News from Mike Wardynski

Do you need a new camera? Look no further? My latest article will show you a variety of ways that you can save big bucks when upgrading your camera equipment. 

CLICK HERE TO READ

Two space just became available on my sold out White Horses of Camargue Workshop. This 5 day workshop is an incredible opportunity to photograph some of the most beautiful horses in the world in an incredible coastal setting. The photography workshop begins May 3rd 2024 and concludes on May 7th. Please contact me if you have any questions. 

White Sands National Park is one of the most photogenic and surreal places on the planet. It's one of my favorite places to photograph and I'm happy to announce that I just added a new set of workshop dates there. Join me April 25th - 28th 2024 for an incredible landscape photography experience unlike any other. We'll be entering the park well before the gates open to ensure that we are in position before the light gets good. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

I just started printing "Meditation" and I'm happy to announce that is now available for purchase. This photograph was taken in May of 2023 during a series of Camargue Horse photo shoots. This photograph conveys the gentle nature of this ancient breed of horse and will be a nice addition to any bedroom or living room. The photograph pairs nicely with "Angels" and "Silence".

Purchasing a stunning piece of artwork is an exciting endeavor. Any artwork that is worthy of central wall space is worthy of lighting properly. Learn how to properly light artwork in your home or office in my latest article.

Ready to light your new print? Read this article for an in depth guide to properly lighting your artwork.

Proper lighting is essential if you want your artwork to look its absolute best. In my latest article I discuss types of artwork lights, color temperature and proper artwork lighting techniques. 

LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY LIGHT YOUR NEW PRINT

Head over to my New Additions Gallery to see my latest prints.

Looking for the perfect art piece for your wall? Come see my large scale photography in person at one of the following shows.

Santa Fe Society of Artists

These weekend outdoor exhibitions are located one block off of the Santa Fe plaza at 122 West Palace Ave. Showtimes are 9am to 5:30 Saturday ands Sunday.

April 22 & 23 | April 28 & 29 | May 6 & 7 | May 20 & 21 | May 27 & 28 | June 3 & 4 | June 24 & 25 | July 8 & 9| July 22 & 23 | Aug 26 & 27 | September 2 & 3 | October 14 & 15

Downtown Aspen Art Festival - Aspen, Colorado

July 15 & 16 | 10am to 5pm

ART! Pagosa - Pagosa Springs, Colorado

September 9th & 10th

I will be teaching an intro to photography course at the Santa Fe Botanical garden this summer. Join my on August 31st for a deep dive into photography. The class is three hours long and is part presentation & part  shooting. Each participant will receive a free into to photography handout that will highlight the concepts and techniques that we cover during the course.

Don't forget to bring the following: Camera + lenses| Charged batteries | Memory card | Tripod if you have one | Camera manual if you have it.

REGISTER HERE

Kauai and Yellowstone in Winter photography workshops are now available for purchase. Don't miss out on two great photography experiences in two completely different places. Kauai and Yellowstone could not be more different yet both workshops offer incredible opportunities. Click the links above to find out more.

I'm very pleased to announce that I launched my White Horses of Camargue Photography Workshop this week and it is filling up quickly. This unique workshop will most certainly sell out so don't hesitate to reach out with any questions that you might have regarding the trip. We'll spend 5 days photographing the horses in a variety of locations including the beach and marsh lands. Click here to learn more

I recently launched my New Mexico Badlands / Shiprock astrophotography workshop and there is one space left on the trip. Click here to learn more about this amazing photography tour. We'll spend three nights photographing the Bisti Badlands, Ah Shi Sle Pah and the iconic Shiprock. Located in Northern New Mexico, The Bisit badlands area is one of the best locations for astrophotography due to the other worldly rock formations and dark night sky. 

It’s no secret that most artists will sell giclee limited edition prints of their artwork. Artists do this in order to make their artwork more accessible to the general public and to help keep the lights on in their studios. While there's certainly nothing wrong with limited edition prints, some collectors want artwork that is truly an original one of a kind without any reproductions what so ever. For fine art collectors who want a truly unique high-end photograph, a fine art photographic commission may be the best way to get the exact piece of artwork that you’ve been looking for. This article will explain the ins and outs of commissioned fine art photography

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There’s an old saying that the best camera is the one that you have in your hand. This statement is implying that the gear that you use to create the photo is much less important than the vision used during the photographic process. In other words, you do not need the latest and greatest camera to achieve incredible results. But……… There are some pieces of gear than can greatly enhance your photography experience by making certain tasks easier or more streamlined. In this article I will discuss some of the best game changing camera gear that I use in my everyday workflow.

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I’m pleased to announce that I’m now offering gift certificates in amounts of $100 to $5,000. Give the gift of art without worrying about picking the perfect print. My gift certificates never expire.

BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE

I'm pleased to announce that I will be showing my artwork at the Winter Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival this January 20th, 21st and 22nd. Come say hello and check out my latest work. The Carefree fine art festival will be exhibiting 150 juried artist in a range of practices from photography to sculpting, painting, jewelry and more.

