Hey David,

I appreciate the comment. You are right - the difference I think between yourself and many others is that this is your job. For most of us, we are weekend warriors, and the cost of going out and doing our passion can be a real hinderence (sp).

I guess I was trying to see if others were in the same boat. :P

James

James,
there's no question that when it's your job to go to the shoot location, you go. Period. Maybe you can make up the additional expense in pricing and maybe you can't. But there is no choice but to go.

For those of us who also shoot for pleasure, the thought of driving 3 - 4 hrs. just to shoot in the Everglades is daunting right now. To drive to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Alaska? Totally out of the question.

So, I focus closer to home. I look for places I can bicycle to. I carry my gear in a backpack instead of the Pelican 1510 Case. I look small instead of large-scale. I try to see things in my own environment that are interesting from a different perspective.

Now, that doesn't get me into the wild -- although some might argue that having 15 Rottweilers in my house is pretty wild (8 puppies) -- but it does make me use my brain and my eyes instead of relying on the grandeur of the locale. Not that I wouldn't love to be able to shoot in Yellowstone. But right now, it doesn't make economic sense to be able to do so.

Unless, of course, you had a better solution . . .

Jim

My summer's totally complete (maybe my life!). Just spent 3 incredible days in the Grizzly Rain Forest of BC. See photo in Wildlife Forum.
Met a friend of yours' Tony: Dave Slaughter and his wife, Pam! Wonderful folks!

Glad you had fun! Yes, Dave did tell me that you two met and that you were a great guy!

Tony

Kenai Peninsula of Alaska from July 17th to July 27th.

Seward, Soldatna and Homer!

I will visit the Kenai Fjords National Park while I am at Seward...

My husband and I already had our vacation for this year. We spent 29 days in Florida. Stayed on Marco Island but put over 3000 miles on the rental car. Hit Gatorland twice! The first day there, I think I spent at least 10 minutes in shock! I've never seen so many birds in one spot and so darn close! Birders in Florida are so lucky!!

Connie

Damn, Connie, I wish I remembered that you were coming -- we live a couple of miles away from Gatorland in Hunters Creek.

Glad you had such a great trip. You know, we've lived here since 1989 and we've never been to Gatorland. We go to Sea World all the time but never to the little zoo across the street. We'll have to walk over there sometime soon.

Jim

Hey Connie,

I hope you had a great trip. Make sure you post share some!

BTW, what exactly is Gatorland?

James

We had a wonderful vacation. http://www.gatorland.com/
Gatorland is a Theme Park and Nature Conservatory. For birding they have a boardwalk that runs thru the rookery area. The gators stay under the nesting birds hoping for a quick snack! You can get a photography pass which enables you to enter the park at 7am (normal hours 9am) and you can also stay two hours after closing. Check out the webcam on the Gatorland site, it will show you just how close you can get to the birds.
Connie