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Below you will find the latest posts on my Instagram Account.  

f64academy

Freezing Fog is a rare occurrence here. I've seen Freezing Fog is a rare occurrence here. I've seen it maybe a handful of times since we moved to the Kansas City area 11 years ago.  We woke up on Sunday morning to the most gorgeous winter wonderland with no snow on the ground or slick road conditions.  I wish that would happen more often!

I took a little trip around my area (Weston Bend State Park and Humphrey's Access to the Platte River) and snagged a few shots that I enjoyed.

Tip #1:  If this ever happens in your neck of the woods, DO NOT delay.  The fog will burn off as the day warms up, and so will the incredible ice-crusted landscape.  Get out there with your camera, no excuses!  I would have been out there sooner to photograph it, but we were headed to church (okay, some things are excusable).

Tip #2: Always have a "Back Pocket Location", that is someplace close that you can get to in under 15 minutes.  When rare occurrences like this or sunsets, storms, rainbows, etc happen, you can be there in a jiffy!

#winter #sonya1 #missouri #landscapephotography #weather #freezingfog
The eye of Devil's Punchbowl! The birds weren't E The eye of Devil's Punchbowl!  The birds weren't EXACTLY that timely, but they were there nonetheless 🤣

With @outofchicago

#oregoncoast #Sonya1 #sonyalpha
If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I #sealr If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I

#sealrock #oregoncoast #fog #sonya1
Heading out to Oregon for another workshop with @o Heading out to Oregon for another workshop with @outofchicago and can't wait to see old friends, make new ones, and do what we love together.

Seal Rock here showing the treacherous waves as they collide with the rocks. The barnacles have the best seats in the house... I think...

#sonyalpha #sealrock #oregoncoast
Definitely missing that Colorado air right now at Definitely missing that Colorado air right now at those higher elevations. The sky looks different, the water moves slower, and the trees are a little happier. RIP Bob Ross!

#Sonya1 #rmnp #rockymountainhigh
It's like a bouquet of Fall. Can't wait to see th It's like a bouquet of Fall.  Can't wait to see these colors change!  I'm definitely wearing flannel today, maybe that will make it come faster!

#Sonya1 #rockymountainnationalpark  #bearlake #fallcolor #autumn
Autumn is tomorrow! Where will the fall colors gu Autumn is tomorrow!

Where will the fall colors guide you? I'm curious! Tell us in the comments below.

Last year for me was Rocky Mountain National Park.  This was at the top of Alberta Fall.

#autumn #fallcolor #albertafall #rockymountainnationalpark #sonya1 #indurotripods #waterfalls
Digging in my archives today, I stumbled upon an i Digging in my archives today, I stumbled upon an image I never processed from 2015 in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.  I really like how the 10 stop ND filter slowed the shutter to make the motion of the water feel like a statement. Those pastel colors pair so well with the motion as an added plus!

#10stopnd #canoneos6d #longexposure #mainecoast #oldorchardbeach beach
I ♥ it when three of my favorite things collide! I ♥ it when three of my favorite things collide! 

1. Photography
2. 3D Printing (Hot Shoe Cover)
3. Model Painting (yes, like those DnD models, lol)

It took me the better part of a week to get the hot shoe perfect in the 3D Resin Print.  7 iterations in fact, which led to 8 different print runs.  I had to learn a LOT!  First was online Cad Software, next was printing with Resin and finding the best resin, third was getting the size of the hot shoe just right... down to the fraction of a millimeter.

Yes, Matt K I was wearing my wizard hat when I took this picture...
Throwback to 2018 when @mattkloskowski and me were Throwback to 2018 when @mattkloskowski and me were so close to lightning but didn't want to leave 🤣 

Ok... I'm exaggerating a little, this was with a telephoto lens.  We were fine. Storm went right past us as we huddled in the trunk of our rented Explorer while shooting with the hatch up.

#sonyalpha #lightning #zionnationalpark
*In the Hall of the Goblin King* Walking through *In the Hall of the Goblin King*

Walking through a slot canyon is a majestic experience.  However, a cell phone, a typical DLSR without the right settings or proper lens can never capture the magnificence of these places.  With that said, am I an expert? Nope! Not in the slightest, but I had 10 minutes to figure it out.

The tour guide "Two Feathers" looks over at me and says, "Hey, when everyone gets to this side of the canyon, go back in, I'll hold them off with a brief story, it should give you a 10-minute shopping spree ;)"

What a guy!!!

I call this one, "In the Hall of the Goblin King". Look at it long enough and you'll see why!

#sonya1 #indurotripods #slotcanyon #goblinking #arizona #secretcanyon
I've always wanted a shot of an Eagle banking with I've always wanted a shot of an Eagle banking with their wings stretched out. Thanks to 30 frames per second, I didn't miss it this time 😁

#baldeagle #sonya1 #600mm #loessbluffsnationalwildliferefuge #birdsinflight
So I went to Loess Bluffs to photograph eagles and So I went to Loess Bluffs to photograph eagles and I did do that, but I REALLY wanted a hawk shot, there aren't as many hawks there as eagles. 

