Awake The Light

07/19/2026

BEFORE & AFTER
Recently I introduced my new TIP OF THE WEEK newsletter, and I am happy to report that it has become an instant success. Each new issue showcases one of my images that started out as far less than exciting, but with the help of simple fixes in Lightroom (and occasionally a bit of extra help from Photoshop), it became a much more appealing image. Today’s image is featured in the latest TIP OF THE WEEK.
Want to know how it was done? If you are already on my mailing list, you should have received the newsletter with the full explanation of all that was done. BUT if you did not receive it and want to, please join my mailing list. It’s easy!
To receive it free each time a new issue is published, simply do this:
• Log on to my website https://www.awakethelight.com
• Wait a few seconds for the sign-up box to pop up, OR
• Scroll down on the Home Page to see the “Join My Mailing List” section, and fill in the information requested. That’s it!

07/14/2026

BIRDS IN FLIGHT
Birds in flight can be some of the most beautiful and exciting photographic subjects. This Roseate Spoonbill had just lifted off against a background of trees, and I was happy to capture the beautiful arc of its wings.
Of course I also love photographing flowers, rugged landscapes, peaceful seasides, majestic mountains, wildlife in all its forms, closeup macro views……. Well, the list goes on and on.
My philosophy is this: if you love it all, photographic it all. If on the other hand only one or a small handful of subjects appeal to you, concentrate on those.
But don’t deliberately restrict yourself. Don’t think you need to be a specialist. Experiment, play, try a variety of techniques and looks. You do not have to concentrate on just one subject, one style, or one approach.
And learn all you can. Understanding your camera, learning about the area you are photographing in, or the wildlife you are seeking to photograph, all will be very beneficial. The more you learn, the more knowledge you will have, and the better your images will be.

07/06/2026

Black & White infrared images can be a beautiful departure from the “normal” representation of a landscape or other subjects. Most people create this look with digital cameras that have been converted to see the infrared spectrum, which our eyes cannot see.
But there is another way to create this look of light foliage and black skies without the expense of converting a digital camera, and does not require you to carry another camera body in addition to your regular gear.
It is what I call “Faux Infrared” and can be easily created using Lightroom or other image processing software. Purists will say it does not look exactly like REAL infrared images made with converted cameras, but it comes very close. AND it is very easy to do.
Just shoot in color as you normally do. Then use Lightroom (or Adobe Camera RAW or other processing software) to convert the image to Black & White. Use the normal sliders to adjust Whites, Blacks, Shadows, Highlights, and Clarity to your liking. Then it’s time for the magic. Go to what is normally labeled the COLOR MIXER panel (which has been automatically temporarily renamed “B&W” as soon as you convert the image to Black & White), and then move each color slider in both directions to see what it does to the image. Some sliders will make no change at all, but others will lighten the foliage and darken the sky.
While our eyes see the image as B&W, Lightroom and other software still see the actual colors in the image, and that is what makes this technique work so well.
You can do this with any color image made in your camera or your phone. Try it! It is easy and fun!

07/02/2026

HAPPY JULY 4TH
Tree swallows are so fast and unpredictable that it takes a great deal of time and patience to get a good shot. Once you have found a spot that they return to (in this case it was their bird house), you need to just wait and be ready to spring into action in the split second that they appear out of nowhere. AND focus of course!
To freeze the motion of fast-moving birds, a fast shutter speed of at least 1/1250 sec is mandatory, and even faster is better. Also, continuous focus and continuous rapid-fire shutter are also very important.
In honor of July 4th, I cheated a bit and made the stump he had perched on redder than it really was in an effort to produce a Red, White, and Blue holiday color scheme. Wishing you a fun holiday weekend!

06/26/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED – BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, South Dakota 2027
I am excited to announce that I will be returning to the BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK in South Dakota, May 23-27, 2027! Last month’s trip was so successful and popular that demand is high for a return trip next year.
The Old West captures the imagination like nothing else. The Badlands appear suddenly and dramatically from the Great Plains where many westward-bound pioneers in the 1800’s got their first glimpse of the challenges they faced.
This trip will be filled with sweeping landscapes, rugged rock formations, wide open spaces, raw wildness, and untamed beauty. There is also the potential for close-up shots of bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, prairie dogs, a wide variety of birds, and much more! We will explore all of that and more in this unique and exciting trip.
Click the image below for complete details. I hope you can join me!

