Welcome to Greg Disch Photography
Wonderful images of this great United States, our natural world, scenic locations, our public lands, outdoor recreation, and other subjects fill these pages. Please take your time and enjoy your visit. I am truely interested in your comments about my work and my site.
Search for any image, just type in what you are looking for:
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of 5 participants and will be held with a minimum of only 2.
If you are looking for a great opportunity to get personal individual instruction I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a great way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.
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December 20, 2024December 2024 Newsletter
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All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
December 17, 2024Sandhill Crane December 2024 Free Wallpaper
Sandhill Crane coming in for a landing at Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
Sandhill Cranes are large birds that live in open habitats, so they’re fairly easy to spot if you go to the right places. In summer look for them in small bogs, marshes, and prairies across northern North America and the southeastern United States. In winter they form immense flocks in places like Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, and Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Their bugling calls are unique and can be heard from miles away—they can help alert you to this species’ presence, particularly as they pass overhead on migration.
Image is 1920 x 1080 pixels
Free Wallpaper Image
I will be offering one of my images as a free desktop wallpaper for your computer each month. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed the opportunity to travel our great country and. take them.
How to Set Your Wallpaper or Background Picture
The downloaded file will be a compressed ZIP file, which will need to be decompressed before you can use it.
Windows 10
To unzip the file in Windows 10
Open File Explorer and find the zipped folder.
To unzip the entire folder, right-click (or press and hold) it, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.
To unzip a single file or folder, double-click the zipped folder to open it. Then, drag or copy the item from the zipped folder to a new location.
To change your background image in Windows 10
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Personalization to choose a picture worthy of gracing your desktop background, and to change the accent color for Start, the taskbar, and other items. The preview window gives you a sneak peek of your changes as you make them.
In Background, select a picture or solid color, or create a slideshow of pictures.
Mac
To unzip the contents, follow these steps:
Click the Unzip button.
From the drop down menu, choose to unzip your files to this Mac, iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive.
A “Finder style” window will open. …
Choose to unzip the Entire Zip file or Selected Items. …
Another option is to click the New Folder button.
Here’s how you can change your Desktop picture on a Mac
From the Desktop, choose Apple→System Preferences. The System Preferences window appears. …
Click the Desktop & Screen Saver icon. The Desktop & Screen Saver Preferences pane appears.
Click a folder in the column on the left and then click a picture in the area on the right.
Previous Free Wallpaper Images
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
November 11, 2024Dunkirk Lighthouse
The Dunkirk Lighthouse, also known as the Point Gratiot Light, is an active lighthouse located at Point Gratiot on Lake Erie in New York state.
The lighthouse was established in 1826 and the current tower was first lit in 1875. The lighthouse was automated in 1960 and is still operational. The foundation is made out of dressed stone and the lighthouse is made out of rubblestone encased in brick. The tower is square-shaped with the upper two thirds in white and the lower third left natural and the lantern housing in red. The original lens is a third order Fresnel lens installed in 1857 in the original 1826 light and is still in operation. Its being still in use makes it a rarity. Only 70 such lenses are operational in the United States, 16 being on the Great Lakes of which two are in New York. At the entrance to the park property is the South Buffalo North Side Light, formerly located in Buffalo Harbor. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Point Gratiot Lighthouse Complex in 1979.
The Dunkirk Lighthouse is open seasonally from May through October. The hours are 10:00am to 2:00pm in the spring and fall, and 10:00am to 4:00pm in the summer. Guided tours include a climb to the top of the lighthouse, a tour of the keeper’s house, Veteran museums and gift shop.
All four rooms of the second floor of the original keeper’s house are part of the veteran’s museum. There is one room devoted to each of the branches of the armed forces, with an additional building housing artifacts from the Coast Guard. Additionally, the hallway contains an exhibit on the Vietnam War. Almost all artifacts contained in the museum are donated by local residents or by the United States Coast Guard, due to their association with the lighthouse.
The grounds contain many maritime items which can be of interest or clutter your images.
