Due to many recent changes in the Internet and our lives, we’ve discontinued our monthly newsletter.
Thanks to everyone who subscribed to our monthly newsletter. With the advent of feeds and feed readers, emailed newsletters are slowly becoming obsolete and redundant. To help readers keep up with the information on our site, we have dozens of feeds for readers to choose from, covering the whole site, site comments, and a variety of categories to narrow down your reading interests.
Thank you again to everyone who enjoys our site and our information and welcome to the future of the Internet: feeds!
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VANFOSSEN PRODUCTIONS NEWSLETTER
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Issue Date: November 1, 2002
Issue Number: 01
VanFossen Productionshttp://www.cameraontheroad.com
Editor/Publisher: Lorelle VanFossen lorelle@cameraontheroad.com
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Welcome to the first issue of the VanFossen Productions Newsletter. This monthly newsletter is for the nature photographer, nature writer, or someone with a foot in both camps. We will cover environmental issues, motivate and inspire your photography and writing, offer tips and advice, highlight others who are doing great thing, and help you keep focused and motivated to do your best work.
We’ll start by offering this newsletter once a month, and if we like the response, we’ll do it more often. Let us hear your input at newsletter@cameraontheroad.com.
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WHAT’S INSIDE
@FEATURE ARTICLE – Telling the Whole Story
@TAKE ACTION – Will Technology Save the Planet?
@LINKS AND RESOURCES – Writers Resources, FreeFoto, Space is Nature
@BE INSPIRED – The Louvre, Headlines for Ideas
@WHAT ARE THEY DOING? – Fall Workshop Schedule – REGISTER NOW
@NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS – Shopping for Inspiration, Photographic Adjectives
@WRITING ADVICE – Paper Choices, Typing Hyperlinks
@NATURAL WANDERINGS – Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
@XTRA XSPECIAL TIPS – Cancer Commits Suicide in Israel
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@FEATURE ARTICLE
TELLING THE WHOLE STORY
By Lorelle VanFossen
On a personal note, Brent and I are doing great in Israel, no matter what the media portrays. As a matter of fact, access to our portal to the world around us is about to change. Israel’s television services are canceling CNN on all networks, save one subscriber service.
Repeatedly, Israelis have accused CNN of bias towards the Palestinians and not giving Israel equal representation. We all know the media is biased, no matter what our journalism professors wanted to drum into our heads. In general, reporters and photo journalists do their very best to show both sides of an issue, and, truthfully, much of the bias is in the hands of the editors and publishers of the information, not the information gatherers. The phrase “if it bleeds, it leads” is a long-held tradition. After all, the bottom line is the pocket book and the share of the viewer market. The more you attract viewers, the more likely you are to stay in business.
As worried as people are about us in Israel, I look outside my window and see a “normal” life, maybe even more normal than the life you are living. The sun is shining on the park of trees below my apartment with children and their caretakers playing, singing little songs in Hebrew, Russian, Romanian, and occasionally English. Joggers and walkers slap their feet on the paved path that winds through the forested park along the playground, sculptures and water fountains. A short walk down the street finds my bread, vegetable, dry cleaner, and food shops, conveniently lined up along the same side of the block. People bustle by, wearing as little as possible in the oppressive heat of summer, hats of all colors, shapes and sizes on their heads and plastic shopping bags filled with produce in their hands as they scurry back to their air conditioned homes and offices. Cafes are half filled with the young and the old, chatting with friends and enjoying coffee and a sweet. Workers from the nearby office buildings pause for a moment outside the cafes to order a coffee-to-go or a cheese filled bourekas or croissant. An ambulance goes by, siren wailing, but it is just delivering a heart attack victim to the nearby hospital, not a victim of terror. The flower seller, his pots overflowing with brilliantly colored flowers of every hue and shape, waves to me as I walk by, taking a moment to notice me, turning his attention away from the three people with money in their hands for the flowers. Roger, the youngest of the vegetable stall workers, jumps up and runs out onto the sidewalk to give me a hug and kiss, smelling like a touch of sweat, tobacco, and fresh watermelon. His head is self-imposed shiny bald and his grin stretches, literally, from ear to ear, always pleased to see me and to inquire as to the health of my husband. Because Brent speaks Hebrew so fluently, he is a hit in the local shops as they can hardly communicate with me, but adore me and my weak attempts at Hebrew. Everyone goes out of their way, once they know you, to assure you that you are wanted and welcome. Sure, there are signs of stress and worry, but life goes on, as it did before the Intifada started, and as it will continue, long after the Intifada is over.
