mike hardeman

I just got back from my third trip to the area, I covered almost everything from north to south along the parkway, and just ended up southwest of Asheville. This weekend will be too late for most everything. It's been a poorer year because it never got cold, but the Parkway yielded some good stuff last week.

 

I live in Raleigh, but I'm going to Caddo Lake in Texas this weekend. Try that or Beavers Bend, better color there than here now.<div></div>

Allright, we're headed up to New Hampshire Thursday. Just wanted to

know if anyone had any reports of the progress. Won't affect our

itinerary any, just curious! Thanks.

I like the Oxbow Bend shot. I was there all last week and avoided shooting Oxbow Bend, but finally got around to shooting parts after doing other places in the good light.

 

I got lucky and felt right at home, though! :)

 

http://www.jacksonholenews.com/

Mr. Combs,

 

Thanks very much for the kind words about the Oklahoma work.

 

But, actually my original comments about Texas chauvanism were more in line with the fact that Dallas is only 60 miles from the border, and only 3 hours from Wichita Mountains. It's a much longer drive to the hill country or Enchanted Rock. My point was that in terms of distance to drive, there is more nature bang for your buck by going north and not south.

 

Myself, I'm headed to North Carolina. After 16 years in Dallas, time for a change, but being in Dallas, I've been able to photograph more of Oklahoma than when I lived in Tulsa. :)

 

Enjoy your stay in Dallas.

Sorry, really didn't mean to be mean to Texas or any posters. Tongue in cheek remark. :) You're right about Enchanted Rock, etc. Oklahoma is a personal preference. The thing I like about shooting Oklahoma locations is the whole DISCOVERY of the whole thing. Every time I've been to Enchanted Rock, it's been overflowing with people, and I've yet to see any pictures of it that really did anything for me. On the other hand, I've been shooting Wichita Mountains for 12 years, and feel like I've only scratched the surface in many areas.

 

Don't forget Beavers Bend State Park, too! Happy hunting! See you at the Grapvine show.

Ah, more Texas-centric thinking.

 

Dallas is 3 hours from Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. It's the closest thing to a national park around here.<div></div>

There are plenty of insects in Dallas. Most of them drive BMWs on the North Dallas Tollway.

Thanks, Guy. I actually had checked out your site and noticed the log from last year. I'll keep all of these spots in mind. I've done the drive from JAC to SLC before, so I'm counting on several days of driving in the area. Anyone else have any ideas, I'm all ears!

 

Mike

I booked three nights at the Super 8 in September for an average of $68 per night, but the attendandt there said the rate would actually be less when it came time to check in. Rates are about 1/3 off in September and I think they drop again by November, when the whole town basically shuts down for a month.

Well, I've firmed up the air, hotel and car, so now I'm committed to

the dates of September 23-30 for my trip to Jackson Hole.

 

I'm VERY familiar with the Teton/Yellowstone area, so don't worry

about them, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has more

than a tourist's knowledge of places to shoot aspens in northern Utah

or eastern Idaho. I've seen great aspen pictures from Utah, but

would really like to know where they might be. Thanks!

 

Mike Hardeman

http://www.michaelhardeman.com

Thanks Robert!

 

I agree with what (I think) you're saying.

 

Seems to be a shortage of capital letters and periods these days. :)

 

Just kidding, but DUDE, that posting is tough to read! :)

You're really better off choosing one or the other. Don't try to do both in the same day, because the light will be lousy at one or both. The tours are about the same as far as prices, for photography. You can't hope to take any decent pictures with the regular tour because it's too short.

 

Upper is RIDICULOUSLY crowded, to the point that I don't go there any more. You can't get any decent pictures because there are so many people running around with tripods trying to get the same shots.

 

Lower still remains relatively less crowded, there are probably fewer places to shoot in lower, but you can spend an hour or two down there without getting in anyone's way or vice versa.

 

This shot is best taken at around 11:30 in July,<div></div>

Richard,

 

I had sent some pictures many months prior and had not heard anything. Then, I saw it in the magazine. I phoned R.S. and he then quoted me what would be paid for it, etc. I'm not complaining about being in the magazine. I'm still thrilled about it. And I don't agree with those who say it's an "exclusive" club of photographers. However, I DO think they can be a little narrow-minded about the subjects they undertake for photo pieces. Also, I think if you're going to use someones photo, you ought to take the trouble to phone them up. However, I've had other experiences like that, so I guess its not that uncommon.

