington
1. The Leavenworth area in Washington State has many different spots for beautiful fall color. Tumwater Canyon all the way up Steven's Pass has all sorts of potential for good color. Icicle creek is another place and if that wasn't enough, the waterfront park in downtown Leavenworth offers even more with trails all along the river. Not done yet? The local orchards and fruit stands are a great place to get a local taste of fall with creative autumn displays, and maybe even pick up a yummy treat. There is so much to offer to those who just love this season. Oh, I didn't even mention Oktoberfest in Leavenworth. Usually celebrated on the first 3 weekends of October.
Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge.
2. When I think of fall, the Columbia Gorge is first to pop in my head. The Historic Columbia River Scenic Highway is a must! In Late October is the best time to go. The drive itself is amazing. Then there are all the waterfalls surrounded by all types of trees and plants in different shades of orange and gold. Some of the falls are just off the road while others involve taking a nice fall hike. Other attractions in the area are a fish hatchery, Cascade Locks and Hood River. There also various other State Parks and National Forest trails that offer fall colors and might not have as much traffic as some of the others.
Middlefork of the Flathead River
3. A place that many don't always think of when it comes to fall color but is amazing is Glacier National Park. My favorite areas are on the East side but there is color to be found everywhere. The bonus here is all the wildlife you will encounter too. The elk and moose are in rut. The bears are packing on the calories with all the berries. Best time to visit is mid to late September when most of the crowds are gone. If will feel like you have the park all to yourself.
The Buckner Orchard located in Stehekin Washington
4. North Cascades National Park has its share of great fall color as well. One of the best places to see this is a little out of the way but well worth it. The small town of Stehekin is located at the northwest end of Lake Chelan and is only accessible by boat, plane or hiking. The Historic Buckner Homestead including an orchard is a great place to start. Rainbow Falls is another must see. The Stehekin Valley road offers many sights of big leaf maples in all their glory and many creeks and streams surrounded by all kinds of autumn color.
South Falls Historic District in Silver Falls State Park
5. Located in the Northwest area of Oregon, Silver Falls State Park is one of the most popular parks in the state. Everyone loves waterfalls and nothing goes better with fall color than waterfalls. This place is like the chocolate and peanut butter of Autumn. The waterfalls are not the only place to find color. Along the pathways, creeks, roads and the South Falls Historic District. Coupled with the changing leaves, the weather can also add some interesting elements too with fog or an overcast rainy day. If you have never been, this is a must for your Pacific Northwest autumn bucket list!
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please feel free to comment and as always, these images are available for sale on my site.
T.A Moulton Barn - The story behind the image
This Iconic Structure may look like any other classic old barn in passing. But with a little research one will find out that it is more than that. Located in the Antelope Flats area of Grand Teton National Park, the Moultons were one of the more famous families to settle in this area. After hearing from other Mormon families that there was rich soil to be farmed, they set out from Salt Lake City to make this part of western Wyoming their home. At the time, Thomas Alma Moulton didn't realize the barn he built and added on to for over 30 years would become one of the more iconic landmarks of Wyoming and the National Parks. In 2013 the barn celebrated its 100 year birthday. While the Moulton Family stopped working and living on the land in 1961, they still gather every memorial weekend in Antelope Flats to talk history, catch up on family and most importantly, plan the much needed repairs to keep the barn standing. While many that view this barn in person or graced in photos, see it as a beautiful old historic barn. The Moulton's, on the other hand, know this is a symbol of the sacrifice and what it took their family and the surrounding community to survive.
