Wonderful Wordless Wednesday
Madison County, Montana
Posts tagged ‘photography’
Don Urban – A Worthy Reblog
How to Improve your photography
by Don Urban | Aug 12, 2019 | Equipment, Rambles and Rants, Uncategorized | 0 comments
Why Reblog? Well, Don is my 600th follower!! I want to honor him and his blog and invite you to see his work. I love his photography. I think you will, too. Thanks, Don, for visiting and following JanBeek!!
Gear DOES Matter
One of the best ways to improve your photography? Buy gear. Yes, that’s right. Buy gear. You are a photographer. It is your passion (hopefully!) so why not buy gear?
Gear motivates, inspires and allows you to realise your vision.
I would recommend though, buying gear only if you really need it. Buy second-hand gear off eBay or Gumtree (Australia). Cameras, lenses, flashes and bags are tools- if you need them, buy them.
Some will make you a better photographer because you will be able to capture what you envisage. Some purchases will be duds. Avoid the duds. Don’t make impulse buys. Research the hell out of each purchase to guarantee you get a good bargain and you know why you are getting that new piece of equipment.
I have only just bought my first speedlight flash with softbox and umbrella. Continuous lights served me well for a long time, and I still use them, but they are limiting when it comes to travelling and I needed stronger, directional lights, so I bought a cheap but highly regarded flash- a Godox flash. I didn’t by a Nikon one at four-times the price with less features. I shopped around, weighted up options, put it off until I felt limited in my photography.
Same with lenses. I bought a Tamron 90mm 1:1 Macro lens. My other lenses, a 50mm and 28mm, I bought second hand off eBay. I mostly photograph people, still life and flowers- 90mm becomes the most useful lens. I shoot a few landscapes, so a second hand 28mm suits me well.
It has to be justified.
If you are struggling to achieve a look with your equipment, then it is time to buy gear. The sad thing is, I see so many photographers buying gear thinking it will make them a better photographer. It wont.
But having gear, suitable for what you want to create, will make you a better photographer.
Buying the right gear will elevate your photography. And no, there are no affiliate links here. I never recommend gear, because what is good for me, may not be suitable for you.
Buy gear for yourself, not for others.
Until next time, best wishes, Don
Love our Ennis Arts Festival
Ennis Arts Festival
We had 55 artists exhibiting their creativity at this wonderful Ennis Arts Festival today.
Come and see a few of the booths, artists, and special visitors with me.
One of our artists, Ivette Kjelsrud, designs creative fine, wearable art.
The center of this bison by Ivette is melted wax, a technique called encaustic.
It was fun setting up tents on a beautiful Saturday morning…
Kim’s Photography was/is gorgeous. We are establishing a scholarship in her honor to be awarded to an Ennis High graduating senior who will focus on art as a major
Tiki Contemporary & Western Art by Kathleen Van Diessche is amazing!
John’s Rustic Originals made with old kitchen silverware and utinsels were so clever!
There were several wonderful pottery booths with a myriad of pottery to choose from.
The barbed wire artist was new to us this year. His creations were fascinating.
One booth was for Ennis Arts Association members
who wanted to display one to three items,
but didn’t want to fill a booth space of their own.
The three in the background are the work of Carle McCambridge.
Carla Cavaiani used old spoons to create beautiful art pieces.
I love this bluebird photography by Scott Wheeler (see my reflection in the glass taking this photo with my cell phone?)…Makes an interesting study, doesn’t it?
Come fly on over here next year – second Saturday in August – for another phenomenal festival.
See ya tomorrow.
Marvelous Mountains
Nature at its Best!!
The Gravelly Range
With its wildflower fields
Nature at its best!
Another great day
With super four-wheeling friends
And our pup, TazE
That’s our TazE (Taz for Tasmanian Devil and E for Ears). She’s a love.
The wildflowers were spectacular!
Here are our friends, Barb & Don, brought their dog, Charlie.
And here are Barb & Don with both dogs:
And below I’m the one in short sleeves…
and Bob’s the guy in short pants!
Our buddies are great fun!
Won’t you click the arrow and come join us?
Yes, we got a little rain before we returned home,
but “Lucille” (our red-headed ATV – Polaris Razor –
who is a Ball), kept us dry!
What are your plans for this week?
In the USA we’ll celebrate Independence Day.
It’s a big deal in a Ennis, MT.
Nearly 6,000 extra folks come into our town
– our population’s only 1,000 –
for our Firehouse pancake breakfast,
4th of July parade,
and rodeo.
I’ll post pictures on Thursday. OK?
If you’re in the area, join us!
You have a blessed week.
See ya tomorrow
Montana Photography
Montana Photography
Those are the Tetons behind the moose.
Enjoy these awesome photos by Scott Wheeler.
He will have a booth at the Madison Valley Arts Festival
in Ennis, Montana on August 10.
His Facebook Page is:
Facebook.com/swheelerphotography
And his website is ScottWheelerGallery.com
This is the Madison River, just a couple miles south of Ennis, Montana. I have the privilege of living in ths world-class fly-fishing area!
South-east of us, the Madison River flows out of Hebgen Lake. The Madison’s origin is the Gibbon and the Firehole Rivers in Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park is just an hour’s drive from us.
You can see why our Madison Valley is considered part of “Big Sky Country” – the views are magnificent. The sky is uninterrupted.
Thank you, Scott Wheeler, for your fantastic photography.
If you want a copy of his work, my friends,
be sure to come to our Ennis Arts Festival this August 10th.
Look me up! I’ll be there.
