If you are one of Chris Burkard’s 3.3 million followers on Instagram, then you undoubtedly have a steady feeling of FOMO hitting your feed daily. There is no other way to describe it. Burkard posts some of the most incredible outdoor photography out there today, and it seems like his life is one big adventure. Well, spoiler alert. It is. Check out the article Burkard wrote for Resource Travel about how adventure is his biggest inspiration.

But, not everything always lines up perfectly in Burkard’s globe trotting life. Sometimes, the 32-year old photographer from Pismo Beach, California has those trips that don’t exactly work out as planned. But for Burkard, the stakes are always higher, as much of his travel is for large adventure brands.

Such was the case when I ran into Burkard in Patagonia last April. He was shooting a campaign called #SpiritOfExploration for the Montblanc 1858 Collection, and I was in the wild and remote region co-leading a month worth of workshops with my friend Colby Brown. Just as our first team departed from El Chalten, Argentina, a massive storm system rolled through. Suddenly, the postcard views of Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre were no where to be found, instead replaced with a wall of white. A thick wall of white. And that wall had a lot of rain. Sideways rain. And wind. Oh man, that wind. We got a taste of the real Patagonia, one of the most brutal and extreme environments in the world. 

To give you some context as to what is behind that wall, here is a photo I took at sunset shortly before the storm system came through. 

Well, as that storm rolled through, so did Chris Burkard. Needless to say, this wasn’t the conditions that he nor the film crew was expecting or hoping for. But, impressively, they took the cards they were dealt and told an engaging and beautifully filmed story about how the spirit of exploration can live on, even when the weather is your worst enemy. I sat down with Chris Burkard in between his adventures to follow up with him about his time in Patagonia, how the story of the film changed over the course of the harsh nearly two-week period, and about how he finds inspiration to keep shooting, even when the things aren’t going his way. We were also lucky enough to get some behind-the-scenes photos of the adventure from Ryan Hill.

We have talked extensively about your film ‘Under an Arctic Sky’ where things didn’t quite go as planned, but somehow in the end, the final adventure was even more exciting then the original plan. In this short film for Montblanc, it seems that lucky break you got in Iceland never materialized in Patagonia. With so much riding on this project, how do you keep yourself inspired when another day goes by without that lucky break? And more importantly, when it was all over, did the thought of ‘what could have been’ haunt with you when you returned home?

Dealing with adversary, especially bad weather days, is something that I’ve become very accustomed to on projects over the years. Almost so much to the point where they seem like a necessary part of the process, as it makes those lucky breaks so much more rewarding when they happen. I find that when things aren’t going the way I envisioned, my inspiration turns from what’s actively happening to what could be. It gives you time to really think about how you’re going to capitalize when things turn around, how you may approach things differently, and making sure your fully prepared for when it happens. Focusing on those things keep me inspired and help me stay positive.

I would lying if I didn’t say I thought of what could of been, but that’s a natural part of any creative process. Looking back I’m really satisfied with what the project embodied because I feel it really showcased the raw elements of exploration. We didn’t try to sugarcoat the experience or make it something it wasn’t. It was an honest look at what happens when things don’t go to plan.

In the film, you spend time in a mountain home with a very photogenic local farmer. Who was this man? And is meeting him an experience that may be would not have come to be if the weather did go as planned?

He is an old time sheep farmer turned alpinist and a bit of a local legend in Patagonia as he was the first porter in the region that helped guide the likes of Yvon Chouinard and a lot of the original pioneers of climbing in Patagonia. Our local guide is a long time friend of his and had told us a few stories about him so when we had some extra downtime due to weather we knew we had to meet him. It was pretty crazy being able to hear about the early days of climbing in Patagonia and what those guys went through in the pursuit of progressing climbing. That encounter is a great example of something that wasn’t originally planned for but ended up being one of my favorite memories of the trip.

I am imagining the final film concept wasn’t what the original storyboard looked like, but to me, the final result lives up to the #SpiritOfExploration campaign even more so than the original concept. Was there ever any doubt in your mind that the film would have told an original and inspiring story?

The exciting part of embarking on any type of expedition like this are the elements that are unknown. You can plan as much as you want but when you are dealing with such fickle things like weather you never really know what is going to happen, or if anything will even go to plan. But that is what the spirit of exploration is really about. It’s about not knowing. It’s about coming face to face with and acknowledging that risk and deciding to go anyway.

I was less concerned about telling an inspiring or original story than I was about really authentically capturing what I feel is the spirit of exploration. For me that was what took precedent. Embracing those highs and lows and showcasing what that rollercoaster really looks like was what I was most focused on and what I think we were able to convey.

In the film you said “A trip like this humbles you. If everything goes perfect, you walk away completely unchanged.” When all was said and done, how did this far from perfect and challenging expedition to Patagonia change you?

More than anything this trip inspired me to want to get back to Patagonia. The raw force of the conditions there were nothing like I’ve experienced before so I’m dying to get back and see more of the region. It has such a rich history of exploration and my experience there really just reinforced how many stories there are to be told there.

See more from Chris Burkard on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

See more from Ryan Hill on his website and Instagram.

The post Braving The Extreme and Merciless Weather of Patagonia With Chris Burkard appeared first on Resource Travel.

I think it is safe to say that I have a fascination /or obsession with the underwater world. The breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef just blows me away. It is the only living structure on our planet which can be seen from outer space, the biggest single structure made up by living organisms and the first coral reef ecosystem to be awarded World Heritage Status. Right here in my backyard! Just a half-day drive from the place I am lucky enough to call home and I was ready to return for a new adventure.

I’ve never hidden my utter love for Australia and my passion for sharing this incredibly rich and diverse land. My connection with it is ineffable.

I have an ever-expanding urge to capture and showcase the beauty of Australia and I love using photography to connect others with the natural world and actively seek the peace that comes from spending time in the great outdoors. An insatiable desire to use my art to share and connect with others and to hopefully impart a sense of wonder to See Australia and to see it now!

And there is no better way to really immerse yourself like hitting the open road with a clear mind and willingness to discover.

We landed in Mackay, with an itinerary that saw us driving the length of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, stopping at the local regions to explore. We picked up our home on wheels for the week (which later was renamed to Lenni) and set out straight towards the sub-tropical rainforest, for an afternoon spent by the enchanting Araluen Cascades at Finch Hatton Gorge.

Hayley Anderson (my new travel companion) lives 10 minutes away from me at home and we have mutual friends, but we’d never met until the morning of this job. Funny to think that we were essentially strangers who were about to spend the week road tripping and working together in such an intimate space, but the moment she walked into my life I felt a great sense of familiarity. It really wasn’t long before we were sharing everything – meals and our life’s stories- singing along to music blasting through the stereo and laughing so hard we were literally crying.

I think the best connections are made on the road. They can be immediately palpable. There is that feeling like you have known someone forever and it is almost as if real “time” becomes irrelevant. Aligning with one another in a unique way, being stripped away from your usual, while physically experiencing new, contrasting environments. You begin collecting moments together.

We rose on our second day and drove to Cape Hillsborough, just 45 minutes outside of Mackay.  The National Park is known for it’s windswept shore and jagged coastline, providing a backdrop for one of Australia’s top wildlife encounters.

Arriving to the beach in almost total darkness you can begin to make out the silhouettes lining the shore. As the sun begins to rise, the mob of Kangaroos and Wallabies emerge for their morning feast, foraging for seaweed and mangrove seed pods.

An encounter that is pretty popular with tourists – an iconic Australian experience and a view that is absolutely worth waking up for.

*Please remember if you are planning to do this, that these animals are wild and should be treated as so. Please do not feed them.

From here we hit the road heading down towards Yeppoon, stoping only to have a roadside breakfast of peanut butter oats and a quick tour of the Sarina Sugar Shed. We arrived at our destination just in time to enjoy the golden glow of sunset in the picturesque Byfield State Forest. A place I would definitely love to see more of to spend more time exploring the sand dunes, rainforest edged creeks and those rugged mountains.

We had to keep moving, for the next day was the beginning of our taste of the island life.

Great Keppel Island is an undiscovered treasure, with 17 pristine beaches of unspoiled bushland and pockets of fringing reef. We spent a quiet day relaxing here with our local guide Geoff, showing off all the highlights and even taking us out on his personal boat.

On our third day we rose for sunrise and a female Emu greeted us in the caravan park. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her strolling past out van as I was coming back from dish duty. Some of the staff members later told us she had been visiting for the last 20 years and her name was Ernie. Definitely a unique experience to wake up to and I say this all the time, but Australia is seriously so incredible. Where else could you be casually sharing a meal with an Emu walking past? Just amazing!

We set out early, with full bellies and ready for another mini road-trip to Agnes Waters – the home of the famous 1770 sunset. I’ve been fortunate enough to see a few of these places before and I was really looking forward to getting back to the beaches here. When we arrived we had a quick bite to eat at Getaway cafe we were told by some locals a few good spots to check out before the sun set. Hayley and I headed straight for the Paperbark forest, which is an easily accessed trail off the side of the road that was absolutely and unexpectedly magical. We arrived at the perfect time of day as butterflies swirled around us and the sun was twinkling through the thick wetland of hundreds of paperbark tree trunks and majestic green cabbage palm frongs.

After checking out a few of the other beaches we headed for 1770 foreshore to take in the last light of the day in one of only a few places on the east coast of Australia where you can enjoy the sunset over the ocean. We twirled around, frolicking in the calm water and spent an evening in Lenni eating pizza with a glass of red wine under the incredible night sky.

Day Four was perhaps the trip highlight for both Hayley and I, as we were completely taken away with the charming beauty of Lady Musgrave Island.

