Eyes For The Road - Places & Travel & Photography Podcast

Discover Conway New Hampshire- White Mountains For Fall Foliage and More!

Conway Scenic railroad- Susan Logan–

www.conwayscenic.com

603.356.5251

Tickets vary-

2 trains-3 different routes.

The Notch Train until end of October-

Dining-Murder Mystery Weekends and the Rail Fans Weekend with a Photography Night!

Jeff Folger- jeff-foliage.com

The Mount Washington Auto Road- drive yourself up for views or take a shuttle

www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com

603.466.3988

The Cog Railway

www.thecog.com

603.278.5404

Gondola up the mountains –another way to get up high and see the foliage!

www.skiwildcat.com Wildcat Mountain

Loon Mountain- www.loonmtn.com (gondolas, zipline, caves more!)

Isaac Merrill House- North Conway, NH

http://www.isaacmerrillhouse.com/

800.328.9041

Baked goods from Old Village Bakery. Walking distance to Conway Scenic Train- Zeb’s, Horsefeathers and more!

Rooms including family suites! Recently remodeled- new porch-new common areas-updated rooms!

Photographing Acadia National Park with Photographer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry

Colleen Miniuk Sperry has spent more than 100 days in Acadia National Park photographing Winter, Spring, Summer and every season in between! Her book Photographing Acadia is the most extensive guide I have come across. It gives time of day to best photograph, how far the hike is and includes an extensive calendar in the back. It is an incredible resource and the images will tempt you to visit Acadia in all seasons! A must if you plan on visiting Acadia to photograph!

Besides this book Colleen has authored other books, leads workshops of her own and for Arizona Highways, Maine Media Workshops and more! Check her website for full details or be added on her email list to get first notifications.

Join me as we talk to Colleen. Find out about National Park Artist in Residence programs, photographing Acadia even in Summer with lots of crowds, her workshops and a bit about her new book based on a recent adventure!

Websites:

o   Workshop schedule: http://cms-photo.com/Workshops/ws_schedule.html

o   Newsletter signup: http://cms-photo.com/newsletter.html

Gear:

Photographing Acadia National Park with Photographer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry

Colleen Miniuk Sperry has spent more than 100 days in Acadia National Park photographing Winter, Spring, Summer and every season in between! Her book Photographing Acadia is the most extensive guide I have come across. It gives time of day to best photograph, how far the hike is and includes an extensive calendar in the back. It is an incredible resource and the images will tempt you to visit Acadia in all seasons! A must if you plan on visiting Acadia to photograph!

Besides this book Colleen has authored other books, leads workshops of her own and for Arizona Highways, Maine Media Workshops and more! Check her website for full details or be added on her email list to get first notifications.

Join me as we talk to Colleen. Find out about National Park Artist in Residence programs, photographing Acadia even in Summer with lots of crowds, her workshops and a bit about her new book based on a recent adventure!

Websites:

o   Workshop schedule: http://cms-photo.com/Workshops/ws_schedule.html

o   Newsletter signup: http://cms-photo.com/newsletter.html

Gear:

Interview with Michele Erdvig author of Ireland Dream Trip and Personal Travel Itinerary Planner at www.irelandyes.com

Join me as we chat IRELAND with guidebook Author Michele Erdvig who has been traveling to Ireland since 1973 and recently released the 26th edition of her Guidebook to Ireland: Ireland Dream Trip.

Guidebook covers things such as planning your trip, driving on the left and distances between places that are realistic to get to in a day. Lodging recommendations are beautifully illustrated with Michele’s own artwork.

Lodgings and restaurants are all places that Michele has visited.

Best time to go to Ireland: April/May and September but go anytime!

Best way to see and photograph Ireland is to RENT your own car or consider hiring a driver if you have a small group.

Can you go to IRELAND alone? YES. Ireland is one of the world’s safer destinations.

Staying at a Bed/Breakfast offers you more than just a cozy bed and gourmet breakfasts! Bed/Breakfast owners can offer suggestions on local places to see, meet other travelers and interact with the Irish!

Airfare is very affordable.

Shannon or Dublin? Although Michele notes that Shannon is a much easier airport than Dublin.

