"Souvenier Postcard Project"

Okay, so I am researching a new project. I'm looking into making postcards for the area where I live. This is a test postcard that I did just to see how one might look. I actually live in a small town outside of Boise, Idaho. The owner of a local gift shop told me that people are always asking for postcards of our little town. Well, to my knowledge, they don't exist. So, I am going to try to make that happen.

Big publishers don't usually do postcards of small towns since they aren't a large print job; at least that's what my research has shown so far. So, I am researching other options for having them printed. I will have to pay more for them since they will be printed on such a small scale, and that then begs the question, "How much would I need to charge for them and would people pay that price?" I would tend to think if they are the only ones on the market that people would pay whatever price I put on them, within reason.

Some of the online photo places have postcards you can make out of your photos, but they are like $1.99 each! That's outrageous and I would then have to mark them up from there. In this economy, especially, I can't see people paying what I would have to charge for a single postcard even if they were the only ones.

Some of the printing places I've researched can do them much more cost effectively as far as printing in bulk like 100/250/500 and up, but they also charge like $5 per photo uploaded to make the postcard. That would also have to be added to the cost. Hmmmmmm...what to do.

If anyone reading this post knows anything that could help me in this process, I would be grateful to hear any tips, suggestions or ideas. Please feel free to e-mail me.

*Feel free to comment on my postcard. (just click on the word comment, below) I would like to hear what you think.*

"Lake Lowell @ Dusk"

This is Lake Lowell. It's part of the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge in Nampa, Idaho. These next four shots were all taken near the upper dam.

We arrived at this spot just after sundown, after scouting the south side of the refuge for flocks of birds. The light was magical or rather supernatural and constantly changing.

Although we didn't find exactly where the about 15,ooo geese are supposed to be on the refuge, we did find a few lone birds here and there. It was getting too dark to keep driving the thirty some miles around the place, and some of the access gates were closed, so we stopped to get some images of this lovely evening before we headed home.


The soft look of the water in the image below, was created using a very slow shutter speed.
I like the soft pastels of this shot very much.

I don't use color filters nor did I add any in post processing. These are the actual colors that we saw. The light just kept changing as the sun went down and I composed the different shots.

Many people think that once the sun goes down the time for taking pictures is over. The 20-30 minutes just after the sun actually sets can often bring on the most beautiful light, as evidenced here.

We spoke to some local folks that were also enjoying the gorgeous evening and they said that it was even more beautiful the night before, although I could hardly imagine that.

Click here for more about Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge

**You comments and critique are welcome**

"Fall Color Update"

I am happy to report that I was hasty to assume that the latest storms would wipe out any and all leaves still on the trees where I live.

Although they were certainly at their peak when I last posted and many leaves have since fallen, there is still some fall color left to be found for those sad to see the last of it, and willing to seek it out.

I will post some images of the fallen leaves, but for now I will post just a couple more in their full glory...

To see more of my autumn images CLICK HERE!