Senior Special offer

It has been SO hectic since we got back on vacation, but I am thankful for work that keeps my mind off of the Missouri heat. Camdenton and Lebanon High Seniors should have received my LAST sale of the summer postcard in the mail-- Purchase a 16x20 wall portrait from your session and receive 48 wallets from any pose for FREE-- a $75 value.

If you are not from Camdenton or Lebanon, it doesn't mean I don't like you. Just mention that you saw this on my blog or Facebook and you can have the special as well. It is good UP UNTIL school starts, then it is over. You don't have to take your senior portraits in the heat, just set up the appointment and you get the special offer as well.

I mentioned the WHY of manual exposure when I was on vacation, and here is the reason. The modern digital camera that you are using will LIE to you about proper exposure quite often . . . It can't handle bright light in the background or dark backgrounds, or any variable light on your subject. The best way to control your exposures is to get an incident light meter--some are pretty inexpensive. Failing that, you can use the "sunny 16" rule and get really close. I could attempt to explain it, but it is easier to just post a link: http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/Sunny_16_rule. Enjoy! Remember, it is always best NEVER to photograph a human subject in direct sunlight (learn the rules first before you decide to break them--It will make you a better photographer).


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Location:In Studio

Last night on the road . . .

We went out & ate at Texas Roadhouse IN TEXAS tonight . . . Great food, and that "Texas attitude" I remember from my years in Ft Worth. The relaxed eating habits are over NOW & the diet begins anew. This travel blog is soon going to be a photographer's blog once again. I will put some more photographs of the beautiful Colorado mountains, as well as images of the Southwest once I get back to the big computer & much better resources than I have on my laptop.

Some of the "best of the best" images will be offered on my e-commerce website @ http://www.goodwinphoto.biz. I will also be offering advice on techniques, in both portrait and nature photography disciplines. For example, how many of you use the manual setting on your digital camera -- EVER? It is almost always a much better choice than any automatic setting you could choose! . . . Don't believe me? I'll prove it to you when I can get back on a real keyboard & TYPE once again.









From my family to yours, have a great summer!

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Location:Aramillo, TX

On the road again . . .

Wow, was it hard to leave Williams, AZ and those beautiful, COOL mountains this morning. It was 56 degrees @ 7 am this morning (AZ time). That translates to 9 CDT, and the way I understand it, AZ never undergoes the stupid semi- annual time change . . . They are on "AZ standard time" all the time. Way to go!

It's quite hot now just east of Albuquerque - 93 by the car gauge. At least it doesn't feel hotter than that YET . . . I don't know when we will hit the nasty humidity, but I know it's coming. Yeah, I know . . . I'll complain when winter gets here as well. BUT, I do love Spring & Fall in the Ozarks!


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Location:Albuquerque, NM

We got to Monument valley pretty early today . . . Rough roads, but spectacular scenery. After lunch and seeing the rain in the distance, we went on to the Grand Canyon, and the temperature dropped from 105 to 73 degrees, with some awesome clouds. However, the resulting haze really cramped the scenic views toward the... main overlooks at the canyon. Tomorrow is drive, drive, drive . . . Sigh :(

Lunch @ Tuba City, AZ

Just had a picnic lunch at a wonderful community park . . . Well, a late lunch @ 1:30 mtn time. We had one main requirement - it had to have shade. It is 102 degrees right now, & the humidity was so low that the bread on my sandwich dried out & became crusty before I could finish it! Monumento Valley was awesome this morning before the temperature soared ever upward. It's gonna be hot at the Grand Canyon, but it looks like some rain clouds are rolling in from the west, & I know it would be a welcome sight here. I'll get some photographs on line tonight if the Internet is good & I'm not too wiped out from the 4:55 am alarm this morning.


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Location:Louise Yellowman community park

Leaving Durango

It is an awesome 55 degrees this morning @ 7:30 as we head to Mesa Verde. I'd guess the humidity at less than 30 percent. Wow, is Missouri (or, as the motel owner called it "Misery") going to be a shock! Now the car says it is 51 degrees. Oh well . . . These shorts will feel good at Mesa Verde.


