One of the things I enjoy most about being a photographer is sharing my images, vision and experiences with others, and I’m always looking for ways to make my photography accessible. Fine art prints are a great way to experience the full impact of my work, but books, posters, cards, slide shows and even my website are other ways that I have been able to share my photos publicly. For quite a while I have wanted to offer sceensavers featuring collections of my images because it is an inexpensive way for people to acquire a collection of my work, but I didn’t have a good way to create screensavers files.

I’m excited to say that I have found a solution to that problem. A software application I recently discovered, called Pictures to EXE, allows me to create stand alone screensaver files that can be delivered via email and easily installed in the Windows screensaver menu. Each screensaver can also be run as a slide show, independent of the screensaver mode.

At this time I have completed two screensaver collections, which are available HERE. The Landscape and Nature screensaver features 30 of my most dramatic and well known outdoor images. The Rogue Valley screensaver is a collection of 30 iconic images from around the Rogue Valley which is my home.

In the future I will be adding additional screensaver collections with themes like Winter, Mountains, Adventure and Water. The images in my screensavers have been optimized for viewing on a computer monitor and have amazing color, sharpness and contrast.

The screensavers are safe and easy to use on any Windows based PC computer. They arrive as an email attachment which you save on your hard drive. Once saved, right click on the file and select “Install” and it will be added to your screensaver menu. By double clicking on the screensaver file it can also be viewed as a slide show independent of the screensaver mode.

Unfortunately, the screensaver file format created by Pictures to EXE is not supported by the Mac operating system, so my screen savers are only available to PC users at this time.

On the popular photography website www.BetterPhoto.com my photo Crimson Gorge recently won the honor of Photo of the Day. Photo of the Day showcases outstanding pictures from BetterPhoto’s monthly photo contest and goes out by email to over 26,000 people!

You can read comments from BetterPhoto readers HERE.

A year ago I was traveling through the southwest right about the time of the world famous Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. With as many as 700 colorful hot air balloons taking to the skies it is a big attraction for photographers and I was tempted to add it to my itinerary. However, I had also heard about the crowds, traffic jams, shortage of places to stay and all the other headaches you would expect with any event as big and widely known. I decided to pass.

This year I found a great substitute in the Montague Rotary Balloon Fair in northern California the third week of September. What it lacks in sheer volume of balloons it more than makes up for with a great setting in the Mt. Shasta Valley, friendly organizers and balloon teams, easy access, on sight camping, plentiful parking and minimal crowds. Spectators have access to the launching field and can walk among the balloons during the inflation and launch process, making this an easy photo op for anyone with a camera. Spectators can even volunteer to crew for a balloon team, helping them to inflate and launch as well as chase, land and pack their balloons.

This year about 30 balloons took part in the fair. While a far cry from 700, 30 balloons is still an impressive site and makes for an exhilarating visual and photographic experience. Montague is about seven miles east of Yreka, just off of Interstate 5 in northern California. Montague is less than an hour from where I live in southern Oregon. I was so enthralled photographing the balloons on Friday morning that I returned on Saturday and Sunday as well. I recommend this event to anyone, especially families.

For more information you can visit the balloon fair website at http://clubs.district5110.org/shastavalley/balloonfair/