Give Thanks Week

Like most of the country we are getting things ready for Thanksgiving.  We are staying home this year because my husband is still recovering from his knee surgery.   Thanksgiving is one of the days I really miss my family.  There is always a big family dinner at my parents house for are very large family.
For the first time my husband is putting the turkey into a brine and then he will put in our smoker tomorrow. I am not a big fan using a brine because I don't like that much salt but I am trying to keep an open mind.

Here are some of the best rated All Inclusive Resort based on customer reviews from our friends at Tripadvisor.  I have stayed at the #1 pick and it is beautiful.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive-g1-a_Mode.expanded

The key to getting a really sharp picture is using a tripod and either your shutter timer or a remote trigger so your camera is perfectly still when you take the picture.  You need the right shutter speed and a low ISO setting for all you manual shooters.  Here are some more tips on getting sharp photos from our friends at Picture Correct:
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/more-tips-on-how-to-take-sharp-photos/
This is a really cool.  It has amazing shots from Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque.
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/hot-air-balloon-festival-timelapse-photography/

Speaking of Balloon Festivals, the Lake Havasu Balloon Festival is coming up in January.  It was so much fun last year so I am looking forward to it.  If you would like more information on the event, click on the link below:
http://www.havasuballoonfest.com/
The Thought For The Day:

"It is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see."  Henry David Thoreau
Thank you for reading my Blog!

Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC
Vacation Travel Specialist, Photographer & Blogger

612-490-0359
http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess
Purchase prints, posters or cards of my work at:

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess - Prints, cards, posters

http://fineartamerica

http://www.pixoto.com/tvlgoddess

All About Photography

Sorry it has been so long since my last Blog.  I have been busy with my husband since his surgery.  I have to help with his Physical Therapy every day as well as help my travel clients.   He is getting better every day but it is a slow process.  Not easy for either of us.
I have not been able to get out and take a lot of pictures.  I have managed to take some pictures of our wonderful sunsets but that is about it.

Just in time for the holidays here are some cute gift ideas for the Photo Enthusiasts in your life:
http://www.photographyblogger.net/20-t-shirts-for-photographers-who-might-love-photography-a-little-too-much/
If you are new to Photography or just want to improve your holiday photos this article will give you some tips to take better shots:
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-take-better-pictures-for-beginner-photographers/
 Here are some of the first color photos from the Depression and War II years.  Kind of depressing but interesting at the same time. It is a  history lesson we can share with our children and grandchildren.
http://extras.denverpost.com/archive/captured.asp
I have have been uploading some of my work to a website called Pixoto.   The members vote on your work and they give out awards which is fun.  You can order prints as well.  Check it out!
http://www.pixoto.com/tvlgoddess/recent

The Thought For The Day:
"If your photos aren't good enough, then you're not close enough." Robert Cupa
Thank you for reading my Blog!

Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC
Vacation Travel Specialist, Photographer & Blogger

612-490-0359
http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess
Purchase prints, posters or cards of my work at:

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess - Prints, cards, posters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26332264@N03/sets/

http://fineartamerica

Hot Sam's Antiques

I am sorry I have not  gotten time to write my Blog.  I have been very busy the last few weeks with my Travel business.  Also, I had a couple major projects going on at the house.  It was so much work but the results are great.  I had family visiting for 6 days and we threw a 70th Birthday party for my hubby.  Last week my husband, Tim, had knee surgery and he is now working on his Physical Therapy in a Rehab Center.  Whew!

One my favorite spots to take pictures is a place called Hot Sam's Antiques in Lakeville, Minnesota.  It is a cross between a museum and an Antique store on steroids.  There are lots of quirky displays and vignettes set up all around the property.  It used to be free to shoot there but now there is a small fee but it is worth it.
For more information about Hot Sam's Antiques:
http://www.startribune.com/galleries/219033701.html
One of my favorite things to shoot is a waterfall.  If you want to get the soft "Angel Hair"  look you will need a tripod and a camera with a Neutral Density Filter.  Cloudy days work the best.
Here is a link to a tutorial on how to Photograph Waterfalls:
http://www.photographytalk.com/forum/tips-and-taking-photos/254241-tips-on-how-to-photograph-waterfalls#293359

The best times to get beautiful light are at sunrise and at sunset and just afterward which is called the "Blue Hour."   Here is a link to some of the best shots from this time of day:
http://www.photographyblogger.net/27-beautiful-examples-of-blue-hour-photography/
 This in one of my "Blue Hour" shots:

Here is the Thought For The Day:
"Peace is a result of restraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be."
Wayne W. Dyer
Thank you for reading my Blog!
Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC

Vacation Travel Specialist

612-490-0359

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26332264@N03/sets/

http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/becky-mcguire.html

Rocky Mountain National Park

One of our stops this summer was at Rocky Mountain National Park.  The park is located Northeast of the city of Denver.  It was a beautiful drive along the Big Thompson River from our RV park in Loveland to the park entrance.  Once inside the park we were treated to a herd of Elk grazing in a field by the road.  We spent the morning driving through the park enjoying the mountain views.  I was surprised to still see snow on the mountains but the run off made for little waterfalls.  For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park click on the link below.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g143048-Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_Colorado-Vacations.html

We stopped for lunch in the town of Estes Park.  It is a cute mountain town with lots of cute shops and restaurants.  There is a park area along the river just a block off the main street that we walked through.  We had a great afternoon.