Wallaginji means “beautiful reef” and Lady Musgrave Island couldn’t be more perfectly described. A vast, calm turquoise lagoon and island paradise unique to the entire Great Barrier Reef as the only coral island with a navigable lagoon of its kind. Set on 3000 acres of living reef in a protected Green Zone, Lady Musgrave offers an abundance of marine life and a lifetime experience to get up close and personal with the locals turtles. We travelled with Lady Musgrave Experience and truly couldn’t recommend the experience enough! The staff we amazing and there was ample time to explore the 8km island, enjoy a glass bottom boat tour, a delicious feast and spend hours of snorkeling (or diving) the remarkable reef. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face that afternoon, feeling truly lucky to experience a moment with Hayley and the turtles below.

The next day we rose to the sound of birds and a stunning 360-degree pink sky – my favorite. I literally rolled out of Lenni at Agnes Water Beach Park and straight onto the beach with my camera in hand and observed as the surfers and morning yogis went about their daily routine. We decided to treat ourselves to a morning picnic breakfast on the cliff top over looking a secret bay, before getting under the waves and playing with my water housing.

We couldn’t leave 1770 without getting on board one of the most popular tourist experiences of the town: the 1770 LARC! Tour. We had the sunset cruise on the amphibious vessel and enjoyed the owner Neil’s infectious passion and knowledge of the surrounding Round Hill Creek and Eurimbula National Park coastline with magnificent evening views.

Waking up in Bundaberg, we devoured a drool-worthy and very notable breakfast of (vegan) sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon and homemade gelato before heading out for a day experience the pure magic of Lady Elliot Island; a place I have been waiting to visit for years. Just north of Fraser Island and home to the mantra ray, Lady Elliot is regarded as one of the best snorkelling destinations of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, with an amazing array of colorful coral and marine life. Another place I need to add to the list to return to stay and explore longer. I would seriously love the chance to spend the night, see the Milky Way from this remote location and swim with the manta rays.

Waiting for us upon return was the most exquisite evening picnic at Sandcastles on the Beach hosted by Nourish café. We couldn’t have felt more treated, sitting down ocean side with candles and fairy lights to one of the best picnics I’ve had in a long time. Truly a beautiful way to end a perfect day and a huge week on the road.

Day eight began and it was our last day of adventure. Before leaving Bundy, which I think is secretly the food hub of Australia, we were treated to a lazy breakfast in a refurbished Windmill that was absolutely delicious and the perfect send off. But not before a visit to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery and a Blend Your Own Rum Experience. We uncovered the secrets of Australia’s favorite rum, learnd about the story behind the iconic drink and even got to create our own signature blend of rum. I’m not much of a rum drinker to be completely honest, but my grandfather is going to be really stoked when I gift him 2 x bottles of “Melissa’s Blend” Bundaberg Rum.

All good things must come to an end and so we embarked on the journey home.  Driving back to Brisbane, we very sadly parted with Lenni before returning to the Gold Coast. Home with an ever-heightened love and appreciation for this incredible land, so many new memories and clarity that allows a deeper sense of self with the lingering connection to country.

We all know the benefits of being out in nature, but there is something about road-trips that give a sense of absolute freedom. You get the chance to do some genuine bonding with (new) friends, while appreciating the wonder of each new destination. You can stop at any point you like, or make that detour if you see something that sparks your eye. You can head down that unbeaten path, because actually, why not? And you can take the chance to go as fast or slow as you want, because all you have is time. Time and a desire to see and fall in love with this beautiful world.

With a plethora of jaw-dropping vistas to marvel at and so much variety in the Australian landscape, why not leave behind the worries of every day life, hire a van and hit the road?

✧✧✧

Have you ever considered embarking on a road trip in Queensland? I’d love to know where you want to hit the road and what you would see!

Friendly reminder: Pack light, collect more. Limit your phone time, talk to the locals and actively seek their advice and take lots of photos. Enjoy those moments that inevitably become lasting memories.

Whilst sharing my love for Australia, I pay my deep respect for the true custodians of this beautiful land, their elders past, present & future.

✧✧✧

A version of this blog post originally appeared on Melissa Findley’s website. 

Follow Melissa Findley on her Instagram and Facebook. 

Follow Haley Anderson on her website, and Instagram.

The post Two Girlfriends’ 8-Day Roadtrip Along Australia’s Southern Great Barrier Reef appeared first on Resource Travel.

To celebrate Icelandair’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8, Jökull recently shared seven tips on how to get the perfect picture from cruising altitude. And though flying over the lovely landscapes of Iceland might help your cause (and some of these tips are specific to the country), the information presented is still going to be beneficial no matter where you find yourself traveling too. Just be sure to get a window seat.

Play with colors, lights, and shadows to add depth to your photo.

Clouds can make an interesting pattern on the ground. In Iceland, the contrasts of a snow-covered landscape against rivers or lakes can make for a great photo. The black sand beaches or a rocky coastline against the surf and the waves of the blue Atlantic also show off the amazing landscapes of Iceland. As the ground is slowly changing color from the brown and yellow autumn and winter tones you might find green colors popping out, like moss-covered lava fields.

Use the rule of thirds

Carefully balance the space between the sky and the ground: 1/3 sky versus 2/3 ground works well. When you are in the air and can only see the sky and/or clouds, you can use the wing and engine as a prominent part of the photo.

Including part of the aircraft wing in the shot can make the landscape really stand out.

The window of the aircraft also nicely frames the landscape. When you are photographing the landscape below, the wing will automatically point diagonally upwards in the photo, creating a connection between the plane and the ground.

Use aperture priority or manual mode to get the best results of sunrise or sunset photos.

If it’s getting dark then adjust your ISO setting to 800-1200. The golden hour before and after sunset or sunrise can be rather long in Iceland, especially in the winter because of the low angle of the sun. The sunset light can linger, providing up to two hours of beautiful golden, pink, red and purple colors until the dark blue color of the night takes over.

Reduce window glare

To reduce glare on your picture from the window of the plane, hold the camera lens close to the window or even covering it with your other hand so the reflection does not reach into the lens.

Take full advantage of the new Boeing 737 MAX LED light settings to help shooting at dark by waiting until the cabin lights are set to night mode.

Use a tripod

Photographing northern lights from a window of a plane requires the use of a tripod, as you would use on the ground. A small Joby Gorilla Pod is always a great tool to have around. Set the camera to ISO 2500-4000 and use f/2.8 or lower with 5-10 second shutter speed you should be able to capture some northern lights. Try to set the camera lens up to the window to minimalize glare reflecting the light of the window.

Left is best!

In general, it is better to sit on the left side of the plane if you plan to photograph through the window. It is easier for your posture and for framing the shot so you don‘t have to twist your body to get the shot.

Editor’s Note from Michael Bonocore: But sometimes, on long-haul flights, the view is best on the right and may be worth the uncomfortable photography posture. Use a site like Flight Aware to research the flight path on previous days. Use Google Earth to then find out what you ‘think’ may be the best side to sit in order to get the best view. Also, take into account the sunrise and sunset. Shooting into the sun, especially from an airplane, can be harsh. If I am flying during a sunrise or sunset, usually I will opt to sit on the opposite side of the sun.

So there you have it! 7 tips that should help you make those long flights a little more entertaining. Your Instagram followers will thank you.

The post How to Get the Perfect Picture from 32,000 Feet Above appeared first on Resource Travel.

But it’s a contradicting nature which a travel photographer knows all too well. For every awesome, beautiful place they get to photograph, there is the time spent back in reality, in their real life, using social media to find an audience and showcase their work, saving money at their day job before they are able to get away again. Golovac is in the midst of this hustle and learning the “other side” of the business, with the ultimate goal of being able to make travel photography a career. He was kind of enough to share some of his thoughts on his photography, the grind of social media, and how the more photos he takes, the more he enjoys his work.

When Golovac was 12, his mom gave him a camera and a notebook and told him two write down the settings of every photo he took so he could learn the camera. It’s the special kind of moment that might seem tedious and unnecessary as a kid, but in hindsight, becomes a key component of your life. He’s been shooting photos since. And though he has made cinematographer his trade since he graduated from film school, lately, still photography has been drawing him back, specifically in nature. “That’s where I’m finding the most the most creativity in my work, when I’m just alone shooting these places,” He said. “You aren’t dealing with someone else directing, how everyone is working on set, the moral, the schedule. With landscapes, I can spend time working how I wanna work it. So I think that’s kind of where that split in my brain has come up. Shooting stills, shooting landscapes and nature. I’m alone. And I love it.”

His desire to be alone has taken him to Svalbard, Ireland, and most recently, he made it to Tanzania and Iceland. The images he brought back are stunning. And with a few exceptions, they all play to a similar theme: immense, stark, open but with the briefest touch of humanity. Creating a sense that nature bears down upon human expansion and will, in the long run, always prove the victor. “Emptiness and vastness are the two words that came to me. Because there is this sense of expansiveness in the images but at the same time there is like a silence, a sense of silence,” Conrad said of his work. “A lot of my images don’t have these massive action shots. Some of the work I shot in Ireland. You see these cliffs and you see these waves crashing but a lot of the images are so wide that the waves crashing are pretty damn small. So the frame is just huge with this little amount of action happening and that would lend itself to I guess the sound distance. That’s what I would say. That is the visual description of the work. Vast, empty, expansive but silent.”

But taking photos is no longer just about presenting quality work and no matter how far you travel, social media has become an integral aspect of making a name for yourself–the contradicting nature of the craft: alone in the open world to the middle of a world based on socialization. And whether you like it or not, Golovac told me, navigating the world of Instagram has become a key component in the process. Creating a brand out of your name so there is uniformity in your work, curating that work, remaining disciplined in only displaying that work. From there, posting every day, at specific times a day. Then there is liking other users and photography’s photos, commenting on their photos. “I’m addicted to it. It’s become such a part of my life,” He said, shaking is end at the absurdity of the thing. “Numbers stupidly matter to me now because I am trying to build more and more following. As a photographer, there is no easier way to interact with people that like photographs than Instagram.”

