A view of the historic Wesley house in Eden Gardens State Park, Florida. Also showing azaleas bushes in bloom and live oak treesA view of the historic Wesley house in Eden Gardens State Park, Florida. Also showing azaleas bushes in bloom and live oak trees.

(A view of the historic Wesley house in Eden Gardens State Park, Florida. Also showing azaleas bushes in bloom and live oak trees)

This is our first time working for a state park system and our first time doing outdoor maintenance. It was really great living here and working to keep this place looking beautiful. Exploring the panhandle has been fun. There's a lot of state parks with beautiful white sand beaches and some great raw bars in the seaside communities if you're so inclined!

Marie & John in Eden Garden State Park, Florida, USA

(Marie & John in Eden Garden State Park, Florida, USA)

A high contrast black & white photo of a live oak tree covered with resurrection fern and Spanish moss in Florida, USAA high contrast black & white photo of a live oak tree covered with resurection fern and Spanish moss in Florida, USA

(A high contrast black & white photo of a live oak tree covered with resurrection fern and Spanish moss in Florida, USA)

Walking among these sprawling live oak trees gives a distinct feeling of awe knowing these trees range from 400 to 600 years old. And amazing as these trees look, finding photographs in them can be tricky. I only got a few keepers and this was my favorite. I love that it worked in black and white.

Check out my gallery on Eden Gardens State Park. It's under Parks in the header above.

Thanks for being here!

But in the meantime I am proud to offer my first fine art calendar. It's Alaska 2021! Made from photos taken during our summer there in 2019,  it's 30 images showcasing some of my best wildlife and landscapes.

Alaska 2021 Calendar Cover

Price is $19.95 (plus s&h). The large calendar is 12x12 (12x24 opened), printed on thick premium paper stock with a matte finish and spiral bound. The mailer is a heavy duty, no bend kraft mailer so your calendar arrives safely. Order soon, only 50 will be made!

Click on the "Alaska Calendar" link in the toolbar. Click on any photo to order!

And thanks for being here!

To celebrate this I am offering 20% off any product with this image "Ducks On A Pond In Autumn" including canvas wraps, framed prints and prints. Use the code 'ducks' at checkout. Sale ends Friday 9/4/20 at midnight. You can find the image under Travel/Canada/Landscapes. (Sorry, it appears a link will not work in the blog post)

This image was taken in the Yukon Territory in Canada along the Alaska Highway. It was September 8th at what seemed to be the height of the fall foliage season. The mountains were ablaze in yellows and oranges and my head hurt from saying "Oh my God, look at that!" so much.

A photo stock agency is in the business of selling the licensing of photos to clients for their business needs such as magazine stories, travel brochures, puzzles, calendars, etc. The agency acquires the photos through their contracted contributors. Alamy is one of the largest stock agencies and has offices in London, NYC, Australia and India.

I signed up in March and I have only uploaded 188 images so far. I have a long way to go but this is a good sign. I have a lot more editing to do so I better get going.
 

Thanks for being here!

Ducks On A Pond In AutumnDucks swimming on a pond along the Alaska Highwy in the fall in Yukon Territory, Canada.

Nikon D800E, Nikon 24-120mm f4 lens @ 70mm, 1/50 @ f14, ISO320, Bogen tripod

And to celebrate I'm offering a special price on a 16x20 Canvas Gallery Wrap for $54.95! That's 20% off the regular price of $69.95. Any photo, any gallery Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday only! Check out my new Shop - Canvas Wraps, Framed Prints and Prints. Coming soon High Gloss Metal and Brushed Aluminum Photos!

A younger male bull moose slpashing in Horseshoe Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA younger male bull moose slpashing in Horseshoe Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

A cow moose close up with a beautiful winter coat and fall colors in Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA cow moose close up with a beautiful winter coat and fall colors in Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

And as I'm writing this a mama black bear with two cubs stroll by my window! So I grabbed a camera, pointed it out the window and fired. Maybe they'll come back when I'm more prepared.

Thanks for being here!

Black Bear CubBlack Bear Cub

photography is an artColorful fall tundra with a distant view of Mount Denali in the background in Alaska

This blog's cover photo is of Mount Denali with a verse I wrote around 2005 and appeared in the Susquehanna Museum of Harrisburg's show catalog about the same time. I find it true in my case and in many other photographers I have met.

A braided river in Denali National Park, Alaska with autumn colors copyA braided river in Denali National Park, Alaska with autumn colors

My journey starts with the discovery of a place I want to visit. Then I go into the planning stage learning about the landscape, wildlife, attraction or features that I hope will excite me and produce images that are forming in my head.

A gravel road through the autumn colored tundra vanishing into the mountains with Mount Denali-McKinley in the background copyA gravel road through the autumn colored tundra vanishing into the mountains with Mount Denali-McKinley in the background

Then comes the actual drive to the location. This can take days or weeks and the intensity builds as I take in the changes in landscapes.

Welcome To Valdez SignpostWelcome To Valdez Signpost

Given the state of the world today our summer trip to Alaska is officially off. So I found some photos while in Valdez from early spring of last year to show you.

Valdez HarborKayaks and boats waiting in the Valdez harbor Alaska

We had a summer job scheduled on the Kenai Peninsula and drove from Florida to Las Cruces, NM. At that point the US/Canadian border closed. We knew we would never get there by our start date of 4/25 and cabin cancellations were already coming in. Getting back to PA and sitting this out near family and friends in our home area figured to be our best bet.

A Sea Otter Likes PosingA sea otter swims up to our boat and likes posing for the camera in Valdez, AK.

Our manager is now expecting not to open until July, or maybe a few rentals in June if lucky. And most tours are closed until June 1st. Given this bleak situation and the long drive it would not be worth it to make the trip. So we're sitting this summer out and hoping for the best for everyone.

