25 Photos That Show How Beautiful America Truly Is

There is something unique and beautiful to every single state in America.... it is truly a beautiful country to photograph. From tall mountains to miles of sand swept beaches, and all the unique landscapes in between, this country has so many different types of scenery that can be dramatically different from each other. Here are 25 photos that we saw on Huffington Post that showcase some of that unique scenery to the wonderful home we live. 

Alaska - Mountains reflected in the Kenai River.

Arizona - Horseshoe Bend

California - McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur

Colorado - Maroon Bells, Aspen

Connecticut - Ender's Falls

Florida - Dry Tortugas National Park
 

Hawaii - Wailua Falls

Idaho - Bruneau Dunes State Park

Illinois - Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest

Iowa - Malanaphy Springs State Preserve

Louisiana - Lake Martin

Maine - Coastline at Acadia National Park

Maryland - The Brighton Dam at the Tridelphia Reservoir

Minnesota - Minnehaha Falls

Montana - Grinnell Lake, Glacier National Park

Nebraska - Scotts Bluff National Monument

New Mexico - White Sands National Monument

New York - Taughannock Falls State Park

North Carolina - Thomas Divide, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

North Dakota - Badlands sandstone formations, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Oklahoma - Mount Scott, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

South Carolina - Botany Bay Road, Edisto Island

South Dakota - Badlands National Park

Texas - Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park

Virginia - Shenandoah National Park

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Go From Ordinary to Extraordinary With These Tips From Ben Von Wong

"Keep experimenting and never give up... and that, my friends, is how you take your photos to the next level." Such a great and inspiring quote from professional photographer Ben Vong Wong.

Like so many things in life, this quote is perfect for taking photos; no matter what type of photos it is that you take - whether you photograph weddings, gorgeous landscapes around the world or portraits - you never want to stop experimenting and trying out new techniques, poses, and ideas. 

By continuing to learn and grow and try out new techniques, you can take your photos from ordinary to extraordinary - or "epic" as Von Wong would say. 

Underwater shipwreck in Bali. Photo credit: Ben Von Wong

Vong Wong has spent years developing his creative vision and style and is known throughout the photography world for his incredible vision and portraiture. One thing we love is that he enjoys sharing his tips and creative process with others all around the world on his YouTube channel and website. 

The quote from above was from a video of his where he explains how to take your photography to the next level of epic. You can watch his video "How To Take Your Photography To The Next Level of Epic" below. 

The techniques and tricks he shows in the video can be done by any photographer with some brainstorming, planning and consistency. He says that you must start small and work your way up to more complicated concepts that will create more advanced shots. Like Von Wong says, it takes many tries to get it perfect, but you must keep trying to have it look the way you envisioned. 

Here are a few more photos from him that we thought you would enjoy seeing. 

Superheros on a skyscraper. Photo credit: Ben Von Wong

Disney library. Photo credit: Ben Von Wong

Storm chaser. Photo credit: Ben Von Wong

We originally saw this video on Digital Trends. Here are a few other posts you may enjoy: 

• Awesome Photos Of Extreme Surfers and Northern Lights
• This Motorcycle Surfing Shoot Is Amazing!
• 5 Minute Video on the History Of Photography

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Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week is of a beautiful bride and groom that was photographed by Tanya McSween with McSween Photography based in North Carolina. 

Tanya and Harry McSween make up McSween Photography and they photograph everything from weddings and engagements, to family portraits, baby's and senior photos throughout North Carolina. 

To see more work from McSween Photography, be sure to visit their website at www.mcsweenphotography.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

10 Funny Animal Photos That Are Finalists In The 2016 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Animals are amazing creatures and when a photographer can capture an animal and its personality while in its own environment... the results can be spectacular. We have shared some pretty great animal photos in the past and are excited to share a few more with you today. 

The 2016 Comedy Wildlife Awards just finished up the 2016 competition and they are now in the judging process. The list of their finalists have been put out for all to see and there are images from all around the world including a forgetful meerkat, a mountain hare waving to the photographer and dancing ants. We hope you enjoy a few of our favorite photos below! 

