Want to capture stunning photos of flowers and plants that go beyond the ordinary? Discover six essential tips that will help you refine your style, play with depth and contrast, and uncover the hidden beauty in every bloom. Whether you're a beginner or looking to elevate your floral photography, this guide offers fresh inspiration and practical advice.

Hot air balloons are something many marvel at, but never get to experience up close. You may see hot air balloons on the morning commute....

During a fall drive through Maine in 2024, I stopped in Portland to visit the iconic Portland Head Light. While admiring the rocky coastline and the rhythmic, marble-like sound of waves rolling over stones, I enjoyed a slice of maple pecan pie from the Pie-oh-my! food truck—sweet, warm, and perfectly paired with the sea air. It was a brief but memorable moment where taste, sound, and scenery came together.

Photography has always been a thread running through my life—sometimes a casual pastime, other times a focused pursuit. From childhood film cameras to professional assignments in college, my camera became a tool for exploration, connection, and storytelling. Today, it continues to guide my adventures, helping me see and share the world, one frame at a time.

In 2020, I set out on a solo "Freedom Road Trip" from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest, with Olympic National Park high on my bucket list. Staying in Port Angeles, I explored Hurricane Ridge, where alpine trails, sweeping views, and a close encounter with a black-tailed deer made for a deeply humbling and unforgettable experience. As a Twilight fan, visiting the Olympic Peninsula added a personal touch to this long-awaited adventure.

I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of spiders—but I definitely don’t want them near me. So when I spotted this massive one outside the Acadia National Park welcome center, I jumped back… then pulled out my camera. From a safe distance with my Canon R8, I captured one of the most unexpectedly striking shots of my trip.

*this post contains affiliate links. This is an inclusive list of my camera gear. I rarely carry all of it at any given time. I got my...

Learn how a grad student budgeted, saved, and used scholarships to afford a short-term study abroad program in Europe. Real tips on travel budgeting, financial planning, and maximizing study abroad value.

Recipes can be simple or the can be complicated. They can be flavorful or they can be bland. The can be colorful or they can be...

How to have fun I started to break out to try new things. There is fun in the challenge of something new, but to find new things that you...

Despite living in Colorado nearly my entire life, there are a good number of things I have not done. So this year, around the holiday...

Not everyone’s opinion matters Figure out whose opinions you want in your life. Find your own voice. And know your own mind and your life...

Take your camera everywhere and be ready to go. Look at everything through the lens that it will make a great photo Gruyere, Switzerland...

Tulips at Tulip Town Where to go? Know where you are going. There are several tulip festivals in the spring around the world and more...

As you may have learned from other posts, I like tulips. They are one of my favorite flowers because of the connection they serve between...

Views from the top of Manitou Incline There are a lot of times in life when the phrase "early bird gets the worm" makes sense, but there...

Self portrait on North Shore Philosopher Rene Descartes once said "cogito, ergo sum," which translates to "I think, therefore I am."...

In my bucket list countdown I knew I would eventually include New England, the six or seven most northeastern states of the United...

On a moderate northern California, Bay Area afternoon, a friend and I walked along the boardwalk of San Francisco Bay. We were wasting...

I have lived in Colorado most of my life and I have never been to the Royal Gorge. Well that finally changed. Over the weekend I went to...