Turn around and compare this with the Palestinians. Honestly, they are suffering. Look at how they are portrayed in the media. They are living in squalor, looking dark and dusty as if they rarely get the luxury of a bath. They are angry, sad, depressed, living among bombed out or bulldozed buildings. They look suppressed and “occupied”. Many businesses are closed down, a lot of them burned out and lying in ruin, often damaged by their own hands as they riot in their own streets, though Israeli forces have done their own destruction as well. Young boys are shown dirty and tattered, lining up throwing rocks at the soldiers or training to become future suicide bombers. Visually, the Palestinians look like they are in a war zone. Visually, the Israelis are getting on with their lives, running businesses, driving around, going on holiday, living normal looking lives on the surface. Which story would you really want to tell about? The life that looks like yours or the one that is visually different.
Let’s look at some of the visual differences. Palestinians parade their dead through the streets, often accompanied by machine gun toting masked militants, shooting bullets up into the sky, screaming and shouting at the cameras, inciting the crowds. Israelis hold quiet, dignified funeral services, everyone speaking softly, respectfully, a few family members and friends breaking down into tears of hysteria, supported by others. Palestinian parents announce publicly that they are proud that their child killed himself in a terrorist act and that they would willingly give up more of their children to the “cause” of killing Israeli civilians. According to recent surveys, some seventy percent of the Palestinian population supports the Intifada and the suicide bombers. Israeli parents, knowing their children will have to serve in the army when they graduate from high school, fret and worry, with mothers lining up at the bus station to wave good-bye and cry as they watch their children go off into an army, involved in conflict every single day, that is fairly strict but also forgiving in its severity. Israeli mothers are well known for taking a strict officer to task for being too harsh on their child, something unheard of in most armies around the world. Many Palestinians work overtime to sneak across the border into Israel with guns and bomb making materials, analyzing and surveying areas to determine where they could bring the most death to the Israeli population, living the reality of a fictional spy novel. Almost every day the local news runs a story about another Palestinian would-be suicide terrorists who was stopped by the police or IDF trying to cross into Israel from the West Bank or Gaza with explosives or Kalishnikovs. Israelis live with the reality of security guards outside of buildings, shops, grocery stores, restaurants and cafes, checking purses and bags and running hand-held metal detectors over people’s bodies before they enter. They walk, drive and bicycle more as an alternative to taking the bus, the frequent target for terrorists. When terrorism strikes Israeli or American citizens, Palestinians celebrate and dance in the streets, as seen after September 11, 2001, until the story was buried by the local authorities. No one celebrates in Israel’s streets when they hear of terrorist acts in the world. When Israel strikes back against the Palestinians, Israeli citizens mourn and gather around their televisions.
Which would you rather photograph? Which part of the story would you rather tell? It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong in this situation. Visually, it is what it is and it is much easier to tell the story of a group that is so visually suffering. Sitting in my safe little apartment above the green garden in Tel Aviv, for three years now I’ve watched CNN, BBC, Sky News, two local Israeli news stations, and news stations from Spain, Russia, India, Italy, France, and Germany, as well as four channels from Jordan and the Arab Israelis. I check out various news web sites and study how the world is watching the “Middle East Conflict”. Who is more or less biased against whom? I have to say that most stations give more time to the Palestinians visually, but most are pretty fair in their coverage. They will tell the Israeli side, but they do so while running footage of the suffering Palestinians and the visual horror of a terrorist act. While people are listening to both sides of the story, they are seeing only one side.
