Trees and tracks in the snow at Mount Rainier's Paradise Valley

My best wishes to all for a wonderful holiday season, and may 2010 bring you health, happiness, love and prosperity.

West Rim Vista, Grand Canyon National Park, shot with a Sony a900 and Zeiss 24-70mm lens set to 24mm, f16 at 1/15 of a second at ISO 100.

It goes without saying that I consider the Grand Canyon the center of the earth. It is a place of such immense spiritual power that I always feel inspired and rejuvinated after every visit. Like most photographers who shoot the canyon I have my favorite places and vistas which I always revisit on every trip. This image is in one of those locations. While this spot along the west rim is fantastic in the morning I have always preferred the late afternoon light which gives me a softer, more high key type of image. This backlighting, also known as contrejour, produces images with beautiful pastel colors. In this instance the sun is setting off of my left shoulder. The sun is low enough to provide beautiful light but high enough to light up the Colorado River in the inner gorge. Many photographers are afraid of shooting “into” the sun this way. It just takes some experimentation with exposure to make a successful image. The final image processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop is not a composite of multiple shots. For me the beautiful soft light and monochromatic color is like a pastel painting.

Proposal is for a six square mile strip mine between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks-

Initial plans are for 635 acre mine (one square mile) and would expand to over 6 square miles. The notion of a mine here has been floating around for years. Now it is serious.

Coal mine. Trucks could hurt Kane tourism. Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

The National Park Foundation has put together a FABULOUS screensaver  slide show that’s free for downloading on their website.  Click here to check it out.  Perfect for writers looking for a distraction inspiration…

(Free download of iFotoGuide: Arches to the first person to correctly identify the recording artist from whom I borrowed/butchered this blog title!)

I have a question for you.  You don’t have to answer but we sure would appreciate it if you’d take a minute to share your thoughts.  What kind of content are you interested in seeing on the iFotoGuide blog?

Of course we’ll post press releases, new product announcements and the occasional random thought.  But we don’t want the blog to be all about us.  That’s boring.  We want this to be a space where people can learn from one another, engage eachother and most importantly, have fun.

With that in mind, please tell us what kind of content you’d be interested in seeing here.  Product and book reviews, trip reports, how-to articles, general iPhone app business stuff, user generated content?  We’ll consider any and all ideas.  Throw ‘em out there.  Be heard.  Make this your space.

If you’re shy about leaving your inner thoughts in the comments section feel free to send us an email.  We’re eager to read your comments and we appreciate your time!

This is an image shot inside the Desert View Watch Tower located at the eastern end of the Grand Canyon. The tower was designed by Mary Coulter for the Fred Harvey Company and opened in 1933. The dramatic tower interior is a series of circular balconies accessed by stairways around the perimeter. The interior murals were painted by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie and with indian petrogyphs painted by Fred Greer.

Desert View No. 1 was shot in the upper balcony area and exposed with only the ambient light coming in through windows above.

Desert View No. 2  was achieved with two off camera flash units and a Nikon Flash Controller. The camera was set facing upward with one flash unit placed behind and above the camera illuminating the wall and ceiling. The other flash was fixed with a snoot and aimed towards the ceiling. Several images were shot to get the flash placement correct to light up the space.

Desert View No. 1. Upper Balcony, Desert View Watch Tower, Grand Canyon National Park, Nikon D300, Nikkor 12-24mm lens at 15mm, f14 at 2 seconds.

Desert View No. 2. The Tower Room, Desert View Watch Tower, Grand Canyon National Park. Nikon D300, Nikkor 12-24mm at 15mm, f16 at 1/60 second.

Iceland is a country of north western Europe, comprising the island of Iceland and its outlying islets in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Norway, Ireland, Scotland and the Faroe Islands. In April 2007, it had a population of 309,699. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavik.

