365 / 5 {Project 365}

Today is election day in the U.S.--not that anyone could miss such an all-consuming event. I voted two weeks ago, as Texas has open early voting. Have you voted yet? If not, I urge you to go do so. I don't care who you vote for--just choose what you believe is the best candidate for each and every office. That's the best any of us can do.

Thousands have marched, fought, struggled and even died over our great country's 200-year-plus history to win and safeguard that vote. It'd be a shame for all that sacrifice to be in vain.

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm

Lisa On Location Photography

My Favorite Secret Garden: The Gardens of Cranesbury View {New Braunfels Wedding Photography}

I've had the honor this year of photographing several weddings at The Gardens of Cransbury View off 46 in New Braunfels. This venue is a dream come true for the owner, my friend Amy.

She's a horticulturist by trade and she poured not just her skill but her heart and soul into each garden, each shrub, each rose bush at her home to create this magnificent place.

All of her brides that I've worked with have been thrilled with every aspect of getting married there. They love Amy, they love the Gardens, they love the flowers and decor.

What amazes me is that I've photographed spring, summer, fall and winter weddings here and it's always gorgeous, and always blooming. She's got a green thumb and it shows.

All of their weddings have a flow to them that keeps guests entertained and vendors happy. I can't wait to return to this beautiful garden. I'll have the honor of ringing in the new year at the Gardens and I'm hoping to book more into that new year.

Lisa On Location Photography

365 / 4 {Project 365}

Well, looks like Lisa beat me to the punch again with her entry for today. Alas, I have nothing so cool as rotting Jack-o-lanterns around here, so I'll just have to settle for a Great Egret.

And as a 365 bonus photo, it appears I caught him on his lunch break:

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon FD 500mm 8.0

Lisa On Location Photography

Day 4: The Scariest Part of Halloween: The left over pumpkin {Project 365}

My kids are always after me to carve the pumpkin too early. If we had it their way, we'd carve them October 1. But I tell them over and over, once you carve them, they start to wilt, fast.

So I shall use this image to illustrate my point. Our pumpkins were carved two days before Halloween. Now here we are on November 5, with a nasty, gnat infested mess on our front porch. They literally fall apart into a sticky, stinky, slime when I try to move them.

So what better image to illustrate Day 4 of my project than with the rotted remains of a Hallween Jack O' Lantern. Notice the flies and gnats buzzing nearby. Notice the mold and slime growing in the eyes and mouth. This is scarier than anything on Halloween!

Four days down, 361 more to go. Lisa On Location Photography

365 / 3 {Project 365}

Every year when we attend Wurstfest I make a point to visit the Spass Haus, which is a wonderful, cozy, pub-like German beer hall decked out in wall-to-wall hardwood. My favorite part? It is decorated floor-to-ceiling with more than 17,000 beer bottles from all over the world. It is Jerome Nowotny’s “World’s Largest Beer Bottle Collection,” acquired by Wurstfest nearly three decades ago. It is mighty impressive. During my bachelor days, I amassed quite a large beer bottle collection myself, the product of Double Dave's Pizzaworks "Global Beer Expert" promotion. Alas, when we got married, Lisa made me get rid of it. I always remind her of this when we visit the Spass Haus, and she always rolls her eyes.

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8

Lisa On Location Photography

Day 3: The Wurst Day Ever {Project 365}

Today I sort of cheated on my Project 365. Well not really. Actually it's better to think of it as I sort of did extra credit. I didn't just take one photo, I took like, 65 photos. But I couldn't decide which one to share so I'm sharing several of them.

We hit Wurstfest today. It's a New Braunfels tradition, and who are we to fight tradition.

The older girls mostly complained. Once they were finished eating their fattening fare and drinking their sugar sodas and tea, it was all about "are we done yet? are we done yet?"

I took a little perverse pleasure in making them listen to polka and wear stuffed chicken hats on their heads as they followed me around while I photographed all the sights and sounds.

Here are just a few that I decided to share for my project. Three down, 362 to go.

Lisa On Location Photography

365 / 2 {Project 365}

Do you folks have any idea how difficult it is to engage in a 365 photo project challenge with your wife when she's a phenomenal photographer? Yes, I help her out as a second shooter and know the difference between aperture and shutter speed, but really, I'm merely a glorified hobbyist at best. Take yesterday for example. She turns around from her desk, takes a shot of the kitten sitting behind her, and is finished with her first 365 entry before anyone knows what's happened. And with her eye and skill, it becomes art instantaneously. For me, on the other hand, the first installment turned into an ordeal, with Plan A, Plan B and Plan C failing miserably before I came up with my puffer fish photo. It's frustrating how Lisa makes it look so easy. It makes me feel like my reach is exceeding my grasp, as far as this 365 photo challenge is concerned. Which is what gave me the idea for my entry today. I call it "Metaphor." And yeah, that's how I usually feel trying to keep up with her!

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Tamron 28-75mm 2.8

Lisa On Location Photography