As a photographer and writer, I am always learning about how to tell the story better. Yet, am I biased in my own “reporting” and story-telling? Sure I am, but how? Think about it for yourself. One of our favorite places in the world to photograph is Jasper, Alberta, Canada. What attracts us? Elk, moose, deer, and big horn sheep wander close to the road, giving us easy access. Ground squirrels and pikas, some of our other favorite creatures, are also easy to photograph close up, allowing us to fill our image inventory with their portraits. Yet, there is more to the story of the area that we often forget about. What about the habitat these animals are dependent upon. Isn’t this part of the story? What is it about the area that keeps them there, thriving? Are they thriving? Is this their truly native habitat or have they been forced there for their “protection”? How do weather conditions affect the area? What about earthquakes and the geology? Is that important? What is threatening the animals and their habitat? What are they doing to co-exist with the human invasion into their area? Are they adapting or retreating? How are humans adapting to living with wildlife around them? Since I tend to go towards the dramatic story, what is the quiet part of the story that I’m missing that is just as important?
I will admit that CNN did try to respond to the bias issue by featuring a week-long series of shows on the “Terror in Israel”. It was an incredible series and Brent and I were thrilled to be hearing from regular people about how the Intifada was affecting their lives. Listening to CNN’s Wolfe Blitzer interview a Holocaust survivor, one of the few survivors of a suicide bomber attack at the Park Hotel in Netanya during Passover Dinner, I was touched by the simple way he tried to explain that he was more afraid to be living in Israel now than he ever was during the Holocaust, though he would live nowhere else. He reminded us that Jews, as a nation, have outlasted most of their persecutors for 5000 years. The Palestinians are just the current troublemakers. Now, the Jews have their own land back legally and they will die to defend and protect it. There will be no more diaspora, no more leaving. That’s a quiet story that is hard to photograph. How do you tell the story of a group of people determined to go nowhere?
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT LORELLE AND BRENT?
As one of the first nature photographers with a column in a webzine (now called “e-zines”), Lorelle VanFossen has long been a popular writer, speaker and presenter online and in the real world. Along with her husband, Brent, the two shed their urban skin to live on the road, cris-crossing North America for several years living in a trailer and now living in Israel. Their work has been regularly featured in many magazines and online sites such as Outdoor and Nature Photography, Shutterbug, Mountaineer, PSA, Compuserve, and more. For more information on their amazing life and work, visit the Doing Zone to find out what they are doing.
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IT JUST TAKES ONE
It just takes one person to change the world. Sharing this newsletter with just one person spreads the news that the world is worth changing. To sign up a friend, email newsletter@cameraontheroad.com with their email address and we’ll add them to the list. Then you, too, will have made a difference.
Thanks for your support,
Lorelle and Brent
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@TAKE ACTION
WILL TECHNOLOGY SAVE THE PLANET
In April of 1998, the Department of Energy released a report stating that “technology innovations in the 21st century will lead to cleaner air and water, more fuel-efficient cars, and healthier, genetically engineered crops.” Specifically it mentioned developments in the area of micro manufacturing, genetic engineering, water treatment, wireless communications, molecular design, bioprocessing, and enviromanufacturing and recycling, efforts that should be in place by the year 2008.
Some technological breakthroughs announced included reducing our dependence on paper by the increased accessibly of wireless and web-based communications. Advanced technical display systems, small and portable, would allow the exchange of information without paper. Freeing ourselves from reliance on paper means decreased waste levels and would reduce the impact of chemicals on the environment from the manufacturing of paper and ink products. Think of all the trees that could be saved.
Improvements would be seen immediately with the introduction of improved water treatment at sewage plants, removing organic compounds which can have undesired reactions with chlorine and other chemicals in the water. Combined with developing higher crop yields with genetic engineering and plant manipulation, the world would increase food products and develop a more efficient use of water and soil requiring less use of chemical fertilizers.
This enthusiasm for all things “natural” was predicted to develop into a growing demand for “green” manufacturers to create more products that are biodegradable or recyclable, putting less strain on landfills and the environment.
It’s now four years later and coming to the end of 2002. Has any of this been done? Where has it been done? In your neck of the woods? Find out if any of these efforts are being used near you. There are many stories and photographs to be found in such research. Part of nature photography and writing is not just capturing the wildlife, but also the impact humans have on the wildlife and its habitat. For example, check out our article on the Wakodahatchee Wetlands sewage treatment and nature reserve for more on how water sewage treatment plants are also becoming havens for wildlife, putting back natural areas once threatened by human development.