Learn more about the Art Festival at our website:
Ennis Arts Association
Bob & I don’t see the river from our house, but we look out at Jack Creek Canyon in that magnificent Madison Range. The western sunset reflecting red in the eastern mountains often is part of our night’s “light show.”
These next two photos are mine…
taken a couple weeks ago
when we still had some snow on the ground.
Here is the western view.
Our house is the one tucked in
all those evergreen trees out there…
… and here is the eastern reflection:
Jack Creek Canyon to far left, Fan Mountain straight ahead with God’s spotlight on it!
Yes, we are blessed.
You have a blessed day, my friends.
Happy Friday!
See you tomorrow
What Defines You?
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https://torobravophotographyblog.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/cropped-mexican-women-1.jpg
What defines this woman in your mind?
Thank you, jair_100 at
who specializes in Street Photography,
for this beautiful photo
of a
Mexican woman.
I was mesmerized by her face. I can see that you were, too.
You captured her tired and weathered soul. You captured her work ethic.
She is a woman who worked hard all her life, and continues to do so.
Externally, her lines define her character. Her eyes define her outward condition.
Some say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but I cannot judge.
We really can’t tell what is going on inside her.
She is beautiful.
But we all have heard “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
What defines us?
I pondered that question as I read your blog, jair, re:
The 3-Level Theory of Performance applied for Street Photography
I read it and decided The 3-Level Theory of Performance is a theory that can be applied to life in general, not just to Street Photography.
In your blog dated 16 enero, 2019
you quoted Nadia Comaneci when she said,
“I noticed from a young age there are only three kinds of people in the world. Three kinds of people in the gym. Three kinds of people walking the streets. Three kinds of people working in every company:
- The first group of people, the coach tells them to do 10 exercises, and they do only 7. They make an excuse, or they say, “7 is good enough, why do 10?” These people never win and are the perennial losers in whatever field of endeavor they are in. They cut corners and do sloppy work.
- The second group of people, the coach tells them to do 10 exercises, and they do 10. These people will win, sometimes. They at least do what is asked.
- And then there is the rare, third group, and I (Nadia) am in that third group. The coach tells them to do 10 exercises, and I always did 15. Always over-deliver. And this is how I won 5 Olympic Gold Medals.”
That Beautiful Mexican Woman
Look again at the picture toro bravo photography took of that elderly, lined, tired-looking, Mexican matriarch. She obviously is in the third group! When 10 was enough, she did 20! She never slacked. She has not quit yet! Her lines define her… exposed to the sun, stead-fast and reliable, she makes sure her family is fed. She receives few accolades, but she does not rely on external praise to do what must be done. She knows. She over-delivers. She deserves 10 gold medals!
What defines you?
If toro bravo photography took a picture of you and posted it, what would people say or surmise about you? Are you in the rare third group?
Is our outward appearance a true test of our definition?
Is our behavior a better test of our definition?
What is it that really matters?
Can anyone see through our eyes into our soul?
Think about it.
What do you say?
What defines you?
Do You Photograph Food?
Hah! I related to this comic on so many levels!
Not only do I love food – and love cooking to create beautiful, tasty dishes, but I also love to take pictures of pretty food before I taste it when dining out.
My daughter married a chef. If you’ve read very many of my posts, you have met DeAna and her husband, Andre’. Thy live in Switzerland. They love to travel and to find restaurants where tasty, beautiful food is served.
Here are a few dishes they photographed during a recent meal at a fine dining restaurant in Paris:
I love the presentation of the beef with string beans. I could do that!
Oh, and wouldn’t I love a plate of that fresh lobster? Hard to find here in south-western Montana … and if you do find it, it’s probably been frozen and it’s price is outrageous! But, I can dream, can’t I?
The single scallop is something I could do. The sauce looks yummy. What is that on top? Looks like a carrot top to me!
And the stacked cookies with ice cream between and a strawberry glaze base with a berry on top… oh my, to die for!
The meat blob on the lower right in this collage doesn’t appeal to me. Can’t tell if it’s chicken or pheasant or rabbit or what. The plate even looks like it’s chipped (Oh no, that’s artistic expression)! Yes, I could present a main dish with more character than that, couldn’t you?
The upper left is a cre’me brule’e (where do I find accents and other stuff like that on my WordPress app?). Anyway, I love that dessert – especially if they flame it at my table. This one deserves a bigger look:
No, with the strawberries, blueberries (or are they blackberries?), and tiny lemon halves on top, I don’t think they did the flaming at the table. But, doesn’t this look yummy?
Do you ever photograph your food before eating it
when you are served a pretty plate at a restaurant?
Evidently it is becoming a more and more popular practice.
My goal is to serve a plate pretty and tasty enough to entice my guests to pull out their cell phones and take a picture before their first bite at my house!
Hospitality is one of my spiritual gifts (at least that’s what many of our friends have told me). So, if you were in our area, I’d have you over for dinner… and I’d love to know what your favorite meal would be!
Sharing a meal is one of the important ways
we demonstrate our love for one another,
don’t you agree?
As Theresa Brewer once sang,
“Come on a my house, my hous-a-come-on,
I’m a gonna serve you _______…”
Fill in the blank.
What would your favorite pretty and tasty dish be?
If this World were my Classroom
If this World were my Classroom.
I was introduced this morning to this amazing blogger by my friend, Russ Towne. Thank you, Russ. If this World were my Classroom, I would use “A Leaf in Springtime” as one of our required textbooks. Enjoy and be inspired, my friends, by this amazing, authentic, spiritually uplifting photography and writing!
