Every year on our snowbird trip, when we go south to find the winter sun, we travel on Highway 101 along the Oregon coast, eagerly anticipating each curve in the road that reveals sea stacks, ocean waves, and the rugged coastline. We've driven the road 15 times now (an odd number because one year we went to the east coast in spring and drove all the way around the USA in a … [Read more...]
The Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye is brimming with stunning and incredibly unique photography locations to choose from. Every day I wanted to go somewhere new. But, at least for me, really good photography doesn't work that way. I frequently find that I have to visit a location more than once before I make my best images. I think it's because on the first visit I can become overwhelmed by … [Read more...]
Heilan’ Coo, Isle of Skye, Scotland
It’s a Highland Cow! But in Scots (which is an actual language and different from Gaelic), they are known as Heilan’ Coo, and that’s what everyone calls them in Scotland. A little tangent about Scots. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know about Scots. I was expecting Gaelic, but I didn’t know there was also Scots. There’s some disagreement about … [Read more...]
The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland
My stubbornness got the best of me - and sometimes that is a good thing in photography! When I left on my trip to Scotland, it was with a slight sense of disappointment since I knew my knee troubles would prevent me from doing the hiking I wanted to do. I wasn't going to be able to get that one shot I wanted the most. But I decided to go anyway and make the best of … [Read more...]
New Find and Cool Rock Art at Saddle Mountain Arizona
Always on the lookout for free camping in a photo-worthy location, one of my favourite new finds from this year's snowbird season is Saddle Mountain near Tonopah, Arizona. Located about 50 miles west of Phoenix, it's a large dispersed camping area where you can have lots of space to yourself while enjoying the peaceful wilderness location. One of my favourite desert … [Read more...]
The Cuillin, Isle of Skye, Scotland
This is the view from the road. While travelling from one picturesque location to another on the Isle of Skye, the Cuillin is the dominant feature of the landscape that will have you stopping at every available opportunity, of which there are few. Since I was having problems with my knees before my trip, I almost cancelled because I wasn’t going to be able to do any hiking. … [Read more...]
My 10 Favourite Photography Locations in the American Southwest
I love being a snowbird! For the past 7 years I've left the grey and rainy pacific northwest behind in late fall to follow the sun down to the American Southwest to explore and photograph the stunning landscapes until spring. I've seen some truly remarkable places, but to become an all-time favourite, a location has to meet a few criteria: The most important thing is … [Read more...]
How I Came Within Seconds of Missing the Shot at Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Here's a story of a photo that I came within seconds of missing. It's a story of being prepared and being not prepared all at the same time. After leaving Glencoe, Scotland, I had one more stop planned before arriving on the Isle of Skye. My stop was in Kyle of Lochalsh, which was the closest accommodation I could find to the Eileen Donan Castle, about 15 minutes away. I … [Read more...]