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Showing posts with label MK Designs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MK Designs. Show all posts

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Fall Can Start... Anytime!

You may say Global Warming isn't real, but I don't think the first day of Fall temps should be in the 90's. 

I am ready for crisp air, colorful leaves, beautiful drives, and bonfires! 

The forecast calls for cooler temps soon, to which I say:
Last Sunday, it was in the 80's (muggy), but I had to get out. 

I loaded up Karlene, my camera, and hit the road for Robertsville State Park. I cannot stress how important it is to get out and explore the natural world. I am blessed to live in a state that values parks and public lands. 

Oh, and the light was beautiful. 


Enjoy these images:








Do you have a favorite? Feel free to comment on this blog post or on my facebook page. I love feedback!

Anxiously Awaiting Fall, 
~ MT of MK Designs
mkdesignsphoto.com 

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Inspiration and a Clean Camera: an Afternoon Spent on MDC lands and Country Roads is NEVER a Waste of Time!

I have lacked inspiration to do much with photography lately. 

Yes, I have still been shooting and writing articles and entering shows, but I've had to drag myself through the process. 

This afternoon felt different. 

The air felt lighter, the sky was blue... around 2:30pm I was (dare I say) PERKY.
My daughter is the one who suggested the drive to MDC lands. I grabbed my recently-cleaned camera (thanks to Creve Coeur Camera) and decided it was time to give it a test run. 

The weather was perfect and my heart felt pretty light once we were on the road. 

We made our way 14 miles south of our home in Union, MO to Chouteau Claim Access. It is where the Bourbeuse River and the Meramec River meet. Karlene and I saw many people out enjoying the day, but it was the scenery that stole the show. 



After we finished exploring, we decided to drive 5 more miles to River 'Round Conservation Area. This is a unique area on the Meramec when viewed on a map. Its name makes perfect sense. 

We explored some areas near the river. I was still inspired to shoot. These are a few of my favorites from that spot:




As we were driving out of the area, we saw an old road that is now a foot trail that we want to go explore at a later date (preferably not during deer season). 

Overall, the afternoon was an enjoyable one. We had dinner in Union and even stopped by the Union Access on our way home. It was a quick stop and our third MDC land of the afternoon. I left my camera behind for that moment and instantly saw some sights that made me regret not having it. 

Creative slumps, feeling down in the dumps, and overall just unmotivated is NOT a fun way to be. I am thankful for this afternoon's burst of inspiration and energy. It has me thinking of one of my favorite verses:
Until next time,
M of MK Designs

PS My website has had an overhaul! You should go check it out: mkdesignsphoto.com





Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Summer, Drive-In Movies, the Smokies, those 2016 goals, and more!

Oh, those Summer Days and Nights... 
Adventure Awaits. I loved our all-too-quick jaunt out east to the Smoky Mountains just a few days ago. From breath taking vistas to roaring waterfalls and mountain streams, the Smokies are quickly becoming one of my favorite places to be.

My daughter loves it, too.

On the way home, we broke up the drive by staying in northern Kentucky. We were WILDLY surprised when we saw that there was a legit drive-in movie theatre just under a mile from our KOA! This was Karlene's first drive-in movie experience and I loved sharing the moment with her. She even asked, "Mom, can we make this a tradition?" 
So, when in Calvert City, Kentucky - make sure you check out the Calvert Drive-In Theatre. I bet Karlene and I will be there again sometime soon!

Back to a few of those 2016 Resolutions...

Cooking. I watched one of those quickie social media cooking videos on facebook and thought, "Self, you can do that!" I grabbed some things from my fridge and modified what they had on the video...and here it is...BBQ Chicken Pizza Dippers that Karlene and I gladly soaked in ranch dressing. Healthy? No! Yummy? It was a home run!
Watching. Still loving the new episodes of "Grace and Frankie" on Netflix with my mom, but was even more stoked when I saw that "Rock the Kasbah" is now on Netflix. I love Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, and just that whole kinda "quirky" movie vibe. I'll watch this one again, I bet. 
Reading. I finished "Grandma Gatewood's Walk" by Ben Montgomery. I cannot recommend it enough. It was an enjoyable read and I have the utmost admiration for this woman. I loved it so much, I loaned it to my mom. Great reads are meant to be shared, just like great movies. 

Now, I am nearly done with a book that caught my eye at our local library, "What I Learned When I Almost Died" by Chris Licht. 
While it isn't as enthralling for me as "Grandma Gatewood's Walk," I am still enjoying it. It's good light reading for the summer, but my eyes are already looking ahead to my next book. 

Uplifting.
 On my last post, I mentioned that I feel I haven't been doing enough for my church. Many people want things to just "happen" without having to do the work. I've made some progress in this area. My friend Stephanie has let me step in and help with Youth. I have been sending daily scripture and uplift for the kids while she has been on a trip with her daughter. I have also been working on a little "event" with Stephanie we have scheduled for July. I have even found a former student who is going to assist us by giving her testimony.

Expanding. I am learning more and more about things like: 360 Video, hormones and how they impact health, team-building activities, reaching out to build relationships with people who are in positions to help scholastic journalism, and more. I feel like I am enjoying learning more than ever. I wish I had this kind of enthusiasm for knowledge when I was in high school, maybe my GPA would have been a little more impressive? 


Frustrations. I am going to express that I am a little bummed. I rarely offer discounts or sales on my Portrait Photography these days because I know my prices are VERY reasonable. However, in hopes of generating a little June business so it's not all in the fall, I am offering a great deal. Where's the clients? Come on, folks! 

Until next time, 
M of MK Designs



Monday, April 25, 2016

Going on a Photo Hunt. Part Three.

Part One: http://mkdesignsphoto.blogspot.com/2016/02/going-on-photo-hunt.html
Part Two: http://mkdesignsphoto.blogspot.com/2016/03/going-on-photo-hunt-part-two.html

Now, it's time for Photo Hunt Three for the Spring Semester of Photo II that I am currently teaching at Washington High School...
Portrait
Eye(s)
Fashion
Ice/Frozen 
Beautiful Garbage
Ghost or Alien
Sparkle

Wildlife - Bullfrog at Little Indian Creek Conservation Area/MDC
Wildlife - Cardinal in Union, MO
Deer at Meramec State Park
Deer at Meramec State Park
Inspired by...Steve McCurry
Sports/Action 





Sunday, April 10, 2016

Lane Spring is Worth the Visit!

Lane Spring Recreation Area is in the Mark Twain National Forest right off Hwy 63 between Rolla and Licking. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mtnf/recarea/?recid=21780

I pass it often on the way to and from Licking to see my family there. It's a place I enjoy driving around and sometimes stopping for a stroll. 

On Saturday, my mom and I took advantage of the sunny spring afternoon. We spent two hours at Lane Spring walking, talking, and clicking photos. We even got industrious and climbed (it's UPHILL) to Blossom Rock. It was totally worth it. 

I doubt these images do justice to the beauty that is Missouri in Spring, but I hope you enjoy them.

Until next time, M of MK Designs 

PS Visit Lane Spring. You'll love it! 

Blossom Rock
“I see you in the light of the water, in the swaying of the young trees in the spring wind. I see you in the shadows of the great oaks, I hear your voice in the cry of the owl at night."
― Juliet MarillierDaughter of the Forest

"To see a hillside white with dogwood bloom is to know a particular ecstasy of beauty." - Hal Borland


Little Piney Creek 



Lane Spring