Sea Otters Chillin'Sea otters chillin' in the water and on a piece of glacial ice from the Columbia Glacier in Valdez, Alaska.

 

The otters weren't scared of the boat and even swam alongside posing for photos. Otters are the smallest of marine mammals but the largest of the weasel family. Most of the world's sea otters live in coastal Alaska.

 

Black Legged Kittiwake In FlightA black legged kittiwake in flight in Alaska

Birds were also flying around our boat. Though most did not fly close enough for photos, one black legged kittiwake came reasonably close enough. I only managed three photos and he was gone.

 

Kayaking Past Sea LionsKayakers paddle past sea lions in Alaska

The captain took us to see the steller sea lion colony at Bull Head. This is mostly a bachelor colony. While we were there a group of kayakers came by to make the photo more interesting.

 

Two Sea LionsTwo sea lions posing on a rock ledge in Alaska.

It was really hard photographing from a rocking boat, especially without any sun and the wildlife far away. Hopefully I'll get another chance someday for another Alaskan wildlife and glacier tour.

 

Eagle Flying And Looking MeanA mean looking eagle flying in Alaska

Back on land in Valdez I was able to find eagles flying around in search of dinner. Again the clouds blocked out the sun but you can never get enough practice photographing birds in motion.

 

Eagle And Snowy MountainAn eagle soars past a snowy mountain in Alaska.

So after Valdez we headed to Denali where we spent the summer. You've seen the best of those photos in my previous blog posts so I think this will be my last post about Alaska. If I find any other good photos I'll be sure to share them with you.

And again, thanks for being here!

 

Ready For TakeoffA great blue heron readies for takeoff

As our winter season in Florida nears its end we've enjoyed a few kayak rides on the Silver River in Silver Springs State Park near Ocala.

Great Blue HeronA great blue heron standing on one leg on a log

This year I saw more blue herons. Their are a little more skittish than the other birds and usually don't sit for very long when you're pointing a camera and big lens at them.

Great Blue Heron StandingA great blue heron standing with its neck half down on the Silver River in Florida

This guy was very patient though and so I dropped anchor and sat for a while.

_001-Posing At The Sign Post Forest EntranceJohn & Marie Levandoski pose with their hometown sign at the sign post forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Hello again! After a very busy time at home and traveling south to Florida I finally have some time for a post. On our road trip to Alaska, we stopped in Watson Lake Yukon Territory in Canada at the world famous Sign Post Forest to post a hometown sign. This is a must see stop on the famous Alaska-Canadian Highway.

_002-Mounting Their Hometown SignMounting their hometown sign at the Sign Post Forest In Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

The Alaska-Canadian Highway, Alcan for short, was built in 1942 by the US Army to provide a land route to Alaska at the start of World War II. It runs 1390 miles from Dawson Creek, Alberta, Canada to Delta Junction, AK, USA. It took only eight and a half months to build the road through some of the most desolate and rugged mountains in North America. Over 27,000 soldiers and civilians used over 7,000 pieces of equipment to build the highway.

_007-Rows Of Signs 2Rows of signs at the sign post forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Carl Lindley of Danville, IL, a soldier in the US Army, started the Sign Post Forest. Feeling a bit homesick while working on the highway, Lindley decided to add a sign for his hometown, with mileage, to a mileage signpost he was repairing. His idea caught on and other soldiers starting adding signs for their hometowns. When the road opened to the public in 1948, travelers and tourists started adding their hometown signs.

_004-Sign Counts At The Sign Post ForestTwo recent sign counts at the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Today there are over 80,000 signs posted in the forest. The town of Watson Lake maintains the forest. All the signs are counted at the end of every summer. More posts are added as needed and volunteers man the information center.

_006-Rows Of SignsRows of signs at the sign post forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

There is every type of sign imaginable posted in the forest. We choose to have a license plate made with our hometown of Exeter on it in the old Exeter school colors of maroon and gold. We also spotted about a half dozen other signs from Pennsylvania, one as close and recognizable as Towanda.

_008-Towanda, PAA signpost in the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

You can read more about the highway at

https://www.themilepost.com/highways/alaska-highway/

https://www.bellsalaska.com/highway/alaska-highway/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Highway

Thanks for being here!

Alaska Highway With Fall ColorsA stretch of the Alaska Highway with fall colors and a blue sky in the Yukon Territory, Canada.

We're on our way back from Alaska and the fall colors and scenery along the way are just spectacular! For four days the drive was just the most magnificent I've ever seen. If I stopped to take all the photos I wanted we would probably still be way up north.

Ducks On A Pond In AutumnDucks swimming on a pond along the Alaska Highwy in the fall in Yukon Territory, Canada.

I won't get into a lot of details except these were all taken on the Alaska Highway in the Yukon Territory between Beaver Creek and Whitehorse.

Fall Colors In The YukonA burst of fall colors along the Alaskan Highway just south of Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada.

This drive through the Yukon Territory has been one of the most exhilarating rides and photo experiences I've ever had, and I've had a lot. I would love to spend a month just driving up and down the highway photographing the fall foliage.

Donjek River ViewA view of the St. Elias Mountains with fall foliage along the Donjek River in Yukon Territory, Canada.

A brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USAA brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USA

When you come to Alaska you want to see bears. You want to get some good bear photos. And the best way to do that is on a bear viewing tour. We book one for Crescent Lake in Lake Clark Natl. Park. You take off and land on lakes in a float plane! It's a big thing here.

Gassing UpGassing up a float plane to go bear viewing in Alaska

So while they're gassing it up they need one more person to steer and they pick Marie! Just kidding, though she did get to sit up front and ride shotgun.