But despite the exhaustion of the process, Conrad has found a way to be optimistic about it, pointing out how, in the long run, it has made him a better photographer: “I hate putting something out into the world that I don’t thoroughly enjoy. But, at the same time, that is what has pushed me to keep traveling and shooting: You have to get a massive quantity of quality. Just overshoot and just constantly travel to keep shooting so that way I always have enough to put out into the world to even gain traction to make more of a career. It’s wild. Cyclical. It’s wild.”

Despite the challenges of it all, from an outsider’s perspective, there is only forward momentum for the young photographer. There has been a noticeable change in Conrad’s imagery in the last few months, one that can actually be witnessed by scrolling through his previously posted photos. The change, in my opinion, is his transition from a photographer to an auteur. A photographer finding his style, revealing the photographer through the photograph and not the other way around. Yes, it is something that I’d imagine most photographers go through, most artist in fact, but it’s an interesting process to bear witness too.

But this wasn’t a conscious decision, he told me when I brought it up. The change came about because of multiple factors falling into place: trying to stand out because of so many other photographers, learning how to navigate the world of social media, realizing the importance of the edit, finding what imagery he actually likes to capture. But all of that can be attributed to, in the most simple form, just spending time looking through the lens. “I’m sure it happens with most artist and it’s cool to come to that point,” He said, “Just by shooting more and more you start to shoot more and more of the things you like and then you realize that everything you’re shooting is what you like.”

Poetry, baby.

Whatever he’s doing, it seems to be working. His work is amazing, truly stunning. A vastness that beckons to the viewer. Dark, cold, but inviting. The true reality of nature perhaps, the viciousness that has created an everlasting battle between man and wild. His work has the ability to take you away for a moment. Not just an image moving past on my Instagram feed, but chance to think about a world outside of my own, to get away for some time, however brief. It’s what a good photographer has the ability to do and, what I think, Conrad is doing.

Despite the few beers, I, of course, didn’t say this to him. Admiration is a difficult road to navigate, praise is a subcategory of that. Instead, we cheered glasses and I told him to keep doing what he’s doing. The praise could happen with a like on Instagram.

Follow Conrad Golovac on his Website & Instagram

Also, through Instagram stories, Conrad has been showing how he edits his photos. He provides before and after photos of his latest post as well as a detailed and technical account of what he is actually doing in the editing process. For anyone interested in photography and the techniques used behind the image, it’s definitely worth a look.

The post See Nature’s Vast Beauty in These Stark Landscape Photos appeared first on Resource Travel.

Listen, I know it could be worse, I know. But I’m just speaking for New York’s consciousness right now so don’t kill the messenger.

The point is that it’s moments like this where scouring the internet for travel stories becomes a necessity. It’s not even that I sit here pretending to be somewhere with warm weather, because I know I’m just as happy to look at a perfect wave in Tahiti as I am studying the Northern lights painting an Artic sky. It’s just the sense of escapism and wonder that these images will convey that will counteract the reality of being hunkered down in my apartments as the world turns white outside.

This film from Timefocus Films is helping fuel my wanderlust, however.

The film showcases the landscapes of New Zealand in 8K, which is way above the resolution most of us can view. But even watching this splendid film in 4k, you will be blown away by the sharp, vibrant visuals.  Using timelapse cinematography, as well as steller lighting and composition, the video showcases New Zealand’s gorgeous and stunning scenery. The cinematic music overlays the imagery enhances the experience, making everything feel even more incredible than the stunning visuals already do. And yes, the video description pays tribute to Lord Of The Rings, so they already know you’ve made the connection.

TimeFocus Fims, based in Czech Republic, specializes in time-lapse videos. And if you enjoyed this, they have videos of Iceland and Jeseniky (Czech Republic) as well, both of which are definitely worth watching.

But wait, I know you don’t want to go back to reality quite yet. Here are some awesome still shots from TimeFocus for your viewing pleasure.

See more on the Timefocus Film’s YouTube-page, Facebook page, Instagram and timefocusfilms.com

The post Time-lapse Film Shows the Stunning and Diverse Landscapes of New Zealand appeared first on Resource Travel.

So, when I met my friend Rob McQueen for a cup of coffee here in Boise, Idaho, I was giddy when he detailed his life as the Field Operations Director for Waves For Water, otherwise known as W4W.

Founded in 2009 by Jon Rose, W4W works on the front-line to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. Rose’s original concept was simple. Provide water filters to travelers who are then able to bring the supplies to a pre-determined location, which allowed these independent vagabonds to continue to live their travel heavy lives, but help out along the way. This Do-It-Yourself program was a hit, and since then, W4W has grown into a well organized NGO who is often one of the first responders to locations in dire need, as Puerto Rico was after the devastation that Hurricane Maria left in its wake.

As W4W continues to expand their projects globally, they also launch specialized teams that aim to help the volunteers just as much as the communities on the ground. The Clean Water Corps is one such program. While many of the missions involve professional athletes, Rose and McQueen wanted to start a wing of W4W that enlisted the help of military veterans. McQueen, a former US Army Captain, heads the program that serve as a specialized clean water task force run entirely by military veterans. McQueen told me about why he he felt starting the CWC was important to him, as 14-year military veteran trying to transition to civilian life.

One of the biggest challenges Veterans face is loosing ones purpose and identity. Your entire time in the military you are driven by purpose bigger than yourself. Moreover, you are part of a team of equally driven people who all share that same goal and purpose. A team that is so committed to that cause that they are willing to give their lives for it. That shapes your identity, it shapes who you are, and that identity feels almost stripped away when you leave the military. Loosing that identity is a huge challenge in the transition to the civilian world. Creating that team and higher purpose is the goal of the Clean Water Corps. A real mission. A real purpose. One that the skills and experience of Veterans is perfectly suited for. A chance to continue to impact our world and a chance to find a new identity and purpose separate from the military.

As the success of the CWC became apparent, McQueen wanted to start producing initiatives that were made up solely of female veterans and military wives. And today, W4W announced their newest project, the ‘Clean Water Corps Nepal Women’s Initiative.’

Later this year, three Regional Directors, all of whom are women who served in Special Operations in the CWC, will accompany eight military wives to Nepal, where they will help provide clean drinking water to women at the midwives’ clinic Aadharbhut Prasuti Sewa. Founded in 2007 by Laxmi Tamang, APS provides free health care services for local women and children. The goal is simple. Help improve the health of Nepal’s women and children to help reduce mortality. And access to clean drinking water is a crucial component of APS’s overall mission.

Aadharbhut Prasuti Sewa founder Laxmi Tamang.

Having gotten to know McQueen and his wife Tiffany personally, I have been left speechless by the way the talk about his time in the military. McQueen was active duty for 10 years, and out of those 10, he estimates he was away from home on training and deployment missions for at least half of that, or roughly 5 years. Even the oldest of their three daughters, Devlin, was born when the US Army Captain was deployed in Iraq in 2008. Hearing their stories about how hard those times were for Tiffany is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as she was willing to make the sacrifices of a stable home life for Rob, his dreams, and their country.  McQueen opened up to me about why the Nepal Women’s Initiative is so important to him, and why he thinks this is just the beginning.

Rob McQueen on the tarmac, ready to board a flight to assist in an emergency operation.

Military Spouses are the bedrock of the military. Their strength and sacrifice is ultimately what makes the military function, and its also a defining factor in their lives. They give up many opportunities to hold things together through deployments and training. I saw this sacrifice and strength every day in my wife Tiffany and the wives of my friends. This is the opportunity for the women that have always sent their loved ones off to change the world to do it for themselves. To work for a purpose beyond holding down the fort, to connect with other spouses, and to take part in a great adventure of their own. To know the feeling of traveling across the globe and changing the lives of women they have never met, in a way neither group will ever forget. That feeling is something every military spouse deserves, and I am beyond excited to be able to help provide a platform for that opportunity. And with the passion and dedication that our military spouses posses, I know the Nepal Women’s Initiative is just the beginning of something truly remarkable.

Being a personal friend of Tiffany and Rob McQueen, I am beyond excited to share in their joy about launching this powerful program. So much so that I have volunteered to accompany them to Nepal to document the work of the female veterans and military wives to help tell this amazing story.

We will keep you updated on the dates as they get closer, but Resource Travel is proud to partner with Waves For Water to help bring clean water to every person who needs it.

You can help us along on our mission by contributing to the cause on the CWC Nepal Women’s Initiative website.

For updates on this project, as well as others, follow Waves For Water on Instagram, Facebook, and their website.

All photographs by Ethan Lovell  and Panu Lucksom.

The post The Story Behind Waves For Water and Their Nepal Women’s Initiative appeared first on Resource Travel.

Photo by Marshall Birnbaum

The world’s first snow artist, Beck first began his work 2004.  At the time he was a freelance orienteer map maker and wanted a form of exercise that didn’t hurt his troubled feet.  Living in the French Alps, the snow presented a natural canvas, though Beck, prior to that moment, didn’t consider himself much of an artist.  “I only do snow drawings.  I wouldn’t take paint brushes and paint a picture if I didn’t have good snow. Lots of people are much better at a painting than I am.”

Photo by Marshall Birnbaum

Perhaps this is why he even surprised himself with the results the first time.  Five years later, he decided he wanted to take his work more seriously.  He put more effort into building a portfolio of his art and creating an online presence.  Fourteen years and over 250 snow pieces later, he nows makes a living from it.  He has done two Ted talks, created a clothing line, printed a book, and has traveled the world creating his designs.

Most recently, Beck created a piece in Target Field in Minnesota, home of the Minnesota Twins, for The Great Northern, an annual 10-day winter celebration in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.  He shared with Resource Travel his thoughts about working in a baseball field compared to a mountain slope.

“It was a very different feeling.  All the background noise from the city surrounding it,” Simon said.  “I didn’t really know how deep the snow was either.  At one edge the snow was really quite shallow and I wasn’t sure how much it would be usable.”

Beck, usually relying on direct sunlight to see his lines in the indistinctive snow’s surface, found it hard to see his work: “The most annoying thing about making that piece in Target Field was that the stands surround the field and they caused these really deep shadows and you’re going in and out of shadows all the time.”

