I must be crazy!

I’ve been selling prints of my photos for over three years now. It’s no secret to me what people buy. Dramatic landscapes and beautiful flowers sell more than anything else I shoot. Yet I feel compelled to shoot wildlife. Luckily, I have enough of a retirement to provide for my basic needs. And it’s a good thing too, because otherwise I would starve. I’ve just bought a new zoom lens and refurbished camera in order to get better wildlife shots. Am I nuts?

 

Red-Tailed Hawk Swoosh; red tail; red tailed; red-tail; Buteo jamaicensis; mid takeoff; flight; fly; flying; raptor; bird of prey; wild; wildlife; liftoff; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Red-Tailed Hawk Swoosh

When I go out to a wildlife area, and come back with something like this, I feel like I’ve won the lottery! All the excitement, without the money! It’s just so challenging and fun, I can’t seem to help myself.

Egret Contemplating; great egret; ardea alba; lost in contemplation; white heron; bird; wading bird; water; marsh; reflecting; reflection; grass; feathers; breeze; wind; wild; wildlife; nature; natural; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Egret Contemplating

Don’t misunderstand, I still want to shoot landscapes, but the wildlife is definitely calling me. So, on the way to my next landscape destination, I find myself planning to pass by as many National Wildlife Refuges as possible. I want to revisit Zion National Park, where I visited in 2011.

Zion National Park; Utah; storm; clouds; rock; rocks; cliff; red; orange; trees; weather; sandstone; desert; southwest; canyon; fog; mist; sky; beauty; nature; natural; scene; scenic; beautiful; Loree Johnson

The Storm Clears

So, I’m switching it up. Instead of staying in the same place for two weeks or a month at a time, I will be heading to the desert and only staying for a few days at each stop. I hope to be in the southwest as spring arrives. But I also hope to see some interesting wildlife along the way.

sandhill crane mating dance; sandhill crane courtship; bird; fly; flying; spring; Grus canadensis; male; female; pair; jump; splash; dance; flap; marsh; wing; wings; wingspan; song; call; wild; wildlife; beauty; grace; in; and; the; a; on; over; to; of; with; under; above; Loree Johnson

Sandhill Crane Mating Dance

So, friends and fans, stick with me and continue to travel along vicariously, even if I’m crazy. I’ll be following my bliss and we might just see some interesting creatures along the way. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. Then again, maybe I’m just crazy.

raven; bird; desert; walk; strut; black; beak; feathers; wild; wildlife; photo; photograph; photography; animal; loree johnson

Walk Like a Raven

11 Comments

  1. Suki on January 31, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Nope you’re not nuts. Wildlife rocks!! Love your pictures. Wish I could afford to buy more.

  2. Loree on January 31, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    You’re right Suki, wildlife rocks!

  3. Anonymous on January 31, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    You’re not crazy, you are talented and living the dream. If the dream changes slightly, it’s okay! We so enjoy your posts!

  4. Anonymous on January 31, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    You’re not crazy. You are talented and living the dream. If the dream turns slightly in another direction, that is OKAY too! Love seeing your posts.

  5. Elaine Kische on January 31, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    You’re not crazy. You are following your dream. If your dream changes slightly, it’s OKAy!! I love seeing your posts! You are so talented.

  6. Stanley Krute on January 31, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    We’re all crazy. What’s important is that it’s a happy useful life-enhancing form. Which you’ve got. And we all get the benefit !!

  7. Loree on February 1, 2015 at 7:58 am

    Thanks to you all. Stanley, I like your attitude. Crazy isn’t so bad, is it?

  8. Ron Paradis on February 2, 2015 at 2:14 am

    Go gettum honey. Wish I could join in on your upcoming adventures.
    Say, what do you use for a zoom lens for your wildlife shots? They turn out so crisp. Did you go ahead and get the Nikon 7100? I will be buying some products from you. The trouble is deciding between all of your great photos.

  9. Emily Rankin on February 2, 2015 at 10:36 am

    I always enjoy receiving at your your e-mail telling me your latest Endless Weekend post is up. Your comments & photos are great. Your not crazy, if you are, I’m the Queen of England

  10. Loree on February 4, 2015 at 11:21 am

    Hi Ron. Sorry for not answering your questions right away. I have very limited internet access at the moment. Anyway, most of my wildlife images were taken with the Sigma 150-500mm lens. But, last week I received the Tamron 150-600mm and have been shooting with that one recently. And yes, I’ve been using it with a D7100.

  11. Jayme Pierce on August 19, 2015 at 7:37 am

    I was scanning through your images and of course, admiring them. But at the same time, I was wondering how you were able to capture so many images in all of these different locations! Then I read your biography. What a lucky person you are to be able to spend your days doing what you love and are so very good at. I’m lucky to travel to one of these beautiful places once every couple of years!! Thank you for sharing your images and your stories. I will definitely be following you!

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

Receive an email whenever a new article is posted.

Links

Purchase Prints

Connect with me on facebook.

Post archives by category:

Newest images:

https://loree-johnson.pixels.com/collections/whats+new

Pin It on Pinterest