Co-pilot MarieMarie Levandoski sits in the co-pilot seat of a float plane in Alaska

A bear viewing tour boat with tourists on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA bear viewing tour boat with tourists on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

After landing we cruise around in boats on teal colored glacial fed lakes surrounded by gorgeous mountains and glaciers looking for bears. The guides are very experienced and know where the bears like to hang out.

A brown bear splashing in water while fishing for salmon at Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA brown bear splashing in water while fishing for salmon at Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We were on the water less than five minutes when we spotted this brown bear catching salmon and splashing in the water. He was fixed on the salmon and couldn't care less about us as we came to 15 to 20 yards from him.

A brown bear with a salmon in his mouth on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA brown bear with a salmon in his mouth on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

After a few attempts he caught his dinner. We watched him catch a couple more salmon before he went off for a nap.

A black bear on rocks along the shore of Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA black bear on rocks along the shore of Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We saw 8 brown bears and 1 black bear. This black bear walked along the shore for about 30 yards posing for a few photos before he made his way into the woods.

A group of tourists bear viewing from a boat on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA group of tourists bear viewing from a boat on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

The heart pounds and the adrenaline flows hot while 20 - 25 yards away a brown bear lifts his head and looks you in the eye. Then he just goes back to fishing!

A mother brown bear feds her cub a piece of salmon on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA mother brown bear feds her cub a piece of salmon on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We also got to watch a mother bear teaching her cub to pull the dead salmon out of the lake for a meal.

A brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USAA brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USA

This Alaska bear got salmon all over himself while learning what he needs to survive in Alaska. Cute but I wouldn't get too close.

An aerial view Chigmit Mountains of the Aleutian Range in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAAn aerial view Chigmit Mountains of the Aleutian Range in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

On the way back we flew over the Alaska Range mountains with 2 active volcanoes. You could see the steam coming off the lava right next to the glaciers.

Dan & JeremyBear viewing guides with Talon Air Dan & Jeremy

Northern Lights Light Up The SkyNorthern Lights light up the sky in Healy, Alaska

Last night we got to witness our first Northern Lights display and it was fabulous! We were staying at The Denali RV Park & Motel in Healy, Alaska. This park is eight miles north of Denali Natl. Park.

Northern Lights In A ParkThe Northern Lights light up the sky in a park in Healy, Alaska.

A local person said it is rare to get the reds and purples this far south.

Northern Lights In An RV ParkNorthern Lights in an RV Park in Healy, Alaska

Our 5th wheel RV with the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights, FlamesThe Northern Lights form a flame like pattern in the sky in Healy, Alaska.

An old Alaska train car that's now a hotel room for the Denali Park Hotel in Healy, AlaskaAn old Alaska train car that's now a hotel room for the Denali Park Hotel in Healy, Alaska

It's a short summer in Alaska! Monday the 19th was our last day of work. Crowds are gone, temps are dropping, water hoses are starting to freeze and there's termination dust on the peaks (that means snow on the mountain tops!). Though there's business, there's not enough for a full staff.

Fall Meadow And Mount DenaliA fall meadow in the foothills of Mount Denali

Leaves and grasses are turning into their fall colors. This is a view of Mount Denali from the George Parks Highway, State Rt 3, mile marker 126.9.

A mother moose and yearling eat and drink at a watering hole in Denali National Park, Alaska copyA mother moose and yearling eat and drink at a watering hole in Denali National Park, Alaska

Sly "Higher" © John Levandoski

Happy Birthday Woodstock! First off, I didn't go to Woodstock. I was 14 years old and going into the 9th grade. I hadn't a clue about stuff like that. Fourteen year olds didn't run off to 3 day music festivals back then. When I started buying records a couple of years later the Woodstock performers were a major influence on my purchases.

I went to see Sly & The Family Stone with my classmate Gerry Newman. He asked me if I would mind if his little brother came along. Since he had his parents car and was driving I said no. His little brother was Gregg, with whom I immediately formed a lifelong and endearing friendship with.

My parents lent me their Kodak 126 Instamatic camera. It had a plastic lens, took a 126 drop-in film cartridge and rotating flashcubes on top. After the concert I took my film to 8th Street Camera in West Wyoming for developing. How exciting it was to have photos of Sly Stone taking us higher! My photo career was born.

CSN Ⓒ John Levandoski

I've seen CSN & CSN&Y. Whenever I hear Suite: Judy Blue Eyes I remember back to how "scared shitless" these guys were when they appeared at Woodstock. They have become one of my all time favorites.

Jorma @ Station Ⓒ John Levandoski

My first concert and introduction to "morning maniac music" was The Jefferson Airplane. It was 1970 or '71 at the Kingston Armory. I went with Donald Klaproth, Tom Civiletti, Edie D'Iorio and (I believe) Rose & Jean Mikoloychik. Grace was pregnant, there was a funny smell in the air and I became a "Volunteer" in the army of peace and love! Thanks Jorma!

Santana © John Levandoski

I'm pretty sure I saw Santana with friends Cindy Janosky and Tom Bindus. I don't have press passes so I'm regularly trying to sneak my camera in. I used a Nikon FE camera and a Nikon 135mm f2.8 lens. I shot in aperture priority at f2.8. The highest ISO film at the time was 400. I would shoot it at 1200 and develop it for 800 and hope for the best.

Alvin Lee 2

During the mid 80's, the Station Complex in Wilkes-Barre, PA hosted shows featuring musicians from the 60's and 70's. It was a small intimate club and there wasn't a bad seat in the house. I loved attending these shows but it was extremely hard to photograph because there was usually only one or two spotlights.