Iceland is not only closer than you think, but far different than you ever imagined. Where else can you witness such marvels of Mother Nature as a tremendous icecap and several glaciers, spouting geysers and steaming, volcanoes, raging rivers and magnificent waterfalls, a multitude of birds, cavorting whales just offshore and many other surprises.

Frequent flights operate to Iceland from main cities in Europe and North America and many gateways are served daily.

Summers are surprisingly warm and winters not as cold as you might expect. Regardless of when you visit, be assured that the warmth shown by Icelanders, their desire to share their culture and the efforts made to make your stay as pleasant as possible will, like the spectacular landscape, never be forgotten.

Iceland is very volcanically and geologically active this identifies the landscape in various ways. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterized by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers stream to sea through the lowlands.

Due to the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude, which provides habitable environment and nature.

Visitors come to experience Icelandic nature, to enjoy its beauty and to learn from it. National Parks demonstrate and awaken respect for the environment. The role of National Park staff is to provide information to Park visitors. In teaching young people to respect the environment, we are laying the foundation for broader respect, tolerance and sensitivity towards our planet. Environment and Food Agency of Iceland mandates National Parks and other protected areas in Iceland.

There are now four National Parks around the country, each with its own particular points of interest.

Thingvellir, Symbol of the Icelandic Consciousness, is in a rift valley between the American and European geological plates and Lake Thingvellir contains species of fish found nowhere else.

Snaefellsjokull National Park is at the foot of a volcano and glacier and is steeped in mystery and romance. It is the only Park that reaches from the seashore to the mountaintops.

Jokulsargljufur National Park has been formed by the torrents gushing down from the glacier and it contains Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe.

Skaftafell National Park is in an area also affected by catastrophic floods from the glacier, but here visitors find a green oasis among barren sands spewed out from beneath the ice.

I have been doing a little work on the planning side of things for my holiday. There have been some changes and these will be explained below.

Firstly, I have decided to push the holiday back a bit. There are a few public holidays during January 2010, so I think I can cope with a few extra weeks at work before needing the break. So instead of taking the holiday at the start of February, I am thinking of taking the holiday for two weeks in late February – early March 2010, or maybe a week or so later than that.

The later time for the holiday will also allow me to save for the trip and ensure I have everything I want for the holiday. I may even be able to get a digital video camera by then, which will be a great plus.

Secondly, the destination has also changed. I won’t be going out west as temperatures out that way are sure to be very hot and somewhat unbearable for any bushwalks I would want to do. The out west option will need to be looked at for a winter holiday (even though night temperatures are bound to be quite cold then). I do have a plan underway for that option also, which will probably mean a holiday in about August – September 2010 (but that is another story for another time). So to make sense of these two possible (probable) holidays in my Blog posts, the earlier holiday will be called the summer holiday 2010 and the later the winter holiday 2010.

So instead of going way out west for the summer holiday 2010, I’m thinking of going west a little (and to the south), before heading back to the southeast and travelling through the far southeast of New South Wales.

Are there any solid plans? Solid may not be quite the word for it, but I am settling on what I’d call a fairly sure itinerary for the first couple of days of summer holiday 2010. The date is certainly not fixed and that is really quite flexible at the moment. The itinerary for the first few days will probably be:

Day 1 Destination – Dubbo

Day 2 Destination – Conimbla National Park

Day 3 Destination – Wagga Wagga

So the next stage of planning will be to iron out the itinerary for these first three days before moving on towards my planned far southeast New South Wales travels.

For information on Conimbla National Park:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0053

It was recently brought to my attention that I neglected to post our original press release right here on the iFotoGuide blog.  Oops.  I won’t make the same mistake again.  I promise.  Please, read on…

Moab, Utah (November 25, 2009) – “iFotoGuide” has released the first and only iPhone app & digital guide to on-location nature photography. It is available now through the Apple iTunes App Store. 

