June 2011

Beauty

Summer is upon us as is thunderstorm and tornado season. Dramatic sky and interesting sunsets abound, especially around the many lakes in our beautiful region. Farm country offers some amazing views and great macro opportunities. Our many public and private gardens also offer a quiet repast and amazing floral photography.

Photo Location
of the Month

In this months center section I decided to shift from books I recommend to a photographic location that is a must see when travelling Interstate 90 through south-central Wisconsin. The Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville Wisconsin is really six gardens each designed around a specific theme. There is an English Cottage Garden, French Formal Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Smelly Garden, (the intent of the "Smelly Garden" theme is to display and promote a wide range of scented plants, ranging from herbs, scented annuals, fragrant summer bulbs and perennials), Sunken Garden and Gazebo Garden.

They have a website with information on what they are all about and where they are located. I highly recommend that anyone travelling through or living in the area put them on the must see list. http://rotarybotanicalgardens.org/home

The Business of Photography

LQQK'N 40

They say a picture is worth 1000 words and anyone in the advertising and marketing business knows this to be true. Photography plays a large roll in delivering a message and with the arrival and huge popularity of the internet it is even more important. Words like google used to be a trade name but now have become a verb. To google something is a common phrase that most of the post baby boomer generations know means to look up information on. Even the slightly older generations that have become tech savvy know exactly how to look up information on the internet.

Your customers may have found you, not in the phone book, but on the 'web'. Most want to see an item before deciding to buy it and the internet gives them the opportunity from the comfort of their home, or even their smartphone.

Photographers are in the business of images and the world now revolves around images. The original languages where pictograms and it seems we have come full circle. Put your best foot forward and have your best marketing program include photographs done by a professional. It will be money well spent.

First Cutting

Photo of the Month

Photography is many things. Different to each person. A way to record the life of a family, growing children, vacations and holidays. A profession to some. A simple job to put food on the table, record events, create a photo to help a client tell a story. It is also art. Record the beauty or uniqueness of the visible world. To me and others like me it is all of these things. I am fortunate to be able to invest my time in the art and business of photography.

Each month I get to share a favorite image with all of you.

I mentioned at the beginning of this issue that the farmland in the region provides a mutitude of photographic opportunities. The changes as the spring turns to summer and the summer turns to fall is amazing. On a backroad near Galena Illinois I found this freshly cut field in the wonderful rolling hills of the area and was compelled to stop and click off a couple of shots. I am glad I did. Beauty can be found everywhere.

For all reading this that have not had enough of my written word please visit my blog, blog.jonmlamrouex.com, where I write more about photography. Sometimes places to photograph and different photographic techniques and other times I try to offer experiences and ideas to help anyone interested in photography.