Alvin LeeAlvin Lee playing harmonica in a small nightclub circa 1984.

But when Alvin Lee burns up the fret board with "I'm Going Home" no more than 50 feet away from you it's all good!

Johnny WinterJohnny Winter jamming at The Station in Wilkes-Barre, PA circa 1984.

There were a lot more musicians that played at Woodstock than were on the album or in the movie and Johnny Winter was one of them. He was also joined by his brother Edgar Winter for their version of Tobacco Road.

Edgar WinterEdgar Winter jamming at The Station in Wilkes-Barre, PA circa 1984.

Going to concerts was a big part of my younger years. Music was everything. It still is. I spend hours making playlists for this and for that. And every now and then I get to a concert, sometimes with my camera and sometimes not. I always hear a tune in my head and feel my toes a tappin'.

 

A moose poses for a portrait in Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA moose poses for a portrait in Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

One evening while I was leaving the park I spotted this female moose munching on the willows. I watched her for about 30 minutes and got this close up moose photo. She heard my camera click from the previous photo and then looked right at me.

Photo: Nikon D7500, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens @ 200mm, 1/500th @ f4, ISO 1600, handheld

Close up of a cow moose eating leaves from a tree in a rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAClose up of a cow moose eating leaves from a tree in a rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

A few photos of her eating.

Close up profile of a cow moose eating leaves from a tree in a rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAClose up profile of a cow moose eating leaves from a tree in a rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Both photos: Nikon D7500, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens @ 200mm, 1/500th @ f4, ISO 1600, handheld

A cow moose facing camera but with head turned left in rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA cow moose facing camera but with head turned left in rugged spring coat, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

And a side ways turn of the head.

Photo: Nikon D7500, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens @ 175mm, 1/500th @ f4, ISO 1600, handheld

Thanks for being here!

A moose calf jumping and splashing along Riley Creek In Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA moose calf jumping and splashing along Riley Creek In Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Moose are big animals and are big here in Alaska. You can see them in parks, along the roads and even in the city of Anchorage. They provide many photo opportunities for the tourists and professional photographers and a freezer full of meat for the hunters and those living in the back country.

Three moose calves lying on a patch of ground in the middle of Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAThree moose calves lying on a patch of ground in the middle of Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

So there's all this talk of a mother moose with three calves hanging around the entrance to the park. I'm going down there every two or three days as time allows hoping for some photos. I really want all four of them down by the creek with the sun setting and mom and one calf nose to nose posing just for me, hoping that's not asking for too much. And almost everyone in Denali has seen them but me.

Three moose calves on a patch of ground in the middle of Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAThree moose calves on a patch of ground in the middle of Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

One evening as I come around the corner to the park I see the bridge full of people and cars parked all over. I know what that means! It's a moose jam!

Two moose calves crossing Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USATwo moose calves crossing Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USA

I hurriedly park my truck and run to take a look. It's them. Grabbing some gear I head out to the middle of the bridge. There's three calves laying in the grass and mom is on the other side of the creek feeding.

Two moose calves along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USATwo moose calves along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USA

I didn't get the image I wanted of all four of them but I did get some of just the calves by themselves.

Two moose calves strike a curious pose along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USATwo moose calves strike a curious pose along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska., USA

About one and half hours later they all got up and went into the woods. How odd I thought that they didn't wait there for their mother. A glance to my left and I spotted the reason. A big grizzly was making his way across the highway and into the woods in their direction. I'm glad they got to live another day.

A moose calf strikes a beautiful pose along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USAA moose calf strikes a beautiful pose along Riley Creek, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Thanks for being here!

Marie and John Levandoski at Denali RV Park and Motel in Denali, AKMarie and John Levandoski at Denali RV Park and Motel in Denali, AK

We made it! After 49 days, 7700 miles, 2 flat tires, 1 brake assembly and 4 forever friends, Sara & Jarrod Ross and Bob & Bonnie Freshette, we reach our summer workamping destination at Denali RV Park & Motel.

Marie puts our Alaska State Sticker on our mapMarie puts our Alaska State Sticker on our map.

Marie finally gets to put the Alaska sticker on our map.

We have a few days to settle in before we start work so we'll start to explore the area and go into the park soon.

Thanks for being here!

A group of travelers posing at the "Welcome to Alaska" sign at the Canadian-Alaska borderA group of travelers posing at the "Welcome to Alaska" sign at the Canadian-Alaska border

The Alaska Bound group makes it to the border! A sigh of relief as we are back in the USA. We can now buy gas again in gallons instead of liters.

International kissInternational kiss

An "International Kiss"! Marie is in Alaska, USA and I am still in Canada! The Alaska-Canadian border is 1538 miles long and is totally unfortified.

Plaque At The Alaskian Canadian BorderPlaque At The Alaskian Canadian Border

After entering Alaska we spend a couple of nights in Tok and then head to Valdez via the Richardson Hwy.

Wrangell Mountains From The Richrdson HwyA view of the Wrangell Mountains from the Richardson Hwy in Alaska.

This is a view of the Richardson Hwy with the Wrangell Mountains. This is another area with gorgeous views around every corner. At times in the highest mountains it felt very lonely and isolated.

John & Marie with RV at Bridal Veil Falls on the Richardson Hwy before Valdez, AlaskaJohn & Marie with RV at Bridal Veil Falls on the Richardson Hwy before Valdez, Alaska

As we got close to Valdez the scenery was incredible. One minute we're at the top of snowy mountains with glaciers and then we're at gorgeous waterfalls and green mountainsides.

A lot of the businesses in Valdez weren't open yet but we managed to find a glacier tour and enough stores to keep us occupied for a few days. Now it's on to Denali.

Thanks for being here!

