Thank you for logging onto V. Isenhower Photography -- a site of fine art photographs focused on meditative landscape photography, hot air balloons and New Mexico historic churches. I hope you enjoy the photographs and find one for your home, office or as a gift for a friend.

Many people ask me what type of camera I use.  Until December of 2007, all of my photographs were taken with a Canon Ftb manual focus, film camera that was purchased in the mid 1970's.  The camera has become an old friend and still takes wonderful pictures so I will keep it around.  Before purchasing this camera I used a Kodak pocket instamatic.  However, the time came when my eye saw more than the instamatic camera could take.  I recently started experimenting with a digital camera -- Canon EOS XTi.  I imagine I will go back and forth between "my old friend" and the new camera.

I think photography is an avenue to record a moment in time and then have that visual memory live on.  I look at each photographic opportunity as a gift and a moment of grace.  It is a time when I am engaged with the environment and see God's handiwork in creation.  The eye can see so much more than the camera can take in, so photography slows me down and forces me to focus on items of interest, thereby slowing my mind and soul to enjoy the moment.

 My photographs are meditative in nature.  Whether it be a landscape, a New Mexico church, or a hot air balloon, my hope is that the picture you look at will evoke a sense of peacefulness.   My prayer is that you will have the feeling of standing in the scene as you gaze at the photograph.

I am the Executive Director of Water in the Desert Ministries: A Center for Spiritual Renewal.  We offer workshops and retreats on individual and congregational renewal.  Often, we use my photographs in our work to give participants visual scenes of peacefulness and discernment.  I co-authored two books with Judith Todd, a colleague from Water in the Desert Ministries -- Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment (Upper Room, April 2008) and Listen for God's Leading: A Guide to Corporate Spiritual Discernment (Upper Room, Spring 2009).   The books can be purchased at www.waterinthedesert.org

Upper Room Books selected  two of Val's photos to be on the cover of the books she co-authored with Judith A. Todd.   "Hiding", one of Val's balloon photos is on the cover of  Listen for God's Leading: A Workbook for Corporate Spiritual Discernment  and the Turquoise Gate (see "Gates" on the Buy Photos menu to the left) is the cover of Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment. Val is excited that her meditative photographs will be on the cover of a books she co-authored. 

Some of my work hangs in the Albuquerque Photographers Gallery in Old Town, Albuquerque, 328-C San Felipe.  I won best of category at the Red River Fine Art and Wine Festival in 2005.  My work has also been published in 2 issues of the Baylor University Journal for Family and Community Ministries .

I grew up in Kansas, and now I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   I moved here to start Water in the Desert Ministries with three colleagues and to begin V. Isenhower Photography.  As a Photographer, New Mexico is such a wonderful place to live because of the photographic opportunities.