Despite the difficulties, Beck, humble in his work, said he still found it to be “a respectfully good result.”

The results are better than that.  Stunning, really.  And though the artwork itself may be similar to other pieces he’s made in the mountains, the juxtapositions of his work, framed by the stadium’s metal and concrete core, creates an illusion of natural creation. It’s beautiful.

Beck’s reasons for creating his designs has varied of the years—from being commissioned, to enjoyment, to working in a fantastic location, to exercise.  But trying to push forth a message about the environment, as he hopes to do with his work, is no doubt one of his most important motivations.

“I think people need to look after the planet we got better than we are doing so.  Control ourselves somehow,” Beck said.  A portion of the sales from his clothing line, which feature images of his designs, is donated to the nonprofit Protect Our Winters: “We need to face the problems we are causing rather than trying solve them by escaping somewhere else.  We are here, we have a nice planet that looks after us and we gotta look after it a bit more.  It’s a team effort, we gotta help it and it’s gotta help us.”

Whether that be in the geometric design, the process of the work itself, or the message he tries to push forth, his artwork, so extraordinary and beautiful, warrants further investigation.  And at the very least, he hopes, his designs, composed purely of the environment, should make one consider the implications of human negligence in this world.

No matter how you look at it, Simon Beck is doing something both amazing and unique.

Follow Simon Beck’s art on his Instagram & Facebook and grab a copy of his is book here.

Photo 1 & 2 by Marshall Birnbaum

All other photos from Simon Beck’s Facebook

The post The Story Behind Simon Beck’s Stunning Snow Art appeared first on Resource Travel.

When I returned, I was so blown away by what Sony had pulled off, I wrote about my favorite moments of the 3-day weekend. While I thought my photos from the experience were decent, there were so many from the Sony Alpha Collective members as well as the Sony Artisans’, I used those photos to help me tell my story.

Since then, I have been craving for news of a follow up trip, and in late January, Sony delivered the news I was expecting. The first Kando trip was such a success, they were doing another. But this time, everyone is invited.

The Sony Kando Trip 2.0 is taking place May 9th through the 12th, 2018 in scenic Monterey, California. In addition to the Sony Artisan and Collective members whose have blown us away over the years, Sony is opening the event to any creative who would like to attend. More information can be found on their website.

So, with the excitement of last year’s trip still fresh in my mind, I am here to tell you why I think you should attend the Sony Kando Trip 2.0.

Crepuscular rays through mist and second-growth redwoods, Old Coast Road, Big Sur Coast, California, USA.

Inspiration

Not knowing about the details of the trip before I had left, the last thing I expected to find on that California Coast was inspiration. But Sony Kando 1.0 delivered just that. A hearty dose of inspiration. Obviously, I am a travel junkie, so I immediately wanted to know about the places visited and the stories behind the travels of the Artisans and Alpha Collective Members. I have found that there aren’t many things that get people talking non-stop when you meet them for the first time, but there are two sure-fire homeruns to get them talking. Ask someone about either their kids or their travels and get prepared to listen. Once I asked these talented visual artists about their travels, the flood gates opened. They told me story after story, their must see and must avoid locations, and their bucket list destinations. They showed me their favorite photos on their phones. I found myself being reminded that even though I had been to so many places in my life, there was still so much out there that I hadn’t seen. And I was filled with inspiration and ideas that I continue to plan to this day.

Photo By Michael Bonocore

Community

You will be amazed how easy it is to forge friendships when you are in a remote canyon with 200 other people for three straight days. The trip started as a large gathering on the central Californian coast and ended as the “Kando Community.” For weeks and months afterwards, I chatted non stop with the people who I spent time with during that weekend. We had all felt like we were a part of something unique. Something special. That we were part of the lucky few to live that experience. To this day, when I see people who were a part of Kando 1.0, it is the first thing that we reminisce about.

Friendships were made, inside jokes were born, and a sense of collective collaboration washed over the canyon.

Photo by Dan Watson from Learning Cameras

Photo by Sally Watson from Learning Cameras

The Food And Drink

Ok, really there isn’t much more to say. The food, from the onsite food trucks slanging tacos, pizza, and BBQ, to the lavish meals provided by a large catering company, was exceptional. And all of that delicious goodness was washed down with craft beers by local breweries, fine wines by local wineries, and a full bar. So if you are an aspiring food photographer, the Kando trip should provide some eye candy (and real candy) to satisfy your appetite.

Photo By Michael Bonocore

The Unexpected

As I said, I went to Kando 1.0 not knowing what to expect. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect a vintage movie set full of models, trailers, classic cars, wolves, snakes and zebras. Did I expect a halfpipe on top of a mountain being thrashed by professional BMX athletes? Did I expect a concert by Southern-born, Brooklyn-based indie-folk trio the Lone Bellow? The answers are no, no, and a big no.

Sony pulled out all the stops for Kando 1.0. They didn’t cut corners. They didn’t want Kando to be an event, they wanted it to be an experience. And it was. And I am sure Kando 2.0 will be as well.

Michael Bonocore

The Learning

This year, Sony is adding a educational element to their Kando experience. Everyone who attends will have access to all of the workshops offered by Sony Artisans and other leaders in the creative industry. Landscapes, video, street, astro, time-lapse, portrait, drone, business and social classes are just some of the offerings.

Photo by Sally Watson from Learning Cameras

The Networking

I am a born and bred networker. I just love meeting people while sharing a beer, getting to know them and their hopes and dreams, and how they plan to go about achieving them. I have worked with countless people over the years through my love of networking. I was even hired at SmugMug with the unofficial job title of ‘Social Butterfly.‘ I was made a job offer by Resource Magazine’s CEO, Alexandra Niki, at a bar in Las Vegas at 2am. My entire career up until this point has been based on networking, and even I was blown away by the possibilities at Kando 1.0.

I was able to chat with industry legends like National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita. I rekindled relationships with Sony Artisans who I hadn’t seen in years. I was able to meet countless up and coming Alpha Collective photographers. And I was able to trade journalism stories with my fellow members of the media. All of those conversations continue to bear fruit almost 9 months later.

The Networking aspect of Kando even led to some amazing and unique content from the beautiful African country of Namibia. My friend and Sony Artisan Colby Brown found himself in a conversation with the talented Alpha Collective member Erin Sullivan. They talked about their shared love of travel and nature, and just months later, Brown had invited Sullivan to accompany him on a weeks long project in Namibia. Check out Sullivan’s story and photos of the adventure.

Obviously, networking comes easier for some people than others. But I found that the remoteness of the Kando location along with the sense of community made for a no-pressure networking atmosphere. So whether you want to pitch your stories to media companies like Resource Travel or have a casual conversation with other creatives who you may be able to collaborate with, the Sony Kando Trip 2.0 should be one of your best opportunities this year.

Photo By Michael Bonocore

So there you have it. I will be at the Sony Kando Trip 2.0.  And I am beyond excited about it. So, who is coming with me?

Big thanks to Sally and Dan Watson from Learning Cameras for additional photos of the Sony Kando 1.0 trip!

Photo by Dan Watson from Learning Cameras

Photo by Dan Watson from Learning Cameras

Photo by Dan Watson from Learning Cameras

The post 6 Reasons Why You Should Go To Sony’s Kando Trip 2.0 appeared first on Resource Travel.

My first four days were spent in Jodhpur, the second largest city in the western Rajasthan state of India and although known as the Blue City, colors were plentiful, most evident by the local’s vibrant and flowing clothing; hues of pink, yellow, orange dragged the hardened earth they lived, slept and walked, creating a stark contrast between personal beauty and the harshest environmental conditions. While my primary mission in Jodhpur was to teach photography to the young women of the Sambhali Trust, a school for “Empowering Women and Children in Rajasthan,” opportunities were endless to capture amazing portraits as I walked down the narrow streets filled with market goods under the canopy of draped tapestries. The narrow streets were a common route to roaming cattle, wild dogs and thousands of motorbikes and pedestrians. I tightly squeezed by oversized wheelbarrows filled with garlic, citrus and flowers to better position myself to photograph the smiling and aged faces of women, men and the curious eyes of children. All of whom were generous, inviting and shared their offerings of Masala Chai tea and chapatti bread with me.

The mission of The Giving Lens is to empower local communities and their youth by helping to stoke their creative aspirations. Many of the children that The Giving Lens works with are raised beliving their future is already written, and that future usually starts at a young age and involves working hard for low paying wages, long after they had abandoned their education. We aim to break the cycle by encouraging youth to continue their studies and freeing their creative minds, which may help them continue onto university and obtain better jobs when they reach adulthood. Our co-leader in India, Michael Bonocore, wrote a great piece about the mission of The Giving Lens and how our work has actually helped empower local communities and youth.

In Jodhpur, the young women of Sambhali Trust are considered “untouchables” or those who are born in the lowest level of Indian society. To me, these incredible young ladies brought me indescribable warmth and joy and reinforced my passion and fire for photography. For three days, my assigned students and I explored the markets and sacred temples that guarded the city from above. Each of my students was quick to pick up the basics of photography and had a keen eye for detail and natural lighting that others I have taught struggled to conquer. Their innocence and joy of seeing the greatness in things that seemed so simple were refreshing to experience in the middle of the absolute chaos of the city’s streets. Kindness, intelligence, humor and friendship are memories that I have taken with me. Their potential is only limited by their society and forever, I will only know them as ‘unforgettable’ and not ‘untouchable.’

Leaving Jodhpur for a 5-hour bus ride to Jaipur provided me time to reflect on the sights, sounds and compassion felt from the many strangers with whom I had already shared a human connection with in India. The hospitable, kind, loving and inviting Indian people over-shadowed the incessant honking of horns, elbow bumping and tripping over others feet due to overcrowdedness. These added layers of stress forced me to find focus and hone in on my personal photography goals, while passing along my craft to others.