“iFotoGuide: Arches” is the first in a series of digital guides for the iPhone providing nature photographers with a comprehensive resource for planning every aspect of a photography trip.  Use “iFotoguide: Arches” to locate the nearest airport, find lodging and a rental car, and determine what weather to expect during your visit.  Users of “iFotoGuide: Arches” can learn about park entrance fees, permits, flora and fauna, safety considerations and best times to visit for fall colors or wildflower blooms. 

“iFotoGuide: Arches” goes beyond the ordinary photo guidebook by providing three innovative ways for iPhone users to find a dynamic location for photography.  An interactive park map allows users to zoom, pan and select photography locations by name.  Images in the photo gallery serve to inspire and are also interactive – one touch provides detailed instructions for getting to and photographing each location.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” even allows users to search for locations to photograph at sunrise, sunset or in mid-day light. 

Unlike guidebooks and newsletters which may be several years out of date, “iFotoGuide: Arches” is easily updated to ensure accurate and fresh content.  “iFotoGuide: Arches” sells for $4.99 in the Apple App Store.  Updates will include additional locations within Arches National Park and will be available at no cost to “iFotoGuide: Arches” users. 

Created by photographers for photographers “iFotoGuide: Arches” is designed to provide users with all the tools necessary for a successful and productive photo trip.  The developers of “iFotoGuide: Arches” are expanding park coverage, with Canyonlands and Yosemite National Parks available on iTunes in the first quarter of 2010. 

“iFotoGuide” was founded in 2009 by photographers Dan Baumbach and Bret Edge to provide the only digital photo guides available on the Apple iPhone.

The landlocked state of Burkina Faso remains poor even by West African standards. However, the government is investing in tourism and measures have been taken to increase the accommodation available in the country and to make tourist destinations more attractive.

Wildlife is a key element of this objective in the eastern part of the country while the central part around Ouagadougou concentrates on business tourism. The west focuses on cultural tourism, the north on the discovery of nomadic populations and traditions.

In the capital, Ouagadougou, visit the Ethnography Museum, which contains a substantial collection of artefacts, the town being the centre of one of the many ancient kingdoms.

Other museums include the National Museum and the Snake Museum. Witness the ceremony, with traditional costumes and drums, which takes place outside the Moro Naba Palace every Friday morning around 0600.

At around 0600 on Fridays, the Emperor goes to war is a traditional drama performed at the Moro Naba Palace in Ouagadougou depicting the magnificently bedecked emperor being restrained by his wife and subjects as he sets off to make war with his brother. Traditional music and dancing can also be seen on festivals and holidays, especially in the southwest region which is rich in folklore.

In October to November, go bargain hunting at the International Arts and Crafts Fair in Ouagadougou.

Discover the attractive streets and the bustling market, the Grand Marche, of Bobo Dioulasso, the largest town inhabited by the Bobo people.

Southwest of Bobo Dioulasso is the town of Banfora, from where the impressive Karfiguela Waterfalls can be seen, located 12km northwest of the town. Approximately 50km west of Banfora is the town of Sindou, the area where the extraordinary Sindou Rock Formations can be seen.

From Ouagadougou, excursions include a wildlife viewing trip to a small artificial lake 18km to the north. Pabre, an ancient Mossi village, is a short distance from another large reservoir north of the city. At Sabou, crocodiles can be seen at close quarters. The national parks and reserves are the best places to view wildlife. Tour operators in Ouagadougou can organise trips of varying duration. Entrance fees are payable to all reserves. The three national parks are the most important. South of Ougadougou, near Po, the Ranch de Nazinga is a game reserve with a large population of elephants, antelopes, monkeys, baboons and warthogs.

The best areas for hiking are in the southwest of the country near Banfora. Excellent views of the whole region can be had from the top of the Banfora Escarpment. The Senoufo region west of Banfora is also very pleasant, as is the Lobi region around Gaoua, southeast of Bobo Dioulasso. Mountain bike trips can be arranged in the areas around Bobo Dioulasso and Banfora, in the Lobi region and in the Nazinga Ranch south of Ouagadougou.

