Different Priorities

I'm up north, away from home, and the only white sand is for snow cones. I pulled this shot out of the archives to remind me that, ...well, I forgot already. Lets just say that back home in Florida the priorities are a little different and that's exactly why all these people up here in Connecticut are so productive, there's really nothing else to do. I'm not advocating one way or the other, just a simple reminder that if you were in Florida you would be sitting on a beach chair doing absolutely nothing. Aren't you glad you're not?  BTW: This is model Alecia Lou Dorics on a shoot I did on Anna Maria Island a couple months ago for a local tourism magazine.

I’m up north, away from home, and the only white sand is for snow cones. I pulled this shot out of the archives to remind me that, …well, I forgot already. Lets just say that back home in Florida the priorities are a little different and that’s exactly why all these people up here in Connecticut are so productive, there’s really nothing else to do. I’m not advocating one way or the other, just a simple reminder that if you were in Florida you would be sitting on a beach chair doing absolutely nothing. Aren’t you glad you’re not? BTW: This is model Alecia Lou Dorics on a shoot I did on Anna Maria Island a couple months ago for a local tourism magazine.

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Heublein Tower

The sign said trail to tower. It was cold, snow on the ground and I just arrived from Florida a couple hours earlier. But all the native New Englanders were out in their shorts and running shoes so I couldn't turn back, wouldn't look good for Florida. I figured once I got to the top of the mountain there would be a cell tower and I could pull out my iPhone and check the temperature, as though I needed a reminder. Little did I know that a mile and a half up the trail was a Bavarian fortress with spectacular views of the valley and city of Hartford below. Chalk one up for dumb luck.

The sign said trail to tower. It was cold, snow on the ground and I just arrived from Florida a couple hours earlier. But all the native New Englanders were out in their shorts and running shoes so I couldn’t turn back, wouldn’t look good for Florida. I figured once I got to the top of the mountain there would be a cell tower and I could pull out my iPhone and check the temperature, as though I needed a reminder. Little did I know that a mile and a half up the trail was a Bavarian fortress with spectacular views of the valley and city of Hartford below. Chalk one up for dumb luck.

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Biltmore Estate

This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it's open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.

This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it’s open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.

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Farmington River

It was only yesterday that the leaves had colors. Now, not so much. This is in Connecticut a couple weeks ago. What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Now the long haul begins.

It was only yesterday that the leaves had colors. Now, not so much. This is in Connecticut a couple weeks ago. What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Now the long haul begins.

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Shadows on the Path

This is part of the path to Rainbow Falls in North Carolina's Gorges State Park. I took this as we hiked out and the sun was a little lower on the horizon thus casting these awesome shadows across the path. I was feeling a little guilty for dragging my wife and her sister on this hike that was a little more than we bargained for. I'd walk up ahead about a hundred yards, stop and turn around with my tripod and then take a couple of pictures until I saw them coming up the path. Then I'd motor on and repeat the process a little further up the way. In this manner I got a lot of shots of the trail and this is one of my favorite.

This is part of the path to Rainbow Falls in North Carolina’s Gorges State Park. I took this as we hiked out and the sun was a little lower on the horizon thus casting these awesome shadows across the path. I was feeling a little guilty for dragging my wife and her sister on this hike that was a little more than we bargained for. I’d walk up ahead about a hundred yards, stop and turn around with my tripod and then take a couple of pictures until I saw them coming up the path. Then I’d motor on and repeat the process a little further up the way. In this manner I got a lot of shots of the trail and this is one of my favorite.

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Lake Hayes

This is Lake Hayes in southern New Zealand. I was here about six months ago and I already miss it. I think the thing I miss the most is the amount of wide-open space with amazing landscapes.  Certainly we have beauty in North America, it’s there, waiting, not going anywhere. My ambition is changing a little bit and I'm craving more and more landscapes. I guess it’s one of those things that once you get hooked on you keep looking for new vistas wherever you go. That’s probably not a bad thing.

This is Lake Hayes in southern New Zealand. I was here about six months ago and I already miss it. I think the thing I miss the most is the amount of wide-open space with amazing landscapes. Certainly we have beauty in North America, it’s there, waiting, not going anywhere. My ambition is changing a little bit and I’m craving more and more landscapes. I guess it’s one of those things that once you get hooked on you keep looking for new vistas wherever you go. That’s probably not a bad thing.

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Below Rainbow Falls

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

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Gorges State Park

This is Gorges State Park in North Carolina. There is a two or three mile loop that you can drive with a couple of lookouts across the Blue Ridge Mountains. This time of year the mountains are pretty much every other color than blue. That works! I took this after an amazing hike to a waterfall down in the gorge. I'll post that sometime soon.

This is Gorges State Park in North Carolina. There is a two or three mile loop that you can drive with a couple of lookouts across the Blue Ridge Mountains. This time of year the mountains are pretty much every other color than blue. That works! I took this after an amazing hike to a waterfall down in the gorge. I’ll post that sometime soon.

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Play Time

I am an unabashed dog lover and whenever I'm out with my camera I look for the interaction between humans and their pets. I was lucky because in this part of BC dogs are allowed on the beach, not so at the beaches where I live. Nevertheless I can imagine this is the best part of the day for this four legged, running along the water and chasing a ball. One of the best things about a dog is they're always ready to play, and that sense of joy is worth more than all the money in the world.

I am an unabashed dog lover and whenever I’m out with my camera I look for the interaction between humans and their pets. I was lucky because in this part of BC dogs are allowed on the beach, not so at the beaches where I live. Nevertheless I can imagine this is the best part of the day for this four legged, running along the water and chasing a ball. One of the best things about a dog is they’re always ready to play, and that sense of joy is worth more than all the money in the world.

Click on photo to enlarge