I was elated with this hawk who was nearly 5 feet away from us and didn't move. @macalterego and I tried to give him his field mouse he dropped, but he wasn't interested, he wanted his portrait taken instead 😁

Eagles to come, but I HAD to process this one first!

#sonya1 #600mm #hawk #birdphotography #wildlife #loessbluffsnationalwildliferefuge
We went to Loess Bluffs for the Eagles, but I foun We went to Loess Bluffs for the Eagles, but I found a Hawk and, well, I really think I like an photography hawks. They are gorgeous!

#sonya1 #sony200600  #hawk #loessbluffsnationalwildliferefuge
Hanging out at Loess Bluffs last week with @macalt Hanging out at Loess Bluffs last week with @macalterego and the usual gang. It was a lot of fun but we only had about 25 minutes of good light. The rest of the time we had some good laughs 😁

#sonya1 #sony200600  #loessbluffsnationalwildliferefuge
This sky was "lit" as the kids say these days. Unb This sky was "lit" as the kids say these days. Unbelievable colors after the sun passed over the horizon.

I have a saying, "Don't leave a location until Mother Nature tells you to."

Countless times photographers leave a scene too soon. Stay until the color and light are gone, period! The most incredible things happen in blue hour.

#sonya1 #rockymountain #rmnp #trailridgeroad #bluehour #usnationalparks #nationalparkservice
Hey there! This guy was peaking at the highway tr Hey there!

This guy was peaking at the highway travelers in Rocky Mountain NP.  I don't think I've ever seen an elk in nature, zoo's don't count!

#sonya1 #640mm #telephoto #wildlife #rockymountain #nationalparks
Talk about self reflecting. Hanging out on a rock Talk about self reflecting. Hanging out on a rock nearly 12,000 feet above sea level I realized just how much I love what I get to do for a living.  Some might say, "Gosh, you're lucky!"

The truth is, it's always work, sometimes incredibly difficult long hours of work. But at the end of the day it's all in pursuit of the talents and gifts I've been given from birth.  Not by my early father, although he did help cultivate my gifts. But the gifts given to me by my Heavenly Father.

I know I say it a lot, that you have a gift, you have a talent, you have something in you dying to get out and be seen by the world.  It's true, the hardest part is actually accepting that gift.

Funny isn't it, that we can accept gifts so easily on our birthdays and Christmas, but accepting who we are, how we were made, and what we have to offer the world is so darn difficult.  I want to challenge you to finally unwrap that Heavenly Gift with the same enthusiasm you would on those special occasions. 

I will warn you, it's going to be work to cultivate that gift once you accept it.  Sometimes incredibly difficult long hours of work. But let me tell you it's worth it in the end.

On the way to Soccer practice a few weeks ago Michael asked me how I knew God existed. I told him, "Sometimes He gives you little signs, other times He'll put up a billboard.  But it's up to you to be able to see them and that's where your Faith comes in."

This week on the way to Soccer practice I told Michael that God gave me a billboard last week. I then explained this picture to him and showed him. 

I was on this rock for two hours in 25 degree weather, completely unprepared for the cold.  But that blazing sun, for just a couple of seconds, peeked through the clouds and warmed me up as if it were 90 degrees outside. 

I'm not going to try and hide it, I shed a few tears.  As that sun set in the sky and blasted me with warmth, the thoughts of my gifts and blessings ran through my head like watching a movie in fast forward.

Am I lucky? Maybe, but I'd venture to say you are lucky too. Open that gift!!!

#sonya1#indurotripods #rmnp #rockymountain #nationalparks
What is your super power? Teach your kids that th What is your super power?

Teach your kids that their talents are their super powers and they will be super heroes for life!

God given talents are incredible. They are all different, unique, and designed specifically for us. We shouldn't waste them, we should actively pursue them and share them with the world.

I think what I enjoy so much about the Marvel Universe is the uniqueness of each heroes gift, but how awesome is it that we can translate that to our daily life with the people we meet?

Before you judge someone, think about their gift and how, if you had to, you could use it to build an epic super hero team. I think the world would be a better place if we did that.

P.S. Matthew HAD to have Thor's hammer, I caved...

#fjwestcott #westcottlighting #sonya1 #marvel #composite #
This was a difficult photo to make. @joelgrimeswor This was a difficult photo to make. @joelgrimesworkshops  pushed us pretty hard with this one as he lit every part of the subject multiple times over multiple exposures. The idea was to then put them all together with masks in Photoshop. It was work! But worth it.

Shout out to @tdphoto for modeling with his Cafe Racer that he has been building in his spare time. Incredible work! There are so many little details in that bike that make you say wow.

#joelgrimes #b29doc #caferacer #portrait #westcottlighting
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