Posted by Jasper Doest on September 1, 2006 at 3:06 AM
Since I'm planning my photography trips for next year at the moment I have a question to you all. If you had the chance to return to a place that you've visited in the past for photography purposes...what would it be , what season and why?
For me my all time favorite location would be Svalbard (Spitsbergen) and to be more precise Kongsfjorden. To me this one of the most beautiful place on earth. While being there you really feel absorbed by the arctic summer. If the sun is out it shines 24h a day, the scenics are terrific with glaciers and snow-topped mountains and wildlife is all around. I had a great time photographing arctic foxes, watching polarbears, and there is plenty of high arctic bird species which are really approacheable. So for me, it would be Svalbard in summer...what's your favorite?
Posted by Svein-Frode on September 1, 2006 at 5:58 AM
My backyard (5 mile radius from my house)!
Why?
- I know it by heart
- I know how the light falls in any weahter at any time of day
- I know how it looks in any season throughout the year
- It's beautiful, serene and accessible
- I've taken photos there for 7 years, and see more and more photo opportunities each time I'm out and about.
Would I like to travel everywhere in the World? Yes, but not for the sake of photography...
I'm afraid my backyard won't do. It needs a good mowing. My favorite spot for photographing is the Canadian Rockies. The scenery in the area of Banff and Jasper is magnificient and animals abound. Second choice is a round of the National Parks in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. The parks include Arches, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, etc, all available within a two week vacation.
Exactly what Svein said. Although all it offers is 'trees' as nature. Sometimes I get lucky with the light, other elements and good images are possible.
Posted by Grace Blair on September 1, 2006 at 10:25 AM
Everywhere within a 30 mile radius of my home! Because I know it so well and it is convenient. I live in SW Montana. Then I would expand it to anywhere in Montana! Any time of the year there are wonderful views, animals, plants, and friendly people who let you climb about their property for special photos. I have barely scratched the surface of what is available in my own 70 acre property!
I'm with Svein, Prashan and Grace, especially with current energy and travel prices! Even if the travel was free, I still like that nearby destinations let me follow the light and seasons so easily. That's not often possible or reasonable while traveling.
Posted by Stacy Egan on September 1, 2006 at 12:20 PM
I think it depends on your backyard. Tucson has some nice land preserved (Saguaro NP and the Catalina mountains) but housing developments are going up like crazy and it's a challenge to get ES&S shots without some sort of hand of man in it.
Myself, I'm infatuated with the southeast quarter of Utah, with Moab as a "home base" to Arches, Canyonlands, and the nearby Colorado and Green rivers. There's something about that red rock that really attracts me.
Posted by Paul Skoczylas on September 1, 2006 at 1:08 PM
Well, of course, Banff/Jasper/Yoho/Kootenay/Elk Island National Parks are the best.
It might be more informative, however, if people said where their favourite place, OTHER THAN HOME was!
-Paul
Posted by Josh Anderson on September 1, 2006 at 1:55 PM
Southern Utah is GREAT. I hope to live in Moab within a year or so.
Yellowstone is on the top of my list as far as wildlife goes.
Posted by Jasper Doest on September 2, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Yes, I have to admit that shooting around the area where you live is my style too....but maybe the question should be like Paul said...what's your favorite place, other than home?
Especially for wildlife in europe, you'll have to travel....I can't find any foxes in my backyard...and since I don't have a backyard I can't find anything nice in it I've done quite a lot of photography around the house...like the Great Crested Grebe serie that you might remember...but I don't want to do that my whole life and than you start looking for something different...
Other than my neighbors' flowers and other than my own amazing State of WA, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons (in Sept after most tourists are gone) is wonderful for geothermal phenomenon, wildlife and scenics. Alaska's Kenai Fjords provide extravagant glacier and mountain scenery, sea mammals and birds; it's a boat trip out of Seward. These 2 locations are my favorites so far. I hope to get to Svalbard and Iceland some day. Also more of Southwest. Need more time and $$$!
We have lots of great spots around us in the Vancouver area with different birds through the seasons. I love The Salton Sea and Thailand as places I've been to for birds.
There are actually two places that come to mind: The high country in the Sonora Pass region and Little Lakes Valley, in the Sierra. Both areas offer sublime mountain scenes and the opportunity for many intimate landscapes. Additionally, I am intimately familiar with both areas; having hiked, climbed, and photographed there for the better part of thirty years.
Even though I have taken many photographs in these places, my primary reason for going there is to, as John Muir said; "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."
-PB
Posted by Ian Mason on September 3, 2006 at 5:33 PM
Africa! I've only been once but was bowled over by the experience. Wildlife like nowhere else on the planet, stunning landscapes, unbelievable environment and so different from what I'm used to. Mind you, Scotland isn't too bad either
If you ever have a chance to go, jump and don't look back. I call South America 'The Wilderness Continent." It has everything a landscape and nature photographer could ask for. From the amazing Tepuis and Angel Falls in Venezuela's Gran Sabana, to the high Andes of Peru, to the incredible wetlands and rainforests of the upper Amazon Basin, to the Galapagos, to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and of course the amazing mountains of Patagonia, the entire continent is mind-blowing. It doesn't matter where you go, you will find amazing photographic opportunities. And besides the airfare to get there, it is relatively cheap for a traveler.
Discussion
15 repliesFor me my all time favorite location would be Svalbard (Spitsbergen) and to be more precise Kongsfjorden. To me this one of the most beautiful place on earth. While being there you really feel absorbed by the arctic summer. If the sun is out it shines 24h a day, the scenics are terrific with glaciers and snow-topped mountains and wildlife is all around. I had a great time photographing arctic foxes, watching polarbears, and there is plenty of high arctic bird species which are really approacheable. So for me, it would be Svalbard in summer...what's your favorite?
Why?
- I know it by heart
- I know how the light falls in any weahter at any time of day
- I know how it looks in any season throughout the year
- It's beautiful, serene and accessible
- I've taken photos there for 7 years, and see more and more photo opportunities each time I'm out and about.
Would I like to travel everywhere in the World? Yes, but not for the sake of photography...
Myself, I'm infatuated with the southeast quarter of Utah, with Moab as a "home base" to Arches, Canyonlands, and the nearby Colorado and Green rivers. There's something about that red rock that really attracts me.
It might be more informative, however, if people said where their favourite place, OTHER THAN HOME was!
-Paul
Yellowstone is on the top of my list as far as wildlife goes.
Especially for wildlife in europe, you'll have to travel....I can't find any foxes in my backyard...and since I don't have a backyard I can't find anything nice in it
Even though I have taken many photographs in these places, my primary reason for going there is to, as John Muir said; "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."
-PB
Guy
If you ever have a chance to go, jump and don't look back. I call South America 'The Wilderness Continent." It has everything a landscape and nature photographer could ask for. From the amazing Tepuis and Angel Falls in Venezuela's Gran Sabana, to the high Andes of Peru, to the incredible wetlands and rainforests of the upper Amazon Basin, to the Galapagos, to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and of course the amazing mountains of Patagonia, the entire continent is mind-blowing. It doesn't matter where you go, you will find amazing photographic opportunities. And besides the airfare to get there, it is relatively cheap for a traveler.
Mike Anderson
www.lightscapephoto.com