Airfare between LAX and Dublin was spotted for $550.00 the first week of September a bit higher for Summer Travels

www.irelandyes.com

www.irelanddreamtrip.com

FB – Postcards from Ireland

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=postcards%20from%20ireland

Interview with Michele Erdvig author of Ireland Dream Trip and Personal Travel Itinerary Planner at www.irelandyes.com

Join me as we chat IRELAND with guidebook Author Michele Erdvig who has been traveling to Ireland since 1973 and recently released the 26th edition of her Guidebook to Ireland: Ireland Dream Trip.

Guidebook covers things such as planning your trip, driving on the left and distances between places that are realistic to get to in a day. Lodging recommendations are beautifully illustrated with Michele’s own artwork.

Lodgings and restaurants are all places that Michele has visited.

Best time to go to Ireland: April/May and September but go anytime!

Best way to see and photograph Ireland is to RENT your own car or consider hiring a driver if you have a small group.

Can you go to IRELAND alone? YES. Ireland is one of the world’s safer destinations.

Staying at a Bed/Breakfast offers you more than just a cozy bed and gourmet breakfasts! Bed/Breakfast owners can offer suggestions on local places to see, meet other travelers and interact with the Irish!

Airfare is very affordable.

Shannon or Dublin? Although Michele notes that Shannon is a much easier airport than Dublin.

Airfare between LAX and Dublin was spotted for $550.00 the first week of September a bit higher for Summer Travels

www.irelandyes.com

www.irelanddreamtrip.com

FB – Postcards from Ireland

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=postcards%20from%20ireland

Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape Photography

Art – Outdoor Art installations-

Salvation Mountain – http://www.salvationmountain.us/

Painted mountain – one man’s testament to his beliefs – verses painted on his mountain. Stay on the paths take nothing but photos.

Slab City – “The last free place in America”- an eccentric group that lives here

East Jesus – open sunrise to sunset 365 days – please be respectful of signed private areas – people do live here.

http://eastjesus.org/

Sculpture Garden from all kinds of recycled items- computer parts, bottles more

Needs: http://eastjesus.org/needs/

Tips for a day trip to Salton Sea area:

Sonny Bono Nature Preserve-Birds- check their website for more details-

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sonny_bono_salton_sea

Bombay beach – old boat pier-old crane- old pilings- be careful on where to park so as not to get stuck in the soft silty sand.

Suggested camera equipment:

Rental Lenses: https://www.borrowlenses.com/

All around walk around lens for some of the Outdoor art installations at Salvation Mountain/East Jesus.

Flashlights for light painting-

Hoodman Loupe – view the back of your DSLR in daytime

http://www.optics4birding.com/hoodman-3-inch-hood-loupe.html

Sunscreen for yourself- some also like to wear a breathing mask due to the fine particles

http://tinyurl.com/yahmkxwq  (breathing mask)

Salton Sea – Endangered Landscape Photography

Art – Outdoor Art installations-

Salvation Mountain – http://www.salvationmountain.us/

Painted mountain – one man’s testament to his beliefs – verses painted on his mountain. Stay on the paths take nothing but photos.

Slab City – “The last free place in America”- an eccentric group that lives here

East Jesus – open sunrise to sunset 365 days – please be respectful of signed private areas – people do live here.

http://eastjesus.org/

Sculpture Garden from all kinds of recycled items- computer parts, bottles more

Needs: http://eastjesus.org/needs/

Tips for a day trip to Salton Sea area:

Sonny Bono Nature Preserve-Birds- check their website for more details-

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sonny_bono_salton_sea

Bombay beach – old boat pier-old crane- old pilings- be careful on where to park so as not to get stuck in the soft silty sand.

Suggested camera equipment:

Rental Lenses: https://www.borrowlenses.com/

All around walk around lens for some of the Outdoor art installations at Salvation Mountain/East Jesus.

Flashlights for light painting-

Hoodman Loupe – view the back of your DSLR in daytime

http://www.optics4birding.com/hoodman-3-inch-hood-loupe.html

Sunscreen for yourself- some also like to wear a breathing mask due to the fine particles

http://tinyurl.com/yahmkxwq

Alaska!

Join host April Bielefeldt as she shares some tips for traveling and photographing the SPINE OF ALASKA!

Alaska covers 663,268 square miles- ranked #1 in size of the states yet is number 48 in population- which puts Alaska in 50th place for population density! About half of the population lives within the Metro Area of Anchorage-

When you consider that Texas, Montana and California would all fit in the space of Alaska you might start to grasp its size.