Jaipur provided two particular moments that I have yet to witness anywhere else along my global photography travels and, quite honestly, I had not planned to experience. After our longer-than-anticipated bus ride that took closer to 7-hours, we started a new day in a new city (although equally as chaotic) with knowledable local guides. We traveled about an hour out of the city to an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site now home to a large colony of macaque monkeys. Monkey temple, as it is commonly called, is surrounded by a natural spring that feeds into seven ponds, creating a sustainable source of life for the monkeys. For hours, I felt like a child again. I couldn’t keep from smiling as I watched the monkeys jump, climb, run and maybe even blush a time or two as “adult” behaviors were exhibited, even at the expense of a colleague’s shoulder. Photographing wild monkeys in a sacred temple was not on my preparation list.

Approaching my last day in India, I was feeling conflicted between missing the comforts (and food) back home and preparing for the goodbyes of a country, people and experiences that filled the temporary void of my homesickness. The final afternoon was spent loving on gentle giants at the Elefantastic Sanctuary, the vision of an Indian man in 2012 to provide a safe and loving experience with Asian elephants. Akin to the childhood feeling from Monkey temple, I was even more giddy and excited as we entered the sanctuary where I would eventually meet my new companion for the day. After an orientation to the proper ways to feed, pet and care for the graceful animals, we were escorted to our individual elephant for a brief greeting and then allowed to spend time and connect through touch, talk and walk. Our connection was instant – she responded well to my soft hand on her face by emitting a deep rumble-like sound from her forehead. While hugging and loving on her for 45-minutes, I asked for her name and was not expecting the heart-pounding reaction when told, “Her name is Tara.” How can it be that my assigned Asian elephant in India on my last day of nearly two weeks away from home shares the same name as my wife? My journey then came full circle.

India was everything and more than I imagined. I prepared for what seemed like forever, but all of the preparation in the world could have made me ready for the connections, love, and inspiration that I gained in this complicated and beautiful country. Traveling photography is enthralling – no set agenda, an unbridled ability to meet strangers with the assistance of a camera, open invitations into homes and lives, and exploration of new cultures, people and traditions. While reading, talking and watching motion pictures provide some insight to the visiting community, until you put your feet on the ground, breathe in the local aromas and watch life unfold in front of your camera, there is simply no preparation for the joy and overwhelming appreciation of being welcomed into homes, families and communities. Now that I am home, I am reliving the sensory and soul overload through my photographs and memories. And with each photo that I lay my eyes on, I am reminded that I would happily return to the comfortable madness felt in the deafening and overcrowding Indian cities that I had the privilege of experiencing for 10 days. Namaste.

The post 10 Days in India: 45 Photos of Chaos, Color, and Community appeared first on Resource Travel.

Bears Ears, Utah

Earlier this year when President Trump announced his plans to review the size of 27 National Monuments, I took an in-depth look at most of them. Soon after this announcement, I saw that Rose had started a project called #27Monuments, aimed at highlighting the best aspects of these national treasures while advocating for their protection. And besides educating others about the importance of these protected lands, the best way to make your voice heard about the administration’s plans was on the Regulations.gov website. Since today is the final day of the comment period, the website has been overloaded. But the website Monuments for All promises to deliver all comments submitted to their site before the deadline is up. So, according to Rose, there is no excuse to not make your voice heard.

When I saw Rose launch his #27Monuments project, I knew he was the right man for the job, but even I was shocked at his efficiency. It seemed like every day the San Francisco-born journalist was uploading a new video to his Facebook page. And with the limited time to get the word out, Rose was on the go seemingly non-stop. I had to hear more about the project and do our part, so I sat down with Rose for an exclusive interview about #27Monuments, #VanLife and why this project means so much to him.

Grand Canyon-Parashant, AZ is one of the few “Dark Sky Parks.” You can see why, and this wasn’t even a very clear night.

Resource Travel: How long have you been living the #VanLife? Where did that initial desire come from?

I first started living the van life on July 15th, 2015…which means my two year anniversary as a digital nomad is right around the corner. The motivation came after a breakup and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to stay in Los Angeles or travel. I was already working as a freelance writer and filmmaker, so I figured I could work from anywhere. So I decided to go on the adventure of a lifetime. At least that was my hope. And it sure has been!

Obviously, that lifestyle was a perfect fit to create the 27 monuments project, as many of the monuments are on the west coast and easily drivable. When did you start? What was your itinerary? How many of the 27 endangered monuments did you actually visit in this time?

I hit the road on the 13th of June. Not even a month ago. The first post about Rio Grande del Norte in New Mexico went live the following day. And then, the craziness started. I had a smart friend of mine design the most efficient route through the monuments I planned to see, helping me maximize my limited time.

 

I went from New Mexico to Colorado, then Utah then into Northern Arizona and Nevada. Right then, I got hit with the major heat wave, so I decided to reroute to avoid the scathing temperatures. When all was said and done, I visited 22 monuments. Five of the monuments are marine based (in the Pacific). Obviously, those were harder, so I didn’t reach those, but I did make videos of them using footage from NOAA. I drove to 21, but the 22nd was in Maine, so I had to fly to that one. But for the ones I drove to, I racked up 6,500 miles on the van.

 

Before I left, I opened up the checkbook to buy some really expensive all-terrain tires for the van. It was hard shelling out so much at once, but I am so glad I did as I drove about 500 miles worth down dirt roads, sometimes getting into some really sketchy situations where road tires would have failed miserably. I will gladly offer myself to do a commercial for BF Goodrich after that trip!

Rio Grande Del Norte

Recently, Secretary Zinke recommended a considerable downsizing for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. At 1.3 million acres, that is a massive tract of land. Do you see where the other side is coming from when they claim that monuments this size are federal land grabs that take usage rights away from the states and the people that live and work on these monuments?

I have heard the federal land grab argument before, and it just doesn’t make sense to me. These are public lands that are accessible to all of us, for all kinds of recreational purposes from fishing to camping to hiking..all for next to nothing. So it’s not like the government is making any money off of these lands. In contrast, when I see the government looking to sell off these lands to special interest groups, that to me looks like politicians looking to line their pockets. It is also worth noting that anytime a new proposed monument is introduced, it is an incredibly long process that is very open to the public and their opinions. In contrast, Zinke’s review period is very secrative. The public comment period is very short (and on a site that is down half the time) and we don’t even know his criteria. Even if the comments were seen by Zinke, is he even really listening to us, or is his mind already made up.

 

When he visited Bears Ears, he spent four days talking with politicians and corporations trying to undo the protected status. But then he spent only one hour with the tribal coalition that worked for years to get it designated. Five Native American nations consider that land deeply sacred, and they came together in an unprecedented way to make this happen. How is that remaining impartial? I took that as a slap to the face. Also, the rights that people had for grazing, mining, etc are grandfathered in. Meaning, they didn’t lose their rights once the protection went into effect. But, the protection limits the expanding of mining, drilling and grazing, which takes alot of money away from some very powerful people and corporations.

Bears Ears National Monument

Bears Ears National Monument

Bears Ears National Monument

 

 

These Monuments do bring in alot of money for the local communities, especially for the monuments with heavy recreational usage. Take Las Cruces, New Mexico which is the gateway to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. In 2014, it is estimated the monument brought in 9 million worth of revenue to the local economy. In 2015, that number more than doubled to 19 million. This is a ton of money that goes to local resturants, gift shops, hotels and tour outfitters. Imagine if that protected land was suddenly taken away? The local economy would suffer greatly.

 

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Out of all of the monuments, you visited on this road trip, which one was your favorite and why?

That’s hard. Really hard. They are all incredible. But, if I had to pick one that really stood out, it was Canyon of the Ancients in Colorado. I didn’t know much about it before I visited. These are old homesteads and villages that people lived in as far back as 10,000 years ago. I camped right there among them, and they are so well preserved. It was breathtaking. I got a killer Milky Way shot of behind a multi-story dwelling. It was really an incredible experience.

Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado

Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado

 

The last one was Katahdin in Maine, and it was stunning. Lush forest, beautiful water and wildflowers. It was amazing. I was probobly a bit emotional as I had just gotten off a red eye, and knowing this was the last stop on my non-stop tour, the emotions got to me. It meant alot to stand in such a scenic location as the weight of the last 22 days came crashing down on me. I threw out everything I had written about this place before I got there and rewrote it with a more personal touch.

Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine

Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine

Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine

With the commenting period ending today, what can environmental advocates do to keep fighting this proposed downsizing?

Even though the comment period is ending today, people can still write their local representatives and Secretary of the Interior Zinke. Hell, even write President Trump. Tell them that these are our public lands, and we don’t want them under control of special interest groups. Keep writing your local representatives and tell them we won’t stand for this. And don’t stop.

Waterfall/swimming hole at Grand Staircase-Escalane, Utah

What has inspired you to keep going at such a frantic pace for a month? What was the greatest hardship? What have you learned from all of this?

Well, the greatest inspiration was the deadline. I came up with this idea with less than a month before the end of the comment period. So I didn’t have much of a choice, and that kept me motivated. The 8-12 hours of driving between locations was exhausting. It was a frantic pace that I don’t know how much longer I could have kept up.

 

The greatest hardship was lack of sleep. I am a lifelong insomniac, but this was almost a month of cat naps here and there and the lack of sleep hit me hard. I think I only got a full 8 hours on two nights during this adventure.

 

I learned that these monuments each have something so special about them. I kind of expected some of them to look and feel the same, but to my surprise, they weren’t. They were all so unique and beautiful. The history that these lands hold was awe-inspiring and made me realize this is our only shot. Once they are gone, they can’t be brought back. It’s now or never for us to stand up save our lands.

Make your voice heard TODAY. The public comment period ends at 11:59pm EST on July 10th! Write your comment on the Regulations.gov website or Monuments for All.