The Story behind the Image:
This barn has been photographed in so many different ways. Some images represent the seasonal beauty of the Grand Tetons. Others capture the historical importance of the building. Together, this image is one of the most photographed places in the National Parks and represents so much. So begins the challenge to create an image that is unique from most of the others. On this day, some low clouds had moved in and it was almost the middle of the day. The light was flat and the weather wasn’t helping bring out the fall colors. I was at the Blacktail Overlook trying to find inspiration when I noticed the sun was trying to break through creating interesting streaks in the dark cloud cover. I took a few shots but still wasn’t happy. I started to become more and more captivated by the unique patterns made by the sun and was determined to capture it. At that point I realized I had to go with black and white but I was not in the best place for this. Concerned that the sun might burn off the low clouds I needed to move fast. Mormon Row was only a five minute drive and I thought it would be the perfect place to capture all the elements I was envisioning. Upon arrival, I thankfully had the place to myself so I could capture as many different views as without getting in the way of others. My ultimate goal was to have the sun streaks increase the dramatic feel of the image but keeping a rustic sense to the barn. Most of the images of this barn give the viewer a sense of the beauty surrounding it. I wanted to capture an image that hopefully would give a little historical insight of the survival of the Moulton family. The harsh times they had to live through to make this area their home, while also being a symbol of perseverance. Hopefully I succeeded, but most importantly I think I have my own version of this popularly photographed scene.
Thank you for for taking the time to read my story and feel free to comment. As always my images available for purchase. If yo have any questions, please contact me.
My last trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park started like many others. I was full of excitement and anticipation. I had a specific shot list and many other general ideas. I would be determined to get some great images. I was also returning to a place that I had the fortune of visiting several times in the past. For me it never gets old. I was like kid during Christmas. As I entered Gardiner Montana, just outside of Yellowstone, it felt like Christmas Eve. I was all giddy. I got my campsite and could barely sleep knowing what lied ahead of me the next morning. As I lay in my sleeping bag I had all these images going through may head of what I would hopefully encounter. 
The next morning came quickly with very little sleep. Temperatures below freezing and wind made for a restless night but mostly the anticipation of heading into Yellowstone kept my mind from resting. Well before sunrise, I broke down my camp in the dark and headed to the park. No need for caffeine this morning. I was operating on pure adrenaline. Still, it was part of my routine and tradition so I picked up a small coffee anyway.
As I came around the corner to the arch in the North entrance of Yellowstone, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning walking into the living room with the tree all lit up and presents everywhere. My mind was on sensory overload. Even though I have done it many times before, I had to stop and get some shots of the Gateway Arch. Not sure if it was my excitement or some magnetic force pulling me into the park, I acted more like a passing tourist and hopped out just long enough to snap a couple pictures. Yes, I did set up my tripod and spend time composing the shot, but it felt like I just took a couple quick shots and jumped back in my car. I did need to stay the course and focus on getting the images I wanted.
As drove through the Arch and passed the entrance gate I was filled with a nervous excitement. Not being able to sit still I was taking in all the beauty and couldn’t wait to get out and start shooting. Or maybe it was the coffee kicking in and I had to find a bathroom? Either way I was finally here!
Almost overwhelmed by all that nature had to offer, one might think this was my first time visiting the park. After settling down and finding a bathroom I was on my mission of capturing the beauty of Yellowstone. As the day wore on I found myself increasingly unhappy with my photo opportunities. I tried tracking down a great grey owl but never panned out. The scenic shots were not going well. The Elk were in rut but not great shots presented itself. About the only subject that was for sure, was the Bison. Anyone that has been to Yellowstone knows it is hard to go anywhere and not see them. Or be stopped on the road because they are crossing or maybe even walking down the road. For fear of not having anything to show for the day I stopped several times to photograph the big furry creatures. Hopping for some good evening light and maybe a sunset, I headed to the Lamar Valley. I was almost at the point of frustration. Not sure if it was the long drive the day before coupled with little sleep or I wasn’t getting the photo opportunities I wanted. Either way the excitement I had was slowly draining. I can’t ever remember having this feeling before. I almost (I said almost), didn’t care what I was going to photograph and felt like packing up and heading back to camp early.
I found myself at a pullout as the road just comes down into the Lamar Valley. I had scoped this out earlier and thought it would be a good place to set up for sunset. Feeling deflated and like I have nothing to show for my efforts so far, I wasn’t expecting too much but wanted to see what I might get any way. As I worked at composing a shot, nothing looked good to me. The light also wasn’t that great but I knew I didn’t have control over that. While fidgeting with my camera and tripod, desperately looking across the horizon for a potential image to justify the day, a lady surprised me. Earlier, I noticed her and another woman pulled over not too far behind me and had got out and was wondering around.