$500 deposit reserves your space. Balance of $3495 due by February 20, for a total workshop fee of $3995. THE BADLANDS of SOUTH DAKOTA ‍ A Creative Journey Back In Time The Old West captures the imagination like nothing else. The Badlands appear suddenly and dramatically from the

06/20/2026

BUTTERFLY SURPRISE
Less than an hour from my home is the largest concentration of black bears in the world. NOT the most bears, but the most concentrated in a relatively small area, totaling about 8,000 bears. So I went in search of them on an overcast morning. Got up at 4:30am (ugh! – the sun rises VERY early in summer here in eastern North Carolina) to get there a little after dawn when they are generally active. But on this morning they proved to be very elusive. I saw a few, including a pair mating, but because of the very low light level my images were far less than appealing. Dark animal in low light - not the best lighting conditions.
While I was searching for them I noticed some beautiful butterflies among the wildflowers, and that is what I am sharing with you today. I plan to return to the bears soon in hopes of better images to share.
The point of all this detail is to say this – ALWAYS be alert to potential subjects when what you are seeking is elusive. Butterflies were the farthest thing from my mind, so it was a nice treat to see them and to get this image.

06/17/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES
I usually do not photograph captive animals, and prefer to find them in the wild. But a few years ago I saw this handsome male Desert Bighorn Sheep in the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. He was just too appealing to pass by. The Museum does a good job of creating large and realistic-looking enclosures for large animals.
This image was processed in Lightroom, and it took less than 5 minutes to turn the murky original RAW image (inset) into the much better final image. Improvements were made by simply increasing the Whites, increasing Clarity to +30 (my usual Clarity setting), using the Linear Gradient tool to reduce the brightness of the bottom rock, and the Brush tool to lighten the eye. Note that I did NOT use the Exposure slider even though your first thought might be to use it. The Exposure and Contrast sliders are rarely helpful - it is better to first try the Whites, Blacks, Highlights, and/or Shadows sliders to correct an overly dark, or overly light image.
Many times we despair when we first view our RAW images and find them lacking in contrast, color, or punch. But before you immediately delete the image, try using Lightroom or Camera RAW to bring it back from the jaws of death. You might be surprised at how just a few minutes of processing can take what at first might look like a loser into a real winner!

06/12/2026

SIMPLICITY
Sometimes simpler is better. The beautiful curving shapes of this cactus plant created their own composition. And while they were much darker than they appear in this black-and-white conversion, I felt the lighter look enhanced the delicate curves and gradation of tones. The final result is an artistic interpretation of the plant, with a simple mat to compliment the overall look.

06/04/2026

CHANGE OF PACE
During my recent trip to the Badlands of South Dakota, a friendly local resident told me about some deserted buildings near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that he thought might be photogenic. He was right. This is just one example of an old outbuilding that has held up quite well. I love the deep blacks and the warm wood hues that grace this old structure. And the wood textures add character. I would have been happy without the graffiti, but so be it. When traveling I often have preconceived ideas of what I will see and photograph, but pleasant surprises like this old building are always a welcome change of pace, and add to the meaning and breadth of a location.

06/01/2026

WILDLIFE BONANZA!
We hit the jackpot on the last day of our trip extension to South Dakota’s Custer State Park. This is the most incredible state-run park I have ever experienced. Beautiful scenery, high mountains and low rolling hills in the valleys, lots of wildlife, and quiet meandering roads. We saw a large herd of female bison and their young, a thriving prairie dog enclave with lots of young ones darting all around, pronghorn, tons of birds, and more. Here is a small sampling of what we saw on one morning between 6am and 9am.
TOP ROW, L to R – Barn Swallow, Bison mother and young resting
MIDDLE ROW, L to R – Pronghorn, Magpie with worm
BOTTOM ROW, L to R – young Bison nursing, young twin Prairie Dogs being watchful
I plan to return to this area in May 2027 and would love for you to join me to explore both the South Dakota Badlands and Custer State Park. Interested? Let me know and I will add you to the "interested list." No obligation at this time. This is an easy trip with minimal physical demands. I hope you can join me!