The show hours are 10am to 5pm every day Friday though Sunday.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CAREFREE FESTIVAL

Looking to get out and take some great photos in 2023? Look no further! I have complied a list of some of the best photography workshops in the US and around the world. No mater what subject matter you're interested in, theres bound to be a trip for you. 

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE MY 2023 PHOTOGRAPHY TRIPS OF A LIFETIME LIST

I'm excited announce that I will be launching a variety of photography workshops for the 2023 calendar. Some of which are already posted on my workshop page for browsing. I have already started collecting names for each workshop's notification list. CONTACT ME if you'd like to be notified when a workshop officially launches. People on my notification list will be notified before my standard mailing list and the general public.

The Southwest is one of the most vast and dramatic regions in the United States. A have spent the better part of the past two decades building a portfolio around the splendor, beauty and drama of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Southern California. These photographs represent the spirt of the Southwest, a place that is as intricate as it is grand. 

In my Southwest collection you will find prints of minimal scenes that bring calming qualities to your home and intrigue your guests. You will find colorful images that add zest to a room and you'll find striking black and white works of art that are as bold as they are timeless. 

Every print is created with the utmost care and is part of a small limited edition. 

Click here to view the Southwest Collection

Come say hello this October 15th and 16th as I close out the last show of the season with The Santa Fe Society of Artists. It's has been a great season and I'm looking forward to doing it again in 2023. The show is from 9am - 5pm and located between Palace Ave. and San Francisco St. and is just a half a block west of the plaza.

If you’re a photographer or artist then you’d probably much rather be working on art instead of cutting matboards. Unfortunately, matting artwork is a necessary evil for most artists. What if there was an easier way? Well…. I have good news for you. There is. After doing some research and trying out a few online mat cutters and weeding out companies with poor quality cuts and bad customer service, I found Matboard Plus. They’re based out of Albuquerque New Mexico and offer nationwide shipping for a reasonable price as well as in store pickup for NM locals. CONTINUE READING...

Any art collector knows the wonderful feeling of finding the perfect piece for their wall. Choosing the perfect art or photograph is only the first part of the equation though. Now you have to hang your piece. Small pieces of art may only require a small amount of effort to hang while larger pieces could involve some planning and or professional help. In this article you will learn how to hang your artwork from start to finish.

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In this free online course I will demonstrate 16 ways to improve your photographic compositions using real world examples. Composition is arguably the most import and most difficult part of photography. How do you take a scene and make it convey an emotion?

During this 30 minute composition crash course I will give you all of the tools you need to start building upon you compositional skillset. Composition takes time to learn but these 16 tricks will help advance you in photographic journey.

I lead over 20 photography workshops per year and I have taken note of the most common mistakes that I have seen over the years and placed them into this free course so you can avoid them yourself.

Please log on before 6pm mountain time to ensure that you can access the course.

When you join this course you'll also receive helpful how-to articles and videos periodically in your inbox.

There’s nothing more exciting than preparing for a big photography trip and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably running logistics though your head day and night before you ever step foot out the door. Packing for a large photo trip that requires a flight or two can be downright daunting. As a full time photography workshop instructor, I have had my fair share of international trips. There are a lot of details that go into planning but this comprehensive article is designed to walk you through how to prepare and pack for an international photography trip. Most of the guidance in this article can be applied to domestic trips as well. 

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The monsoon season is in full swing in the southwest and conditions are looking very favorable for some good storm light at the Grand Canyon. Join me from July 29th-Aug 1st as we capture mother nature in all of her glory. Click here to find out more.

Below is the list of dates that I will be showing my photography with the Santa Fe Society of Artists this summer. The weekend exhibitions are located one block off of the Santa Fe plaza at 122 West Palace Ave.

• June 25th & 26th • July 2nd & 3rd • July 9th & 10th • July 23rd & 24th • August 6th & 7th • August 13th & 14th • August 27th & 28th • September 3rd and 4th • September 17th & 18th • September 24th & 25th • October 8th & 9th •  October 15th & 16th
 

It's no secret that the photoshop interface can be quite overwhelming at first glance. My new video walks you through setting up your Photoshop workspace for image editing. I will explain all of the essential windows that I use in my image editing workflow and show you how to remove the ones that are not needed. Afterwards I will show you how to save your PS workspace and give a brief description of each window I use. WATCH NOW

I'll be exhibiting some of my favorite pieces in Eldorado at Santa Fe on December 4th 2021. Come say hello and see my premium fine art nature photography in person. I sell large format acrylic, metal and archival pigment prints ranging in sizes from 24"x36" to 48"x72". 

Eldorado is a quaint artist community located 15 minutes south of downtown Santa Fe and is home to the largest open studio tour in the sate! Unfortunately the studio tour has already happened for the 2021 calendar year, but you're in luck because the December 4th show is going to be a collection of 25 artists spanning many different mediums including photography, painting and jewelry. 

Eldorado Arts Winter Show 

Date & Time: December 4th from 10am to 4pm

Location: Eldorado Community Improvement Center in Eldorado at Santa Fe. 