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Location:160 westbound

A Day in the Mountains

What a wonderful day in the Southern San Juan Mountains. We went up past Delores on the San Juan Skyway, past the town of Rico, and turned in at the road to Alta Lakes. This road hangs on an eyebrow of a mountain face as it winds back and forth past about 12000 feet. It first takes you to Alta, what used to be billed as "the best preserved mining town in Colorado." No more, I believe. It has been over 15 years since I was there last, and someone has bought the majority of the best mining cabins and ruins and fenced them off with no trespassing signs. Sigh . . . Oh well. We went past them first to Gold King Basin. WOW, is all I can say. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Then on to Alta Lakes, where the trout were actually jumping out of the water catching flies and the reflections of the mountains were stunning in the beautiful blue water. It went from 85 degrees near Durango down to 62 degrees up at Gold King Basin, and we were so high that both my son and I were feeling pretty "light headed." These old Missouri flatlanders were sure impressed (as always) with the beautiful Colorado rockies!  I hope you enjoy the images. Most were taken with the 17-40 L glass in the Canon line. I did use a 50mm 1.8 for a few, and a 100-400 for some near Lizard Head Pass, which I haven't even taken off the card yet.  Got to get some sleep for another big day tomorrow.

Gold King Basin

Beautiful location just a bit south of Telluride, CO waaaaaaay up in the Colorado Rockies. Pictures 2 follow when the signal gets better!


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Location:12000 ft. +

Reflections on SW Colorado

I find myself thoroughly enjoying the scenic grandeur, cultural mix, and especially the low humidity of SW Colorado. It is a landscape artist or photographer's dream! Now, if Colorado's drivers would just learn some patience . . . The real test would be winter. A shop owner in Silverton said they receive an average of 170" of the white stuff every year. Brrr-r-r-r! I don't believe I could handle that. The best tip I could give photo buffs is to get a WIDE angle lens for scenics, especially mountains. I use a 17-40 lens on a full frame camera (no crop factor) almost exclusively, and I wish I had a wider lens.




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Location:Durango

Traveling to Durango

Traveling Hwy 54 and 50 west has been such a pleasure. Very little traffic and good roads-- A hard combination to beat! We are stopping at great sand dunes nat'l park briefly today before arriving in Durango, CO for a steam train ride up the Animas river. I just LOVE old steam trains & the Rocky Mountains. It's gonna be good to see you, lofty peaks!



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Location:West of Lamar, CO

Press Release: Happening TOMORROW

Join Lake Lifestyles magazine on Wednesday, July 7th as we celebrate Reasons we love the Lake and reveal our July/August issue. This event will include a Photography Art Gallery and Auction with all proceeds benefitting Medical Missions for Christ. This exciting event will take place at Camden on the Lake located at 2359 Bittersweet Road, Lake Ozark. Numerous photographs taken by the Lake area's best photographers will be enlarged and auctioned. The photography art preview will begin at 5:00 p.m. The live auction will begin at 6:00 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to own some of the best photographs of Lake of the Ozarks while benefitting Medical Missions for Christ. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cash bar with a $5 cover charge. For more information contact: Wendy White, Lake Lifestyles magazine, at wendy.white@lakelifestylesmagazine.com

Lake Lifestyles article and auction

Hmmmm, well that "send to blog" below didn't post so well . . . The auction is July 07 from 5-7 pm, and 5 of my nature photographs will be featured in the auction as well.  They go to benefit a wonderful cause, and we would love to have you come to Camden on the Lake (Horny Toad) for the hors d'oeuvres and the auction.  There is a $5 cover charge.  If you want to know which photographs are going to be auctioned, you may go to http://www.goodwinphoto.biz/tonka and view photographs #1 and 8, and http://www.goodwinphoto.biz/tonkawildflowers for #'s 18, 19, and 52.  All of the images and many others are also available for purchase at the websites above, even if you cannot make the auction. 

Join Lake Media and Lake Lifestyles for a photography auction benefitting Medical Missions for Christ - Camdenton, MO - Serving Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks region including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Eldon and Sunrise Beach

Join Lake Media and Lake Lifestyles for a photography auction benefitting Medical Missions for Christ - Camdenton, MO - Serving Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks region including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Eldon and Sunrise Beach