At first glance one could think these images were from a tropical trip to Africa, Brazil, or the Caribbean.  In reality these images are from the Asheboro Zoo in the small city of Asheboro, NC.  This city outside of Greensboro and Raleigh is home to the only zoo in the state of North Carolina, and it a sight to be seen.

The Zoo is separated into two sections, North America and South America (specifically Africa), and it truly takes a full day to walk across the world at this zoo.  With a huge variety of animals and vegetation it’s an enjoyable experience for people of all ages, with or without a camera.

These images were taken in Africa, which highlights environments like the bushland, the forests, pavilions, and the grasslands.  Each animal in every area was certainly a character, and had no qualms about posing for the camera.  The Elephant chose to paint himself in mud by rolling in it for several minutes before getting the look he was going for.  The ostrich pretended to ignore my shutter, while the lioness gave a sophisticated, serious, yet graceful face.

Even someplace as simple and child-like as a zoo is a great opportunity to capture beautiful images.  This trip to the zoo was a perfect example of how people can create art out of even the most basic events or places in a neighborhood.  Next time you have a chance to venture out in your community, be sure to bring your camera, you never know what animals will want to model for you.

Charleston, SC is a city that needs to be seen by all.  Everywhere you look there is an amazing opportunity to capture a beautiful image.  From the cobblestone streets, to old plantation homes, and even to erie old cemeteries, nothing compares to a South Carolina sunrise.  Before a day touring the city, my wife and I ventured to Folly Beach to watch the famous Charleston sunrise.  We camped out on the perfect spot and eagerly waited for the sun to reveal itself for the day. After taking several images that were “so-so” the perfect moment came.  The moment the sun arose from the water I had my camera ready, and caught the sun at the ideal position and snapped away.

Sunsets and Sunrises are a beautiful moments that should be seen as much as possible throughout your lifetime, but the next time you’re out chasing the sun be sure to bring you camera with you.  Sun images take patience and composure, but once you capture it through a lens, it is yours for an eternity.

Most people tend to avoid any shrimp boating area for the simple fact that there are generally swarms of yapping, yelping, pestering, seagulls.  But, during my last trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina I decided to venture where most would never go, and amazingly I was able to capture some amazing images.

The backdrop of rough water and rusty boats may not sound too appealing, but when you contrast that to the gracefulness of a pelican, and you have an intriguing picture. I followed these guy around for most of the morning and he certainly gave me a few good poses.  Out of all the pictures I took of them, the images of him in flight were the most intense and inspiring photos I have gotten from an animal in a while.

Whenever you’re traveling whether for pleasure, or for photography, or both you always want to be sure to think outside the box.  Go to the more industrial side of town, or a different cultural area, or even deal with pesky birds, because you never know what things look like through your lens.

FREE Photography, Lightroom and Photoshop Webinar

March 10^th at 9PM Eastern Standard Time

You’re invited to participate in my free trial Webinar class on March 6^th at 8PM.  During this class I will be giving an instructional Photoshop lesson on how to watermark an image and turn the process into an “Action.”

During the regular Webinar classes, I will give lessons, pointers, and tips and tricks for not only Photoshop, but also Lightroom and photography in general.  All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and the desire to become the best all around photographer you can be.

We will meet once a month (if not more) to discuss the programs and skills to learn the most effective ways to use them and improve your photography abilities.

This program will begin regularly on March 17.  The lessons will last up to 1 hours on any of the three subjects (Photoshop, Lightroom, and Photography).  By signing up the day of the trial, you receive a discounted price of only $15.00 for ONE WHOLE YEAR, that’s maximum of $1.25 per lesson.  The regular price will be $30.00 for ONE WHOLE YEAR, that’s still less than $2.50 per lesson.

Where else can you find a professional level class on these three topics for less?

Join us for a Free Webinar on March 10 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/778320896 You’re invited to participate in my free trial Webinar class on March 6th at 8PM.  During this class I will be giving an instructional Photoshop lesson on how to watermark an image and turn the process into an “Action.” During the regular Webinar classes, I will give lessons, pointers, and tips and tricks for not only Photoshop, but also Lightroom and photography in general.  All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and the desire to become the best all around photographer you can be. We will meet once a month (if not more) to discuss the programs and skills to learn the most effective ways to use them and improve your photography abilities. Title: FREE Photography, Lightroom and Photoshop Webinar Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Time: 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM EST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000 Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

We had been planning this trip for quite some time now.

5 photographers, 5 cameras, and unlimited possibilities to capture fall foliage at its finest, in the Great Smokey Mountains.

We headed to the Tennessee side of the mountain range for this trip, and majority of the time was spend at Cades Cove which is part of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  This area is the most highly toured and traveled in the entire system, so get there early!

Lucky for us the weather held up and we ended up having an amazing scene to capture everywhere we looked.  This old mill was the perfect contrast to the vibrant fall hues that covered every inch of the Park.

Fall continues to be a photographer’s favorite season with its vivid and rich colors that seem to bring any scene, even an old mill in a soggy, decaying, forest to dazzling life.

Next autumn be sure to check out The Great Smokey Mountains National Park, or any other parks in your area, and capture the colors before it’s too late!