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

Sand to Snow National Monument

Sand to Snow National Monument

Sand to Snow National Monument

Sand to Snow National Monument

Mojave Trails National Monument

Mojave Trails National Monument

Berryessa Snow Mountain

Berryessa Snow Mountain

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

Mojave Trails National Monument

Mojave Trails National Monument

Berryessa Snow Mountain

Vermilion Cliff, AZ

Vermilion Cliff, AZ

Vermilion Cliff, AZ

Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

Bears Ears, Utah

Bears Ears, Utah

Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado

Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado

Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks, New Mexico

Rio Grande Del Norte, New Mexico

Rio Grande Del Norte, New Mexico

Rio Grande Del Norte, New Mexico

The post 22 National Monuments in 22 Days: One Man’s Mission to Save These Protected Lands appeared first on Resource Travel.

Sony Alpha created a unique outdoor retreat meant to bring creatives from all genres together in the remote central California coast to share ideas, learn, and immerse themselves in an inspiring setting meant to ignite their passion for the visual arts and get to know their fellow creative community. Not only were the Sony Artisans invited, but so were members of the newly formed Alpha Collective.

The trip exceeded my already lofty expectations, and I think it is safe to say that most of us were going through Kando withdrawals in the days following. But not able to get the trip out of my head, I decided to talk about my favorite parts of the trip while using photos from both Sony Artisans, Collective Members, and press who uploaded to Instagram using the hashtag #SonyKandoTrip. Check em out. They are pretty cool.

The Location

El Capitan Canyon is a privately owned getaway that sits on 300 acres in a picturesque canyon just 20 miles north of Santa Barbara. Each attendee was placed in a cool wooden cabin set along a creek, surrounded by oak and sycamore trees. The setting was ‘glamping’ at it’s finest. This was my home for the three nights, and it made for some great photos.

A post shared by Resource Travel (@resourcetravel) on May 19, 2017 at 6:41pm PDT

A post shared by Mic-anthony Hay (@micanthonyhay) on May 24, 2017 at 8:47pm PDT

A post shared by Michael Krieger (@mi.yagi) on May 22, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

A post shared by Dennis Cacho (@denn_ice) on May 19, 2017 at 6:04am PDT

It was hard to believe that just a 5-minute bicycle ride took you from the secluded pocket of shade to the sunny shores of the Pacific Ocean. The bikes were available to use for free, or you could walk to the entrance of El Capitan State Beach in about 15 minutes. The beach scene, at least where I went, was mostly fisherman as there is little sand and mainly rocks, which made it pretty hard to sunbathe. But for a group of 100 plus photographers, we weren’t complaining about the foreground elements.

A post shared by eldeane (@eldeane) on May 21, 2017 at 10:54pm PDT

A post shared by Phil Yoon (@phil.yoon) on May 17, 2017 at 10:24am PDT

A post shared by Laura Lawson Visconti (@lauralawsonvisconti) on May 17, 2017 at 4:12pm PDT

The Wolves

Yes, you read that right. There was indeed wolves on site for the entire three day period. Project Wildsong focuses on protecting the value of both wilderness and wildlife as an active partner in assisting with the rescue of native wildlife. And two of those animals happen to be wolves. And boy, were they pretty cool. And didn’t mind being photographed. And photograph them is what the Artisans, Collective and anyone else who happened to walk by did. One of them was very friendly, and you could easily pet him, but the second was a little more protective of his handlers.

The team from Project Wildsong also led a mellow, hour and a half program called ‘Sound Bath with Wolves’, which is a meditation experience while the wolves walk around you, or sleep in front of you as most often was the case. I did not partake in this as I arrived a couple minutes late, but everyone who did said it was incredible. Needless to say, the Wolves were a big hit during the week.

A post shared by Dylan Schwartz (@dylan.schwartz) on May 16, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

A post shared by Robert Evans.com (@robertevans) on May 16, 2017 at 3:05pm PDT

A post shared by J.N. Silva (@jnsilva) on May 17, 2017 at 8:37am PDT

A post shared by San Francisco Oscar Nilsson (@oscarwastaken) on May 17, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

A post shared by Erick Hercules (@erickhercules) on May 18, 2017 at 10:42am PDT

A post shared by Stan Moniz (@stanmoniz) on May 18, 2017 at 9:52am PDT

A post shared by J.N. Silva (@jnsilva) on May 22, 2017 at 6:20pm PDT

A post shared by Project Wildsong (@projectwildsong) on May 16, 2017 at 8:04am PDT

The Half Pipe

Yes, a half pipe. Since Sony was anxious to have its most valued creators test out the insanely fast 20 fps burst mode of the Sony A9, they needed something that included speed and action. So, the logical solution was to build a half pipe and bring in professional BMX riders and skateboarders, right? Coupled with the newly announced wide angle lenses, the half pipe was a super fun way to play with the gear while overlooking the ocean from atop a hill above the camp. As much as I wanted to show up the BMX guys with my insane skills, I decided to sit on the sidelines and let them do all the hard work.

A post shared by Michael Bonocore (@michaelbonocore) on May 18, 2017 at 7:29pm PDT

A post shared by Eric Ward (@littlecoal) on May 16, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

This is how do it, it’s Friday night, and I feel alright! #sonykandotrip

A post shared by Lone Bison (@lonebisonfilms) on May 19, 2017 at 3:54pm PDT

A post shared by Dan Marker-Moore (@danorst) on May 17, 2017 at 5:38pm PDT

A post shared by Erick Hercules (@erickhercules) on May 17, 2017 at 8:43am PDT

The Surf(ers)

Well, like any good retreat by the ocean should have, Sony got a bunch of cool looking surfer dudes with cool looking surfboards and cool looking surfer trucks so we could test out the A9 with some awesome cool looking surf. Hell, even B&H brought underwater housing! There was only one problem. The swell was non-existent, leading to no one being able to really capture those cool looking surfer dudes in the cool looking surf. But as a bunch of really talented photographers will do, they took tons of awesome shots anyway. Because the act of finding surf is just as interesting as the actual act of surfing.

A post shared by Brian Smith (@briansmithphoto) on May 16, 2017 at 10:13am PDT

A post shared by Stan Moniz (@stanmoniz) on May 16, 2017 at 10:56am PDT

A post shared by Quay Hu | Orlando, Florida (@aroundq) on May 17, 2017 at 8:18am PDT

A post shared by Philip Edsel (@edsel) on May 19, 2017 at 7:19pm PDT

A post shared by Stan Moniz (@stanmoniz) on May 19, 2017 at 2:25pm PDT

A post shared by Andy Hardy (@andrewhardy) on May 21, 2017 at 3:36am PDT

A post shared by Eric Ward (@littlecoal) on May 16, 2017 at 9:14am PDT

A post shared by Chad Wadsworth (@chadwadsworth_atx) on May 24, 2017 at 7:10pm PDT

The Models…And Their Awesome Vintage Set

As if there weren’t enough attractive people in attendance (come on, have you seen us?!), Sony had the brilliant idea to bring in professional models so the lifestyle photographers could have something more up their alley. Well, in addition to the easy on the eyes models, Sony brought in a pretty rad set complete with an old trailer filled with vintage TVs, couches, phones…the works. Outside the trailer were some old cool cars and some James Dean looking dudes. Oh, and as expected, the wolves found their way into the trailer. This was indeed a pretty cool idea and well executed (albeit, always crowded). Oh, and I don’t know where the zebra came from…but like most things that happened on the Sony Kando Trip, you don’t ask where it came from…you just enjoy it.

A post shared by Alexis Fernandez (@alexisfermac) on May 16, 2017 at 6:15pm PDT

A post shared by Scott Robert Lim (@scottrobertlim) on May 22, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

A post shared by Shαunα- MoodyGrαms (@so.shauna) on May 25, 2017 at 8:10am PDT

A post shared by Francisco Hernandez (@fjhphoto) on May 21, 2017 at 3:22pm PDT

A post shared by Kingy Kings | @AGameofTones (@kingy_kings) on May 22, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

A post shared by Anastasia Petukhova (@asildaphotography) on May 18, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

A post shared by Scott Robert Lim (@scottrobertlim) on May 19, 2017 at 1:02pm PDT

A post shared by Michael Marcheco (@spacebypixel) on May 20, 2017 at 10:56am PDT

A post shared by Kevin Raber (@kevinraber) on May 20, 2017 at 1:06pm PDT

A post shared by Nino Rakichevich (@nino_rakichevich) on May 16, 2017 at 11:24am PDT

A post shared by Nick Didlick Photography (@nickdidlick) on May 17, 2017 at 3:02pm PDT

The Night Sky

I love astrophotography, and I was blown away by the incredible amount of stars that I was able to see in El Capitan Canyon on night one after the sun went down. Having little surrounding light pollution and a moon that didn’t rise till early morning gave us perfect conditions for awesome astrophotography, as long as the clouds stayed away. And stay away they did. I don’t remember seeing one cloud the whole trip, which is strange for me, as I spent 21 years on the Northern California coast, which is almost always cloudy or foggy. Being that we were in the canyon, the most popular night photography location was on top of the mountain by the half pipe. There we were able to see the Milky Way, use the half pipe as a foreground, and chat with each other about the day, tips for shooting stars, or just get to know each other in complete darkness (keep those headlamps off please!)

A post shared by Andrew Eggers (@andreweggers) on May 17, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

A post shared by Stan Moniz (@stanmoniz) on May 20, 2017 at 5:48pm PDT

A post shared by Drew Geraci (@drewgiggity) on May 18, 2017 at 9:32am PDT

A post shared by Dan Joyce (@danjoyce) on May 16, 2017 at 6:49am PDT

A post shared by Quay Hu | Orlando, Florida (@aroundq) on May 16, 2017 at 12:59pm PDT

A post shared by Tobishinobi (@tobishinobi) on May 17, 2017 at 6:14am PDT

Old Friends, New Friends…And Inspiration

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from the Kando trip. How can you possibly put so many creatives into one place for three days and not get a bunch of repetitive photos? Wouldn’t having a bunch of photographers jockeying for placement for a photo have the opposite effect of the original mission, to build community? Well, I was shocked at how opposite it was. Sony hit a home run with their efforts to help build a community with the help of Artisans and Collective members. I can’t count how many times I would overhear two creatives introduce themselves, only to look over and see them still engaged in a conversation an hour later. I myself not only got to rekindle old friendships, but I also met people who I had only talked to online before, and most importantly, I got to meet and engage with creatives whom I have never heard of before. And those conversations inspired me. I would check out their Instagram and be blown away by the quality of work that they were producing. I had not only made new friends, but I had found inspiration in their fresh-eyed take on the world. Sure, the location was amazing. The food delicious. The drinks cold. The shiny new camera and lenses were impressive. But what made this trip so special was the amazing and inspirational group of people who stranded themselves in a canyon along the California coastline with an open mind and excitement for the future of their creative dreams.

