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TWO5: 10/15/18

I’m keeping it simple this week; just four new photos on 500px.

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through October. Time inexorably slips by, and it just seems to go faster with each passing year. But it is my favorite time of year: autumn! We got out this weekend for some local fall color, so look for some of those pictures coming really soon!

This first picture was from our trip to Crater Lake. We camped in a cabin at the nearby Diamond Lake, and with a chilly evening (we had a blizzard at the lake) and clear skies predicted the following morning, I had a hunch we’d get some morning mist. I pried myself out of bed, and I was rewarded with this beautiful morning scene. You can read all about that day here. Continue reading →

TWO5: 10/8/18

Two new on Instagram; five on 500px. TWO5: This Week on 500px!

I got all 7 up this week – yay! I have thousands of photos I want to share, but sometimes the weeks get away from me. This week, however, was productive.

Blue hummingbird perched on a branch of a bush in Costa Rica | LotsaSmiles Photography

This first image was from our stunningly beautiful trip to Costa Rica. We took a canopy tour in Rainmaker. I primarily remember two things about that tour: the many tiny frogs, lizards, and snakes our guide pointed out that we otherwise never would have discerned from the lush undergrowth; and the cloud of mosquitos that surrounded his head without ever landing (and the “citronella” leaves he handed us to ward against them). After the tour, though, I caught movement in a nearby bush – this lovely. Those colors! Continue reading →

TWO5: 10/1/18

Good morning! Happy Monday, and happy October! Are you ready for a new month? Autumn came so quickly, it’s hard to believe summer is already past. And now that it’s officially October, I can start thinking about Halloween and Kumoricon coming up at the end of the month (I’m kind of way into the con scene). I can also get pumpkin spice lattes without the stink-eye (yeah, guilty – I like those, too).

This week, I have five new photos – two on Instagram and three on 500px.

This first one is a surprisingly older photo. I actually didn’t really care for how it was edited the first time around, but I gave it another look and a polish, and I’m pleased with the result. This was from a trip to Seaside several years ago. Most of the time, I only focus on my most recent photographs, but I’m glad I went back for this one.

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TWO5: 9/24/18

Happy Monday yet again! The weeks keep on spinning by. But one thing happened this weekend for which I’m excited… the first day of autumn! If you’ve been reading for a while now, you’ll know that autumn is by far my favorite season (some might say I’m a little obsessed). The trees here are only just beginning to turn, and I’m anxiously awaiting the height of the fall colors. You can be sure I’ll find a trail upon which to soak it all in, and I’ll share those photos here. Which is your favorite season?

As far as the photos this week, have just the five I posted on 500px.

This first one was from our photo trip to Hawaii. There are no bad views in paradise. We chose our lodging well; we had a beautiful Airbnb on the hill with this spectacular view of the ocean far below. It had plenty of room for our entire large group, and it featured an expansive lanai upon which one of our group actually slept a few times. If only we could have just stayed there for the entire trip!

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TWO5: 9/17/18

Two new on Instagram; five on 500px. TWO5: This Week on 500px!

Guess what?? I finally met my goal of actually posting 7 pictures this week! I’m getting into a better groove for these things. I like the new wildlife focus on my Instagram account, and I love sharing my best work on 500px.

This first one was from my first foray into backpacking. I joined some of my photo buddies in a bush plane that whisked us to the Alaskan backwoods. There, we hiked over 20 miles along the beach in search of bears. Along the way, we espied this majestic creature. We ended up seeing another eagle much closer – actually in our camp. It was an unforgettable experience. You can read about the entire journey here.

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TWO5: 9/10/18

Another week has inexorably slipped by.. how did that happen?? My summer has been so ridiculously busy. I really hope it starts to slow down a bit soon. Incidentally, I only got two photos up this week: one on Instagram and one on 500px. I promise more this next week.

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New Blogger Stock Photos and TWO5: 9/3/18

Welcome to September! Already a new month.. this year has gone by so quickly. But we are just beginning to get into my favorite season, so I’m ok with that. Is it fall yet?

This week, I got only one new photo onto Instagram and five up on 500px. But the good news is I’ve been working on some exciting things on my website. I’m cleaning up some things behind the scenes, and I’m now offering affordable web-quality stock images for fellow bloggers! I only have a small selection there now, but stay tuned; I’ll be adding a lot more in the coming weeks.

Blurred autumn trees in Boardman, a new stock image available for sale | LotsaSmiles Photography

Autumn Blur – LotsaSmiles Photography

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TWO5: 8/27/18

This week, I fell a bit behind, so I didn’t get any new photos posted to Instagram (shock!). I feel bad, but the craziness of life just got away from me this time around. You might have noticed that I have been focusing my Instagram account on wildlife. For now, I think I’ll continue to do that and see how folks like it. I certainly have lots of wildlife to share!

I did manage to get five new photos posted to 500px, so here they are:

First, a minimalist scene from Washington’s expansive Palouse. We spent a long weekend there last spring, and it was such a beautiful area to explore. One can view rolling farmlands as far as the eye can see, and there’s no end to picturesque covered bridges and red barns to photograph.

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TWO5: 8/20/18

Two new on Instagram and three on 500px this week. More of a TWO3 than a TWO5; this week got away from me a bit!

On the other hand, I’ve been working on a version 2.0 of my new scatter photos, and I’m really excited about it. If you’ve been following me on social media, you might have seen the preliminary result. I spent the weekend making custom wooden frames with my expert-carpenter dad, and I love how they look! I’ll be updating my page on scatter photos soon, so stay tuned for that!

As for the photos this week, here’s the line-up, ranked by the ones I personally like best. This week was really tough, as I like all of these.

This first one is a fun one from Costa Rica. We went wandering through the town of Alujuela on our first day, and these little pigeons were everywhere in the central park. This one perked up his head just as I shot the picture, and I couldn’t have been happier.

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TWO5: 8/13/18

Two photos on Instagram; five on 500px. Here are this week’s highlights!

This first one is from the beautiful Land of the Rising Sun. We visited many shrines and temples in Japan, most of which in Kyoto. This particular one was just up the hill from our ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel). Everything within the gates was meticulously cultivated and arranged for optimal zen. It was impossible to enter one of these sanctuaries and not feel an utter sense of peace as the hustle and bustle of the city just melts away. You can read all about that day here.

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