As I post this new image a major winter storm is dropping over 18 inches of snow in West Virginia. I only ventured out once today to test the roads. Suffering from a little cabin fever I decided to revisit some images from a recent trip to Acadia National Park. This image is from the Tarn Pond and is one of several I took that morning. The pond is slowly filling in and is full of aquatic plant life. In the early morning the sky is reflected in the calm waters and allows images such as this.

The image was shot with a Sony a900 and a Zeiss 24-70 f2.8 lens at 24mm. I used a Heliopan Warming Polarizer and exposed the scene at f16 for 6 seconds.

The image was processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

It’s Scenic Sunday again!  I’ve gone with a sunset theme, and couldn’t pick just one picture. 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy!  As always, click on the pictures to enlarge them.

For more Scenic Scenes, go HERE!

Sun and Ice

Badlands Burning Clouds

Sinking Badlands Sun

It doesn’t matter where you are; to get a good sunset, you need the sun, some clouds, and a good view to the West!

Some crepuscular wildlife hoping around during sunset.  This is One Eyed Jack, a desert cottontail that lived in the Badlands over this past summer.  He had a rough little life and started out as a wee one that met some hungry predator with poor aim.  Jack roamed around and, amazing us all, made it into late summer with his one good eye.  This is the last time I saw him.  We had a report of a child picking him up outside the Visitor Center, which is where this picture was taken the night before that report, and we never saw him again.  Either someone took him home [can you imagine taking a WILD animal out of a National Park???  Two years ago, I confiscated a juv. swallow from some visitors that were taking him back to Chicago from YELLOWSTONE! wow!] or Jack and his one good eye couldn’t keep away from the Great Horned Owl below. 

Great Horned Owl with a Perfect Perch

     The Seal the Deal! campaign is mobilising political leaders, the business sector and civil society on an ambitious, global scale to raise a strong call for urgent and united action on climate change.

    Combating climate change is an investment with strong returns, today and for many generations to come. Delays and inaction will only make matters much worse for millions of people and much more expensive.

    Let’s make 2009 the year the world finds an answer to climate change.

    The numbers dont sound big, but their effects could be cataclysmic. A 2C rise above pre-industrial levels would see 20-40% of the Amazon die off within 100 years. A 3C rise would see 75% of the forest destroyed by drought over the following century, while a 4C rise would kill 85%. (Nature Geoscience).

    However there is good news. The worst of global warming can still be avoided if Greenhouse gases levels are cut substantially.
    Look at the inspiring figures here who have joined the Seal the Deal! campaign and given us their time, talent and energy to help make the world a better place.
We look forward to seeing your name here too.

The Seal the Deal campaign team!

Sign the petition for a fair climate agreement at the Copenhagen conference

This has been a busy year, and we have been celebrating the 60th anniversary of our founding legislation. I wrote about this in my Blog on Diamonds in the Landscape on 11 July; when Hilary Benn MP visited in July on 24 July; when I walked the Castleton Geology Trail on 1 November; and on ‘Being First’ 21 November. This week marked the day – 16th December – exactly 60 years ago when the legislation was passed.

Last week, we celebrated nationally. First, Hilary Benn MP, secretary of State for the Environment, and Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust spoke to a large audience of MPs and Peers of all political parties at a special reception in the Jubilee Room by Westminster Hall. I always love being in Parliament and I think the vaulted roof of Westminster Hall has to be one of the best buildings in the World. Interestingly, the roof of Westminster Hall was made from timbers from Alice Holt Forest, now part of the new South Downs National Park.

98 (so far) MPs have signed an Early day Motion on the anniversary and this can be seen at:

 http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39852&SESSION=903

Hilary Benn launched the new English National Park Authorities report on Climate Change which can be seen at www.enpaa.org.uk  and Dame Fiona Reynolds spoke enthusiastically about the positive achievements of National Parks. And we watched the 1936 Film made by the CPRE which made the case for our National Parks. This can be seen on the Diamonds in the Landscape website at www.diamondsinthelandscape.org.uk . Our audience was MPs and peers of all parties.