Andy Howard spent more than five hours with this mountain hare, which appears to raise its paw to say hello in the Cairngorms, Scotland. Photo credit: Andy Howar for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A frog looks like he has a big smile for the camera in Russia. Photo credit: Artyom Krivosheev for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Two weaver ants, otherwise known as fire ants, dancing together in Bata, Indonesia. Photo credit: Usman Priyona for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A pair of ‘headless penguins’ as they stretch to preen themselves simultaneously in South Georgia. Photo credt: Charles Kinsey for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A meerkat appears to look as if it has just remembered it needs to be somewhere, in Brigitta Moser’s photo from Little Karoo, South Africa. Photo credit: Brigitta Moser for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A colorful reptile holds up a twig as it is pictured looking like a warrior with a powerful stance. Photo credit: Anup Deodhar for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Two rhinos organize themselves back to back in defence formation in Laikipia, Kenya. Photo credit: George Dian Balan for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A snowy owl looks very content as it smiles for Edward Kopeschny in Ontario, Canada. Photo credit: Edward Kopeschny for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A portrait of a buffalo in Meru national park, Kenya. Photo credit: Tom Stables for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A little leopard tortoise jumps on a friend’s back in Tarangire national park, Tanzania. Photo credit: Brenden Simonson for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

We originally saw these photos posted on The Guardian. If you loved these great animal photos, here are a few others you may enjoy: 

• 8 Of The Top Underwater Marine Wildlife Photos of 2016
• Awesome Underwater Photos of The Rare Dugong

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6 Tips To Taking Beautiful Bridal Portraits

Bridal portraits are such a special time for the bride-to-be. She is so extremely happy and excited for her upcoming wedding and she feels beautiful in her wedding gown. As her wedding photographer, you want to make her feel relaxed so you can capture the most gorgeous photos of the bride ready to say 'I do.' 

There are so many things to consider when taking bridal portraits, including the location of the shoot, the lighting, the details and even how you are going to have her pose. So today, we wanted to share these 6 tips with you to taking beautiful bridal portraits.   

Photo credit: Golden Vision Photography via SnapKnot

1. Get to know your bride.

It is so important when you are photographing anyone that you really need to know their personality a bit before you capture photos of them. When it comes to bridal portraits, it is good to know what she feels are her best qualities, what she loves about her wedding gown, or maybe she tells you that she is absolutely in LOVE with her bouquet and wants to showcase it in the photos. Getting to know the bride is so important and can even help with tip #2.  

2. Help her to relax.

Having your photo taken can always be a little stressful for most people. Unless you are a model and used to having people snap pictures of you, it can feel weird or awkward to smile so long or stand in specific poses. If you are taking these bridal portraits on a separate date then the wedding, keep her excited and her mind off the photos by chatting with her along the way. Perhaps use this time to get to know her and the groom a little bit more so you are more prepared the day of the wedding. Keeping her talking is a great way to stay relaxed and not focused on the photos being taken. 

If you are taking the bride's photos on the day of the wedding, you may find that the bride has a bit more on her mind as she awaits the ceremony that day. Remind her to relax her shoulders, take deep breaths and use this time to enjoy the gorgeous wedding gown she is wearing. Just like we mentioned before, try and keep conversation going to keep her mind of the photos, but remember the nerves that she is already feeling. 

3. Shoot variations of every pose.

When you have the bride set in a pose you both love, be sure you capture that pose from many different angles. Every angle can make the photo unique and you may find that one angle stands out beautifully from the rest. Along with capturing different angles, make sure you also have the bride focus in different directions, tilt her head a different way, or even change up how she is holding the bouquet. 

Photo credit: Made Media Photography via SnapKnot

4. Make sure the lighting is right.

Natural light from outdoors is always wonderful but if you are shooting indoors, you want to make sure you have enough light. It is good practice to scope out the space you will be shooting at before the day of, so you know ahead of time what to expect. Take into consideration if there are windows that allow a large amount of natural light in the room or whether you need to bring extra lighting with you.  

5. Shoot from above. 

Shooting from a little higher than the bride is always good to remember. This will make sure you get the best angle because if you are lower than the bride you could catch a double chin or get an unpleasant shot of nostrils that is not always the most photogenic part to photograph. 

6. Capture all the little details. 

Does the bride have a beautiful necklace on that was her grandmothers that she simply adores? Perhaps her wedding gown has a section of intricate lace or maybe the bottom of her shoes have blue rhinestones that spell out 'bride.' Be sure to capture all of these little details as these are the items she will want to remember for years to come.  

If you liked these wedding photography tips, here are some other articles you may enjoy: 

• 4 Tips To Photographing An Amazing First Look Wedding Shoot
• 2 Boudoir Tips For The Modern Photographer

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Are you a wedding photographer and know that some things just do not go as planned. Sometimes you have to find a plan B when the weather does not agree and you have to stay indoors rather than use the gorgeous outdoor scenery you wanted to utilize in the wedding photos. The Indoor Wedding & Engagement Posing Guide is for you! For $149, you can learn when it is best to reschedule your shoot due to rain, shooting in the rain, using indoor elements and SO MUCH MORE! 