Where it is:
Located Off of Route 5, to Point Drive North, Dunkirk, New York
From Interstate 90 south of Dunkirk, take Exit 59 and proceed to Highway 60 then go north on Highway 60 for 2.1 miles to Highway 5. Turn left onto Highway 5 and drive 1.1 miles to Point Drive. Turn right onto Point Drive and follow it 0.6 miles to the lighthouse which will be on your right.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
Lighthouse Grounds – There is no fee to walk the grounds to take pictures of the lighthouse .
Tours – Includes: A climb of the Lighthouse’s spiral stairs to the upper observation level, a walk through the restored 1800 lighthouse keepers home, experience the Museums – see and discover the many Lake Erie nautical displays and US Veterans displays. Then top it off with a tour of the lighthouse grounds. You will be escorted by a lighthouse staff member.
.
Adults $10 ea.
Seniors, Students & Veterans $8 ea.
Children 4 yrs to 10 yrs $3 ea
Family Includes 2 adults and up to 3 children from 4 yrs to 10 yrs.- $25
Hours:
Hours
May – June
Daily 10 AM to 2 PM
Last Tour at 1 PM
..
July – August
Daily 10AM to 4PM
Last Tour at 3:00 PM
.
September – October
Daily 10AM to 2 PM
Last Tour at 1 PM
Facilities:
There are restrooms and a gift shop at the lighthouse.
Location Contact Information:
Phone / Office
716-366-5050
.
Mailing Address:
Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum
PO Box 69 – 1 Lighthouse Point Drive
Dunkirk, NY 14048
.
Information:
dunkirklighthouse@gmail.com
.
Office Manager:
Barbara A. Lawson LST551@juno.com
Events Coordinator
Dave Briska dave53@netsync.net
716 679 0647
Dunkirk Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in New York
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
November 6, 2024Toadstool Geological Park
Toadstool Geologic Park is said to be the “badlands of Nebraska” or the “desert of the Pine Ridge.”
Toadstool Geologic Park is noted for its unusual geological formations, some in the shape of toadstools, and scientifically valuable fossil deposits. Our interpretive kiosk explains and illustrates the local geology and provides information and history about the local grasslands. During your hike look for signs of fossils that give scientists insight into the behavior of animals as they passed through this area as far back as 30 million years ago. In order for others to enjoy viewing these fossil resources collection is prohibited.
The trailhead at the campground provides access to three hiking trails to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty. A one mile loop highlights many examples of eroded clay/sandstone formations.
The Bison Trail leaves the interpretive loop at the half way point and continues up the canyon to Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center. Toadstool Campground to Hudson Meng is 3 miles one way.
A five mile loop begins at the campground and proceeds on the graveled section of the interpretive trail for a short distance before heading north through the badlands and grasslands on the Great Plains Trail. After 1.5 miles the Great Plains Trail intersects with the 918 Road. Follow the signs to return to the Bison Trail and Toadstool Campground. The loop can be done in reverse going the other direction on the interpretive trail as you leave the campground.
The Great Plains Trail developed by the Great Plains Trail Alliance is a cross country network of public land trails and roads beginning in Guadalupe National Park and ending at the Canadian Border. The Bison Trail, 918 Road and part of the 5 mile loop are part of this network. Great Plains Trail information can be found at www.greatplainstrail.org
The campground consists of six sites with picnic tables and fire rings and upright grills and two accessible vault toilets. There is no water.
Special features: In 1984 the Forest Service constructed a sod house near the site of a sod house built in 1929. The new “soddie” provides a look into the past when the homesteaders on the grasslands used the only abundant material available. The original sod house was lived in briefly before being abandoned and signs of the original structure no longer exist.
Fossils and artifacts are protected under federal laws.
Where it is:
Toadstool Park is north of Crawford, Nebraska.
Directions:
From Hot Springs, SD take Highway 71 south 37 miles to the intersection of Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road for 11.4 miles to FS Road #902 and continue on road #902 for 1.4 miles to Toadstool Campground.
From Crawford, NE proceed to intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 2. Take Highway 2 north for 4.2 miles to Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road for 11.4 miles to FS Road 902 and continue on Road 902 for 1.4 miles to Toadstool Campground.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
Fee charged for some activities: $3/vehicle day use, $15/vehicle/night
Hours:
The park is open year round 24 hours per day.
Facilities:
The campground consists of six sites with picnic tables and fire rings and upright grills and two accessible vault toilets. There is no water.
