Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

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 Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

to all our readers

 

I'd like to wish all of you the very best of Christmas and all Holidays celebrated at this time of year across the globe, and remember to remember those in need, to those we've let slip from our lives for any reason. They are still out there and deserve your love and your attention. Please be with them.

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Why Do You Do Photography?

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Why Do We Do Our Photography?

Ever wondered what it is about your photography that keeps you going? For some of us it is the ability to sell it online or in galleries, at local shops, at events, doing wedding shoots or sports, portraits, on greeting cards, mouse pads, or coffee mugs. For some of us it is just about the social interaction on sites where feedback or tagging is as much a function of the photograph as is the actual picture taken. And finally for some of us it is about gifting to friends and family. But there is a higher reason for some of us, it is quite literally a reach into our souls for a profound effect on our spirit.

We Simply Love what we capture 

 Our photography ends up somewhere, and some of it we delete, some we hang onto because we possess a delusion that somewhere down the line, we might use it for some be able to utilize it for one legitimate attempt at an artsy effect, and then there are the few images that is the real reason we continue to shoot: We Simply Love What We Create.

 

There lies the difference in a professional photographer, whose income relies on his time behind the lens and his number of customers. But for myself, it matters not if these photos are turned into currency. It matters only that the result may have a profound effect on me or others who view it, much like a poem effects one because it has relevance to their lives. Sometimes it is merely the capture itself. And at other times it is the post-processing to fully dramatize, to enhance the image, in a way in which I would have liked the capture to have been when I discovered it. It is in short the art of the photo. 

I have given some thought to what will happen to all of my photography once I am gone. Not that I am looking forward to that, but make no mistake, eventually that will occur. And I think my fondest hope is that family members will distribute all that I have printed and all that I have saved to hard drives, to each as they wish, or hang on their walls. If they think of me once in awhile, that is all the better, but the truth is, I wish them and friends they may choose to gift to, that my photographic art give them comfort or inspiration in their homes or businesses and workplaces. Outside of the pleasure that my best work gives to me, and I find great pleasure in a small portion of my work, I will be very happy if others find it as pleasant to enjoy in their lives.

And sure, I have it listed for sale on a couple of sites, and sales come, but it is the love of the art of photographing places and people, nature and life, more than any other reason, that I continue.

What are your reasons?

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Visit National Parks in the Winter

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When we need inspiration as photographers, we can always turn to our National Parks. Here's an article written by Katie Eucker I found at the National Parks Conservation Association.

5 Tips for Visiting National Parks in Winter

Posted on: December 2 2013

5 Tips for Visiting National Parks in Winter

By Katie Eucker, Senior Manager of Travel & Corporate Marketing
As the manager of NPCA’s ParkScapes travel program for the last seven years, I’ve planned national park trips for hundreds of park lovers all across the country and in all seasons—Texas’ Big Bend in the spring, California’s Yosemite in the autumn, Montana’s Glacier in the summer, and even Alaska’s Denali in the winter. Winter adventures are some of my favorite trips.
If you’re thinking about a national park trip this winter, here are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years.

1. Plan for an extra day at the start of your trip. If traveling by plane, consider planning to arrive at least one day in advance of your park visit. While this advice will help travelers feel refreshed at the start of a trip during any season, I find this suggestion especially beneficial in the winter. Arranging an extra day at the front end of the trip means you have built-in flexibility for weather delays in your hometown, connecting airport, or destination, and helps account for adverse road conditions for visitors traveling by car.



2. Get to know the gateway community. Whether traveling through a town before entering a national park, filling up at the local gas station, or staying at a hotel in the neighboring community, I love striking up conversations with the people who live and work in these gateways to our national parks. Not only might locals know the best place for a slice of pizza or the best deal on a good cup of hot chocolate, but they also often know little-known facts (read: fascinating stories) about the park in their backyard. These conversations are particularly useful in winter because area residents will know of adjusted hours or seasonal closures during the “quiet season.”



3. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You may be planning a trip to a national park around a favorite cold-weather activity, like cross-country skiing in Acadia, snowshoeing in Yellowstone, or downhill skiing in Yosemite. You can make it a multi-sport vacation by renting equipment from a local gear shop or even from concessioners inside the park. Now there’s no need to lug bulky equipment on your next park holiday, and no more “lack of equipment” excuses holding you back. So pack your winter layers and get out there to give it a shot.



4. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is just as important in the wintertime as in the summer, but our bodies don’t let us know we are dehydrated in quite the same way, and we may not always recognize we’re thirsty during cold-weather activities. My favorite winter trick is to drink warm water from an insulated thermos. I’m channeling my mother here when I remind us all to, “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!”



5. Don’t get caught in the dark. We all know that winter brings shorter days. These precious daylight hours can be even more compressed when traveling, especially closer to the poles. Another important factor is where a park is located within a given time zone. Visiting a park in the eastern part of a specific time zone will mean earlier sunrise and sunset times than other parks in the same zone. For example, the sunrise and sunset will be much earlier tomorrow at Acadia National Park (6:51 a.m. and 3:54 p.m., respectively) than Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore (8:01 a.m. and 5:03 p.m., respectively) because Acadia is located much farther east in the time zone. Checking daylight hours ahead of time can help ensure you will have enough daylight hours for your intended daily activities, and that you won’t get surprised as darkness falls.

These are just a few things to keep in mind during a cold-weather journey. Got your own tips? Share them with us below!
If you are thinking about a winter adventure but prefer the ease and other benefits of a small group tour, consider joining an NPCA ParkScapes trip to ring in the New Year. We offer special holiday trips to Yellowstone and Yosemite
 that feature these snow-covered landscapes.

  And they can use our help, consider making a tax deductible donation