She said she noticed all the gear I had set up and was intensely looking around and wondered if I had seen anything (wildlife). I told her I didn’t see any animals, but was just taking some landscape photos. We continued talking about what we saw through our travels of the day. It sounded like she had some better luck with a wolf and grizzly sighting. As we continued our conversation it came out that she was traveling with her sister and father. While this wasn’t her first visit to Yellowstone, living on the east coast has limited her to just a couple visits over the years. On the other hand, her sister, who lives closer, has been several more times and her dad has been coming at least once a year since the first visit. He was 67 the first time he came to Yellowstone. It just took one time and he was hooked. It was his favorite place. The lady said having him in the car was better than a personal tour guide. He was so full of information. She couldn’t wait to find the next Moose, bear or Elk to show her Dad. She said the look in his eyes every time they had a wildlife experience was that of one who was visiting for the first time wide eyed and full of excitement. While the close up wildlife experiences were great, you could tell that seeing the look on her father’s face was something she will remember far longer. She continued to tell me that even if they weren’t seeing any wildlife on their drive, it seemed around every corner her father had some great story of something that happened there on a previous trip. For twenty years her father had been coming to Yellowstone. Taking it all in and cherishing it as if it was the first time all over again. While she loves seeing her father’s expression when experiencing the many wonders of Yellowstone, she loved the stories her he told with so much passion about this magical place and what it meant to him.
As our conversation came to a close she revealed how they would be here for only a few more days and were trying to see as much as they could. Their time wasn’t limited just for this trip but by life, as this would be her father’s last trip to his favorite place. He was now 87 and needed a lot of assistance. His daughters wanted to take him on last time to Yellowstone. A place that he has fallen in love with, and he has so many memories of.
It didn’t hit me till later that night. I thought about the conversation I had with that lady. As I became overwhelmed with emotions. My first thought was what a great experience she and her sister are having. To be able to share one of their fathers favorite places together. But it must be so hard knowing this is the last time he will be at Yellowstone. I then tried to put myself in his shoes. What if this is the last time I will be here. I don’t plan on it but it might be. It then made me think back earlier in the day and my issues with trying to get my pictures. I was so focused on getting great pictures that I had tunnel vision. I really wasn’t taking in all that Yellowstone has to offer. My conversation also made me realize how we share amazing places like this with others. This trip should be about enjoying the journey. Needless to say that moment opened my mind up tremendously. People were just as passionate about that area as I was but were enjoying it in different ways. From that moment I became re-energized and had new inspiration. I can say the rest of the trip was one of the best I have been on by myself. Instead of going from point A to point B to take a photo, I tried to enjoy and take in everything in between. I talked to more people (I usually keep to myself) and heard more great stories of their travels. And Yes, I took some of my best images to date.
I never got her name, but to the lady that I talked to in the Lamar Valley on September 30th, 2012, thank you so much. You and your father’s story have been a huge inspiration to me. While the torch wasn’t handed directly to me, I will do my best to share the passion of Yellowstone that your Father first discovered 20 years ago. My best wishes to you, your sister and your Father.
Reflecting back on the Super bowl, as usual there were many great talking points. The lights going out, the 49ers attempted comeback, or the half time entertainment and, as always the commercials that many find more entertaining than the game itself. This year’s collection, while not as good as past, did have some that stood out. The Budweiser Clydesdale, Go Daddy definitely got a reaction out of most, and Tide was another one that got my attention. But arguably one of the top was Chrysler and with their Dodge Ram commercial.
This was the most talked about commercials, not just for this Super Bowl, but that I can remember in a long time. Many companies try to entertain you or have some type of shock value so you will remember them. The Dodge commercial went beyond that. First by using Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” spot, really connected with so many Americans. You don’t even have to remember or know who Paul Harvey was to be completely captivated by his words.
Then, the way they visually presented it was a masterpiece. Dodge commissioned 10 top photographers to document farmers in the heart of America just for this Ad. To say the images they captured were amazing and inspirational is an understatement. Many were HDR while a few others had a little extra post processing but none were over the top. Each photo could stand on its own, blown up and hung on a wall. The photos weren’t just beautifully composed images but artfully crafted stories about the people who are the backbone of our country. Everything I have learned about taking photos is perfectly executed in these images. The storytelling of each image is wonderful with every photo evoking its own emotional response that pulls the viewer in. The first time I saw the commercial I immediately wanted to see it again just to examine the photos. While the idea was borrowed from a video by farms.com, Dodge did a great job of taking it to the next level.