A young stone sheep along the side of the Alaskan Highway in northern British Columbia, CanadaA young stone sheep along the side of the Alaskan Highway in northern British Columbia, Canada

As we drive along we come across some stone sheep on the roadway. They come down to lick the salt off the road surface that remains after salting and cindering the roads.

Stone Sheep eating salt off the road on the Alaskan Highway in British Columbia, CanadaStone Sheep eating salt off the road on the Alaskan Highway in British Columbia, Canada

The young and females barely move and you have to drive around them.

A male stone sheep poses for a photo along the Alaskan Highway in British Columbia, CanadaA male stone sheep poses for a photo along the Alaskan Highway in British Columbia, Canada  

 

These photos were taken with my Nikon D7500 and a Nikon 300mm f4 AF-D lens on a tripod. The lens is a '90's film lens and does not have Vibration Reduction.

 

flat tire

So on the highest point of the Alcan Hwy we stop for the night because it's snowing, getting cold and dark and up ahead is an 8⁒ downhill grade. I wake up the next morning with a flat tire. Somewhere I picked up a nail. It's 24℉ and I had to chop the ice away to get the jack under the axle. To answer your question "why didn't I just call AAA", there's no cell service and town is two hours either direction and some towns listed on the map aren't open yet or even have a garage! I had the tire changed, checked air pressure on our whole rig and our friends and was back on the road in under 1.5 hours. Could have been worse!

 

St Elias Range MountainsMorning view of the St Elias Range along the Alcan Highway between Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing in the Yukon Territory, Canada.

So here's my reward for the flat tire! Miles and miles of gorgeous and breathtaking scenery!

 

Thanks for being here!

 

Above photo: Nikon D7500, Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 lens @ 38mm, 1/15th @ f16, ISO160, Bogen tripod, Hoya HMC polarizing filter

 

Welcome to Alberta sign, Coutts crossing, CanadaWelcome to Alberta sign, Coutts crossing, Canada

I'm driving at 100 kilometers per hour, it's -1 degree Celsius and the cashier wants to know if I want any loonies or toonies!!! WHAAATTT!!! We're not in the USA anymore Toto!

 

Welcome to Alberta, Canada and the Great White North! Eh! This post is from our travels the last week of April.

 

 

A large can of Canada's Tim Hortons original blend coffee on a stove topA large can of Canada's Tim Hortons original blend coffee on a stove top

 

And when in Canada, do as a Canadian would... have a cup of Tim Hortons in the morning, the unofficial official brand of coffee!

 

 

Canadian maple leaf flag blowing in a snow storm at Beaver Dam Golf & RV Resort in Madden, Alberta, CanadaCanadian maple leaf flag blowing in a snow storm at Beaver Dam Golf & RV Resort in Madden, Alberta, Canada

 

It's the last few days of April and we're just north of Calgary and hunkered down for a blizzard. 1/2 mile visibility, sideways snow all day and in the mid 20's.

 

 

An RV covered in snow and iceAn RV covered in snow and ice

 

We can't even put our Alberta sticker on the map!

 

 

GMC truck with kayaks in front of RV's in a snow stormGMC truck with kayaks in front of RV's in a snow storm

 

Because of the blizzard a lot of sightseeing is cut short.

 

 

Banff sign, Alberta, CanadaBanff sign, Alberta, Canada

 

 

We do get to visit Banff for a short day. The town of Banff is very quaint with a lot of chalet style buildings giving it a European feel.

 

 

A view of Mount Rundle reflecting in Vermillion Lakes in the foreground, Banff National Park, Alberta, CanadaA view of Mount Rundle reflecting in Vermillion Lakes in the foreground, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

It's still very early in the season which makes for some great photos and hardly any crowds.

 

 

Despite the thin ice warning people walk on a frozen Lake Louise in Banff Natl Park, Alberta, CanadaDespite the thin ice warning people walk on a frozen Lake Louise in Banff Natl Park, Alberta, Canada

 

Some lakes are still frozen and not everything is open. But how frozen are they? Ask the guy who fell through last week! This is Lake Louise.

 

A Canadian-Pacific train rolls along the Kootenay River in Banff Natl Park,A Canadian-Pacific train rolls along the Kootenay River in Banff Natl Park,

 

The snow capped mountains look great in the spring, especially with a Canadian-Pacific train rolling through.

 

Elk grazing while snowing in Banff National Park, Alberta, CanadaElk grazing while snowing in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

A bull elk starts to shed his winter coat and grow some antlers while grazing along the road.

 

 

A group of Alaska bound travelers pose at the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, CanadaA group of Alaska bound travelers pose at the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

 

After Calgary and Banff we headed north to Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaska Highway. When we get there it is still cold and snowing.

 

The Alcan as it is known, is 1,390 miles long and connects Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada with Delta Junction, Alaska, USA. The highway was started in March 1942. Its intent was to have an inland route to Alaska for the military for the protection of North America. It was officially opened to the public in 1948.

 

So here we go!!!

A group of Alaska bound travelers stop at the Yellowstone National Park sign for a photoA group of Alaska bound travelers stop at the Yellowstone National Park sign for a photo

wild west pizza This photo shows us six and our friends that are still working in Yellowstone. It is such a dynamic place and leaves an imprint of a special family that forever stays in your heart and soul.

Three bison profiles in a row grazing in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USAThree bison profiles in a row grazing in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA Nothing would be complete without a ride into the park to see some bison. These three were part of a small herd grazing along the Madison River.

 

Nikon D7500, 400mm f2.8 lens, 1/640 @ f4.5, ISO 320, tripod

 

 

Grand Prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, USAGrand Prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, USA

The Grand Prismatic hot spring never disappoints. The trail to the overlook was closed because of bear activity. That shot will just have to wait until next time.

