Favorite Destinations ~ Pick 1 (Part 2)

Favorite Destinations Pick # 1 (Part 2)

Oahu ~ Hawaii

I would encourage anyone who has a bucket list (you know, the list of things you must do before you kick the bucket!) to add Oahu, Hawaii to that list!

I have visited Oahu six times, the last being in 2005, and I can't wait to get back! I have also been to Maui, which is absolutely beautiful, but Oahu is where I truly love to be.

I could write about Oahu all day, but I won't. However, should you add Oahu to your bucket list I would recommend, first and foremost, visiting Pearl Harbor. It's an incredibly somber place, but you walk away with a feeling of peace and appreciation for our military! I have never made a trip to Oahu without paying my respects to those that lost their lives in paradise.

The list of things to do and see in Oahu are endless, but I will share a few. Visit the Rain Forest, North Shore, and hike to the top of Diamond Head! I never imagined that I could or would do that, but once I reached the summit I was overwhelmed by the beauty of what lie below, and felt a sense of personal accomplishment!

I hope you enjoy the photo's that I have posted today. All were shot in 2005, during my last visit.

Photo's published in "Burning Daylight"
Copyright 2009

Alabama the Beautiful

Summertime ~ My favorite time of the year! I would imagine that most people would probably choose spring or fall as their favorite time of the year; especially photographers! The colors are spectatcular during the fall and who doesn't love to see everything coming to life in the spring? I'm with ya on that! Unfortunately, where I live we don't really see spring or fall. We basically get one week of fall type weather and one week of spring type weather. In Alabama we pretty much go from winter straight to summer. This is definitely not the place to be if you don't like the heat! Back in June we were already pushing 100 degrees and the humidity is something that one would need to experience to actually understand. But, I love it, and going back more than two decades ago I never imagined I would be able to say that. When I first moved to Alabama I was convinced that I had actually moved to Hell! Anytime I stepped out my front door the heat would literally take my breath away.

After surviving three Alabama summers I discovered that the heat no longer affected me. The hotter the better! I never complain about the heat and when making travel plans I think nothing of going to Mexico during the middle of the summer! And, as a photographer, I have learned to appreciate the mornings and early evenings! Trust me...you never want to be out in the Alabama heat during the afternoon trying to photograph anything!

I have now lived in Alabama for twenty six years and have discovered that once you get past the weather here it truly is a photographers paradise! There's a reason why this state is called "Alabama the Beautiful."