If your research reveals that little is being done in your community, how can you get involved? Consider writing a story about the benefits of new agricultural techniques which rely less on chemical fertilizer and pest repellents and use more natural products. Visit an organic farm and tell their story. Explore some of the office buildings around town and see if businesses are becoming more dependent upon Internet and wireless communication for the exchange of information. Ask them if their paper supply purchases are down. Do they recycle their paper waste? Is there a box for recycling paper near their computer and photocopier? Who is handling recycle processing in your community? Is their business growing as people become more environmentally aware? Are there organizations promoting environmental awareness and recycling within your community?
Find out, get involved, ask questions, take pictures, write articles, and just take action.
TOPIC LINKS
* Department of Energy
* Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (created initial report)
Environment Technology
* Environmental Protection Magazine
* Global Environment and Technology Foundation
* Department for Energy and Heritage of the Environment, Australia
* Water Environment Federation (US)
* US Environmental Protection Agency
* Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in India
* United Nationals Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
* Vietnam Science, Technology, and Environment Information
* Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (International)
* Information on Environmental Problems Community Outreach Program (NYU NIEHS)
* Centre for Environment, Technology and Development in Malaysia (CETDEM)
Organic Gardening List of Places
* Organic Gardening Magazine (USA)
* Information on all things gardening
* Organic Gardening Tips and Information
* Tips and resources for do-it-yourself organic gardening
* Organic Gardening News
* Green Nature Links and Information
* Organic Gardening List (newsletters, list servers, etc.)
* Listing and information on organic farms in Britain
* The Gardener’s Directory for international organic gardening info and groups
* HYDRA – The Organic Organization
* Organic UK
* The Vegetable Patch
* Organic Gardening Down Under
Recycling Information
* American Forest and Paper Association
* National Office Paper Recycling Project’s Office Paper Recycling Guide
* WorldWise, article on recycling paper
* Make Your Own Recycled Paper
* The Art of Recycling Paper
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@LINKS AND RESOURCES
* Inscriptions Magazine: Online Newsletter/E-Zine with tips and info on what is happening in the writing industry. This “newsy” newsletter is filled with good interviews and tips adding up to 15 to 25 pages via email.
* Coffeehouse for Writers: Recognized by Writer’s Digest as a top site for writers, check it out for information on tips, how to, freelancing, fiction, non-fiction, writing for magazines, and more. They also offer a wide range of links to other writer resources.
* Who Is Who and Who Are They? Need to get some information about someone or something and need to access the public records? Visit Netronline Publish Records for an easy way to access official state web sites where tax assessors and recorders publish public records.
* Learn From Other Photographers: While we don’t endorse giving away your pictures, we do believe you can learn from photographers who do offer their images by studying how they see the world around them. Inspiration can come from anywhere. FreeFoto offers 34,000 free photos online.
* Space is Nature, Too: Designed for children, but entertaining enough for adults, visit the NASA for Kids site to learn more about space, rockets, space stations, astronauts, planets, and more. After all, nature photographers will be needed when we can easily visit the nature of space.
“””””””””””””””” BE INSPIRED “””””””””””””””””””””
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
“I look like a photographer. I keep my antennae out and pay attention. I move slowly and work quickly. I want to be an active observer not a passive bystander. It breaks down the barriers because here I am, looking like I just landed from Mars with all this equipment on me, and I’m cute and funny and make them laugh as I should. I build a rapport at that moment.”
Nevada Weir, Travel photographer
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Creativity is dangerous…Its pleasure is not the comfort of the safe harbor, but the thrill of reaching sail.
Robert Grudin, The Grace of Great Things
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“One should never forget that seeing and producing an effect of nature is not a matter of intellect, but of feeling…I avoid being conventional as much as possible.”