 

Nikon D7500, 17-55mm f2.8 lens @ 19mm, 1/500th @ f11, ISO 100, tripod

 

 

Vixen Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, USAVixen Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone has over 10,000 thermal features which is about 25% of the thermal features in the world. You'll never photograph them all but you can always add a few more to your collection. During a walk through the Norris Geyser Basin I came upon Vixen Geyser looking like it could be from the moon or Mars.

 

Nikon D7500, 17-55mm f2.8 lens @ 17mm, 1/125 @ f14, ISO 100

 

From here we head to Bozeman, Shelby and then the Canadian border and on to Calgary. My blog is a bit behind our actual trip because of time and very limited cell service and data restrictions in the remote areas we are driving through. But we'll catch up soon. Thanks for being here and we'll see you soon.

 

Living, Working & Photographing

So after spending two summers workamping in Yellowstone I have put together a one hour program titled "Living, Working and Photographing In Yellowstone" to share my experience. I can also talk about the workamping experience and how it can relate to a retirement option to make it a two hour program.

I have a few dates available in NEPA in Sept. and early October. It is a very informative program for photo clubs and associations or your civic minded or other groups.

Also, I will be in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas from November through March for available dates.

Sunset In TucsonSunset in Tucson, AZ taken from the Coronado Ntl Forest

The sun has set on another workamping season. This photo was taken in Tucson, AZ where we spent the winter workamping at Far Horizons Resort for Cal-Am Resorts. This was our first time in the activities department and also working at a resort. Our job details included setting up and tearing down for the different events and activities, bartending, cooking and/or serving food and making sure our residents were taken care of.

John Frying PancakesJohn & Earl frying pancakes for the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at Far Horizons Resort in Tucson, AZ.

Here's me and Earl, another workamper, frying pancakes for an all you can eat breakfast. I would cook and Marie would serve.

Marie BartendingMarie pours a beer for a resident during happy hour at Far Horizons Resort In Tucson, AZ.

And here Marie's pouring a beer at happy hour. We served the Wednesday night hour. There was also one on Monday and Friday. They were all poolside with a band and free to the residents. Needless to say there was usually a big crowd.

John At The SoundboardJohn works the soundboard for the Sunday Morning Social program.

I also got to work the soundboard for some Sunday morning socials. Working in a busy resort gave us the opportunity to work many different jobs.

untitled butterflyuntitled butterfly

Our resort had a photo club and I just had to partake of the activities. We had a few photo shoot day trips which were a lot of fun. This unidentified butterfly was from a trip to the Tucson Botanical Gardens. These butterflies were in a greenhouse type building that was extremely humid and fogged my lens and glasses when I walked in. I kept cleaning them for ten minutes before they stayed clear. For these photos I used my Nikon D7000 and my Nikkor 105mm f2.8 AF-D micro lens. This is a mid-late nineties film lens. This image was shot handheld at ISO 640, 1/200th at f6.3. There's more butterflies in the Tucson gallery under Travel.

Far Horizons Foto Fun Club, Botanical GardensFar Horizons Foto Fun Club at Tucson Botanical Gardens, 03/13/18

Here's the group that went to the Botanical Gardens. Obviously these ladies like to have fun and I joined right in. It was nice being in a photo club again and sharing images and ideas.

Ukulele BandJohn plays in the ukulele band recital at Far Horizons Resort in Tucson, AZ.

The resort also offers free ukulele lessons. This was so much fun. We weren't really following music so everyone sang along as we strummed. At the end of the season we gave a recital at the Wednesday morning manager's meeting. There's a 10 sec video on my FB page; 

https://www.facebook.com/john.levandoski.5

Well now we're on our way to our summer workamping job at Cape Cod Maple RV Park and Campground in MA and looking forward to a great summer. We're so grateful for all of the wonderful experiences we have had since we started workamping. Every season is a new adventure and pushes our boundaries in a new direction. Every day is a new learning experience.

I'll leave you with this photo of a super moon rising behind a saguaro cactus. Best wishes to all of you and see you soon!

Super Moon & Saguaro CactusA super moon rises behind a Saguaro cactus in the Coronado Ntl Forest near Tucson, AZ on New Years Day 2018

Ruby, AZ Town SignThe Ruby, AZ mining ghost town sign.

Recently I had the privilege to to lead our photo club on an adventure to the ghost town of Ruby, AZ. This photo club is based in a 55+ retirement/snowbird park in Tucson, AZ. I mention this because I was the youngest at 63 years old and there were some mixed reviews about visiting Ruby. I admit now that I was a bit nervous about taking this group there. But I've been photographing old ghost towns for 20 years so I had to go and it was on their list of possibilities.

Travel Caution Sign, Ruby, AZA travel caution sign along the dirt road to Ruby, AZ, a mining ghost town.

Ruby is in the middle of nowhere. It is 12 miles from Arivaca, a small town with a general store, bar/restaurant, an art gallery, a humanitarian aid office and a coffee shop on the outskirts of town. About 6 of those 12 miles are down a dusty dirt road, 4 miles from the Mexican border with little or no cell service. The border patrol had a very heavy presence, as would be expected after seeing the sign above.

Bookshelf, Ruby Schoolhouse, AZAn old bookshelf in the one room schoolhouse in the old mining ghostown of Ruby, AZ.

After checking in with Michael the caretaker, we took off on our search for images. The old schoolhouse probably had the most opportunity with the classroom, an old piano, the sliding board and more to aim our cameras at.

Old Worn Out Keys, Ruby Schoolhouse, AZOld worn out piano keys of the piano at Ruby Ghost Town, AZ.