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4 Tips To Make Your Fall Photography Great

Fall is a wonderful time of year to take outdoor portraits. The temperatures are a bit cooler and the colors are just spectacular. Although taking portraits outdoors can happen all year round, this time of year is pretty great and can make for beautiful photos that your clients are sure to love. The dramatic landscapes that you can capture are nothing short of inspiring and it is such a fabulous time of year to find beautiful backdrops perfect for wedding, engagement or family portraits. 

Since we know so many of you will be out capturing some beautiful shots this fall, we wanted to share 4 tips to help make sure your fall photography is as great as it can be! 

Photo credit: Gina Brocker Photography

1. Remember to plan your day around an earlier sunset. 

The days become shorter as the fall temperatures set in so you want to make sure you plan for less hours in the afternoon to capture photos and an earlier sunset. If your client wants to have a portrait or two taken right at sunset, you need to know what time the sun sets and how long you have before it is dark so you can plan accordingly. 

2. Visit your shooting location a day or two before.

During the fall, the leaves can fall from their branches, change colors and make that big gorgeous tree look different day by day. If you are hoping to capture the most beautiful landscape shot, you want to make sure that landscape looks exactly the way you had hoped when you first came across it, right? Or maybe, you are planning a portrait session for your client outside in front that same specific tree, and you can't wait to show them how gorgeous the colors will be in their photos. 

Do not go scout out that location more than a day or two before you actually plan to photograph it. If you wait any longer, you may come back to find out that all the leaves have fallen and it looks completely different than you thought!  

Photo credit: Better-Photography.com

3. Don't overlook those overcast days. 

Even if the sky is a bit gray, that does not mean your fall portrait session will not be amazing. Having the overcast sky can give for a different look than a sunny day... the sun will not be drowning out the colors and the shadows will be softer. This can be great if you are shooting outside for something like a wedding or family portrait or even if you are just out capturing amazing landscape shots. 

4. Think of locations unique to fall. 

The hues of oranges, yellows, and browns are the first thing to come to mind when you think of the outdoors during the fall but take a moment to stop and think outside of the box. Perhaps there is a local farmers market nearby that has colorful fruits and flowers, orange pumpkins and beautiful greenery with a very rustic outdoorsy feel. That could be the perfect location to photograph a fall engagement session you have. Maybe you are doing family portraits... the pumpkin patch could be a fun and unique fall location. Is there a fall festival that happens every year? Take a day to enjoy and bring your camera along and see the amazing fall photos you can get. 

If you love the fall, here are a few other blog posts you may enjoy:

• 10 Fall Photos That We Love
• Photographer Took A Photo Of The Same Tree Every Day For A Year

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Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Hi'ilei De Aguiar from Hawaii with Photo Guardians. She said, "this photo was taken a little after sunset the night before Hurricane Madeline hit Hawaii on August 30, 2016. I call it 'The Calm Before the Storm.' The air was still, the stars were bright, and the dark clouds were rolling in." 

Be sure to check out more of Hi'ilei's work on her website at www.photoguardians.com. You can also follow Photo Guardians on Facebook or Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Hungarian Photographer Captures Luminous Photos Around The World

We share so much amazing travel photography on our blog because we are amazed at the beautiful world we live in and how photographs can capture that beauty so uniquely. 

Adrian Red is a photographer and web designer from Hungary who takes amazing travel photos in Budapest, Dubai, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, London and even Florence, mostly at night when the buildings and landscapes shine with lights.

We have talked in the past about the best places for travel photography around the world, given you tips on taking your travel photography to the next level and even discussed 6 reasons why a travel photographer needs a tripod. Today, we wanted to share a few of his luminous photos with you that we originally saw on Fubiz. We hope you enjoy! 

Be sure to check out Adrian Red's website at www.adrianred.com or follow him on Instagram. 

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National Geographic Video On Taking Beautiful Photographs

We all love taking beautiful and amazing photographs... it is what we do. It is our passion. Continuing to learn is an important factor in our work; we always want to continue to grow and get better with every photo we take. 

In the video we wanted to share with you today, National Geographic photographers describe the moments behind their shots. Annie Griffiths explains the concept behind the National Geographic book, Simply Beautiful Photographs, and you will hear from others including David Doubilet, Jodi Cobb, Michael Melford, Sisse Brimberg, and Jim Blair.

We hope this brings you some inspiration today. Enjoy and tell us what you think below! 

"Simply Beautiful Photographs" is a beautiful takes readers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in National Geographic’s famed Image Collection. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS
ON AMAZON! 

If you loved this video, here are a few more you may enjoy: 

• 1 Man and 6 Different Photography Perspectives
• 5 Minute Video On The History of Photography

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Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Stephanie Roberts with Garland Photography and is called "Shell at Sunrise." 

To see more work from Stephanie, visit her website at www.garlandphotographync.com. You can also follow her on Facebook or Tumblr. 

We Want To Feature Your Work! 

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.