This commercial impacted us on so many levels. While many in the advertising field may not consider the Ad successful, like the Kellogg Super Bowl Advertising Review, many others looked at it as more than just a commercial. Celebrities tweeted, Facebook friends posted and Farmers commented, all with positive reactions to Dodge about their moving spot. There was no push to go buy anything, just a simple but powerful message about hard working Americans. This commercial doesn’t just give me pride as a photographer but also renewed pride as an American. The distinct words of Paul Harvey coupled with stunning images of hard working farmers created a very powerful piece that is much more than an advertisement. It is not often you see a commercial that generates so much positive attention for the right reason.
Neener neener neener! Or something to that effect. Quit often wildlife can be very difficult to photograph. Always moving, looking away from the camera or just being in unflattering positions. This provokes us (the photographer) to commonly ask, beg and plead with the animal(s) to do us a small favor and stay, move or look into the camera. All the time knowing that they just don't understand us, or do they? It would make photographing wildlife so much easier.
There can be a variety of issues that cause photographers to play a “cat and mouse” game with the animals they are trying to photograph. While respecting their invisible boundaries, we set up to capture the best light in a good composition. And then the animal turns or move behind a tree and we quickly move to set up again. This can go on for a long time, constantly moving to get into the right spot. With their great awareness for what is around them, I personally believe these animals are doing this on purpose. If they could only understand what we are mumbling under our breath and just take a little direction! But, they don’t.
On this occasion, this Bighorn not only knew what I was saying but wanted to let me know he wasn't going to cooperate by sticking his tongue out at me. Which I have now learned is a universal sign for taunting with both animals and humans. Who Knew?
Sometimes, animals know a lot more than we give them credit for.
As always, I would love to hear your comments, stories or questions, Thanks for taking the time to read my Blog.
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Welcome to my first post. In future posts I will highlight adventures in my travels or specific photos or what ever randomly comes to mind. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.
Every trip I take I am focused on chasing the light and finding good locations for shots. Most of my pictures I am taking are for my personal uses (Stock, Calendars, Prints, etc). Many times I forget I have the perfect opportunity to capture events from the trip as memories of our amazing adventures. These aren't always the images that I would even think of taking because they would lack the high qualities of light, composition, and overall appeal. But more recently, my travels have been with Jeanelle.
When I am by myself I can focus specifically on photography. I go where I want and spend all the time I want in that spot. The problem with that is I seldom have anyone to share and enjoy the moments with. Sure, that is why I try to capture the images to share what I saw at the time. But as my dad always says, "sometimes, there are moments that are meant for our eyes only". And because of this I love to have Jeanelle there to share that point in time with. Especially if It can't be captured in an image. But now, in our travels, every now and then I try to force myself away from my usual frame of mind and capture some of those "scrapbook" moments, so later we will be able to refresh our memories from past adventures. This also helps me slow down and enjoy everything around me to and not just be so intent on capturing the perfect image. . And sometimes, these "scrapbook" photos create better memories from our trips then my usual images. I am always looking to improve with everything I do. This alternate type of photography has opened my eyes a little more and helped me appreciate my surroundings. To that I Thank you Jeanelle. Believe it or not you are making my photography better. With that, I would like to share a short video I took of sunset on the Oceanside Beach. I was rushing around the beach trying to capture the sun setting. Looking for the perfect foreground, the right seastacks and compositions that will encompass the moment. Then I stopped for a second and noticed the sun quickly dropping through the clouds and behind the ocean horizon. At that moment I said that I needed something for us ( Jeanelle and I), that we can look back on and relive this incredible sunset and remind of us our trip to the Oregon Coast. Every time I watch this I realize the simplicity of it but also the beauty of Nature, the power of the ocean, and how special it is to have shared this moment with Jeanelle. It may not have quite the same meaning but I hope you appreciate the power of Nature and the beauty it brings us.
Enjoy
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