I call my trip to Alaska= Land, Sea and Sky- or the Spine of ALASKA!

All these facts may not make much sense especially if you look at how popular Alaska is for travel-

As a photographer I tend to look at my destinations for the photo quality—my story with Alaska started out much the same- I saw an article about seeing the Northern Lights in September when it would not be as cold .. and the wheels started turning!

Places we will Visit:

Seward:

Situated on the Gulf of Alaska. Seward was named after William Seward a Secretary of State who fought for the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

Seward is the start of the historic Iditarod Trail which originally was created to transport goods from the Port of Seward to the interior of Alaska. On average Seward receives 10-12” of snow each of the winter months. It is a beautiful seaport with access to fresh fish and is popular with nature enthusiasts!

We will take a full day to explore the waters outside Seward, where we may see mountain goats, whales, puffins, and views of Bear Glacier.

Optional: FREE DAY in Seward- visit the Alaska Sea Life-

http://alaskasealife.org/

Also spend time wandering the Seward Harbor where you may see otters.

Unique fine art shops dot the small community and you have a quiet private balcony overlooking the harbor.

Seward also has some fine restaurants serving fresh fish.

Denali National Park: Denali is truly a more remote, more rugged experience. For those like myself who prefer to not be out hiking with the bears. The park offers various shuttle buses-these allow you to see more of the park past the first 15 miles. You can only take a private car the first 15 miles.

We will be spending a full day on one of the buses. A full day increases our odds of seeing the animals like bears, moose and others. Also you will get to experience more of the park. Otherwise your other option would be to sleep in or do some hiking on your own and meet us back at the Visitor Center at end of day.

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

Night Skies- outside Fairbanks:

Our day will flip flop so to speak and we will head out about 9pm to get our cameras set to photograph the night sky-

IF the group is more casual photographers we will get ready to go out for a viewing a tad later-

Activities in Fairbanks may include a trip to University of Alaska Museum of the North- a beautiful place which really showcases the history of Fairbanks, its native peoples and early settlers lives.

Visiting a Reindeer ranch- some activities are weather dependent

Tips for capturing the Northern Lights:

If you don’t have a camera capable of capturing the Northern Lights you may want to consider renting a camera like a DSLR or one of the SONY mirror-less

Tripod is also required since you are going to have the shutter open for a bit

Wide fast lens-

Fast cards – any little bit can slow processing time which can keep you from capturing

Location- get out away from the City lights

Clothing to pack:

Fingerless gloves – check sites like www.Cabelas.com or www.rei.com wool is good but can be itchy – you may want thinsulate.

Base layer- for women or men- www.Cuddlduds.com  or www.rei.com are good options-

UnderArmour is another brand that makes good layering pieces

Over that wool- lightweight wool is an option.

Hiking boots can be good- for ankle support and to keep your feet warm.

Socks- Wool padded hiking socks are really worth it- they cost closer to $20 a pair but you feel the difference on your feet!

https://www.smartwool.com/

Finally a really good coat- you can get some of the Coat Systems like Columbia- some of the new coats have heat

Columbia Omni Heat- check www.Rei.com  or Cabelas.  You can often find some of the discontinued colors on the sale portions of most of these websites.

Also this link will rent you winter clothes which may be a great option if you don’t have a need for them otherwise!

http://www.6thavenueoutfitters.com

The Price of my Photo Tour includes all ground transportation in Alaska for planned activities, lodging for 7 nights- an extra night can be added on at the beginning or end, all snacks on board the van, all breakfasts, a guided boat tour out of Seward, one tour in Denali National Park and a guided Northern Lights outing, driver and portraits to take home!

Discounts available to previous clients

Contact me with  additional questions.

[email protected]

Alaska!

Join host April Bielefeldt as she shares some tips for traveling and photographing the SPINE OF ALASKA!

Alaska covers 663,268 square miles- ranked #1 in size of the states yet is number 48 in population- which puts Alaska in 50th place for population density! About half of the population lives within the Metro Area of Anchorage-

When you consider that Texas, Montana and California would all fit in the space of Alaska you might start to grasp its size.

I call my trip to Alaska= Land, Sea and Sky- or the Spine of ALASKA!