The following evening, Poul Christensen (Chair of Natural England), Narendra Bajaria (Chair of the English National Park Authorities Association) and Evan Davies the broadcaster presented awards at the take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards at the National Theatre www.take-a-view.co.uk  . English National Parks took the opportunity of the 60th anniversary to sponsor this award and also to promote the really important European landscape Convention to a wider audience.

Narendra Bajaria presents the special English National Parks Award to Chris McIlreavy

Broadcaster Evan Davies, watched by Charlie Waite, speaks of the incredible beauty of his own country

Like a kid in a sweetshop, I really enjoyed seeing so many awesome photographs

This week, the celebrations came home to the Peak District. On Wednesday, children’s author Berlie Doherty joined Narendra Bajaria and the children of Elton school to plant trees. Berlie, who lives in Edale, sets many of her books in the Peak District and is one of the 60th Anniversary Cultural ambassadors for Parks across the UK.

Looking forwards as well as celebrating past achievements. Narendra Bajaria, Children's author Berlie Doherty and schoolchildren from Elton plant some of the 60 trees

Staff and members of the Authority then planted 6 giant redwood trees in grove that will, one day, match the other redwood groves in the larger houses in the Bakewell area. It was great to see staff and members getting muddy and working together to plant the trees and a big thanks to Dave Goodwin for fixing the day’s treeplanting.

Expertly supervised by National Park tree officer Dave Goodwin, I do some real work

We also planted fruit trees on land next to the excellent High Field affordable housing scheme in Bakewell with the newly formed Bakewell Community Allotments Association. True sustainability in practice. Fittingly, the 60th anniversary legacy project – selected by communities not members or officers of the Authority – will be to plant field and hedgerow trees in the National Park.

National Park staff and members gather to plant a new Redwood Grove at Aldern House

The Highlight of our celebrations was a reception attended by over 90 people at Losehill Hall on Wednesday afternoon. We invited many former staff and members; all the staff of the Authority who had served 25 years or more; senior staff; all members; and representatives of a wide range of stakeholders. The event was a great opportunity for people to meet and to celebrate the achievements.

Over 90 people gathered at Losehill Hall to celebrate the 1949 Act

Trevor Bagshaw welcomed guests and acted as MC for the afternoon.

Deputy Chair Clr Trevor Bagshawwelcomed guests and spoke of the importance of members, staff, volunteers and communities

The speeches started with Tony Hams, Board member of Natural England responsible for National Parks. Tony spoke of the achievements of the National Parks and of the 1949 Act more generally. He spoke about the challenges of climate change and urged the National Park to follow Natural England’s lead in reducing its carbon footprint.

Natural England Board Member Tony Hams spoke of the challenges of climate change

Trevor thanked Tony and before inviting Narendra Bajaria to review the achievements of the National Park he paid tributes to the former Chairs and their representative who were in the audience. Narendra read out a letter from Phil Hope MP, Minister for the East Midlands, the full text of which is here:  Phil Hope Letter

Narendra explained that ‘The 60th anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate the great success of the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act in creating national breathing spaces. The National Park Authorities have managed their Parks against considerable development pressures over the last 60 years to conserve and enhance their settings, to promote access, awareness and enjoyment of natural beauty while always mindful of the need to maintain sustainable communities.

Chair of the Authority Narendra Bajaria spoke of many achievements over 58 years

The Peak District National Park Authority is looking forward to meeting the challenges of the 21st century with equal vigour and determination to ensure future generations continue to enjoy this rich national treasure’. The full text of Narendra’s speech is here:  NarendraSpeech16December

Trevor then passed on good wishes from previous National Park Officers who could not attend, including John Foster who started as my predecessor in 1953 and moved to Scotland in 1968, where he still lives and is active in national park matters.  He also paid tribute to the many community groups, voluntary sector bodies and volunteers who do so much for the National Park.

