Always on the lookout for free camping in a photo-worthy location, one of my favourite new finds from this year's snowbird season is Saddle Mountain near Tonopah, Arizona. Located about 50 miles west of Phoenix, it's a large dispersed camping area where you can have lots of space to yourself while enjoying the peaceful wilderness location. One of my favourite desert … [Read more...]
The Cuillin, Isle of Skye, Scotland
This is the view from the road. While travelling from one picturesque location to another on the Isle of Skye, the Cuillin is the dominant feature of the landscape that will have you stopping at every available opportunity, of which there are few. Since I was having problems with my knees before my trip, I almost cancelled because I wasn’t going to be able to do any hiking. … [Read more...]
My 10 Favourite Photography Locations in the American Southwest
I love being a snowbird! For the past 7 years I've left the grey and rainy pacific northwest behind in late fall to follow the sun down to the American Southwest to explore and photograph the stunning landscapes until spring. I've seen some truly remarkable places, but to become an all-time favourite, a location has to meet a few criteria: The most important thing is … [Read more...]
How I Came Within Seconds of Missing the Shot at Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Here's a story of a photo that I came within seconds of missing. It's a story of being prepared and being not prepared all at the same time. After leaving Glencoe, Scotland, I had one more stop planned before arriving on the Isle of Skye. My stop was in Kyle of Lochalsh, which was the closest accommodation I could find to the Eileen Donan Castle, about 15 minutes away. I … [Read more...]
Starting a Photography Business – 3 Essential Tips
You love photography. You have a passion for it, and you're good at it. You'd love to start a photography business. But, what kind of business? How do you know what direction to go in? Since I've been in your shoes, I'd like to share with you the best advice I received, how I found my path, and the skills you'll need to make your business successful. 1. Start building … [Read more...]
3 Resources to Improve Your Photography (And Make Money)
Everyone wants to be a better photographer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned pro, we all want to improve. But it’s hard to know exactly where to invest your time and money. One thing’s for sure: photography isn’t cheap! The camera, lenses and tripod alone are a big investment, let alone the accessories and the software. But there’s … [Read more...]
Photographing Roosevelt Elk at Elk Country, California
As we make our snowbird trips down south in the fall and back north again in the spring, there is a special place that we always pass on the Oregon coast that has quickly become one of my favourite camping and photography spots of all time. Elk Country. Near Redwoods National and State Parks, on Highway 101, the campground and surrounding area is home to 7 herds of Roosevelt … [Read more...]
How To Use Layer Masks To Make Realistic HDR Images With Aurora
I’m having so much fun playing with HDR again! I feel like a whole world has re-opened. I used to enjoy HDR many years ago, but I have always wanted my final images to have a natural look. Achieving that look was challenging with the software that was available to combine exposures and time consuming to do it by hand in Photoshop. So when camera sensors started getting … [Read more...]