Location Contact Information:
Pine Ridge Ranger District (Nebraska National Forest and Oglala National Grassland)
125 North Main Street
Chadron, NE 69337
(308) 432-0300
Toadstool Geological Park Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Nebraska
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
November 1, 2024Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
Muleshoe Bend is a popular place for riding horses and bicycles on its trials, but what make it a great photographic destination are the Bluebonnets. During the wildflower season, lake March and Early April, the area becomes a sea of blue. A large area of the park was covered by lake Travis, which now has lower water levels and the Bluebonnets thrive there.
Forty miles from downtown Austin and 20 miles southeast of Marble Falls, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area lies on Lake Travis in both Travis and Burnet counties. Lake Travis is located on the Highland Lakes, which are designed to manage floodwaters along the lower Colorado River. These lakes also offer opportunity for boating, fishing, swimming and relaxing. Spicewood has a population of just under 8,000 and has enjoyed the same 10% annual growth rate as Burnet County for many years.
This area is part of the Texas Hill Country region, which spreads across the geographic center of the state and features sloping hills, natural springs, bustling cities and charming small towns. Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area has earned a reputation for its impressive fields of bluebonnets during wildflower season and has been featured in both regional and national publications.
Muleshoe Bend is owned and Managed by LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) and is off of Lake Travis.
Where it is:
2820 County Road 414, Spicewood, TX 78669
From Texas 71 turn east (right if you are going north from Austin or Left if you are heading south coming from Marble Falls) on Co. Rd. 413/Greg Dr. which turns into Co. Rd. 404/Haynie Flat Rd. Turn left on Co. Rd. 414, this road will turn right and you will pass Hollingsworth Rd. and Exeter Rd. on the right. Stay on Co. Rd. 414 as it will go directly into Muleshoe Bend.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Click on map for larger PDF version
Cost:
Entrance
Adults – $5
Children (12 and younger) – Free
Disabled – $2
Seniors (65 and older) – $2
Horse and rider – $12
Free with LCRA Annual Parks Pass
Lodging
Two park entrance fees are
included in your stay.
Campsites:
Standard – $27.50
Group – $38.50
Hours:
Daily (sunrise to sunset)
Facilities:
41 campsites
Outdoor shower at park entrance
Restroom (non-flushing)
Restroom (flushing) at park entrance
24-hour ice and drinking water machine
Location Contact Information:
LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority)
2820 County Road 414, Spicewood, TX 78669
Reserve your campsite: 855-392-7638
More park info: 512-473-3366
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page galleryhttps://gregdisch.photoshelter.com/gallery/Muleshoe-Bend-Recreation-Area/G0000lLaOcgK_4Lc/C0000T2spPc2duRA
More Photographic Destinations in Texas
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
October 21, 2024Many photographers, like myself, anticipate the coming of fall as one of those great times for photography. We have months to prepare for the fall color spectacular that we know is coming and only possibly a few days to shoot it. This article will help you to make the most of what time you do have to capture the fall color.
Why do leaves change color?
Chlorophyll which has a green pigment is present during the growing season giving leaves their green color. Also present are carotenoids, which have orange and yellow pigments which are in the leaf all year but are not visible due to the overpowering of the green from the chlorophyll. When the days get shorter (the primary trigger for fall) and the temperatures drop in proportion to the diminishing sunlight the chlorophyll levels drop, triggering a chemical reaction that stops the flow of sap. When the green pigments of the chlorophyll are gone the orange and yellow of the carotenoids show. The bright reds we see in leaves are caused by sugar or glucose which is produced on sunny warm days, and when left in the leaves turns red with cool fall nights. The darker browns are made from wastes left in the leaves or tannin.
Weeks of bright sunny days (not over 80) and chilly nights with no frost create the brightest colors.
When will the color peak be?
Predicting exactly when the peak of color is going to happen is one of the great mysteries of nature, many sources can give you an approximate timeframe for an area based on historical averages. Of course we all want to know when the peak will happen so that we can arrange time off, travel to a great location and reserve lodging (because for some reason it becomes difficult to find rooms in many locations this time of year). Ok, here’s the answer, “it will peak after it starts and before it ends” and you can quote me on this. Seriously, my point is that there are many great times to shoot the fall colors, some trees will have lost all their leaves and be bare sticks by the time others are just stating to turn. To catch all the color you need to be out shooting for more than just a quick day or two, there are great shots all through the fall season.