Here is an article about incorporating texture into your images.  This is one reason I like shooting old rusty junk, antiques, cars, buildings, etc.  I think the rust and weathered surfaces make for interesting photos.  

http://digital-photography-school.com/texture-design-element

Now that October is here and the weather is getting chilly in the Northern states my clients are starting to plan their winter vacations.  There are some early booking discounts with some of the tour companies so it is a good time to book your vacation.  You are usually money ahead to book your air and hotel together to make a package.
The Thought For The Day:
"In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality." Alfred Stieglitz
Thank you for reading my Blog!

Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC
Vacation Travel Specialist

612-490-0359
Follow me on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess

To purchase prints:

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26332264@N03/sets/

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/becky-mcguire.htm

Conservatory Reflections

Conservatory Reflections, a photo by bmcguire94 on Flickr.

This picture was taken in Como Park in St. Paul Minnesota.

A Visit To Minnesota

One of the stops on our trip this summer was Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Minnesota is where we born and raised.  We lived there until my husband retired a few years ago.  We spent three weeks visiting family and friends.  It was a busy three weeks for us but it was great to catch up with everyone.  We stayed in our RV at The Refuge RV Park in Hastings, Minnesota.  We like to stay there because it is very quiet with large spaces.
I was fortunate enough to have a day out shooting with my Photo Buddy, Tina.  We started out by driving South from Hastings.  Our first stop was Lake City which is on beautiful Lake Pepin.  We had loads of fun shooting in the city park and at the Lake City Marina.  My friend was working on series called Empty Benches so we were on the look out for those.  Here is a link if you would like more information about Lake City, MN:
http://www.lakecity.org/

Our next stop was Wabasha which is where they filmed the movie Grumpy Old Men.  We did some shooting along the river and around town.   This river town is home to the National Eagle Center.  We did a tour of the facility and were able to see some of the eagles close up.  For more information check out the link below:
ttp://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/

The last stop on our journey was the historic town of Red Wing which is home to Red Wing Shoes and the old Red Wing Pottery Building.  We did some shooting on the outside of the Red Wing Pottery Building of some of the artifacts from the factory.  We wondered through the building which is now home to many cute shops and restaurants.  For more information click on the link below:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g43452-Red_Wing_Minnesota-Vacations.html

Here is a list of Photography Tips from our friends at Picture Correct:

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/top-10-tips-on-how-to-take-a-great-photo/
The Thought For The Day:
"What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce."  Karl Lagerfeld
Thank you for reading my Blog!

Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC
Vacation Travel Specialist

612-490-0359
Follow me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess
Purchase prints, posters or cards of my work at:

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess - Prints, cards, posters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26332264@N03/sets/

http://fineartamerica

The Grand Tetons

After our three week stay in Minnesota we headed West.  We spent the first night in Spearfish, South Dakota.  The people who owned the RV Park had just bought a house in Lake Havasu City.  I told them to give us a call when they got here.   So, we gained two new friends.  Bonus!
The next day we continued on to Grand Tetons National Park.  We found everything near the park to be quite expensive.  We paid $85.00 a night at the RV Park and I paid almost $6.00 for a loaf of bread.  So, if I had it to do over again,  I would stay farther away.

The park it self is very nice and it easy to find your way around.  There are lots of places to stop and enjoy the beautiful Mountain views.   I would have liked to have had two full days at the park instead of one.
One of my favorite spots was Mormon Row which was founded somewhere around 1907.  Thomas Moulton moved there in 1912 with wife and newborn son.  The barn he built in 1913 still stands with the beautiful

Grand Teton Mountains in the background.  It is the most photographed barn in the United States.  The barn was in the movie "Spencer's Mountain."
There are some old Mormon homesteads there as well.  I love to shoot old buildings so it was a treat.  Be sure to watch where you are walking because there are a lot of holes made by the Prairie Dogs.

Here is a an article listing things you should pack for your next vacation.  The one thing not on the list was a multi prong extension cord.  This comes in handy for charging phones, laptops, IPads, etc.
http://www.smartertravel.com/photo-galleries/editorial/easy-things-you-should-pack-but-probably-wont.html?id=532&all=1

My favorite kind of Photography is Macro, which is up close with a blurry background.  Flowers are my preferred subject but I will take a picture of almost anything.  It really pays to invest in a good Maco lens.  I mostly use natural light with a reflector to bounce the light back on the subject.   Here is a tutorial on how to compose your Macro shots.
http://seeinginmacro.com/macro-photography-how-to-compose-photos-like-a-pro/?utm_source=Seeing+In+Macro+Newsletter&utm_campaign=28873d144e-SIM_Newsletter_28July&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8af3de4755-28873d144e-40531353
The Thought For The Day:
"Skill  in Photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase."  Percy W. Harris
Thank you for reading my Blog!

Becky McGuire, CTC, MCC
Vacation Travel Specialist

612-490-0359
http://www.facebook.com/tvlgoddess
Purchase prints, posters or cards of my work at:

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/tvlgoddess - Prints, cards, posters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26332264@N03/sets/

http://fineartamerica