The Shaw Family

Waterloo, IA | May 2018

The Pauli Family

Our favorite little people on a random & magical Wednesday.

Paul + Ashley

The Brooks Family

Iowa City, Iowa | May 2018

Moab - Travel Photography Recap

Courtney Susan and I went to Moab with some pals for spring break this year.

I hadn't been to any desert regions of the US since before I was taking photos, so it was cool to get to experience it with a camera this time.

There's 2 National Parks in the Moab area:

Arches - Well known and well attended, if you wait too long into the day the entrance line really got big. It was about 30 minutes of driving one way to get to the farthest trailheads or landmark spots.
Canyonlands - Split up into 3 sections with 3 separate entrances, this one sees less than half the traffic of Arches per year but is amazing in a completely different way (and we only were there for a day and just saw the uppermost section called Island in the Sky, the other sections apparently are different kind of landscapes all-together)

Cool. Let's look at some photos.

-Neal

Sony a7rii | 15mm 4.5 | f10 | .5 sec | ISO 50 | Smooth Reflection Sony App

Double Arch. One of the well known arches (pretty much all that we saw were), only a 5 minute walk from the parking lot. It would be a cool location for astrophotographers.

Sony a7rii | 15mm 4.5 | f10 | 1/30 sec | ISO 25

This scene was on the way back from Double Arch. I am bummed I didn't set up and take a proper photo, because it's one of my favorite compositions from the trip but I took it handheld at f/4.5 so the background is a bit out of focus. Life is hard.

Sony a7rii | 85mm 1.8 | f2.8 | 1/320 sec | ISO 250

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f11 | 1/13 sec | ISO 50

Turret Arch, on the other side of the parking lot as Double Arch.

Sony a7rii | 55mm 1.8 | f11 | 8 sec | ISO 50 | Sony Smooth Reflections App

Ta-da, it's sunrise now. In about an hour this rock formation gets lit up by the sun and is the subject of many a photo.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f7.1 | 30 sec | ISO 400 | 5 image stitched panoramic

This is looking the opposite direction than the last photo of turret arch. The rock face at the very left is where you climb up to to get the next image's viewpoint (but you'll most likely have to get lucky or Photoshop out some tourists + photographers who are standing where I am)

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f14 | 1/6 sec | ISO 50 | 5 image stitched panoramic

While I was up here I heard a lady yell at someone on the other side "it's just rocks, like everything else we've seen this week", so that's a thing.

Sony a7rii | 15mm 4.5 | f13 | 1/10 sec | ISO 50 | Composite of 2 images for sky/foreground + humans are Photoshopped out

Be warned that if you are hoping to get this angle at sunset you may get yelled at by angry photographers on the opposite side of the bowl. Also, be warned if you're an angry landscape photographer that it seems like an unhappy way to enjoy a view.

The hike up is not necessarily difficult, but if you are bringing photo gear up know that it isn't the easiest of hikes.

This image is available as a print, click here to order.

Sony a7rii | 400mm 5.6 | f9 | 1/1250 sec | ISO 1000

This area is prime time for telephoto abstract lines and shapes (notice the bikers on the first curve)

Sony a7rii | 85mm 1.8 | f11 | 1/60 sec | ISO 400

Green River Overlook. This is another super accessible vista, not very far from the entrance of Canyonlands NP.

Sony a7rii | 55mm 1.8 | f11 | .5 sec | ISO 1000 | 10 image stitched panoramic

This is the biggest pano that I've ever stitched, and the computer hated everything about it.

The storm in the distance was pushing in some crazy strong wind, and the tripod wouldn't stand up very well on it's own so I had to handhold these, resulting in a higher ISO.

This image is available as a print, click here to order.

Thanks for reading/looking with your eyeballs! If you enjoyed this format and think it would be helpful for other people wanting to get images in Moab, sharing it on the interwebs and social media is always encouraged.

Austria - Travel Photography Recap

I've been wanting to make more photography-centric blog posts for a while now, specifically when it comes to travel and landscape. The motive is relatively simple: there's some resources for location scouting before a photo trip (Location Scout is an example), and there's waaaaay too many blog posts vying for every tourists ad revenue for just about every place imaginable (which is the majority of sites that come up with a simple search such as "travel photography Salzburg Austria"), but there's not a whole lot of sites that get straight to the point.

So I'm going to try to create blog posts of what I would want to see when researching a place. These are my tentative requirements:

Nothing too wordy. Not necessarily because humans have lost the ability to read for more than 5 seconds, but more because I'm concerned with the story of the images and how they were shot rather than writing a novel about it.
A bit technical. I'm going to try to put the camera settings below each image that was thought out and planned. Some images are simply going to make the blog because it pertains to the location or I like it a lot, but that may change in the future.
Location heavy. When I search a potential location, it's great to come across someone who describes the location in some detail. Is it a 5 minute walk from the car lot or an hour hike in the woods, etc.

