Childhood Impressions

Look back, and really try to remember your most memorable times as a kid. I'll bet a great percentage of these times were associated with the outdoors. Family trips, days at the beach, jumping in leaf piles... birthday parties. Makes you smile, right? No more words, let the pictures stir your memories of the outdoors and your past;

Conservation Heroes

The definition of Conservation -

The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.

Sounds like a daunting task.....it is. We would have lost millions of acres if it weren't for the men and women who give they're efforts in the battle to preserve our great outdoors. Some of these heroes do the work on a volunteer basis, setting up charitable events to raise money for different organizations that preserve acres upon acres of land. Some of these heroes get paid for what they do, studies on loss of habitat for certain species or game management to keep herds of wildlife strong. How important are these individuals?

Let's take a look at some leading organizations that are helping to preserve the wilds of America;

Ducks Unlimited - Started in 1937, restored and preserved 4.28 million acres in US.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Started 1984, preserved over 600,000 acres.

Trout Unlimited - Started 1961, over 10,000 miles of rivers restored.

Coral Reef Conservation Program - Currently working on 180 projects in 30 countries to restore coral reefs.

This is just a small sample of the efforts that surround us. It's so easy to take the outdoors for granted and not realize that there are thousands of individuals behind the preservation of these outdoors. 

What's the definition of a hero? For this topic of Conservation...one who goes to extraordinary efforts to bring awareness to the public of the dangers that our great outdoors face everyday. One who gives extraordinary efforts to raise money for these organizations so these precious lands and waterways will be there for our children to enjoy.
Heroes?..........You bet!

Photo Brillance

With springtime fast approaching and with the near absence of winter, my subject turns to capturing the new life that comes with spring, frame by frame. By no means am I a professional photographer, but taking the time to self teach myself on the operation of my camera has benefited a great many photos, so I think :)

That's exactly the lure of photography. No one really sees the same thing when looking at an object. I will capture that frame slightly different than you. Maybe its the setting on the camera or maybe its the angle at which you take the photo. But with each click of the camera, it's YOUR photo, and that photo, to you, is a great snapshot.

It is cliche, but true, a picture says a thousand words. Where would we be without photos? History would not be as vivid. Family vacations would not be as memorable. Expressions would only be in real time. Memories would only be seen by you.

Technology makes it very easy to capture your story. Cameras are inexpensive and quality is superior, remember the days of the Polaroid? What's even more fun, is the sharing capability of your story is everywhere.

They say father time stops for no one. Ahhh, but what we can do is capture that moment in time, by using the brilliance of a photo!

Campfire Hypnosis

I was looking through some photos of past trips this weekend and wanted to share a topic with you that seems a little odd, but if you have ever sat around a campfire you'll know what I'm talking about. What is it that draws that "stare" when sitting around a campfire. I laugh when I think about it.

Several times I would look into the fire and get lost in my mind but also hear the conversation that is taking place at the same time. Then I would look up and everyone else around the fire would be in that same trance that I was in.

What causes this? You ever wonder? First, I thought it was the alcohol factor (beer and wine are usually present at campfires), but the kids have the same look and they don't drink. Then I thought it's due to a long, fun day in the sun and most of us are whipped, but during Fall camping trips we have fires all day long, and yet we still have the same look. 

Is it the warmth? Is it the power? Is it the beauty?

I will admit, I always thought the action of hypnosis was questionable, not a big believer. But having been locked into a place that I can't explain, by staring into a fire, it has me thinking. Have you ever been there?

I would love to hear your thoughts on campfire hypnosis, is it real or am I still locked in that place? lol!