Today’s challenge photo is of the street cleaner’s cart parked under the old courthouse here in Madisonville, Ky. There’s just something about how it looked sitting there next to the window that I liked. That’s one of the things I like about photography… the ability to pick and choose just what it is that I want to capture in my frame. I love that freedom! Even when I worked for a living, hey wait a minute, I don’t ever feel like I really worked in most of the 40 plus years I’ve been a professional photographer. That comes from loving what you do!

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s using the Hipstamatic App with the John S. Lens and Ina’s 1969 film.

Today I visited the military veteran’s cemetery in Hopkinsville, Ky as I wanted to capture something that said Memorial Day for today’s challenge photo. This shot of family members paying their respects to those that have passed on says a lot of what Memorial Day means to me, especially since I was born on the original Memorial Day, May 30th, and served my country for 24 years with many of my fellow veterans that have since passed on.

I will remember them always and salute them along with all the others.

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s and post processing was done in Photoshop CS6.

Today’s iPhone Challenge picture is of my nephew Damion as he walked down a stone path today at church. When photographing kids, or anyone for that matter, remember that you don’t always have to show their face in order to capture a nice moment and outstanding picture. Always be open to the things that occur around you daily… pictures are everywhere!

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s and processing was done in Photoshop CS6.

I must say that my iPhone 5s and the photo burst mode really surprised me today! Yes, this picture was shot with my iPhone!

Fellow photographer Josh Morgan and myself were conducting a photo workshop today at a Motocross practice track, outside Dawson Springs, Ky and I decided to see if I could get a decent photo with my iPhone.

Now this is the one I liked the best of what I got, but I have about 20 others that are just as good. I’ve always been of the mind that you really couldn’t get great shots with any type of phone when it came to shooting sports, but today changed my mind!

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are still certain conditions that have to be met from my viewpoint. Lighting has to be good and bright so the phone uses a fast shutter speed, closer the better and don’t use the zoom on the camera as it’s just blowing up the pixels and the quality will suffer. Next use the photo burst feature… if your smart phone doesn’t have it, then try and anticipate the action so you can catch the subject at it’s peak.

Photo was processed using the Snapseed App.

Today’s picture was shot while I was waiting for another picture to happen! Sometimes I get lucky like this.

I was sitting trackside waiting for a southbound train in Mortons Gap, Ky and decided to get out and stretch my legs. Standing there in front of my SUV I looked up at the signals and noticed that the sun was at the right angle to put them in silhouette and discovered I had parked next to my challenge picture for the day and didn’t even know it!

Always been on the lookout for pictures as you never know when they’ll show up right in front of you, or perhaps above!

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s and processed in the Snapseed App.

I couldn’t resist going back to the Dr.’s office today to take this self-portrait for today’s iPhone Challenge picture.

I love how the reflective doors and walls give a feeling of a lot of depth to the picture.

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s using the Hipstamatic App using the Lowy Lens and Claunch72 Monochrome film setting. Post processing was done in the Snapseed App.

My right knee has been giving me problems for about the last year and a half and I’m finally getting something done about it.

The Dr. started off with a steroid injection and after just two days my knee felt like it’s supposed to! I marvel at modern medicine. The first shot is being followed up with four more that are some sort of a fluid to replace what has gone missing over the last 63 years. This picture is of the second fluid injection and I’m here to tell you the difference is like night and day. I couldn’t not include a picture of this life changing event in my yearly challenge!

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s with the Hipstamatic App using the Lowy lens and Claunch 72 Monochrome film setting.

My niece Jamie came in to take care of some estate business and I got this shot of her and her niece Elaina sharing the kids love seat. If you want my opinion, she really only came in to get some niece and nephew time! Either way, it’s a nice moment.

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s and processed with the Snapseed App.

Today I can’t choose so I’m posting two photos from one event I attended today. One is of Josh Morgan and the other is of his niece and nephew.

A good friend and upcoming young photographer Josh Morgan had a reception/opening for his first gallery show at the Dawson Springs Museum in Dawson Springs, Ky.  Josh is also the vice president of the West Kentucky Photography Club that meets in Madisonville, Ky on the first Monday of the month.

Josh has some really nice images on display and if you didn’t make it to the opening you should make an attempt to stop by and visit his exhibit before it closes. They are open from 1- 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and Josh’s work will be on display through the end of the month. The museum is located at 175 S. Main Street in Dawson Springs, Ky.

Stop by and support your local artists!

Photos were shot with the iPhone 5s using the Hipstamatic Camera App using the Lowy lens and Clauch 72 Monochrome film. Both images were processed as RAW files in Photoshop CS6 and Topaz Adjust.

Today’s challenge photo is from the Nashville International Airport in Tennessee. If you want to add some impact to your pictures than try to look at your scenes in a different or unusual way.