-Neal

AUSTRIA 2018

The Dean and I went to Austria on a whim in March. Because there was essentially zero planning, we tried to fit in some classic locations but did a lot of wandering around as well. We were there for about 4 days, spending 3 in Salzburg and 1 in Hallstadt.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f11 | 8 sec | ISO 100 | Streetlights composited in to sunset photograph

The Salzach runs right through the Old Town, and there are several pedestrian only bridges that cross. This is looking NW from the Makartseg bridge.

Much thanks to my wonderful mother for hanging out in a grocery store while I was taking this photo in the cold.

This image is available for print, click here to visit our store.

Sony a7rii | 55mm 1.8 | f14 | 1/13 sec | ISO 50 | 5 image stitched panorama

This location is about a 10 minute walk West of the Museum Der Moderne Salzburg. I am a bit bummed because the composition is so great but the trees look sad and the melted snow isn't my favorite, so it's on my list of spots to return to in the fall or snowy times.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f18 | 13 sec | ISO 50 | 5 image stitched panoramic

This is a pretty classic view of Salzburg from Museum Der Moderne Salzburg. You can walk here from the Fortress on a few different trails, or take a lift up the mountain for a few euros.

Sony a7rii | 85mm 1.8 | f13 | 1/25 sec | ISO 50

I used the Sony Smooth Reflections App to smooth out the water in this one. The bridge pictured here is the one I was standing on in the first image.

Sony a7rii | 85mm 1.8 | f10 | 1/320 | ISO 100

This is Hohensalzburg Castle, which is touristy inside but is pretty neat (although overpriced). Photo wise I couldn't find any great compositions, but google images tells me that they are out there...

This was from a lookout spot that seemed pretty popular between the Fortress and the museum.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f9 | 1/100 | ISO 50 | 3 image stitched panoramic

Petersfriedhof Salzburg. Once again, this would be a way more eye-catching composition if it was just after a snowfall.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f2.8 | 1/800 | ISO 50

Inside the Catacombs. It provides some neat photo opportunities looking down at the city, but it is a pretty short adventure for 2 euros.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f10 | .6 sec | ISO 50 | 3 image stitched panoramic

This image is available for print, click here to visit our store.

So I had seen some images of Hallstadt in the past, it's a regular on a lot of Instagram feeds, but we did almost no research before taking a day trip out there from Salzburg. A pertinent piece of information is that developers in China built a replica of the city, so loads of tour buses of site seers (spelling?) go there to see the real thing. It was super touristy, and we were definitely not there during peak time.

It takes 2 trains and a ferry to get there from Salzburg. If you plan on arriving for sunrise, note that the earliest train-ferry combo that could get us there (at least during March) left Salzburg at 4am and put us there right as the sun was rising around 7:30, so during the summer sunrise may not be an option.

This church is obviously the well known location, but taking the Furnicular or hiking up to the scenic view is super cool.

Sony a7rii | 35mm 2.8 | f19 | 1/250 sec | ISO 100 | Smooth Reflections Sony App

Sony a7rii | 55mm 1.8 | f15 | 1/4000 sec | ISO 125

There were loads of burd friends.

Thanks for reading/looking with your eyeballs! If you enjoyed this format and/or think it would be helpful for other people wanting to get images in Salzburg and Hallstadt, sharing it on the interwebs and social media is always encouraged.

The Walsten Family

The Walsten's are now a family of five and we are real excited to share the news!

Malawi 2017

“Camp Chisomo is a place for kids to be kids; where they learn about God’s grace and the power it gives to live with dignity in the present and hope for the future.”

— CampChisomo.com

The Hillebrand Family

I had the pleasure of capturing this sweet family preparing for Christmas! Lots of laughs, some paint, a few ornaments hung, and even a buzzlighter costume! The Hillebrand family is so much fun. I left feeling so encouraged and blessed to be brought into their home and to capture this point in time for them. Especially with Brad and Brooke's FIFTH anniversary being this month-hooray for that! I hope these brings some JOY to your day!

-Courtney

Brad + Kate

Since we got married in 2015, we have been real Christmas tree people. However, THIS was the first year that we actually went to cut down our own tree! We took a trip out to our local tree farm and I fell in LOVE. I could not get over how magical it was. I kept telling Neal we HAD to take someone's photo out there! Thankfully the timing was right & we got to take some long awaited photos of these two the next day.

Brad & Kate. The sweetest of humans. Capturing them amidst a busy season, filled with local gigs, packaging & shipping CDs, and Christmas preparations, still full of so much joy!

We are so grateful to call these two beautiful humans some of our very best friends. If you don't know them, we encourage you to catch them at their next local gig or on a Sunday morning at Orchard Hill Church.

www.bradandkate.com

Stillman Family

Jay + Sarah

Ben + Zoe

Sam + Katie

1. We are huge fans of Sam & Katie. I’m thankful Neal was able to meet them & understand why I’m so thankful that our paths crossed back at the good ‘ol LMHS.

