This time of year homes and gardens sparkle with millions of shining lights. Maybe you go all-out decorating your home. Perhaps you make an annual pilgrimage to a favorite public holiday light display. Either way, here are nine tips and tricks for getting great photos of the lights. Continue reading
I got a call from the owner of a local photo lab recently asking whether one of my customers had permission for them to make 50 prints of one of my photographs to enclose in their holiday cards. In this case the answer was “No.” As part of the package they’d purchased they received a low-resolution digital file to share with friends and family by e-mail or on social networking sites like Facebook. The file had my visible watermark across the bottom. This customer had not exercised their option to purchase a high-res file with printing rights. Continue reading
I’m excited to be teaching wildflower or garden photography classes in several places in 2011. Some classes concentrate on using your digital SLR and others on getting the most from your pocket camera. If you’ve been in one of my classes before you know that I spend lots of time with each student, answering questions, suggesting ways to improve, and providing positive and thoughtful critiques. Tell your friends, and encourage them to sign up for one of my classes this coming year. Continue reading
Dark and rainy days during the winter months aren’t anybody’s first choice to have a family portrait created in a favorite outdoor location. It’s a big challenge to find a day when the weather cooperates at the same time everyone is available.
But the winter holidays are a time when many families are together and thinking about both fond memories of their time together and giving special gifts. Continue reading
When you were first starting to take pictures you probably learned to put the sun behind you. At least that’s what I was taught way back in the ’60s. The results were predictably poor: harsh shadows, squinting little sisters, ugly light, and washed out colors. As you learned more and developed your skills you maybe decided to stay out of the sun altogether. Your dermatologist was delighted and you created nice soft landscapes and flattering snapshots of Aunt Jenny.
But sometimes you’re visiting someplace special and just can’t avoid photographing under midday sun. That’s what I experienced over Thanksgiving weekend on a visit to the delightful Denver Botanic Gardens. I’d never been there and was pleasantly surprised how nice the gardens looked during what has to be the most “off” of the off-seasons. Late November rarely looks good in a garden. Fall is fading and winter hasn’t quite arrived yet. Continue reading
I was down in Eugene, Oregon last week to speak on garden photography to the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group, a nice gathering of passionate gardeners. About 60 folks came out for the program and many let me know they got some inspiration from it.
Since I’d driven over 350 miles to get there I arranged to spend a couple of days photographing gardens in the area. My host, Pam Perryman, arranged for me to visit Roger Gossler and Gossler Farms Nursery outside Springfield. I called Marietta and Ernie O’Byrne of Northwest Garden Nursery and made a return visit to their spectacular garden. My garden writer friend Mary-Kate Mackey has been inviting me to stay at her home in the woods for years and I finally made it. She also introduced me to some of her garden friends so I ended up photographing nine gardens in all. Continue reading
Gotta catch me a cab and head down to old Fairhaven town for a little Halloween fun.
Maybe I’ll grab a cup of Tony’s coffee and sit in the window watching all the fairies and goblins stroll by.
This holiday isn’t just for kids any more. Even older folks get into the spirit of dressing up, painting faces, and assuming an alter-ego for a day.
Loot bag? Check.
Best friend? Check.
Costume? Check.
A ride to Fairhaven from mom? Check.
Halloween trick-or-treating in Fairhaven Sunday afternoon was a mob scene with sidewalks crowded with hundreds of happy haunters. Check out more photos in the Fairhaven Halloween Gallery.
I felt a bit out of place wandering the streets with a camera but no costume. OK, so I was wearing clothes, but nothing special for the holiday. I hope you all had fun. I know I did.
Fall is a favorite time of year to enjoy the outdoors. These photos were made October 23-25 around Leavenworth, Washington while I was in the area for the Professional Photographers of Washington Fall Conference. Continue reading
Saturday, October 30 we’ll be photographing kids and families in their Halloween costumes during the Downtown Bellingham trick-or-treat. Find us inside the Public Market at the corner of Cornwall and Flora between 2 and 6 pm. Packages start at just $20 and a portion of the price goes to the Bellingham Food Bank “Milk Money” program. Get dressed up, put your vampire or joker grillz in and come on down for some scary fun for everyone!
Last year we photographed about 150 kids and groups of kids in costume when we were set up on the sidewalk on Cornwall. This year we’re inside so it should be a lot more comfortable and we won’t have to worry about rain and wind.
The Public Market is having a costume contest that begins at 5 pm so if you’ve got a great costume be sure to enter.
Fall is an ideal time for a family portrait by Mark Turner. The holiday season is just around the corner and few gifts are appreciated as much as portraits of family members.
If you’ve been thinking this is the year to have a professional family portrait created then now is the time to act. Your session can be in your home, your garden, a favorite park, or almost anywhere you can imagine.
Of all the gifts you give your children — iPods, cars, designer clothes, cell phones — all will be replaced and forgotten; but long after you are gone and your children have grandchildren of their own, family portraits will be the things they treasure the most. The portraits you create today are not just for you, they’re for your entire posterity. What legacy will you leave for them?
Call 360-671-6851 today to schedule your portrait consultation and session.
