The thing I love about Topaz Plugins is that they cover everything you would want to do with your images from subtle adjustments that make your photos pop to some not-so-subtle impressionist, HDR and texture effects. The Complete Collection includes 17 different plugins that you can use in conjunction with Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or PhotoFXlab. But if … [Read more...]
Gold Butte National Monument – Nevada’s Piece of the Grand Canyon
One of my favourite photography spots in Nevada has recently become one of the USA’s newest National Monuments: Gold Butte National Monument. It’s not hard to see why. It covers almost 300,000 acres of the Mojave Desert and it’s the only place I have been where you can see rock striped with all the colours of the rainbow and Joshua Trees at the same time. The rock is … [Read more...]
10 Quick Must-Have Photography Tips
To create a truly great photograph, a lot of different things have to come together - both in the field and back at your computer. Getting any one of these things wrong can turn your dream shot into a snapshot! (We’ve all had that happen - don’t worry, you’re not alone!) Here are a few quick tips to remember when you’re in the field: 1. Choose Your Light When you find … [Read more...]
Hongcun, China
Famous for its Ming and Qing architecture, Hongcun sits at the base of the Huangshan Mountains. When I arrived, there were dozens of art students lining the paths painting the scene in a variety of different styles. It was fascinating to see all the different interpretations and styles of painting. They were so good! I was so enthralled with seeing all the paintings, that I … [Read more...]
Huangshan – The Yellow Mountains of China Part 2
Most people who visit the Huangshan Mountains do a day trip from the city of Huangshan by taking the cable car up one side, walking around at the top, and then taking a different cable car back down so they only have to walk one way. There are 60,000 steps after all! You don’t have to do all the steps, but there are still more steps than you’ve probably ever seen before. I … [Read more...]
Huangshan – The Yellow Mountains of China Part 1
In eastern China, there is a mountain range called Huangshan, an otherworldly place where jagged granite peaks are shrouded in mist and pine trees grow out of the rock. Located in southern Anhui province, the mountain range is both a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. I left my hotel in the dark in order to arrive in time for the first cable car that whisked me up … [Read more...]
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Explorer. I think I’ll have to add it to my tagline. I’m happiest when I’m out there looking for new things, new places, new experiences. I’m walking across the desert looking down at the colourful rocks at my feet, looking across to the mountains in the distance, looking up to the birds flying above. Always waiting for the moment I hear something whisper to me “psssst ... hey … [Read more...]
Two Days in Shanghai, China
Looking out my hotel room window on my first morning in Shanghai, China, I noticed that everyone had umbrellas. I’ve never seen so many umbrellas! Someone told me I should bring one, but of course I thought I could handle rain since I come from a rainy part of the world and I never use an umbrella here. The difference? It was 35 degrees Celsius AND raining. Sticky raincoat … [Read more...]