As I drive to these out of the way places in my air conditioned, 4x4 pickup truck, I wonder what would possess someone to come way out here, probably on a mule, and start digging. But mining and these mining towns are what built up the western part of our country. Railroads and fortune seekers followed. As the towns prospered their populations grew. Businesses opened.

Children's Sliding Board, Ruby, AZThe children's sliding board outside the schoolhouse in the old mining ghost town of Ruby, AZ.

And then the mines run out. A slow exodus follows. People leave what they can't carry. It's picked through by the people still there and then by gypsies and thieves looking for something to cash in for a quick buck. What's left eventually rots away and is reclaimed by nature.

Ruby Ghost Truck, AZAn old Ford dump truck sits rusting along the dirt road into Ruby, AZ.

Ruby is on private property and they are trying to make a tourist destination out of it. I saw about 30 visitors there that day counting the 12 of us. The website is quite modern and somewhat up to date. I called the phone number to get a group rate but a message stated they would not return calls. The caretaker said he couldn't oblige us with that request. The only other discrepancy was the condition of the restrooms and the gate wasn't opened until almost 10:00. I think the restrooms are the original outhouses from the early 1900's, but the ladies in our group didn't complain at all. Bring your own paper unless you like using an old Sears catalog.

Ruby Bunkhouse, AZRemains of old bunkhouses in Ruby Mining Ghost Town, AZ.

All in all our adventure to Ruby was a great day. We had a good lunch at the Cow Palace in Amado and there were some nice images shown at our next photo club meeting. I certainly wouldn't mind making another trip to Ruby, maybe later in the day to get a different light.

Ruby Mercantile, AZ

For this trip I used my Nikon D7000 with the Nikon 18-105 f3.5-5.6 G ED and a Bogen 055XB tripod with a 3047 head. On the piano keys photo I used a Nikon 105 f2.8 D AF micro lens. This is a mid-late 90's film lens. All images are shot in camera RAW format, then converted to Adobe DNG files and then edited in Lightroom.

The Beach At Ruby, AZ"The beach" at Ruby mining ghost town, AZ.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. If you are interested in purchasing any photos, use this one time code " Ruby " for a 20% discount on any Ruby image.

See ya soon.

Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone

Happy Birthday Yellowstone! In honor of Yellowstone National Park's 146th birthday today I'm offering a 14.6% discount on all prints for today only from my Yellowstone gallery. Enter discount code Happy 146 at checkout.

It was such an awesome experience spending two summers working there. Hopefully we'll be able to return for a summer again someday.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks!

Super-Blue MoonA super blue moon soon to become a super-blue-blood moon. Photographed in Tucson, AZ on 01/31/18.

We start with the super blue moon. It's super because at this time the moon is in it's closest position to Earth. It looks larger and is brighter. It's called a blue moon because it's the second full moon this month. The moon does not have any blue color to it. This usually only happens about once every two or three years. And this is where we get the phrase "once in a blue moon".

First Quarter Super-Blue-Blood Moon EclipseThe Earth's shadow starts to creep across the super-blue moon. When complete, it will be a super-blue-blood moon. Photographed in Tucson, AZ on 01/31/18.

As we're watching the super blue moon, the lunar eclipse starts. This is when the earth's shadow from the sun crosses the moon. This type of eclipse can occur up to three or four times a year depending on your location.

Half Of Super-Blue-Blood Moon EclipseThe Earth's creeps across the super-blue moon. When complete, it will be a super-blue-blood moon. Photographed in Tucson, AZ on 01/31/18.

It took approximately one hour for the shadow to completely cross the moon.

Last Quarter Super-Blue-Blood Moon EclipseThe Earth's creeps across the super-blue moon. When complete, it will be a super-blue-blood moon. Photographed in Tucson, AZ on 01/31/18.

Once the moon is completely in the shadow of Earth it takes on the reddish color. This is where it gets the name "blood moon" and is applied to all lunar eclipses today.

Super-Blue-Blood Moon EclipseA rare super-blue-blood moon lunar eclipse. Photographed in Tucson, AZ on 01/31/18.

The blood moon photo has had no color adjustments to enhance the red color. Though I did make some minor adjustments to sharpness, clarity, contrast and shadows, the color is how it came out of the camera. The montage was put together in photoshop. I used a Nikon D800E with a Sigma 150-600mm f6.3 Sport Edition on a tripod.

montage super-blue-blood moon eclipse

I hope you enjoyed this little photo essay on the super blue blood moon as much as I enjoyed photographing it. The next one visible in the U.S. will be January 31, 2037. At 82 years old, I don't know if I'll be able to lift the big lens anymore but I'll try! Workamping in Tucson, AZ put us in the right place at the right time for this experience.

Nogales Letters Sign, Nogales, MexicoNogales spelled out in large letters in the park.

Our point of entry was Nogales. The town was split by the border so there is a Nogales in the U.S. and Mexico. We parked in the U.S. at Ed's for $5.00 a day and walked across the border. Ed's had a lot of good reviews and it was the first lot we came to. Crossing the border was easy, no questions asked and no one to ask them.

Buses, Nogales, MexicoBuses parked on the street in Nogales, Mexico

You could easily see why they call it "Old Mexico". The bus in the above photo is the public transportation bus. Buildings are old, stores are closed and there are holes in the sidewalk. A lot of merchants stand outside and try to sell you right from the sidewalk, even yelling from across the street.

Coca-Cola Light, aka Diet Coke, In A Bottle, Nogales, MexicoTourist drinking a Coca-Cola Light, aka Diet Coke, from a bottle in Nogales, Mexico, December 2017.