2. They wanted us to re-create their first photo together. One that was randomly snapped in 2010 on a high school choir trip to Disneyworld. So much foreshadowing!!!!

3. They're ridiculously fun & wise & hilarious together. We can’t wait to capture their first day as husband and wife!

-Courtney

Sandy Vi - Transcontinental Run

“On September 11, 2017, the reigning Badwater 135 Ultramarathon champion, Sandy Villines, will set off for her greatest challenge yet: to take down the world record for the fastest ever crossing of the United States — on foot — by a woman (it currently stands at 68 days).”

— Sandy Across America's website

Michael + Megan

Iowa Octobers hold a beauty that can't be beat. So running around town on a crisp & golden October night with these two was thee best.

Megan and Michael are seven months away from being husband and wife and what a joy it was to capture them in a season of sweet anticipation. Their giddiness and thankfulness for one another was easy to capture and so refreshing. They don't take themselves too seriously and were up for all our crazy ideas. Our time was filled with a little bit of dodging bikes & dogs, a whole lot of dancing to The Lumineers, hearing all about their story, & maybe accidentally trespassing on an abandon greenhouse....

We are so excited for the future Bowdens!!!! Here is some joy for your eyeballs. Feel free to share using thee icons above!

-Courtney

Yosemite

Brad + Kate Music

www.bradandkate.com

Jay + Sarah

We spent part of our Saturday hiding in the trees as the sky poured down buckets on buckets of rain. It was THEE greatest. Never have I been so happy to be soaked by the rain and while hiding a camera under an umbrella.

We were able to capture one of thee most joy filled humans kneel down under an umbrella & ask his favorite human to be his forever. And as the rain fell harder and harder, we watched a confident, grateful, & joyous yes be said. We celebrated from afar with them as we snapped their first moments as future Mr. & Mrs. & thanked Jesus for providing them such a gift in one another.

It wasn’t too long until Jay pointed us out and we were able to run over and give them a big celebratory squeeze. The rain continued to fall and we caught an oh so happy Sarah and Jay continue to stand in awe of what just happened.

We won’t ever get over the gift it is to enter into stories like these!! We hope the images from that day give you a little glimpse of the joy and tears and the “I really get to marry this human?!” gasps that filled this moment.

-Courtney

Italy

We're big fans of Italy. We love the language, the food, the cities, and especially their slow pace of life. We're also big fans of other people experiencing places that we love - so our hope is that as soon as you are done scrolling through these images, the next thing you do is book a ticket to lo Stivale (the boot)

Click on any image to view it fullscreen. If you are interested in buying travel prints, click here

Blevio

Our first stop was Blevio, a small town on the Southwest finger of Lake Como in Northern Italy. We chose to make this our first stop so we could spend a few days relaxing away from the tourist hotspots on the lake, and the view from our Airbnb definitely helped. Also our hosts gave us some free Red Orange juice, which is an automatic 5 star rating for the Johnsons.

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Lake Como

We took a ferry around Lake Como, and it was definitely worth the 25 Euros. You get to relax on a boat as it cruises around a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, so there's not much to complain about unless you are prone to seasickness.

Anytime the ferry stops to pick up more people, you can get off and explore the town then hop back on the next available ferry.

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Bellagio

Bellagio is one of those tourist hotspots that I mentioned earlier, but everyone says that it's a must see if you're on Lake Como, so we hopped off the ferry and spent about 2 hours walking around "The Pearl of the Lake".

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Como

Our last stop in the Lake Como area was the city of Como. We stayed in a hostel called Ostello Bello, and everything was painted yellow so it gets a 5 star rating from Courtney Susan.

We took a day trip up to Brunate, where the Faro Voltiano Lighthouse gives a great view of the Lake.

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San Miniato

Next we went down south to San Miniato, in the Tuscany region. This small town was significant in ancient times, sitting right along the Via Francigena - a path connecting Rome and Northern Europe.

Today it's most known for its well preserved city walls and buildings, along with the White Truffle festival that is held there every year.

We lucked out and got to go to their monthly Farmer's Market, which helped the city lock down a solid 5 stars from us.

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Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre has become overrun by tourists in recent years, but it still is definitely worth a see if you get the chance. It's well-known colorful houses are cool, but it's the feeling of being stuck in time that seems to be most attractive to visitors. Cars aren't allowed in most of the villages, so time moves extra slow.

After about 48 hours of insane travel across the pond, our friends finally made it up to Monterosso al Mare at 1 in the morning, and we started the 15 minute trek up the hillside to our lemon grove Airbnb.

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Florence

Next up was Florence, the capital of Tuscany. There's way too many historic buildings, churches, and landmarks within this city to sum up in a few sentences, so you're going to have to Wikipedia it when you're done here.

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Chianti Region

One of the last adventures that we got to go on was a wine tour around the Chianti Region. It taught us one very important thing - our Balsamic Vinegar is super fake.

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