A post shared by Stan Moniz (@stanmoniz) on May 17, 2017 at 8:48pm PDT

A post shared by Chris Orwig (@chrisorwig) on May 16, 2017 at 6:07pm PDT

A post shared by Project Wildsong (@projectwildsong) on May 23, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

A post shared by Trailermade (@trailermade.co) on May 19, 2017 at 9:53am PDT

A post shared by Chris Orwig (@chrisorwig) on May 19, 2017 at 8:56am PDT

A post shared by Andy Hardy (@andrewhardy) on May 18, 2017 at 11:42pm PDT

The post 7 Incredible Memories From Sony’s Kando Adventure appeared first on Resource Travel.

With Akoubian’s storied 25-year career anniversary happening in 2017, we were anxious to sit down and talk with the photographer about his work, his love for teaching photography, and how his childhood passion of painting helped him become an accomplished photographer.

Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO at f/22, ISO 100, 1/2 second

Being that the Canon F-1 came out just a year before you started your photography journey in 1972, was this the camera that accompanied you on those early days?

My father was a big Pentax guy until the digital age, so my first camera was an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic. Great simple camera, perfect for learning photography! I replaced it with the Pentax MX a couple years later. I bought my first Tamron lens, an Adaptall model 90mm Macro lens for the Pentax MX, around 1979 or 1980. I loved that lens, so I kept it and used it when I started shooting Nikons about 10 years later.

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/8, ISO 200, 1/80 second

It took you 20 years to convert your hobby into a full-time career. What was your day job in those 20 years? At what point in those 20 years did you determine you wanted to work towards making this a full-time career?

I worked in retail for many years and had always promised to serve the Country, so in 1987 I joined the Marines. When I was discharged in 1992, I simply declared myself a photographer. My big break though came in 1993 when I decided to attend a photography workshop in the Great Smoky Mountains with John Shaw. I knew from that weekend what I wanted to focus on doing with my photography.

Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at 15-30mm, f/2.8, ISO 3200, 30 seconds

You do a lot of teaching of young students, camera clubs, etc. What is it that attracts you to the educational aspect of nature photography?

I have found that teaching others often gives you as much of an education as it does for them. I find verbalizing what I am doing helps me to develop better habits. I have also found it is very rewarding hanging out with others that share similar passions like photography and a love of nature.

Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/8, ISO 100, 1/80 second

Before you got your first camera, you were a painter. Did you enjoy painting landscapes and nature scenes? How do you think your visual style transferred over from your painting?

I loved painting landscapes, but did a lot of murals which took a long time to finish. I found I needed more of the satisfaction of seeing my work more quickly, which is what I was able to achieve with photography. I owe most of my composition education to my days painting. I teach today that if someone wants to learn great photography composition, study the painters of 400 years ago. They arranged elements in a landscape with their brush that I try to emulate with my camera today. Studying painters makes you “work” a scene to get things where you visualize them in your mind.

Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
at f/8, ISO 200, 1/1250 second

You talk about your love for nature photography being born when your father took you to the Grand Tetons in 1976. Obviously, it seems that the Grand Tetons is your first true love, as you return quite often. Can you tell us about your connection to the Grand Tetons and how those mountains help you to clear your mind?

The Tetons have always been special to me because I have felt it was where I truly developed the love of the grand landscape. I spent days riding horses and hiking and all the time discovering such a different world from the area I had grown up, outside of Atlanta. I was and am still in awe each and every time I look at the Tetons. I know I can always find peace in my soul when I am sitting in such a great place. I joke that each time I physically have to leave there, my soul remains waiting for my return.

Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD at f/11, ISO 100, 1/4 second

Who inspires you as a nature photographer, either past or present. Who are some of the photographers that you respect and admire?

Social media has given me the opportunity to see so many inspirational photographers. So many new techniques and viewpoints. I still am inspired daily by my mentors John Shaw, Art Wolfe and Bryan Peterson through their posting and websites. I teach with a fellow photographer Cecil Holmes and I find it very inspirational to see how he shoots a scene having never shot film before or really studied art. It is very natural for him and his process is where I find inspiration.

After speaking at length with Akoubian, it’s no wonder why he has maintained a successful career over two and a half decades. His work alone is exceptional, but his passion for sharing the beauty of nature resonates with almost everyone.

All photos captions contain the Tamron Lens used as well as the EXIF data. 

Follow David Akoubian on his website ‘Bear Woods Photography‘,  Facebook Page, and his Instagram.

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f8, ISO 1600, 1/1600 second

Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/22, ISO 200, 1/13 second

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/6.3, ISO 800, 1/160 second

Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD at f/16, ISO 100, 1/50 second

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/8, ISO 1600, 1/200 second

Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC at f/16, ISO 100, 1/5 second

Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/16, ISO 200, 1/250 second

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/8, ISO 1600, 1/400 second

Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/22, ISO 100, 1/13 second

Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD at f/22, ISO 100, .8 seconds

Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/2.8, ISO 3200, 30 seconds

Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD at f/22, ISO 200, 2.5 seconds

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/8, ISO 3200, 1/6400 second

Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/11, ISO 100, 15 seconds

Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 at f/11, ISO 400, 1/200 second

Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD at f/2.8, ISO 3200, 30 seconds

Created in partnership with Tamron 

The post From Painting to Photography: The Career of Nature Photographer David Akoubian appeared first on Resource Travel.

I put a call out to my friends on social media hoping they would share what they love about Montana. Both locals and frequent visitors came together and helped me identify some must-see spots in this massive state. Some are obviously well known, but others should have you getting directions on Google Maps in no time.  And the results show us that even though today is ‘Montana Day’, there really is no bad day to visit Montana.

Glacier National Park

It’s hard to not think of Glacier National Park when you think of Montana. Known for some of the best landscapes in all of the United States, the ‘Crown of the Continent’ is home to headwaters that flow to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson’s Bay. The park is made up of over 1 million acres which house two mountain ranges, 130 lakes, and countless wildlife, making this 107-year old park one of the most impressive locations in not only Montana, but in the United States.

One of my favorite landscape photographers, Scotty Perkins summed Glacier National Park up perfectly.

I’ve been to most of the US national parks, and Glacier National Park remains my favorite. The diversity of landscapes coupled with the towering relief of the mountains make it unlike any other place. It’s truly special.

Photo by Scotty Perkins

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Scotty Perkins

Photo by Scotty Perkins

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Glacier National Park…in the Winter

Now, Glacier National Park is very popular in the summer when the famous ‘Going to the Sun’ Road is open, usually from late June till October. But as Caroline Foster from Wilderness Addict tells us, some of the best views and moments of solitude don’t happen in summer, but rather, in the winter.

Glacier is a mountain lovers dream frequented by millions over the summer months. Unbeknownst to many is the magic of this mountainous paradise during the colder months. A common misconception is that Glacier is “closed” once the Going to the Sun Road shuts down for the season. The truth is, this is when the crowds disappear and the magic happens. Imagine sunsets at Lake McDonald with only a deer family to share it with. Cross country skiing into Two Medicine without seeing a soul, only some fresh mountain lion tracks. Biking or taking a stroll along the closed going to the sun road with just an Elk herd for company. Quiet moments of contemplation on the old Belton Bridge while perfect slowflakes float down slowly from the sky. These are just a few reason why Glacier in the winter is pure magic.

Photo by @Wilderness_Addict

Photo by @Wilderness_Addict

Photo by @Wilderness_Addict

Kalispell & Flathead Valley

Flathead Valley is located between Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, which is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Kalispell is the largest town in the valley, but with a population of just 22,000 people, it’s obvious that the entire region is quiet and secluded. Danielle De Leon and Matt Ragan from Birds Eye of Big Sky have made countless films across all of Montana, but still feel that this is one of the prettiest locations in the state.

If Danielle ever stops making films, she would be an awesome tourism representative.

From mountainous sights like Lincoln Peak and Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park, to the shores of Bigfork and Polson on Flathead Lake; Northwest Montana has an abundant supply of breath-taking scenics. Not to mention the various lakes and reservoirs along the Rocky Mountains that are accessible for all ages and athletic levels, such as Echo Lake, Hungry Horse Reservoir, and other secret reservoirs near Missoula, Montana.

 

Whether it’s winter or summer, activities on Whitefish Mountain Resort provide panoramic views of the lovely Flathead Valley and surrounding area, which is comprised of Columbia Falls “Glacier Gateway,” Whitefish, and Kalispell.

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Polson/Flathead Lake

Danielle De Leon from Birds Eye of Big Sky says the town of Polson and the region around Flathead Lake is some of the most remarkable in the state.

Polson is primarily protected by the Indian reservations, which has preserved the amazing farmlands and plains at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The extraordinary openness of the plains leaves one feeling free to roam, yet secure from the surrounding mountain ranges in the distance. Polson truly embodies the Big Sky feeling our state got it’s nickname from.

Flathead Lake is the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi, and was historically used as to transport goods via boat as settlers moved north. This explorer mentality was passed on through generations, which fed the creation of highways around the lake and ultimately the Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park; which is by far the most beautiful stretch of road one could ever drive on. As summertime rolls around, lake-side bars and restaurants fill up their docks and Flathead Lake gets extremely popular as boaters venture out to soak up the sunshine.