Another warning was to not drink the water which includes ice in your margaritas. We found a nice looking restaurant at the Olivia Hotel in the middle of that district. We ordered bottled drinks and Marie's Diet Coke was a Coca-Cola Light in a bottle. We haven't seen Coke in a bottle for quite some time. The fish tacos were great but the tostadas had way too much lettuce on them. Even a rabbit couldn't have eaten it all. But all in all, it was good and we would eat there again.

Pro Photo Express Sign, Nogales, MexicoAn old Kodak sign, Pro Photo Express, hangs on Avenida Obregon street in Nogales, Mexico. December 2017.

Being a semi-retired photographer and having owned a camera shop, I got a big kick out of the old Kodak signs still hanging around town. This first one was at a small wedding studio. They had some very nice framed portraits hanging on display. I think that camera on the sign looks like a Mamiya 645.

Street Scene With Kodak Sign, Nogales, MexicoAn old Kodak sign hangs on Avenida Obregon street in Nogales, Mexico. December 2017.

We were warned there may be lines when crossing back to the U.S. so we planned on getting there early. We finished our shopping and headed back. Our time in line was about a half an hour, from 3:30 to 4:00. Entry was easy, just showing your passport to the agent and if he asks, just tell him what you bought. At no time during our trip did we feel we were in any type of danger. Naturally though, being in a foreign country with such a reputation we were very cautious.

Booty(s) From MexicoTourists show off the Mexican boots they got in Nogales, Mexico.

Here's us back in the U.S. after "gettin' some booty(s) in Old Mexico". We both bought a pair of leather boots at a great price. There are a number of boot stores with good prices. We also got some tequila at a good price. But here in Tucson the grocery stores have sales on hard liquor. On sale, prices are about the same. We couldn't communicate with the liquor merchant because of language. Personally, I'll leave the dentists and pharmacies for someone else. We had a really great experience and now we can say we did it. With such a great price on boots and tacos, maybe we'll go back for more. And yes, that is "the wall" behind us.

Thanks for reading and we'll see you soon.

Tucson is certainly different from Yellowstone. We've gone from two to twelve lane highways and traded bears, bison and thermal features for stores, casinos and shopping plazas. A good point is that a pizza isn't an hour away.

The first photo is us serving up dinner at the welcome back party. Hard work but somebody's gotta do it. Also there are photos of the pool area and the lobby.

The last photo is a Saguaro cactus at sunset in Saguaro Ntl Park, just 8 miles away. So we'll be working on some cactus photos over the season.

See you soon.

Workamping, Far Horizons, Tucson, AZ, 12/17John & Marie serving up the "Welcome Back" dinner at Far Horizons RV Resort, Tucson, AZ.

Pool Area, Far Horizons, Tucson, AZThe pool area at Far Horizons Resort, Tucson, AZ at sunset.

Lobby, Far Horizons, Tucson, AZThe lobby at Far Horizons Resort in Tucson, AZ

Saguaro Cactus At Sunset 1

Elk Rut #1, YellowstoneA bull elk appproaches a cow during the September rut in Yellowstone

It's September. As we sit around the campfire with a million stars above you can hear the elk bugling off in the distance. September is the rut or mating season here in Yellowstone.  As soon as the sun goes down they start and continue until morning. This bull has a harem of at least six cows that I can see and about four yearlings.

Elk Rut #2, YellowstoneA bull elk gets close to a female during the rut in Yellowstone

The bulls bugle to challenge other bulls for the females and then engage in battle for dominance. The stronger bull gains access to the females while the loser wanders off usually only hurting his pride. Calves are born in the spring, usually May and June, and are walking within an hour.

Young Elk Eating GrassesA young female elk with her winter coat eating grasses in Yellowstone Rocky Mountains in the spring

During the summer there are between 10,000 and 20,000 elk in Yellowstone but less than 5,000 in winter. Because snowfall and colder temperatures make food scarce the elk migrate to lower elevations to find better food sources.

Bull Elk, Cow And Yearlings, YellowstoneA bull elk watches as 3 yearlings run and a cow grazes during the rut in Yellowstone.

The bulls have antlers which start growing in the spring and fall off in March or April. They are usually symmetrical and are the biggest when a bull is between eleven and twelve years old. The bulls with large antlers are one of the most photographed animals in Yellowstone.

Bull Elk In An Autumn Field, YellowstoneA bull elk stands majestically in an autumn field in Yellowstone.

Well, the campfire's out and the stars are fading under the brightness of the moon so I guess I'll leave you with this tip; bring a few extra memory cards and a long, long lens when coming to Yellowstone.

Thanks for taking the time to read my travel blog and I wish you the best!

I am also reopening my website www.johnlevandoski.com for displaying my photo work and the sale of my images. To kick this off I am offering 25% off any order from my Yellowstone National Park images until 5/14/17. Use the code " Yellowstone 2017 " at checkout. You can find the images under " Fine Art ". Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks.

Best wishes to everyone!

After approximately 38 years in the photography business I am closing and retiring. I am extremely grateful for the patronage and everything everyone has done for me. I couldn't have done it without you. It has been a wonderful life and career.

Hopefully my future life will be just as exciting. My wife and I bought an RV, are selling the house and plan to travel and work in our National Parks. We are awfully excited about this and hope to be working at The Grand Canyon next summer. Everyone is telling me I'll still be taking photos so this will be the place to find them, under Blogs and special galleries in my Portfolio page. We welcome you to follow our adventures here on my new blog and website and soon to be Facebook page.

If anyone would like their files, at no charge, please contact me at 570-283-0795 by July 6th, 2015. Also I have some of my b&w art available for sale at retirement prices along with studio gear for photographers and hobbyists.

Once again, thank you and hope to see you here. And please stay in touch.

Call John Levandoski @ Camera Pro Studio for more information 570-283-0795.