In the world of landscape photography it is best practice to compose your shots as cleanly as possible. Sometimes it is simply impossible to remove all distractions from a scene though. Distractions can be stationary things such as twigs or they could be moving such as a clumsy tourist or worse yet, a group of clumsy tourists armed with selfie sticks. In this article I will show you how to remove tourists from your photos in Photoshop.

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I'm pleased to announce that I will be opening up my gallery/studio space to the public on Saturday October 23rd & Sunday the 24th. The Eldorado Studio Tour is the oldest and largest studio tour in the state of New Mexico with over 100 artists participating in 2021. Located fifteen minutes south of downtown Santa Fe, Eldorado is a beautiful community full of artists, photographers, and musicians. 

I invite you to come see my large format nature photography in an intimate setting. I'm a firm believer in the healing power of nature, yet I know we often cannot get into it as much as we'd like. My photographs act as a portal to the natural world where relaxation can easily be found. I have spent many hours creating a relaxing and calming space that will complement my current body of work and I look forward to sharing it with you.

For more information on the Eldorado Open Studio Tour, please click here. My gallery is number 60. I look forward to sharing my work with you. 

In the world of art a fancy word that gets tossed around the art community is Giclee. (Pronounced Zhee-clay) Once you finally figure out how to say the word correctly, it’s time to understand what it means. Giclee is simply a fancy French word that means to spay. To what?!?! Yes, Giclee prints derive their name from the process in which they are made. These high end prints are created by using special inkjet printers that usually contain twelve or more inks. In order to take advantage of the printers wide gamut, special fine art papers need to be used in the printing process which ensures color and tonal accuracy. 

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WHAT IS PANORAMA PHOTOGRAPHY? The traditional definition of Panorama photography is the process of capturing an image that is longer than a standard photograph. Most panoramas are longer on the horizontal side but they can be longer on vertical side as well. Panorama photographs can be created using digital or analog film cameras. Before the invention of the modern digital camera, special film cameras had to be used to capture panoramic images. Today, just about any digital camera can be used to create a pano. 

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Join Max Foster and I for another episode of the Photography Happy Hour on July 10th at 4pm mountain time. During this virtual event, Max and I will sip a few of our favorite drinks while discussing what is means to be a landscape photographer. Max is an established fine art nature photographer who knows his way around the lens. His work consists of well thought out compositions and precise post processing. Max is an established photographer and sells large scale prints through his website at MaxFoster.com.

After Max and I finish our conversation, we'll open the floor to Q&A where participant are encouraged to Max and myself any questions that they'd like. If you'd prefer to ask your question off the air, you can always email them to me in advance at info@naturemike.com.

Sign Up HERE

Located in northern New Mexico, Santa Fe is world renowned for its high concentration of fine art galleries and artist collectives. From Canyon Road to Art Festivals, Santa Fe is popular among seasoned art collectors and curious art buyers alike. While paintings and sculptures are plentiful throughout the city, high quality fine art photography can be a little harder to come by. As a photographer and resident of Santa Fe, I decided to put together a list of the best photography galleries in the region. Each gallery on this list offers something special and is worth paying a visit should you find yourself in northern New Mexico.

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What does it take to be one of the greatest photographers of all time? Dedication, vision and a willingness to do things your own way will certainly help. In my latest article "The Best and Most Influential Photographers of all Time" dives into some of the greatest photographer to ever walk the earth. They each have mastered their craft and help define what modern day photography is. 

I'm happy to announce that I will be hosting the first "Photography Happy Hour" on May 2nd at 5pm MDT.

This free event is photographers of all skill levels who would like to deepen their understanding of photography. No questions are off limits as long as they relate to photography. So pour yourself a glass and join me for a discussion of the finer things in life. 

Since this is a happy hour after all, I'll start off by highlighting my drink of the month. After a few words and maybe a few sips, I'll dive right into some of the mistakes I've made in photography as well as some of the thing that I've gotten right over the years. Lastly I'll open the discussion up to questions. 

Have an editing question? Just Ask! Want to know how I got a particular shot? Just Ask! Don't know how to turn your camera on? I can help with that too!  The point is that there are no bad questions, and I look forward to helping you along the way on your photographic journey.

Spaces are limited.

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I'm pleased to announce that I was accepted to the Santa Fe Society of Artist this month. The SSA is a group of Santa Fe based artist who take part in group exhibitions throughout the year.  I will be showing my photography downtown this summer over the course of the summer in a number of outdoor shows. Check back soon for a list of dates.

Welcome to the new and improved photography gallery of Mike Wardynski. After several months of reworking the site I'm happy with cleaner and more user friendly version of www.wardynskiphoto.com. For those of you who didn't know or can't remember how to spell my last name, www.naturemike.com will take you to my gallery home page. 

I've added a few new features to site included a search page to help art collectors quickly find the photograph they are looking for. I've also added a Recent Additions Photo Gallery so collectors can stay up to date with my latest work. 

The Blog articles from the previous site have been migrated over to the new site and can be found under Articles Link in the menu bar. Another new feature of the site is this News Page where you can find out about all of the latest information on my workshops, fine art photography, recent blog post and gallery showcases. My blog post will no longer we organized by date but I'll always post a link to the latest posts on this page.