While I’ve lived in different parts of the country throughout my life, having changing seasons has always been a constant. I find beauty in all of them, winter with the twinkling lights, fresh snow, and comfy sweaters, spring when everything comes alive and starts blossoming (also, spring has Cadbury Creme Eggs, which is hard to beat), summer feels full of adventure between beach days and stormy nights, but autumn has always been my favorite.

I’ve been breaking out my sweater collection slowly as the days have gotten colder, but it’s just started to transition to the air having the crisp scent of fall. That means it’s the perfect time to break out your cameras, camera phones, or whatever you prefer for capturing these precious moments, and exploring everything fall has to offer!

Personally, I love going for hikes this time of year, as well as visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Sadly, I haven’t gotten to explore as much as I would have liked, but it’s on my fall to-do list.

Usually I take photos on my phone because it’s convenient, but when I’m out exploring during a sunny day, often that means I can’t tell if my pictures turned out in the moment, due to the light reflecting off my screen. If that’s something you frequently run into with photos (I’m talking to you, sunny states), I recommend our Nikon COOLPIX B500 16.0 Megapixel, as it has a high tilting LCD screen that allows for clear viewing, as well as getting to take shots at unique angles. It’s also great for taking nighttime photos, if you want to spend time outside star gazing before it gets too chilly at night.

Photos have become an important part of our everyday lives. They can help close the gap for loved ones that are far away, help us remember fun places we’ve been, and capture the big and little moments that make up our lives. We see photographs daily, but have you ever wondered how it all started?

 The first photographic process was developed in 1837 by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce. Their process was called the Daguerrotype, which the French government purchased the patent for on August 19, 1839 so that they could share it as a free gift to the world. The French were on to something, and on August 19, 2010, World Photo Day hosted a global gallery online to honor the day the patent was purchased. They asked photographers around the globe to upload a single image that would capture their life to share with the world. Almost 270 photographers joined in on the fun, with the gallery being viewed in over 100 countries. This marked the first official Photography Day, which has been celebrated since.

I’ve been a photographer for a long time, and on the Fourth of July most years anyone that knows me probably can guess one thing I’m doing that day. Like most citizens of the U.S.A I will be laying out my blanket somewhere to take in an amazing fireworks show. Unlike many Americans I will be lugging around pounds of photography equipment in the hopes to capture that one shot that truly say America.