I love collecting items that belonged to my grandparents. Although I don’t always have a way to use those handkerchiefs, letters and newspaper clippings, I can’t bear to think of these family treasures being discarded just because no one knows what to do with them. One of my favorite treasures is this bowl of keys…
I have recently begun submitting my photographs to stock photography sites. I am finding that the micro stock industry is a great metaphor for life. Over the last several weeks I have submitted approximately 50 photos to about ten different sites. Most of the photos have been accepted by all the sites but a handful…
I have recently added walking to my exercise routine (not that it was much of a routine!). I love walking because it can be done anywhere, doesn’t cost anything, and needs minimal equipment. Beyond the physical benefits, the mental benefits may be even more beneficial. And for a photographer, the photo opportunities are an added…
My assignment a few weeks ago for my Project 52 class was “luggage.” Due to a cancelled trip and last minute change in plans, my husband and I found ourselves alone on Easter Sunday. So I recruited him to be my model and assistant for a photography shoot at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport. I…
I often wonder whether I should consider myself creative or not. My hesitation is that I have a hard time coming up with an original idea out of the blue. I feel like I am much better getting inspiration from something and using that as a jumping off point for my own creativity. John Greengo, a photographer…
Loosely defined, “street photography” is a genre of photography that captures people and subjects in public places, often in candid shots. Some photographers (me included) find street photography intimidating because it often involves taking photographs of people without asking their permission. Street photography doesn’t have to be taken on a “street” but it does capture…
I do not specialize in newborn photography and after a session with my two-week old granddaughter I know why! There is a lot of behind-the scenes work that happens in order to create beautiful newborn photos. Those perfect shots you see don’t include the hands propping baby up or the frantic search for a towel…
Taking a walk through the neighborhood is a very different experience in Alaska than I am used to in Arizona. For those of us who live in the Phoenix suburbs, a neighborhood walk usually means seeing rows of stucco houses and red tile roofs. Saguaro and prickly pear cactus and mesquite and palo verde trees…
It is true that inspiration can come from any source. I shot this still life for my Project 52 Pro assignment and I wasn’t entirely happy with the first photo I made. It was too busy and I didn’t like the tone that I got with the lighting setup I used. So, drawing inspiration from…
Sometimes you have to risk looking silly in order to make the shot you want. I saw these three trees while golfing. The trees were on top of a small hill but the background behind them was distracting. Luckily it was a slow day on the golf course and there was no one immediately behind…
I recently attended a journaling class during which we picked a card and had to write for five minutes on a topic. I usually dread this type of exercise. I’m pretty good at writing grant proposals and work emails but when I have to dig deep and think about how I feel, I start to…
Is your cell phone full of pictures that will never see the light of day? Are they out of focus, too dark or overexposed? Or do they just not convey what you thought you saw when you took the picture. Often, it takes just a few tweaks in your cell phone editing program or in…
I love macro photography because it provides a glimpse of the world that we rarely see. Seeing familiar images in new ways reminds me that what we see at first glance reveals only a small portion of what exists. There is a lot more to be discovered when we spend some time and take a closer…
As I was looking through my photo collection, I noticed that there are many more photos featuring the color green than any other color. I wonder if that is because green is my favorite color and I am drawn to those shades when I am looking for pictures. You know how when you get a…
Can you tell what these objects are? Leave me a comment if you know!
The one thing these pictures have in common is that they were all taken from the car, or I stopped the car and got out to take them. Some were taken as the car was moving (none of these while I was driving but I cannot swear I have never taken a picture while…
If you ever have a chance to travel on the Alaska Marine Highway System , don’t think twice. Whether you are an Alaskan commuting for work, a family relocating to or from Alaska or a tourist enjoying the sights, the Alaska Ferry system is a great way to travel. The slow pace and minimal amenities…
I love composition and cropping. For me, it is about paring down a photo to delete all the extras and leave just a portion. Maybe it tells a story, maybe it doesn’t. But what I leave in the picture speaks to me. Stripping out the busyness leaves a cleaner, more powerful picture. Even in the…