Dave Turnbull of the British Mountaineering Council, Beccy Speight of the National Trust and Matt Croney NPA Head of Property

I then spoke about the future, focusing on the important work that our main strategies focus us to achieve; the scale of achievement of our Moors for the Future partnership; the great potential of the growing community interest in heritage; the future plans for affordable housing in the Peak District; how we are working more with people in neighbouring urban areas; and the ways in which we would be tackling climate change. The full text of my speech is here:  JimDixonSpeaking Notes 16December

We will achieve much in this National Park that will improve the lives of millions of people

Trevor concluded proceedings with a toast:

To everyone who fought for and worked to fulfil the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

Former Chairs: Mrs Wilson, Mrs Beadle, Gilly Gostick (widow of Sir Martin Doughty 1993-2002), Tony Hams OBE (2002-2007), Norman Wilson (1977-1981), John Beadle (1981-1993), Narendra Bajaria CBE (2007-present)

John Anfield (former ANPO) & Clr Barrie Taylor, former Chair of Services Committee

Ch Insp Pete Lewis, Derbyshire Police & Chris Darmon, Chair Youth Hostels Association

Former Directors: John Thompson, Ken Parker, John Anfield

Mr Wilde, Clr Wilde (Barnsley MBC) & Narendra Bajaria

Tony Hams, Anne Robinson, Chair Campaign for National Park & Maddy Jago, Natural England

Me (sucking a lemon?) & Nick Hodgson, Derbyshire County Council

Clr Andrew McLoy, Chair of Local Access Forum & Stuart Elliott, former Deputy Chair of the Authority

Gordon Danks, Area Ranger & Mike Hennessy of the Calver Weir Trust

Fiona Sloman, Tom Levitt MP, Alison Adams, Government Office East Midlands & Martin Havenhand, Chair Sheffield City Region Forum

Sarah Montgomery, Chatsworth & Carol Robinson, Friends of the Peak District

Ruth Marchington, Director of Corporate Resources & Lesley Roberts, Member

Deborah Unwin, Head of HR, Adrian Brown, former Chair of Policy Committee, Clr Jacque Bevan, Member

Ch Insp Pete Lewis, Roly Smith former Head of Communications, Christopher Pennell, Dep Chair of Services & the Duke of Devonshire

Ken Parker and John Beadle - fond memories

The Losehill Hall team did an excellent job of looking after us. Well done!

The day of celebrations ended with the Members Christmas dinner which was an excellent meal at the Plough at Hathersage www.theploughinn-hathersage.co.uk  . One of the best Christmas dinners I’ve had out. The evening was enlivenend by a great poem written and read by Christopher Pennell which deftly wove the great beauty and character of the Peak District landscape into the challenges we have as an Authority.

We were all delighted by the cake that Narendra Bajaria and Kath Potter so generously arranged to be made which was decorated with the Diamonds in the Landscape 60th Anniversary logo. A great end to a momentous day.

the celebratory cake for the members Christmas Dinner and which was polished off by 11.00am the next day at Aldern House

All the photographs in this Blog (except the cake!) were taken by Andrew Midgley or other members of the Peak District NPA Communications Team and are copyright of the National Park Authority

Follow me Friday

Follow me to news, stories, and blogs about travel, family, and mothering.

Want to get an airfare deal? Go after the holidays, Bing Travel says -  LATimes Daily Travel & Deal Blog

Airport Check-in: Airports train workers to be nicer - USAToday- Today in the Sky

Want Kinder, Less selfish Kids? Take Them to National Parks! - National Parks Traveler

Holidays at the Hiltons of Branson - Mom Talk With 3 Kids & Us

Water Parks End the Boredom of Winter Break - TravelingMom

How to Travel Over the Holidays with Kids - You Must Be Trippin’

Families urged to ship gifts to prevent baggage theft - Family Travel Suite

Book 4 Nights at Atlantis and Kids Stay and Play Free -Big Family Vacations