About Us

Marty and Gina Allen are amateur nature photographers and native Arkansans.  They currently live in Little Rock with their Maltese/Shitzu named Roxy and their calico cat, Puddy Tat.  Marty began learning about photography in a serious way with a Beginning Photography class and a borrowed Minolta SLR in college…back in the “darkroom days”.  Gina started out with a Kodak Instamatic 110 and a trip to the Grand Canyon in sixth grade with her Girl Scout Troop.  Her mom actually noticed an early trend…there were no people in her photos, only landscapes and wildlife.  Both Marty and Gina come from families with long histories of hunting, fishing and farming.  The outdoors; the animals, the plants, the weather and the changing seasons; have always been a vital part of each day. 

When preparing for a fall trip to Colorado in 1998 they purchased their first SLR, a Canon Elan IIe and a Tamron 28-210mm.  Little did they know this would become an exciting hobby that they would enjoy together, was a good excuse to travel all over the states, and would lead to a large network of new friends and challenging opportunities. 

However, as most photographers know, there is usually a new camera, lens or equipment on the market.  This most likely will lead to drooling, begging, and long negotiations with the local camera store for the best price.  So for Christmas in 2003 Marty and Gina’s gift to each other was a Digital Canon Rebel.  The only problem was there was only one camera and two people who wanted to use it…and usually at the same time.  Once they started using digital, there was no going back to film.  For Marty’s birthday that year he got his dream lens, a Canon 100-400mm zoom.  Finally, he was able to shoot (with the camera instead of a gun or bow) the wildlife he so frequently saw in the woods, although he did have to share it with Gina.  For Gina’s birthday, she picked out a Canon 100mm Macro lens.  No bug or flower was safe anymore.  When fall rolled around and a trip was planned to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park they purchased a Canon 20D…there was no way they were going on a week long vacation with one digital camera.  With Marty’s computer experience, long hours, thick books, and just trial and error, he and Gina began using Adobe Photo Elements and eventually Photoshop CS, CS2 and CS3 to improve their photos.  A seminar by George Lepp, an internationally known nature photographer, also helped them to learn more about their digital cameras and the software to bring out the very best in their images.  They also attended and recommend Tim Ernst workshops and slideshows listed at www.cloudland.net.

A desire by friends and family led Marty to create a website called “Images Outside” to post his and Gina’s pictures.   The web site is frequently updated with new photos of their recent work.   Marty currently serves as president of the Arkansas Outdoor Photography Club and has helped start a Digital Photography activity group at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock, AR.

The Allen’s photos have been featured on the website for Garvin Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs and in the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Arkansas Wildlife magazine and calendar.  Their photos have also been used in ads and website by Western Pleasure Guest Ranch in Northern Idaho and they have won awards from the Little Rock Zoo, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Bedford Camera over the past several years.

Marty and Gina feel blessed to live in Arkansas where there are so many photographic opportunities all through out the year.  They also feel lucky to have been able to travel to some of the prettiest places in country; from New England to Florida and Northern Idaho to Padre Island, TX along with Northern California to Charleston, South Carolina.  Their goal is to make an image that depicts the exquisite beauty of the outdoors; whether it is in the city, the country, a national park, a state park, or in your own backyard.  Also included is the benefit of meeting many other photographers who share their love of the outdoors and the challenge of getting that “perfect shot”.