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Its been a year   Well, its been a year since I posted on my blog, and there is a reason why. I’ve been quite busy. Let’s see, I opened a studio, I taught a dozen classes/workshops, and I generally was up to my apple in alligators! Utopia Imagery Studios opened in Sept with a grand open house.  About 50 photogs and models came out, and a good time was had by all.  Subsequently, we’ve had several more and they’ve all been great fun!   I’ve also done a lot

Red River Gorge Style So, my buddy Charlie Gough was helping me with a shoot for the wonderful Kentucky State Parks of Natural Bridge State Resort Park.  We had quite a few shooting assignments and were hoping for great weather for the three days we had to finish it up in.  We got up one morning and….   Fogged in!  Drizzlies!  Nastiness! We were supposed to shoot models in canoes and kayaks on the lake. No way to get them out where we wanted to and get some decent images

Springing into Spring… in the Ozarks! Yes… last year I totally missed spring. This year, determined not to! SO… I boarded a jet (thanks to daughter Shannon for arranging!) and flew away to meet my sister, Koral Baker Martin, in South West Missouri. She’s a pro nature photographer and we love shooting together. She thinks some areas in Arkansas are just amazing… the Ozarks, Boxley Valley and Buffalo River. She’s so so right! We were thinking about have one of our Photo ShareShops there,  and after this trip… no doubt!

I’m still wishing for Spring… again. You see, I mostly missed it – again! Although I pledged to myself a few years ago, back when I picked up my cameras again, that I would never miss Spring again. Yet, I did. Save a few all to short outings with Ruth, I missed Spring. I missed the Lady Slippers, the Showy Orchids, the Snow Trilliums. I missed the baby birds just learning to fly, the changing of the dank forest floor from earthy brown to happy greens and bright yellows, the swelling

Indian Creek, back the way it used to be…                                at least that’s what they said they were doing.   Indian Creek, in the Red River Gorge, was at one time a stream wild and free. There were folks that lived back there in the woods and even moonshiners that made their “shine” in caves near the creek. Then the area along the creek was “tamed.” In an effort to create pools and facilitate driving back

You’ve got to walk, before you can crawl     and get shots of those spring wildflowers! It’s a Wednesday, the last gasp of March.  I had wildflowers in mind, but where to go? Last week I went to Indian Creek in the Red River Gorge scouting to see if the wildflowers were blooming yet.   I there met a fellow who revealed a spot closer to home that was even more prolific when it came to wildflowers.   It was a place I’ve been to a number of times, but never in

I’m going over… to the “other” side!     ’cause it’s wonderful there!   One of my wonderful, close “nature” drives is Tates Creek Road.  No, not at Tates Creek Center, or near Talon Winery, but along the actual “Tates Creek,” which is actually in Madison County.  It is a nice drive to take pictures of Blue Herons and scenic riffles. To get there you have to go to the “other” side… the other side of the Kentucky River.    Hmmmm…. no bridge. But there is a ferry. The Valley View Ferry.  The

Fine Art Photographers don’t “Capture An Image…”         They set the image, and the imagination, free!     It is the goal, to me at least, of any photographer to create images… art, that conveys the emotion, the feeling, the sensory reaction that the artist desires for the viewer to feel.   To me, the overriding concern is the emotion the artist felt, and strove to convey when viewing, or even creating, the scene. A food photographer wants the viewer to taste the food portrayed in the image

When Parham met Sally…      ….it was love at first sight.   It was early March.  I was out trying to catch a few early spring flowers to take images of along a creek in the Red River Gorge. This, an effort somewhat unsuccessful as it was both too early for many little petals and too windy to photograph those which had elected to brave early spring. So I just had to settle for other opportunities that presented themselves. Things like a trio of Wood Duck butts (seems that is the

Just Sayin’… get outta the arch! The rules say, NO CAMPING IN ROCK HOUSES OR UNDER THE ARCHES.  Yet, there they were.  About eight college aged kids with tents and mats strewn underneath Stargap Arch in the Red River Gorge. It was the traditional New Years Day hike for the group of friends I hike with as much as I can, the “Posse.”   We had all met in Lexington and carpooled down to the trailhead, snagged our cameras and gear and made the hike to the arch.   Now,

Don’t give up…  Don’t ever give up!   And I mean this on so many levels… Apologies to the late Jim Valvano. I had occasion to meet and talk with him briefly once… Class guy.  Sad for his loss way too soon. So.. for photographers… and our work. First… and most importantly… as a photographer.   You work hard, you develop, you learn, you expand, your work is improving… don’t quit.  Don’t give up.  There have been times, even recently, I wanted to throw in the towel.  Frustrations.  Not having

  The Road Not Taken…       and that has made all the difference.   It’s true, both in life and in taking great images.   Apologies to one of my favorite poets, Robert Frost… and his familiar poem, The Road Not Taken. Ruth and I enjoyed a wonderful gathering at Pine Mountain State Park, our annual photo weekend.   We were joined by close friends and other fun and great photographers from throughout the region.  Everyone who attended enjoyed an inspirational and educational program and a fantastic photo competition. To be honest, the