with Lorelle and Brent VanFossen

Author Archives: Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen is one of the top bloggers in the world, and host of the Lorelle on WordPress, providing WordPress and blogging tips for bloggers of all levels. A popular keynote speaker and trainer, she is also editor, producer, contributor, and official disruptive thinker for Bitwire Media which includes WordCast, Making My Life Network, Stories of Our Journeys, Life on the Road, WordCast Conversations, and the very popular WordCast Podcast. She is also author of one of the first books on blogging, "Blogging Tips: What Bloggers Won't Tell You About Blogging" and the recently released ebook, Social Media for Crafters: Covering the Basics of the Social Web. Taking Your Camera on the Road, founded by Lorelle, is one of the oldest personal websites in continuous existence in the world.

Battling the Wilderness Inside – Florida

March 21, 1998 – Lake Worth, Florida Just a quick note to tell you that indeed we are alive and so far the storms smacking Florida have left us dry and fine. Well, as fine as Brent and I ever get in our total weirdness. Our journal entry today will actually be about a bit […]

Meeting a Moose: Head On – Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Alongside the Ice Fields Parkway between Banff and Jasper National Parks lies unique natural depository of pink boulders. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Out in the middle of nowhere: Pink boulders. Seems a passing glacier carrying these huge boulders from one place to another, and decided to drop its load. They sit out in the middle […]

Maps, Tracks, and Getting Lost – Asking for Directions

Traveling on the road full-time, asking directions becomes part and parcel of everyday life. While living in Spain, I found the word “there” had a lot of different meanings. This added to the general confusion associated with asking for directions. The word “there” translates into Spanish as alla and va par alla and the list […]

Under the Covers – Camouflage Techniques for Photographing Wildlife

The life of a nature photographer does have its exciting moments, especially when you get under the sheets with your camera. The use of camouflage can make a difference in how close you can get to nature. Many animals are threatened or suspicious of sights, sounds, and smells they don’t recognize. The human form and […]

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Address: P.O. Box 6504 Titusville, FL 32782 Office: (407) 861-0667 Visitor Center: (407) 861-0661 web sites:US Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Refuges Search University of Florida, Wading Birds of Merritt Island EMail:r4rw_fl.mrt @mail.fws.gov Hours: The refuge is only open during daylight hours. Getting There: From I-95: take Exit 80 (SR 406) […]

Is Living on the Road Full-time Right for You?

Is full-time life on the road right for you? What kind of person can live on the road full-time and call it home? What does it take to go it alone (or with others) on the road? Full-time life on the road is hard work. It is uncertainty. It is fear. When you take your […]

Equipment Lust – Light Accessories

When we hit the road with our cameras, we plan carefully for all possibilities. We can’t anticipate everything, so we carry the following filters and accessories to enhance our “light opportunities”. Filters Filters are popular accessories, but use them wisely and carefully. They enhance, affect and change the image we see through the lens. There […]

Equipment Lust – Buying Used Equipment

If you are looking for used equipment, consider buying a brand with the widest range of accessories and product line. Nikon is one of the oldest and most popular in the used market because most of the old-style lenses work on new camera bodies. Some features of newer bodies may not be functional with older […]

Equipment Lust – Pack It For Keeps

I just don’t understand it. We research and plan our camera purchase, saving up for that $800 lens and $1000 camera body, giving up eating out and other frivolous expenditures to have the perfect camera. Then we rush out to the local department store to spend $19.95 to carry it all. A camera bag is […]

Equipment Lust – Accessories Can Make the Difference

Sharpness is essential to professional photographs, and the serious pros realize the business of photography is about beating the competition. Professional nature photographer, John Shaw, explains, “Since we are all using the same film, the same cameras, same lenses, how can I compete? Most of us are even photographing the same subjects! How can I […]

Equipment Lust – Picking a Body

Most serious cameras offer features like complete manual control and interchangeable lenses. Four features we feel set a few camera bodies apart from the crowd are an easy to read meter, depth of field preview, mirror lock-up, a 100% viewfinder, and a cable release. These are critical tools for our photography. Meter The most useful […]

Equipment Lust – User Friendly Camera

Basic Elements in Good Equipment When shopping for a car you don’t always buy just for looks. You get in and test drive it. How does it handle? How do you feel behind the wheel? You get out and kick the tires, lift up the hood, check the trunk and storage areas. You read Consumer […]

Equipment Lust: The Hunt for the Ideal Camera

The tools of a painter consist of paints, canvas and brushes. With paints there are thousands of colors and types to choose from: watercolor, oil, pastels, and more. Brushes are similar: nylon, horsehair, and a variety of natural fibers and synthetics, not to mention shapes and sizes. Canvases? Some like smooth surfaces, some rough, some […]

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge 10216 Lee Rd. Boynton Beach, FL 33437-4796 Phone: 561-732-3684 Fax: 561-369-7190 Email: loxahatchee_r4rw @fws.gov Web Page: FWS Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge How to get there: The refuge is located near Lake Worth, Florida, west of Boynton Beach on Lee Road, just west of US 441. From 1-95, west […]

If It’s Going to Break Down, It Will Invariably Happen in a Small Town On a Saturday Night

It never fails. In fact, you can count on it. If it’s going to break down it will invariably happen in a small town on a Saturday night. Every time. The corollary is that it the greater the hurry you are in, the longer it will take to get the parts. We’ve traveled 60,000 miles […]