How to "Get Away"

[Jeff_Green]

I have long since neglected my love for landscape photography. Over the past decade I have shot almost strictly people. I enjoy doing that... sometimes... but need to get back to what I love as it does offer me relaxation and peace.

Having said that, I am having a hard time. I find myself choosing to sit around the house, or stay in town, instead of driving 4 hours or whatever and staying the night to shoot some landscape somewhere.

I know many of you travel somewhere and stay for several days or do your shooting while traveling with work (or the shooting is your work). But to those of you who just run away for a day or two, how do you do it? lol I know that is a generic question with a lot of room for further questions. Do you take a Friday or Monday off and just make it a weekend? Get off work on Friday, drive somewhere, and come back Saturday night?

It would be nice if I could snap my fingers and be where I wanted to shoot, but the thought of driving 4-6 hours beats me down (even though it really isn't that big of a deal).

Any suggestions, encouraging words, swift kicks in the butt??

[tomdrink]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Any suggestions, encouraging words, swift kicks in the butt??

No, but I await answers to this very question! I need a reason to make a weekend trip somewhere new. Perhaps the cooler weather will get my butt in gear!
TomD

[Jake]

Being married and having two kids makes it a challenge for me to get away. Sometimes for my night shots I drive a few hours, shoot all night and then drive back. Taking off a Monday or Friday is what I've done a couple times this year. And you really have to drive awhile for any real landscape, that's why I like to shoot at night, you can't tell how ugly the Texas landscape is....
But I don't get to leave the state to shoot that often because of the kids. But if you're single, then get off your lazy butt and go shooting! You could go to New Mexico or Colorado over a three or four day weekend.

Oh, in case you missed it, the "get off your lazy butt" were my encouraging words.

[Abel]

this showcase section is for posting photos only..

moving thread to appropriate section.

[Jeff_Green]

Sorry, Abel. I saw the "Below you will find a list of discussions" on the header of the forum and didn't think about it strictly being for photographs only, even though it was in the showcase forum.

Maybe it will get more exposure here.

[hue-e]

I usually have a problem getting away myself... my advice... there's something interesting to shoot almost everywhere you look... why not just grab your camera when you get off work and go to any location nearby that you might have been like "well, that's kinda cool," spend a couple hours there and have a good time.

I actually did exactly that last night at a location near my house.. hadn't done that in a while. I had a great time.

[Stargazer77517]

First of all, I like road trips, driving 4-6 hours dont bother me, as a matter of fact, in the drive you may find something interesting to shoot.
I mostly book a room in advance so I know where I am headed, then take off and go.
The whole time I am thinking of how, when and where to shoot when I get there.
I like sunrises and sunsets so early up and early to bed is the norm. Durning the middle of the day I look for interesting subjects and things.
Now when Vickie goes, the middle of the day is more than likely filled with wandering thru shops and what-not, but the morning and evening is mine

[kenw]

I recommend Patrick's idea of a short trip, especially to shake the rust off so to speak. A long one could be disappointing and tough to get started. I had done a few in years past that mosly consisted of a Friday night drive to San Antonio (3 hrs), shooting until dark, then spending the day shooting there and heading back along a different route either Saturday evening or Sunday AM.

I think having a specific subject in mind may help generate the excitement you need for motivation. Lots of targets in west Texas, and don't forget the woods in east Texas. The problem for most of us Big City folks is that you're looking at a couple of hours often just to get out of town. I've got a favorite spot in Brenham, about 1 hour away, that I often spend all day at just waiting for trains to roll by. While I'm waiting, there are birds, cattle, trees, etc to provide good natural subjects. And a lot of head-clearing quiet.

[Hanky]

Maybe when the 100 degree curse is lifted your attitude will change.

[rab3rd]

I like to wait on three day weekends and toss a day of vacation on which ever day isnt the hoilday before or after the weekend. Leave after work Thursday, come home Monday. Sometimes plan and book, sometimes throw a stick in the air and go the direction one of the two ends points...

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Jeff, If it's not on your planner it's not going to happen!!! Put it on your planner and make it happen!!!!

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by Ernst-Ulrich Schafer

Jeff, If it's not on your planner it's not going to happen!!! Put it on your planner and make it happen!!!!

You are absolutely right. Palo Duro Canyon sounds like a good place to visit. A good long 6 hour drive, but it will be worth it. Now I need to find a time that will work... and put it on my planner! lol

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by Ernst-Ulrich Schafer

Jeff, If it's not on your planner it's not going to happen!!! Put it on your planner and make it happen!!!!

Well said, Ernst

Jeff,
I feel your pain. I'm kind of a mountain guy myself, and I haven't seen many of them around the Houston area. With my family in Montana and Washington, I usually try to take vacation and head up that direction and get my landscape photo fix along the way. From Houston, two good days of driving puts us in Colorado Springs, CO or Farmington, NM. Three and we can be in Billings, MT or Moab, UT. By starting in Arlington, you're knocking off about half a day. If you've got a week or so of vacation, you can be in some pretty spectacular country in a relatively short time.

Having said that, there are some beautiful areas in Texas as well. Llano and the hill country to the south of you is nice, and Palo Duro Canyon up by Amarillo is some pretty country too, and those are only a few hours away.

Like Ernst said...put it on the calendar or it doesn't get done.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by snydersnapshots

If you've got a week or so of vacation, you can be in some pretty spectacular country in a relatively short time.

That is where I run into problems! I take a week in the summer to be a counselor for a summer camp, and then half a week in the winter for the same thing plus a couple long weekends to go camping throughout the year with friends (who usually don't want to travel out of a 4 hour radius... Caddo lake was about as far as we can seem to go). That still leaves me with some time, I just need to make the decision that THIS is what I want to take the time doing and make it happen.

I am appreciating the gentle nudging by everyone, and the swift kick by Jake!

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

I just need to make the decision that THIS is what I want to take the time doing and make it happen.

I am appreciating the gentle nudging by everyone, and the swift kick by Jake!

It sounds to me like you put in quite a bit of time helping others, and that is admirable. However, you only go through life once, and no one is going to begrudge you the time or call you selfish for doing what YOU want to do occasionally. You deserve it. Make like Nike and "JUST DO IT!"

As far as your friends not wanting to travel more than four hours, maybe there's someone from here who would be interested in meeting you somewhere and going shooting. Going on a photo trip with another photographer is more fun anyway, because you don't have the rolled eyes, tapped feet, and comments like "just take the damn picture so we can go..."