Carl Frieseke
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VISIT THE LOUVRE ONLINE
Visit The Louvre Online and tour one of the world’s greatest museums. Located in Paris, from the amazing architecture (modern and ancient) outside to the incredible artwork inside, this museum is filled with inspiration. Pick a painting and study how the artist used the light and shadow to add depth and texture to the image. What details did he or she include, and what was probably excluded from the scene? If the painter was standing before the scene, where were they standing? What was their perspective? What time of the day is it? What was the light source? Learning and inspiration comes from all around you. Why not spend a hour or so visiting some of the masters’ works and be inspired?
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LOOKING FOR IDEAS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?
Are you hunting around for newsworthy topics and ideas for your photography and writing? Why not check out what is hot right now in the headlines of the news from around the world. Even an issue effecting South America can find a connection with your home town. Check out the headlines at Newseum’s Today’s Front Pages.
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@WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
Brent and Lorelle VanFossen offer a variety of courses, not limited to nature photography. For information on what is involved in our workshops, check out our program FAQ. Unless otherwise mentioned, these programs require advance registration as space is limited. To register, contact Lorelle VanFossen in Israel at 972-3-696-1890 or lorelle@cameraontheroad.com.
The VanFossens are currently living in Israel and the upcoming programs there include:
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAMS
* Basic Nature Photography
2-Day Workshop
Friday and Saturday
October 25-26, 2002
Fee: NIS 250/ESRAcards 200
8AM – 4PM, Downtown Tel Aviv
In this comprehensive two-day workshop, participants learn the basic elements of exposure, composition, and equipment, and will have fun exploring the world through the camera. Program includes one classroom day and one day in the field for hands-on learning. Great for tourists, artists, nature lovers, and anyone. Advance registration required as space is limited. Call Lorelle at 03-696-1890 or email at lorelle@cameraontheroad.com.
* Wild Thing, I Think I Love You
Photographing Wildlife
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Fee: NIS 90/ESRAcards 80
7-10PM, Downtown Tel Aviv
Take your camera on an adventure exploring the wild side of nature photography. Learn about photographing animals in the wild, in national parks and wildlife refuges, zoos, wildlife parks and game farms. Fun and innovative, this program covers a wide variety of techniques. Optional free field trip at the Safari Zoological Park in Ramat Gan. Advance registration required as space is limited. Call Lorelle at 03-696-1890 or email at lorelle@cameraontheroad.com.
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INTERNET WORKSHOPS
SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER NOW!
* Internet Basics: Introduction to the Internet
Thursday, October 31, 2002
9:30 AM Refreshments
10:00AM – Noon Lecture
Women’s League Building, 37 King George St., Tel Aviv
FEE: NIS 35/ESRAcards 30
Registration: Stella 03-629-3936
Learn the basics in this introduction to the Internet:
> What is the Internet? The Web?
> What is a link?
> How do I find things?
> What does Yahoo really mean?
* Internet Tips and Tricks
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
7-10PM, Private Home, Ramat Aviv, Israel
FEE: NIS 60/ESRACards 50
Advance Registration Required: Stella 03-629-3936
This 3-hour workshop offers a variety of tips and information for the advanced beginner to intermediate computer user on:
> Making the Internet more “user friendly.”
> How to make the process faster
> Search engines
> Finding the information you want and need
> Tips for shopping on the Internet!
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To bring a VanFossen Production to your group or association, check out our workshop information for more information on available programs and workshops. They are now available in the traditional slide show format as well as digital for projection on television or lcd digital projector.
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@NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
GO SHOPPING FOR INSPIRATION
A visit to a local stationery shop can open a whole world of possibilities for the photographer, revealing all the different ways photographs are used. Patterns are great for backgrounds as well as for use on printed papers and stationery. Wrapping paper, book covers, folders, notebooks, calendars, coffee mugs, and all kinds of things feature photographs. Study the types of images they use. Lots of animals, scenics, flowers, or patterns? Write down a list of what you find. Next, step over to the note cards, postcards, and calendars. Look for pictures featuring local subjects and locations. Write down a description of how they were photographed, where, and when. Do they feature popular landmarks, festivals, pr people doing regional activities such as surfing or hiking? When you get home, write down all the ways you can capture the same subjects on your list, but do so using your own unique perspective and abilities. You know you can do better than they can, so go out and do it.