Common fall tree colors:
Yellow
Ash, Basswood, Birch, Beech, Butternut, Elm, Hickory, Mountain Ash, Poplar, Redbud, Serviceberry, Willow, some Maples.
Red
some Oaks and Maples, Sumac, Tupelos
Orange
some Oaks and Maples
Red or Yellow
Sugar Maple, Dogwood, Sweet Gum, Black Gum, Sourwood
How to Capture the Best Photos
Fall Color is Not all About Fall Color
Concentrate on composition, don’t assume all that beautiful fall color is going to make a great shot without consideration for composition, and having a clearly defined subject in the photo. Use all of the tools of composition: rule of thirds, leading lines, focus, highlights, shadows, s-cures, framing, vanishing point, and many others. Don’t think that just because you have brilliant blazing color it will translate into a great photo. Move around shoot from every conceivable angle and position, use a variety of lenses, from wide angle to ultra telephoto. Take your time and visualize the image that you want in your mind, then make your camera give you that image. Check for distracting backgrounds and out of place items (no one wants to hang a beautiful photo of fall leaves, with an old beer can in the background, on their living room wall).
Move in Close
This is a great time to use that Macro or Close-up lens. Examine the fine details in single leaf. Look for natural still-life on the ground where leaves have haphazardly fallen to their resting place. Often as photographers we want to capture everything all in one frame. While there are fantastic fall landscape photos, too often we overlook the details and the smaller subjects of fall. A single leaf, bunch of berries or mushroom pushing up through the fallen leaves, can all make fantastic fall color shots. Use a large aperture to blur the background and focus on your main subject.
Look Down
When out in the woods don’t forget to look down and photograph leaves that have already fallen.
Lighting
Good photos require good lighting. To many landscape photographers the lighting is the most important part of the photo, even more so than the subject. How do you get that great light when shooting outdoors? First thing is to know what makes good lighting and the second is to be there. A beautiful sunny day with clear blue sky, a great day for a drive in the country and taking great fall color photos. Well half right, a great day for a drive in the country, a bad day for photos. The light will be very high contrast, which means the areas where the sun is shining is too bright and the shadows are too dark. We can see about 18 to 20 “stops” of light with our eyes, our cameras will only see about 12 to 14 “stops”. This is the type of lighting that we want to avoid, this does not mean you have to go home, just avoid this type of lighting. Find an area in full shade, move in close and shoot those macro shots. Leaves tend to be less reflective and much more vivid on overcast days.
Golden Hour or Magic Hour, this is one half hour after the sun rises and one half hour before the sun sets. This is the time of day that most great landscape photos are taken. There are several scientific explanations of why the lighting is so good for photography during this time, but I’m not going into that detail. Just believe me that this is a great time to shoot your landscape fall color photos.
Overcast days will provide better color saturation than a sunny day and a softer diffused light. This is great for capturing the color in fall leaves. Rain or mist can also really bring out the color in fall foliage just be sure to protect your camera and yourself and watch out for lightning. Another factor of photographing during or after a rain, is that the leaves are clean and free of dust which will hide the true color. The drawback of a full overcast day is that you can have a bright white sky, if this is the case the best thing to do, is to try and keep the sky out of the picture.
White Balance
Auto White Balance is going to try really hard to do it’s job and remove the strong red-orange or yellow color cast in your photos by the fall foliage. If you are shooting in RAW (and you should be) you can fine tune white balance in post processing. Setting the white balance to shade will help to retain the orange and yellow colors in the scene.
Add Water and Reflections
Getting lower to the water will often give a better reflection.
Include People
Including people into the scene can add interest to the photo as well as perspective.
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
October 19, 2024Galleta Meadows Sculptures
Galleta Meadows Estate is privately owned desert estate land that consists of many separate plots in Borrego Springs, California and that features over 130 large metal art sculptures. The sculptures were created by Southern California artist Ricardo Breceda via commission from Dennis Avery, of the Avery Label fortune and the owner of Galleta Meadows. Mr. Avery located the sculptures on land he purchased for conservation.
