Photography Blog

A European-Like Vacation for a Fraction of the Cost
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

A European-Like Vacation for a Fraction of the Cost

When we arrived at Hotel Sainte-Anne on our first day in Quebec City, Canada, it was already getting dark. Our room was cozy and inviting, so Jen and I had half a mind to stay in and call it a night. However, after the long trip, I was hungry, and there were a decent number of people still milling around the streets outside, so there was a small chance of getting a photo worth keeping. We were in a new country, and I wanted to explore!

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Stand-alone photos from Canada 2025
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

Stand-alone photos from Canada 2025

Good photos, at least those I consider good, generally fall into two categories: they are either stand-alone or part of a story. Any time I’m fortunate enough to photograph new locations over long periods, I inevitably end up with a handful of stand-alone photos (if I’m lucky), a decent collection that benefits from being part of a story, and a bucketful of junk photos that will never see the light of day. What’s the difference between stand-alone and story photos? In my opinion, a stand-alone photo can interest someone who wasn’t there when it was taken. It contains something in the lighting, composition, subject matter, or a mixture of elements that makes it strong enough to bear the weight of scrutiny without the support of other images. Because of the criteria I listed, they are rare.

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Busker Culture in Quebec Canada
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

Busker Culture in Quebec Canada

After a hectic year, my wife and I finally got a small break, so we headed to Canada to beat the Texas heat. The trip was not intentionally planned this way, but we arrived in Quebec City on Quebec Day and left Montreal the day after Canada Day (something like Independence Day in the US). Of course, I have hundreds of photos to sift through and process before I can post any of them online, but until then, here are some of my favorite photos of the many buskers we encountered.

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No Kings Protest - McKinney, TX
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

No Kings Protest - McKinney, TX

On the drive to McKinney, I told my daughter I didn’t expect to see too many protesters, and when we first arrived, I saw what I expected. However, over the next hour or two, hundreds and hundreds of people arrived, filling the public green spaces along 380 and the North Central Expressway. As the crowd swelled, I was surprised, to say the least.

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Gateway Community Church
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

Gateway Community Church

I’m excited to work with Gateway Community Church, taking photos of worship, baptisms, and other events. I’ve only been photographing for two weeks, and it really feels good to serve my church, practice my photography, and capture moments of authentic worship.

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A Primer on the last two generations of Nikon F-Mount Lens
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

A Primer on the last two generations of Nikon F-Mount Lens

When buying lenses, it is crucial that you actual know what you are buying. A great deal isn’t great if you can’t use the lens at all or if you can’t use the lens the way you want or need to. In addition to everything above, each lens model has its own unique characteristics which is what gives photos a certain look/character. Lenses are tools to help the photographer achieve a specific goal.

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Cathedral of Junk, No-Show Bats, and the Burger Bar
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

Cathedral of Junk, No-Show Bats, and the Burger Bar

For having lived in the state of Texas for over 35 years, this was my first time in Austin, and even now, it was only a half day stop on the way to somewhere else. Having only the late afternoon and evening hours with two of my kids, I tried to make the most of the time, and hopefully make a photo or two along the way.

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Photo Story Published by the Global 1 in 6 by 2030 Project!
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

Photo Story Published by the Global 1 in 6 by 2030 Project!

A photo story for the 1 in 6 by 2030 project, “a collaborative project that brings together photographers from around the world to put a human face on one of the most important ‘statistics’ of our time — the fact that by the year 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age of 60.”

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A Quick Trip to Galway, Ireland - Part 2
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

A Quick Trip to Galway, Ireland - Part 2

For a quick business trip to Ireland, this ended up being a long post, so I’ve split it into two. The first post is more of a photo blog. This second part is more about my thoughts on food, lodging, and other things you might want to know if you visit Galway.

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A Quick Trip to Galway, Ireland - Part 1
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

A Quick Trip to Galway, Ireland - Part 1

For a quick trip to Ireland, this ended up being a long post, so I’ve split into two. This first post is more of a photo blog. The second is more about my thoughts on food, lodging, and other things you might want to know if you visit Galway.

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From Humble Beginnings
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

From Humble Beginnings

A photo story for the 1 in 6 by 2030 project, “a collaborative project that brings together photographers from around the world to put a human face on one of the most important ‘statistics’ of our time — the fact that by the year 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age of 60.”

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The Taxidermist’s Daughter - A Stage Play
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

The Taxidermist’s Daughter - A Stage Play

Wylie High School Theatre had their one and only public performance of Kate Mosse’s The Taxidermist Daughter, the stage play for UIL (University Interscholastic League) competition. The performance was intense. Intense enough that I became uncomfortable taking photos of some scenes. That of course means, the cast and crew did their jobs very well indeed.

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New Gallery - Beauty and the Beast
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

New Gallery - Beauty and the Beast

The Wylie High School Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast was simply magnificent! The cast and crew pulled out all the stops and wowed sold-out audiences over four days. I did my best to capture the essence of their performances and have posted some of my favorites in my new Beauty and the Beast gallery.

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The Dramatic Side of Beauty and the Beast
Stiles Watson Stiles Watson

The Dramatic Side of Beauty and the Beast

Tomorrow is opening night for Wylie High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast. There’s a lot of humor, singing, and dancing, but without revealing too many spoilers, I thought I’d just post a few photos representing the dramatic side of the stage play. Due to the high demand, and nearly selling out the first 4 shows, they’ve added a 5th. So, if you hurry, you might be able to grab the last remaining seats!

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