Get higher, or lower on your subject is one sure way of adding impact to your pictures. Show your viewer a different perspective to look at and you’ll keep their attention longer. Don’t be afraid to lay on the ground!

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s and post processing was done in Photoshop CS6.

Today’s topic for my year-long iPhone Photography Challenge is Passion. If you don’t have it for your photography then develop it as you will become a much better photographer.

Anyone that knows me is aware that I’m just a little bonkers when it comes to trains. This has probably been more evident here over the past few weeks as I’ve actually started pursuing the passion more diligently now that I’ve been retired for awhile and started to, as my sister calls it, fill up her Facebook wall with my train pictures. Well, perhaps I’m somewhat guilty!

The point is here folks, if you’re not passionate about some form of your photography, then you should look at something to photograph that you can get passionate about. I know of no surer way of improving your photos than by photographing things that you’re passionate about. What moves you most when you view either your, or someone else’s work? That’s what you should pursue! Being passionate about one area of photography will spill over into other areas!

Photo was shot with a iPhone 5s and post processing was done with the  Snapseed App.

My nephew Damion really loves his trains! This one of several trains that had been mysteriously disappeared that my sister found today and he was so happy that he wanted to show me. Of course he’s the one that put them where ever they were, but after searching for a couple weeks my sister found them shoved up under the couch.

I think his expression says it all in this picture. When photographing kids always keep an eye out for these moments and be quick because at this age they come and go quick. I think I got off perhaps 3 shots before he was off to playing with it on his train table.

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s with the standard camera and post processing was done in the Snapseed App and Photoshop CS6.

I finished up my check-ups a the Nashville VA today and as I was heading back to my car in the parking garage I went through the tunnel that connects the hospital to the garage and captured this shot of it. I love the leading lines and how everything together leads you eye to the lady pushing someone in the wheelchair.

Whenever possible providing strong leading lines in your picture will help produce a stronger resulting picture.

Shot with my iPhone 5s using the standard camera. Post processing was done in Snapseed.

This photo of my niece Elaina just melts my heart. The look she has here is soooo sweet that I had to use it as my iPhone Challenge photo of the day.

When photographing children this is the kinda moment that you should always strive to capture of them as they are growing up. Just keep your camera ready, or in this case smart phone, and keep your eyes open for moments like this.

People say, my phone camera is too slow and my response is, the more you take pictures with it, the more comfortable you’ll get with it and the faster you’ll be able to capture these moments. It’s just like any other piece of equipment… get used to it to where it becomes second nature when you use it.

Photo shot with the iPhone 5s with the standard camera and post processed in Snapseed.

I’ve passed under this location many, many, times, but today I looked up and took notice of the interesting shapes and to top it off the sky was just outstanding to compliment the shapes of the building here in Madisonville, Ky. It’s our local Kroger store! When out looking for a picture don’t just look at what’s in front of you, but look up as well!

Photo shot with the iPhone 5s with the standard camera and post processed in Snapseed.

Well, perhaps it not the ladder to heaven, but it does lead to a good picture. I’ve been eyeing the back of the restaurant that we stop at for lunch after church and today the sun and shadows were just right for this nice graphic photo.

When you see a scene you think will make a good image, but you’re not quite happy with the lighting… come back again and again. You’ll usually find by visiting the scene in different types of weather or times of day will dramatically change the look of the scene and help you get a stronger, more interesting picture.

Photo was shot with the iPhone 5s with the standard camera and post processing was done in Photoshop CS6.

Ahhh… the rights of passage from middle school and high school. Today I had a photo shoot with these four ladies who are best friends and graduating from Southside Middle School this year and they were all decked out in their finest for their “Last Bash” dance. Couldn’t pass up getting a shot with my iPhone to use as my picture of the day.

Shot with the iPhone 5s, then opened the JPG as a RAW file for processing and finished in Photoshop with a soft focus filter applied via Topaz Adjust for the final look.

Today I found this rebuilt/repainted railroad engine in our local rail yards here in Madisonville, Ky and decided it was my picture for the day. One of the things I like about Madisonville, Ky and the surrounding area is that you never know what you’ll find when out looking for pictures.

Being a railfan it’s particularly nice because we have two facilities in Western Kentucky that do this type of rebuilding and so we can see some off the wall engines and trains come through our region. I for one love it!

Photo was shot with my iPhone 5s using the standard camera and post processing was done with the Snapseed App.

I found this  old bench, up against an old brick wall, at the pool hall in Nortonville, Ky. I just liked the design of the bench and all the patterns in the bricks and patches it’s received over the years.

Photo shot with my iPhone 5s using the Hipstamatic App with the John S lens and Ina’s 1969 film.