Galleta Meadows is unfenced and open to the public for visitation, including hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, photography, and bicycling every day of the year. Borrego Springs is a village completely surrounded by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California.
The Galleta Meadows metal sculptures have different themes. The largest theme appears to be of prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs. Other themes have a connection to the desert environment in which they are located, such as desert animals, including scorpions and bighorn sheep. There is also at least one religious sculpture of a priest carrying a cross through the desert. There is also an approximately 350-foot-long dragon that gives the illusion of it snaking into and over top the desert sand.
Ricardo Breceda is an artist most well known for his large metal sculptures of animals. He was born in the town of Villa Unión in the state of Durango, Mexico, but now resides in Aguanga, California. He is unmarried and has two daughters, Lianna and Arabi. He originally worked as a cowboy boots salesman and a construction worker, but a construction accident caused him to leave the latter job. He made a metal sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex for his daughter Lianna after she asked for a dinosaur for Christmas following a viewing of Jurassic Park III.
He continued work on sculptures, and was eventually discovered by a philanthropist named Dennis Avery who paid him to construct one piece. Avery then allowed Breceda to build more than 100 sculptures on his property at Galleta Meadows Estate. The sculptures are based on beasts found in a book that depicts now-fossilized creatures in the Anza Borrego Desert as well as mythological creatures. Notable statues made by Breceda include a stagecoach pulled by horses, a large serpent, and a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Where it is:
The Galleta Meadows Sculptures are located in Borrego Springs California, or should I say all around Borrego Springs. You will need a vehicle to travel the many dirt roads on which the sculptures are located, some will have soft sand. Borrego Springs is also the in the center of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
The sculptures are not located in just one area, they can be found both north and south of downtown Borrego Springs. They are easy to spot as you drive along Borrego Springs Road.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Here is a Google Map created by another user of the locations of the sculptures, thanks to Erin McNeaney for creating and sharing this map.
Cost:
There is no cost to visit the Galleta Meadows Sculptures.
Hours:
The Galleta Meadows Sculptures are open 24 hours.
Facilities:
There are no facilities at the sculptures (they are spread-out in the desert), but there are all facilities in the Town of Borrego Springs.
Location Contact Information:
Anza Borrego Desert Visitor’s Center
200 Palm Canyon Dr,
Borrego Springs, CA
92004
Phone: (760) 767-4205
Visitor Center Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Visitor Center parking lot: 7 a.m – 7 p.m.
Galleta Meadows Sculptures Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in California
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
October 18, 2024Galveston Pleasure Pier October 2024 Free Wallpaper
Sunrise at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. Opened in the summer of 2012, it has 1 roller coaster, 15 rides, carnival games and souvenir shops. The new pier complex is located where the original Pleasure Pier stood from 1943 until 1961, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla. The original Pleasure Pier featured rides, an arcade, an aquarium, concessions, a large ball room, named the Marine Ballroom, and fishing at the end of the pier. It was also the site of the USS Flagship Hotel, an over-the-water hotel built in 1965 that was demolished after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Image is 1920 x 1080 pixels
Free Wallpaper Image
I will be offering one of my images as a free desktop wallpaper for your computer each month. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed the opportunity to travel our great country and. take them.
How to Set Your Wallpaper or Background Picture
The downloaded file will be a compressed ZIP file, which will need to be decompressed before you can use it.
Windows 10
To unzip the file in Windows 10
Open File Explorer and find the zipped folder.
To unzip the entire folder, right-click (or press and hold) it, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.
To unzip a single file or folder, double-click the zipped folder to open it. Then, drag or copy the item from the zipped folder to a new location.
To change your background image in Windows 10
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Personalization to choose a picture worthy of gracing your desktop background, and to change the accent color for Start, the taskbar, and other items. The preview window gives you a sneak peek of your changes as you make them.
In Background, select a picture or solid color, or create a slideshow of pictures.
Mac
To unzip the contents, follow these steps:
Click the Unzip button.
From the drop down menu, choose to unzip your files to this Mac, iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive.
A “Finder style” window will open. …
Choose to unzip the Entire Zip file or Selected Items. …
Another option is to click the New Folder button.