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Hungry Horse Reservoir and Dam

This massive body of water leads to Montana’s biggest dam, the aptly named Hungry Horse Dam. Not only is the dam photogenic, but the reservoir is a perfect place to play, surrounded by color-filled forests. Primitive campgrounds can be found along the road, which will make for a remote, quiet night in the Montana backcountry.

I would consider Hungry Horse Reservoir a local, well-kept treasure, as many people traveling through don’t realize this tucked away escape is so accessible. Spanning 34 miles long, this large and narrow body of water has a lot of camping spot, with access to Jewel Basin, Great Bear, and Bob Marshall Wilderness areas.

 

The rocky shores transform into acres of forest that quickly ascend into the Swan Mountain Range. This feeling of enclosure and seclusion conveys the sanctuary-esc feeling that may boaters and fisherman come here for.

-Danielle De Leon from Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Photo by Birds Eye of Big Sky

Bitterroot Mountains

The Bitterroot Mountains encompass nearly 5,000 square miles in Western Montana and the panhandle of Idaho, and each one of those miles seems to hold endless adventure, based on these incredible photos by Chad Copeland.

Photo by Chad Copeland

Photo by Chad Copeland

Photo by Chad Copeland

Devil’s Slide

Just like the name implies, Devil’s Slide is a very cool looking rock formation of Cinnabar Mountain located in Gallatin National Forest. Just north of Yellowstone, the best vantage point is right on Highway 89.

Photo by Chad Copeland

Crow Fair

Created 113 years ago, the Crow Fair was a way to bring the Crow Tribe of Indians into modern society. Today, it is the largest Native American gathering in North America, bringing 45,000 people to the land around Little Big Horn River near Billings. All Native American Tribes are welcome, and the event has been labled the ‘giant family reunion under the Big Sky’

Photographer Chris Douglas has documented this incredible event and his photos are awesome. He told me:

The Crow Fair is a giant family reunion, where the Apsaalooke eat and camp together and their traditions are strenghtened. The event includes parades, a four-day powwow, rodeo and horse races, including the famous Indian Relay.

Debra Winter, a writer, photographer, and wanderer loves small towns, and two of them are in her all time favorite locations in Montana

Livingston

The historical town of Livingston is the first city I visited in Montana and it immediately imprinted a visual definition of the state in my mind. The turn of the century red brick facades, decorated with either 1950’s style neon signage or awnings with old western fonts, now house cafes, hotels, and bookstores. Smitten by “wild west” and “outlaw” nostalgia this small city quickly became my favorite. –Debra Winter

–

Montana’s Yellowstone

When I stopped at the Yellowstone tourism office at the north entrance of the park, the guide promised that Lamar Valley is America’s equivalent to the Serengeti. Rugged, white capped mountains, fringe the low flat valley, where bison run in in herds, with an occasional renegade doing its own thing mulling about near the road. Lamar Valley offers such an intriguing backdrop that it easily took six hours for me to complete a one and half hour journey. -Debra Winter

Processed with VSCO with c9 preset

Paradise Valley

Home to many writers and photographers, Paradise Valley was high on my list of places to see. Wedged between mountain ranges on both sides, and dotted with ranches, the Paradise Valley proves every Montanan photo correct – there is no way to photograph this place without it looking like a painting. While there are plenty of open bare spaces – basically endless fields, I found even these inspiring and photo-worthy.   -Debra Winter

Processed with VSCO with c2 preset

Processed with VSCO with c8 preset

Missoula

The “Hub of Five Valleys” has become the second most populated city in Montana thanks to its seamless mixture of city and outdoor life, which is also home to the University of Montana. The state ranks #2 in the country for craft breweries per capita, and Missoula houses many of them. One of those breweries, KettleHouse, is completing an amphitheater on their property in Bonner, just outside of Missoula which will host world famous acts on the stage built right on the edge of the Blackfoot River.

My friend Lisa Timman describes Missoula in just two sentences.

Missoula has the coolest vibe, an artsy little town. “Keep Missoula Weird” is a very popular bumper sticker in this town.

Photo by KettleHouse Amphitheater

Photo by Lisa Timman

Photo by Lisa Timman

Bozeman

I recently spent a night at ‘The Filling Station‘ in Bozeman photographing the band The Brothers Comatose, and wow, what a fun night that was. Bozeman knows how to party, but as Sigma’s Patrick Santucci told me, it’s important to look past the downtown and head to the outskirts of the city lines.

Bozeman is a picturesque town that has incredible food, sightseeing and amenities. Not only does this town offer an ideal escape from bigger cities, but for wildlife and nature lovers, you have everything you could ask for within driving distance.

Photo by Patrick Santucci

Photo by Chad Copeland

Photo by Patrick Santucci

The post Montana Locals Reveal Their Favorite Spots in Big Sky Country appeared first on Resource Travel.

Destined to live out a childhood dream, Cook started his path to a healthy lifestyle. But could he possibly get healthy enough to climb one of Africa’s most difficult mountains? Cook relives the experience in his latest blog post and the above video.

Having known Clay personally for many years, even I wasn’t aware of the sheer enormity of his weight loss until I was lucky enough to speak with him at last year’s Stand Out Photo Forum in Chicago.

I give my best Blue Steel in the center of the frame as Clay photobombs.

His 45-minute talk was riveting. He doesn’t sugarcoat the dire condition he was in. He doesn’t try to hide the dark mental state that he was feeling. But that one random beer in Tanzania with Adrian McCrae of Wings of Kilimanjaro changed everything. By the end of his story, Clay had me wiping tears from my eyes.

I highly recommend you read our original story on Cook’s journey, his latest blog post and watch this video to get some motivation and inspiration in your veins before you hit the weekend.

Follow Clay Cook on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

The post Inside a Photographer’s Rapid Physical Transformation to the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro appeared first on Resource Travel.

Norway, in particular, Northern Norway, has become one of the most popular locations to visit for aurora hunters. With its rugged mountains, picturesque fjords and overall stunning nature it’s not hard to understand why so many choose to plan their aurora holiday to Norway. However, many aren’t aware that the Aurora Borealis isn’t easily visible in all of Norway and they expect to see it wherever they travel within the country. The truth is that it’s quite rare to see in the southern and eastern parts of Norway.

I have traveled the world and helped photographers find the best places to capture the best photos, like when I shared with my favorite photography locations in Northern Spain. But, I was born and raised in a small town about an hour south of Oslo. For years I’ve been working as a photographer, but it wasn’t until two winters ago I saw the northern lights in my home time for the first time. I can blame this on my ignorance and lack of knowledge but that simply shows that even the locals aren’t aware that you can see the phenomenon in this region. Since that time I’ve had the pleasure to witness the northern lights several times, both in my hometown and region, on the Lofoten Islands and on Iceland.

It’s not quite the same

I’ll be honest with you. Watching the northern lights in the southern parts of Norway will most likely not be as impressive as seeing it in Northern Norway. The lights appear much weaker this far south and it’s extremely rare to get a powerful display of red, green and blue straight above your head.

The northern lights you will see in this part of Norway is much more subtle and, unless you’re lucky to witness a rare outburst, you might not even notice it straight away.

This doesn’t mean that the phenomenon is any less beautiful, though. Just a tiny glimpse of it will leave you craving more!

How to see the Northern Lights in Southern Norway

Before we get into the details of how you can find the Northern Lights in Southern Norway, we need to clarify some facts.

The Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon that occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun enter earth’s atmosphere. While this happens throughout the day, it’s only visible when it’s dark. Since the days are long during the summer (Northern Norway has 24 hours of sunlight during that period), the Northern Lights aren’t visible all year around.

You’ll have the best chance to see the Northern Lights between late September and early April. Since the days are darker during this period (Northern Norway has up to 24 hours of darkness), the likelihood of seeing some activity on the sky is much higher.

Pay Attention to the Aurora Forecast

The main difference between chasing the northern lights in Northern Norway and Southern Norway is that to see it in the south, you need a much higher KP Index (the measurement of its activity).

There are many smartphone applications with detailed graphs and stats monitoring the sun’s activity as well as the Aurora activity. However, the easiest way to know if there’s any activity is by paying close attention to Aurora Service.

If the KP Index is lower than 5, there’s a very low chance for seeing the Northern Lights in the South of Norway. It is possible to get a glimpse of it at KP4 and sometimes an unexpected burst can appear but this is very rare.

Personally, I don’t go out looking unless it’s KP5 or higher.

Pat Attention to the Weather Forecast

As you might have guessed, there are many factors involved when chasing the northern lights. Not only does it have to be during a specific period of the year, the solar activity needs to be high and the clouds need to be clear.

Without a clear sky, you won’t be able to see the Northern Lights. Keep in mind that the weather can change quickly in Norway and it might not be long until the clouds disappear.  

Get Away From City Lights

Light pollution is your worst enemy when chasing the ‘Lady in Green’. Inside the city center you will have an extremely low chance of seeing the Northern Lights, even on days with high activity.

To increase your chances, leave the city behind and head somewhere far away and dark. Make sure that there’s not much artificial light in the area you’re going to. The less artificial light, the higher the possibility is that you’ll see something.

Look North

My last tips for seeing the Northern Lights in Southern Norway is to find a field or an open area where you have a clear sight towards the north. In this part of Norway, it’s not often you’ll see the lights dance above your head. Instead, the lights lay in the northern horizon. Sometimes it lies there calmly but other times you can clearly see it dance. If the KP Index is 6 or up, you might even be lucky to see it above you.

The southern parts of Norway is not known for the Northern Lights but when it first arrives, it’s well worth the wait. I’ll end by saying that if your main reason to visit Norway is to see the Northern Lights, you’ll have better luck in the northern region. But there is plenty of incredible landscapes, seascapes and cities in the southern region that shouldn’t be missed. Also, seeing them in the south will be a unique experience that you will never forget.

Christian Hoiberg is a Norwegian landscape photographer and the creator of Capture Landscapes, a website devoted to helping artists improve your landscape photography. His images can be found on his website or Instagram. 

The post How to Find the Northern Lights in Southern Norway appeared first on Resource Travel.