Notes

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Free Downloadable May 2016 Wallpaper Desktop Calendar

May is here! I've decided to keep offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. May's photo featuring a beautiful Italian Poppy!

I know last year I also did my May calendar featuring poppies but to me they just say MAY! I love the poppy fields that would bloom every May. This one is different, I chose a close up to really appreciate the details of the poppy.

In North-East Italy, in view of the Dolomites, fields of poppies pop up all over in fields dotting the countryside during the month of May. They only last a few […]



Free Downloadable April 2016 Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Welcome April!! I've decided to keep offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. April's calendar has a photo featured from the Keukenhof in Holland.

Hopefully April will bring out the sun and the warmth that has been trying to elude us. I think most of March I heard of it snowing some where. Here in Germany it was rainy most of the time. I am looking forward to a little bit of sunshine so I can go out adventuring again!

The Keukenhof is Holland's Tulip festival. Last month I talked about my trip to the Netherlands and […]



Free Downloadable March 2016 Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Happy March!! I've decided to keep offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. March's calendar features a photo from my trip to the Netherlands.

I absolutely love when March begins because that means that winter is ending and we are moving into spring. (I am also St. Patrick's Day obsessed! Here's a post I wrote about spending that day in Dublin!) When I deciding what photo to use for this month's calendar I was instantly thinking a photo from Ireland but since this March also has Easter in it I decided to make it a little less […]



Don’t Forget About Reflections

Today's photography tip is about watching out for reflections. 

When you are out and about photographing we tend to get really involved in the subject and sometimes forget to watch out for smaller details. Reflections tend to be some of those details in a photo shoot that can get forgotten about. Whether you might be accidentally getting another person or animal in your shot that you didn't want or even getting yourself, you need to check for those reflections while you are photographing. Sure these things sometimes can be edited out but it is always nicer and a time saver […]



Free Downloadable February 2016 Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Welcome February!! I've decided to keep offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. February's calendar is showing off one my favorite castles in Germany.

To me, nothing is more romantic than exploring an old beautiful castle. So for February, the month of love, I wanted to use a picture of one of the many castles I have visited here in Germany. Cochem is a beautiful and charming town sitting right on the Mosel river and in the heart of German wine country. This castle sits on hill over looking the town with its majestic architecture. Definitely worth […]



Four Tips For Better Photos of Your Children

Taking photos of your children or even anybody's child is often difficult, especially when they are very young. Sometimes it takes more than just having patience. So today's photography tip is three ways to improve the photos you take of your children.

Don't use a flash - the on camera flash is harsh lighting and can scare some children. Set your camera settings so you don't need the extra light or move closer to a window or light source if you need more lighting.
Follow them around - you can get more natural photos of your child if you let […]



Free Downloadable January 2016 Wallpaper Desktop Calendar

Welcome 2016!! I've decided to keep offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. January's calendar is featuring a photo with a snow covered field.

 

I took this last winter and it was one of my favorites because it really emphasizes how the snow can make something dull interesting. When a new year starts it is a chance to decide what life you want to live this year, to redesign your life. That is why we make resolutions. I always like the picture of a blank sketch book with a 365(6) days to make beautiful art. To […]



One Way to Improve Your Composition

This photo tip is on the subject of composition. 

Composition is the placement of visual elements in an art work, basically meaning of why your photos look a certain way. The way a photo looks or a piece of art is important because it changes how we see it, the emotions it can evoke, and how it tells a story. So learning how to improve your composition can be very important.

The compositional rule of Simplification basically means: "When in doubt leave it out." Literally, if it isn't lending to the story your photograph is trying to tell, don't include in […]



How to Improve Your Photography without Upgrading Your Camera

Today I am sharing a photo tip that is actually about ‪‎lenses‬.

A lot of people, especially hobby photographers, when they buy their first camera and lens are so excited and photograph just with what they have. Well a little while down the road, after getting some experience the photographer starts to feel limited about what they can do. At this point some start looking at new cameras or new lenses or new equipment in general. This is also a good time to maybe take up some photography classes or something to get you out of your rut. If you […]



Free Downloadable December 2015 Wallpaper Desktop Calendar

Continuing through this whole year of 2015, I'm offering my free downloadable desktop wallpaper calendars of my artwork every month. December's Calendar is featuring snow and a German Castle.

Winter has definitely begun here in Germany. We have already had our first snow. This photo I took earlier in the year so we aren't quite to this level of snow yet. This is Burg Lichtenburg or also known as Kusel castle. I photograph here often because it is close to my home and love all the different views it offers. When I photographed this I purposely went out when it […]