EXPAND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ADJECTIVES
When Brent and I discuss our images, we tend to use a form of shorthand language. “Pika rocks pika” refers to images taken among giant pink boulders in the Columbia Ice Fields near Jasper, Alberta, of pika, a small gerbil-like creature that lives among the talus of mountain sides. We use other references for the pikas we’ve photographed elsewhere. Do you tend to shorthand your image references, too? Maybe you are short changing yourself.
Consider exploring verbal descriptions through the use of a dictionary and thesaurus to expand your visual repertoire. The more visual concepts you develop, the wider the perspective of your subject may grow. For instance, look up “soft” in the thesaurus, as in soft fur or soft light, and you will find words like pliant, supple, elastic, furry, downy, silky, satiny, calm, delicate, subdued, muted, fuzzy, blurred, tender, gentle, mushy, squashy, pulpy, doughy, spongy, swampy, boggy, and so on. These are very visual words. When you hear “pulpy”, are you inspired by vivid images of fresh squeezed orange juice? Satiny has a distinct visual “feel” to it, suggesting satin sheets, negligees, and other clothing. The challenge is to take these visual words and capture them on film. Give it a try.
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@WRITING ADVICE
SNAIL MAIL – IT’S ABOUT THE PAPER
In general, editors prefer white paper with black ink for submissions and manuscripts. While this is the norm, is it in keeping with your “environment friendly” values? When submitting to an environmentally conscious publisher, or when you are the environmentally conscious one, consider using recycled paper. Sometimes it is a bit more costly, but you are setting a standard for yourself and the publisher, telling them that you really care about the environment and are willing to prove it by making appropriate choices. Sometimes this subtle effort can make a big difference in how you and your work are perceived. If you happen to use soy inks and not environmentally damaging inks, make a small note of this at the bottom of the last page of the submission…just to let them know you are serious about your mission to save this planet.
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TYPING HYPERLINKS
Most software is so sophisticated nowadays, it seems to read your mind. Or at least it thinks it is. For instance, when typing a hyperlink (link to a web page) or email address, the software recognizes it and when you hit the space bar, it turns the address into a link. Then there are times when you want it to turn into a link but you put it at the end of a sentence. You hit the period key and then the spacebar, putting the period into the hyperlink reference, turning http://www.cameraontheroad.com into http://www.cameraontheroad.com.That simple period can turn a working link into a Page 404 File Not Found Error.
If your word processing software does this, you can remember to hit the spacebar which turns the address into a link, and hit backspace then period to end the sentence. Or, especially if you need clean copy, you can turn off the automatic hyperlinks within your program. In WordPerfect (dependent upon the version) click on the menu Tools, Settings, Environment, and unclick the Activate Hyperlinks check box. In Word, from the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Under Replace as You Type, select or clear the Internet and Network Paths With Hyperlinks check box.
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WANT MORE GOOD INFO?
Visit http://www.cameraontheroad.com for more articles on the business and artistry of nature photography and writing. We’d like to especially recommend you check out our article “The Photographic Sherlock Holmes – Playing Photo Detective” where we introduce you to the detective techniques you need to uncover your photographic crimes.
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@NATURAL WANDERINGS
~^~ Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge ~^~
In addition to the tens of thousands of birds which migrate through Bosque del Apache in the center of New Mexico each year, over 100,000 varieties of the human species join them. All of the humans are seeking a peek at the more than 300 species of birds, and consider themselves fairly lucky if they catch a glimpse of the more than 75 different species of mammals and 60 species of amphibians and reptiles. But the Sandhill Crane and Snow Geese attract most of the fame and glory in this small community.
To read more on this fascinating location for photographing thousands of birds during the winter, visit our article on the tips and tricks for photographing at Bosque del Apache.
-> Contact Info: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Address: P.O. Box 1246
Socorro, New Mexico 87801 USA
Phone: 505/835-1828
Fax: 505/835-0314
-> Hours: The Visitor’s Center is open Monday – Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm and weekends from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm year round. The refuge tour route is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset every day of the year.
-> Getting There: Not far south from the largest town in the area, Socorro, NM, on I-25. From the north, take I-25 south to San Antonio exit 139, then route 380 east.5 mile, then State Highway 1 south 8 miles to refuge. From the south, take I-25 north to San Marcial, then north on state highway 1 for 9 miles to refuge.