I've actually had ONE picture published in OP. I found out about it at Border's Books. It was nice to see the picture in there, would have been nice if they let me know they were going to use it. I DID get paid, though.

 

One of the regular contributors to OP told me not to bother sending them anything because he said they hang onto the images forever and you never know what happened.

 

I think if there is anything worse than the magazine, it's their web site. It consists of about a hundred banner ads on a page, with about two sentences of content.

Thanks again. I've really been afraid of waiting too late because of the aspens at higher elevations than the valley at Teton (Maroon Bells, etc.), but as I wind down to SW Colorado, it seems the last week in September might be good. I have to be in New Hampshire the first weekend in October, so I'll plan accordingly. I've been to Teton many times, just never in the fall...

Dave,

 

This is what I like about the Internet: first hand eyewitness! :)

 

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to be moving from Texas to North Carolina, and have decided this trip is a good "between job" exercise, or breather. I'm probably going to leave Texas around the 15th, and get back here around the end of the month, going first to Teton, then following the aspens southward. I don't think I can wait as long as you suggest, but I'll try my best.

 

Mike

Thanks,

 

Yes I've been there many times, but never during aspen time. I think the key to this trip is to drive, so I don't plan the wrong air trip. Thanks again.

I'm planning an extended aspen-hunting trip in September, and wanted

to get a good idea of a typical peak date for aspens in the Tetons

and/or cottonwoods along the Snake River at that time.

 

My plan is to go to Jackson first, then wind my way down to SW

Colorado. Since I only have two weeks, I'd like to catch the Tetons

at peak in the beginning of the trip and the San Juans at the end of

the trip. Any experts out there? I've always understood the

September 10 timeframe to be peak in Jackson, but I'd prefer to wait

a few days after then, if possible.

Wow, popular thread.

 

I agree with Gary Crabbe's view on this. But, perhaps that's because he's a landscape guy, and has that point of view. All this talk about weddings makes me nervous. If I have to shoot weddings for a living, I'd just as soon stay in my cubicle.

 

I almost feel the same way about art shows. I've done three, and they were all disasterous because I didn't invest enough in the inventory, and also the timing of the shows was wrong. I've had a lot of those guys who make a living at shows tell me the work was quality stuff, but after loosing 3 grand at the last one, I've backed off. The art show circuit is a way of life in and of itself, but the one advantage it seems to have is that it presents you with fewer limitations (like and art director or a down advertising market).

 

The way I've made 90% of my income from photography has been stock usage fees from ad agencies, and I will pursue this more because of the low overhead (don't have to have 300 prints in my garage all the time).

 

I think the BIGGEST unknown in this equation is synchronicity. I see a LOT more guys (and gals) out there with large-format equipment, all disilusioned in their life in corporate America, and "realizing" themselves in the American Western Landscape. Is there room for all of us?

 

I wrote Tom Till and asked him. No reply. Usually, Tom is very good about returning emails, but I suspect a seasoned pro like him is getting tired of talking to people who produce decent images, but are still bound by their day jobs.

 

Doesn't matter what you want to do for a living. If you have a knack for marketing and self-promotion, you'll make it. That's the American way. :)

This is disturbing news for me, as I've been considering upgrading to a 1680, partly because of the scan lines I'm seeing in my Microtek.

One of them had to be Tony Litschewski (naturesfinestimages.com). I went by and checked out his booth. He obviously had the best stuff at that show.

 

But, looking over his portfolio and recognizing that his inventory looks JUST like mine, I realized that perhaps it's time to broaden out and let some others shoot antelope canyon, the Subway at Zion, the Dallas Divide, Deadhorse Point, etc., etc., etc., etc. :)

Definately, Wichita Mountains, the most bang for your buck. 3 hours may seem long, but there's nothing in Texas within 3 hours in any direction.<div></div>

This is funny to me because the first and last time I took this completely overdone shot, the same thing happened. Only, the people who got in the way included a Native-American woman dressed in traditional dress, so the photographers shouted "Get out of the way", followed by "No, wait...Point over that way" click click "Now, get out of the way... " True story. I can see if you are doing a shot that is actually unique, but to get all hot and bothered about a stupid postcard shot like that shows just how unprofessional you are on so many levels. :)

Sorry, Todd, 8 years at American Airlines.

OK, my turn. I just found out I have a business trip to SFO the

second week in June. Seems the last time I photographed the flowers

in Redwoods was maybe the last week in June. Can anyone give me a

better idea of when to expect them? Thanks.