All these facts may not make much sense especially if you look at how popular Alaska is for travel-

As a photographer I tend to look at my destinations for the photo quality—my story with Alaska started out much the same- I saw an article about seeing the Northern Lights in September when it would not be as cold .. and the wheels started turning!

Places we will Visit:

Seward:

Situated on the Gulf of Alaska. Seward was named after William Seward a Secretary of State who fought for the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

Seward is the start of the historic Iditarod Trail which originally was created to transport goods from the Port of Seward to the interior of Alaska. On average Seward receives 10-12” of snow each of the winter months. It is a beautiful seaport with access to fresh fish and is popular with nature enthusiasts!

We will take a full day to explore the waters outside Seward, where we may see mountain goats, whales, puffins, and views of Bear Glacier.

Optional: FREE DAY in Seward- visit the Alaska Sea Life-

http://alaskasealife.org/

Also spend time wandering the Seward Harbor where you may see otters.

Unique fine art shops dot the small community and you have a quiet private balcony overlooking the harbor.

Seward also has some fine restaurants serving fresh fish.

Denali National Park: Denali is truly a more remote, more rugged experience. For those like myself who prefer to not be out hiking with the bears. The park offers various shuttle buses-these allow you to see more of the park past the first 15 miles. You can only take a private car the first 15 miles.

We will be spending a full day on one of the buses. A full day increases our odds of seeing the animals like bears, moose and others. Also you will get to experience more of the park. Otherwise your other option would be to sleep in or do some hiking on your own and meet us back at the Visitor Center at end of day.

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

Night Skies- outside Fairbanks:

Our day will flip flop so to speak and we will head out about 9pm to get our cameras set to photograph the night sky-

IF the group is more casual photographers we will get ready to go out for a viewing a tad later-

Activities in Fairbanks may include a trip to University of Alaska Museum of the

Jeff Foliage aka Jeff Folger- the source for all about  New England Fall Foliage Photography joins me today to discuss some of the basics on New England and Fall Foliage Photography one of our favorite topics on this podcast Eyes For the Road.

His site www.jeff-foliage.com  gets a quarter million hits a year, thousands of comments asking questions on where to go and what to photograph in New England!

New England Fall Foliage on FB- follow for giveaways-information

https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandFoliage/

http://www.foliageforum.com/forum/index.php?- the place to ask questions publicly

When to go- late September thru October.

Where to go- what are your interests- Antiques, covered bridges, farms, waterfalls

Website has an Archives which is searchable by topic such as covered bridges, scenic drives, etc.

Forecasts on the color- backed by information from the National Weather Service, the US Forest Service and using sites like the Old Farmers Almanac

https://www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2016/index.shtml

http://www.almanac.com/

Scenic Drives: the Kancamangus Highway and Route 100

What to see according to state- Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine have the most information

Festivals:

Planning A Trip to New England- 8.2 million visitors to NewHampshire alone in 2013

“the biggest mistake I think people make is trying to do too much with too little time”

Reservations-

Hotelscombined.com / www.hotelscombined.com

Bed and Breakfast

www.bedandbreakfast.com

Highland Games- Franconia Notch- https://nhscot.org

Columbus Day Weekend

Salem MA for Halloween

Do’ and Don’ts during Fall Foliage- Yankee Magazine

GPS- A Gazeteer if you plan to do backroads-

DeLorme – http://tinyurl.com/llc48vu

http://photoephemeris.com

Hidden Gems-

Blacksmith Covered Bridge- which is near the Windsor Cornish Covered Bridge- no road goes to it

There is a nice flag- one of 2 Covered Bridges which has an American Flag hanging on it!

Beaver Pond- Kinsman Notch-Route 112 – be there at dawn for a Wall Worthy Image

Jenne Farm- be sure to buy some Maple Syrup, donate to the box, be RESPECTFUL- iconic POSTCARD IMAGE

What’s IN YOUR CAMERA BAG-

Canon 80D-

24-105 lens, ImageStabilized. 77mm size- my standard go to – 99 % of my images were shot with this lens

100 macro lens

11-18 wide angle – great for dramatic skies

Circular Polarizer

10 stop- the big stopper- for SUNSETS and milky water images

http://leefilters.com/index.php/camera/bigstopper

Tripod-

Jeff’s Fine Art Images: http://tinyurl.com/kweys7p