-> Best Time: Beginning in late October and early November, winter is the best for access, cooler temperatures, bird migration, and mating season. Excessive fall and spring rains and occasional storms can bring flooding. Extreme winter cold can bring snow and freezing conditions, so be prepared.
-> Famous for: The Annual Festival of the Cranes on the third week of November each year. In the winter, the refuge is popular for sandhill cranes, eagles, and snow geese numbering in the thousands. During spring and fall, visitors can watch migrating warblers, flycatchers and shorebirds.
-> How to visit: September through March is the best season. Begin with a stop at the Visitor’s Center for maps and information on what has been found in the area recently and where. With a vehicle, the 15-mile auto tour loop allows wildlife viewing and photography. Working from within the vehicle allows close access as the wildlife is accustomed to vehicles and it acts as a blind. Bring and use mosquito repellant and sun lotion.
-> Habitat: The refuge consists of marsh, grasslands, flood plains, and desert uplands of the Rio Grande Valley among the 57,000 acres of wetlands providing an excellent habitat for sandhill cranes, snow geese, ducks, and more than 300 other bird species. The refuge is divided into three wilderness areas: Chupadera, Indian Well, and Little San Pascual.
-> Wildlife: While the spring and fall are popular for viewing birds, the summer provides excellent viewing of nesting songbirds, waders, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Other wildlife residents include pheasant, turkey, northern harriers, snipe, coot, quail, and roadrunner, as well as coyote, mule deer, rabbits, beaver, raccoon, skunk, porcupine, and muskrat. Pronghorn and the occasional black bear can be found in the desert areas of the refuge.
-> Equipment: Long lenses are highly recommended to get decent images of the birds. A moderate to wide angle is nice for scenic views of the groups of birds. Best photography time is early morning and late afternoon when the light is low, so a tripod is critical. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes for bird spotting.
SITE INFORMATION WEB LINKS
National Wildlife Refuges – Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Photographer: Don B. Photo has extensive info on Bosque
Geological Information from NMT
Bird Check Lists
Orthdata Check List, List 1
Orthdata Check List, List 2
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SHARE THE WEALTH WITH FRIENDS
Living in Israel, we’ve learned the value of friends. To USA, Israelis seem to be some of the most friendly folks on earth. I guess squeezing about 6 million people into a country the size of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, everyone knows almost everyone else. Do you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Help us share the wealth of information and tell them to send an email to newsletter@cameraontheroad.com and we’ll add them to the list.
Thanks,
Lorelle and Brent
PS: Want to compare how big Israel is to the rest of the world? Check out Iris Organization of Israel and US-Israel Organization Peace Relationship to get a better perspective on how little Israel is. Compare its size with its news coverage and be surprised!
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@XTRA XSPECIAL TIPS
From time to time we run across some special tidbit that we feel we must share.
CANCER COMMITS SUICIDE IN ISRAEL
August 20, 2002 Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have developed a technique to convince cancer cells to “commit suicide”. Developed by graduate student Alexi Shir, PhD, and Alexander Levitzki, Wolfson Family Professor of Biochemistry of the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University, they have engineered a virus that will convince the cancer cell to behave in a manner similar to that of normal cells under attack. The usage of this technique is specific to virulent brain tumor cancer, but could target other cancers, possibly eliminating the need for chemotherapy treatments in the future. So far, this technique has proven harmless to normal cells.
Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University
Alexander Levitzki
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HERE IS ALL THAT LEGAL STUFF
*|* Copyright 2002, VanFossen Productions and Lorelle and Brent VanFossen. All rights reserved. You have permission to share this e-mail publication via manual forwarding by e-mail to others providing that 1) the e-mail is transmitted in its entirety (that means the WHOLE thing) and that 2) no fee is charged. Information in this document is provided "as is," without warranty or endorsement of any kind, either expressed or implied, without limits. Broadcast, publication or storage, in any form, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of Lorelle and Brent VanFossen. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. We will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this information, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages, and just plain old meanness. We like playing fair, how about you?
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