I must admit to a tinge of jealously when I read about trips to Yellowstone, the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley. We who live in the deep Southeast, would love to make those types of photo excursions.

Unfortunately, for me at least, that kind of travel is not likely in 2006 as I continue to build the business and, in my spare time, show dogs, renovate the house and, oh did I mention, build the business

However, while extensive travel for pleasure is not possible at this time, there is no reason why I (and others) can't concentrate on those Natural Wonders present within a day's drive of where we live. For example, Florida has over 159 State Parks including such wonderful settings as the Keys, the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico as well as many historical sites. My plan is to try to photograph all of these during the course of 2006.

Sure I'd love to shoot the grand vistas of the Grand Canyon. But capturing the essence of the Everglades would be just as challenging and far more accessible.

I urge all of us on this forum to consider the venues closest to home as photographic opportunities. And to share what you find there.

Jim

Jim,
I have a suggestion for you to visit Alaska. Get hired to do one of the Dog Shows here. You would make enough to pay for your trip up here and have local people drive you around to see and photograph some of the sights. I know people who have come here and spent less than $1000 for plane fare and all expenses while here. I can put you in touch with the right people for show photography if you need help with that.

David,
good suggestion. Let me check out the shows up there and see which ones have Specialties associated with them (including a Rottie Specialty) which would provide the greatest income potential.

I'll let you know which ones look good and maybe you can find out who I should talk to.

Thanks,

Jim

I am planning on going to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in May.

Lou

Leaving here on April 15th and will visit the following:
Bosque del Apache NWR
Tombstone AZ and surrounding area.
Saguaro NP
Sedona AZ and surrounding area including Walnut Canyon Natonal Monument
Laughlin NV and Oatman AZ an old mining town
Las Vegas to do some night shooting
Valley of Fire State Park
Arches NP Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands NP
Canyon of the Ancients CO
Hovenweep National Monument
Mesa Verde NP
Ride the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge RR
Canyon de Chelly National Monument AZ with a Navajo guide
Painted Desert & Petrified Forest NP
Then a stop at the RT.66 auto museum in Santa Rosa NM
then back home to Cleveland

Then probably will take me 2 months to edit all the Raw images I shoot.

Jerry,

You are going everywhere - sounds awesome. I cannot wait to see some of your stuff from your trip. Tax day - a great day to start a trip, LOL.

James

wow, that's a heck of a schedule. You should try to find a way to keep us updated along the way by posting a photo now and then. It would be fun to track your progress. I'm not putting any pressure on you, but it would be cool to see some of your work along the way!

Take care, be safe, and bring a back-up!

We do something like this every year. Usually take my RV and tow a Jeep but with the price of gas so high it was much cheaper driving the Jeep and staying in hotels than driving the RV and staying in campgrounds. Last year spent a month in FL doing all the NWR. Did St. Augustine alligator farm rookery, Merritt Island NWR, most of the places along the Florida birding trail and the Everglades. Two years ago drove from Cleveland up to Fairbanks and Denali NP. Found that the best place to photograph the wildlife is in it's natural habitat was in the Yukon where the black bears and moose were eating right at the side of the roads. Was so little traffic that I stopped the RV on the road was able to shoot photos for almost half an hour in most places without any traffic. I will post to my website as I can when traveling. www.pbase.com/vciinc.
Traveling is one of the perks of retirement.
Jerry

hey Jerry, you need a younger guy to ride along in case you need a tire changed or some wood hauled to the fire? LOL - sounds like your living the life!

Where are you headed this summer?

Looks like I am adding the Valley of Fire in April in addition to shooting Death Valley in March! I have decided to bite the bullet and do the DWF and WPPI trade shows this year.

James