JOURNEY STORIES

For every image that I capture, there is a story.

When I head out on a photo shoot, it’s never random — every journey begins with purpose and planning. I spend hours researching where to be, what I hope to capture, and how to align my vision with nature’s timing. When possible, I visit locations in advance, studying the light, angles, and moods that shape a scene. That’s my pre-site planning — the part that happens before I even unpack my gear. And honestly, I often find myself dreaming about those moments before they ever happen. It’s part of my obsession.

Then comes game day. That’s when all the preparation meets real life — shifting light, unexpected weather, and the thrill of the unknown. On those days, I talk to myself a lot (usually about light — always about light). When it’s perfect, my heart races like a kid on his first date. Those are the moments that keep me chasing the next photograph.

But the story doesn’t end when I press the shutter. Every image carries a memory — sometimes of patience, sometimes of adventure, and sometimes of me pushing a little past where I probably should have gone. Each one has an “Eric story,” and that’s what makes this craft so personal to me.

This page is where I share those stories — the behind-the-scenes moments, the near misses, and the quiet victories that happen along the way. I’d love for you to follow along, and I always welcome your thoughts in the feedback section below. Every note from you reminds me that these journeys connect us all.

Eric Lillard Eric Lillard

Harvest Moon

If I am home, there are two things I do almost every day. I step out on my back deck and check out the sunrise and sunset just as it happens. The skies change dramatically in just a few minutes as it’s a balance between too much sun or darkness and what makes them light up spectacularly.

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Eric Lillard Eric Lillard

Perspectives

One of the interesting aspects of photography is the many perspectives you get by taking the same photo from different angles, whether it be more to the left or right, or up and and down.

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Eric Lillard Eric Lillard

My Sneaking-Out-Of-The-House Routine

As a kid, living in Carbondale, Illinois, I used to sneak out of the house for all kinds of reasons, rarely, where any of them were good. The night before last, I felt like I was reliving my sneaking out of the house routine again; this time at 64 years of age.

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