Here’s how you can change your Desktop picture on a Mac
From the Desktop, choose Apple→System Preferences. The System Preferences window appears. …
Click the Desktop & Screen Saver icon. The Desktop & Screen Saver Preferences pane appears.
Click a folder in the column on the left and then click a picture in the area on the right.
Previous Free Wallpaper Images
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
October 18, 2024Sabine Pass Lighthouse
The Sabine Pass Lighthouse, or Sabine Pass Light as it was referred to by the United States Coast Guard, is a historic lighthouse, as part of a gulf coast light station, on the Louisiana side of the Sabine River, in Cameron Parish, across from the community of Sabine Pass, Texas. It was first lit in 1857 and was deactivated by the Coast Guard in 1952. One of only three built in the United States of similar design, the light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Sabine Pass Lighthouse” on December 17, 1981.
After years of being passed between various federal and state agencies, the surviving structure was sold at auction in 1985 to a pair of businessmen who had plans to build a marina or restaurant featuring the tower. These plans were never realized, and in 2001 they donated it to the Cameron Preservation Alliance, which has constructed a road to the abandoned and decaying tower, This preservation group has plans to make the 42-acre property into a parish historical museum. Cheniere Energy has built an LNG terminal with an improved gravel road passing the plant and ending at the lighthouse property,
Historical Information:
Designed and built by Captain Leadbetter. Considered to be a “sister” lighthouse to Aransas Pass, Timbalier & Barataria towers.
1861 – Extinguished by the Confederates.
January, 1862 – The lamps, lens and clockwork were dismantled and crated for storage.
April, 1863 – Union forces attacked twice, and damaged the lens.
June, 1886 – Storm created an 8-foot tide which surrounded the tower with 5-feet of water. All the buildings on the site, except the lighthouse itself, were washed away.
1915 – A powerful hurricane caused the tower to vibrate, thus putting the clockworks out of order. The keepers had to turn the revolving lens by hand.
1952 – The lighthouse was discontinued and sometime during the next two years was transferred to the State of Louisiana.
1986 – The property was transferred into private hands.
Where it is:
The Sabine Pass Lighthouse is on private property and must be accessed by using Lighthouse Road which travels through Cheniere LNG Terminal. You must check in at the Cheniere Energy entrance to visit the lighthouse.
You must contact the Cameron Parish Library Branch at Johnson Bayou 4586 Gulf Beach Hwy,
Cameron, LA 70631 (337) 569-2892 to get on the visitors’ list.
You can drive to the lighthouse, but you may need a four-wheel drive if it has recently rained.
If you visit at high tide there will be several inches of water surrounding the lighthouse, plan on having some wading boots.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
29°42’59.502″ N 93°51’0.432″ W
Cost:
The lighthouse has free admission and you don’t need to get tickets in advance.
Hours:
There are no set hours to visit the lighthouse.
Facilities:
There are no facilities available at the lighthouse.
Location Contact Information:
Cameron Parish Library Branch at Johnson Bayou
4586 Gulf Beach Hwy,
Cameron, LA 70631
337-569-2892
Monday – Thursday 9AM to 5PM Friday 8AM to 4PM
Sabine Pass Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Louisiana
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published. Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]
Workshops and Classes
Complete photography workshop information, including schedules, and individual outlines are found within the Workshops section.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention you need.
My workshops and classes are designed around the students needs, with a hands on approach.I provide a photography workshop, not just a photo tour, my goal is provide you with as much personal hands on assistance as possible. I will check with each participant to see how you are doing and if you need help, if you wish for assistance let me know, if not just let me know, and you will be free to shoot on your own. I am more than willing to look through your viewfinder or at your LCD to check your images and offer constructive critique.
Current Workshops and Classes
Photographic Destinations
I will be posting an ongoing project I call “Photographic Destinations”.
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser known destinations, as well as the famous “Icon Locations” for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to insure a quality guide to great locations for photography.
If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Stock Photo Galleries
Search from thousands of images in my online galleries I am excited to be able to offer my images available for browsing or purchase.
- Browse Images
- Create and Save Personal Lightboxes
- Purchase Licensing Rights
- Download High Resolution Files
- Download Personal Use Files
- Order Prints
Home
July 4, 2010