Thursday, November 3, 2011

The City Escapes Fall 2011 Release is Out!

Our Fall 2011 Release is Out!

 

City Escapes Nature Photography is pleased to announce that our newest release, “No Lions, but Tiger (swallowtails) and Bears!” is now out!  This release features a selection of 21 images from Yellowstone National Park in winter, and eastern Canada, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in summer.

 

Come and find a new favorite!

 

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CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

City Escapes Photography Newsletter - Nov 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

November, 2011

 

 

 

 

Our New Release is Out!

 

Our newest release, “No Lions, but Tiger (swallowtails) and Bears!” is now out!  This release features a selection of images from Yellowstone National Park in winter, and eastern Canada, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in summer.

 

This past February, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Yellowstone National Park while it was still in the midst of winter – a first for me.  This incredible landscape, with which I already am deeply in love, showed itself to be even more intriguing, beguiling, and beautiful.  And for the first time, I became aware of just how harsh an environment it could be.  It was cold, with temperatures ranging from the single digits all the way up to the low teens, but what struck me most was the fierce wind.  Gusts blew snow into huge, opaque sheets that removed all capacity to see further than a few feet, and blasted my face with icy projectiles.  The entire landscape was covered in a thick blanket of snow, except where the hot springs were warm enough to keep it melted.  Though I usually camp on my trips to Yellowstone, this time around I was more than grateful to have a warm hotel room to return to each night.

 

The hot springs were perhaps more beautiful than I had ever seen them before.  They take on a completely different character in the winter, as their ability to create their own tiny weather systems becomes remarkably clear.  The banks of steam that rise from them are thicker than in summer, and with snow-draped mountains and trees as a backdrop, the entire scene seems somehow ethereal.  As a bonus, the rather unpleasant smell of sulphur that accompanies some of the springs is somewhat ameliorated in winter.

 

What made the greatest impact of all on me, however, was watching the resiliency of the animals that call Yellowstone home.  In areas where I would have guessed there was no foliage to be found, bison used their huge heads to push away several feet of snow from the ground, uncovering what can only be described as meager grasses.  Slowly, minimizing their energy expenditures, they searched for enough calories to sustain themselves through the winter.  Not all of them were winning that battle, and I have never in my life been more tempted to empty a grocer’s produce section to share its contents with my herbivorous friends.  (I didn’t.  Though the manner of it can be a difficult fact of life to accept, my carnivorous friends needed to eat, too.)

 

My journeys across Canada and into the northern United States later in the year were more joyful on the animal front.  Moose, fox, and especially black bears were out in force, and I had many opportunities to watch the playful antics of black bear cubs.  Most that I saw were yearlings, or cubs born the previous year, but I did see a couple of cubs of the year – those born only a few months prior.  These are my favorite: they are puffballs with feet that are exploring their world for the first time, and are absolutely delightful to watch.  Yearlings are pretty fun, too, as they still retain some of their playfulness and have not slipped completely into “adult mode.”  Bears are curious animals; at least one yearling was every bit as interested in me as I was in it, and seemed to be trying to figure out just what this funny looking, two-legged creature was.

 

The summer proved to be quite wet in these parts of the continent, and the rain filled streams and rivers to overflowing.  Mosquitoes and black flies were having a whale of a time, feasting on all manner of critters, both two- and four-legged.  Waterfalls, too, were full and gorgeous -- and I am a sucker for a nice waterfall.  In Wisconsin and Minnesota, I discovered that I need to allow for a longer visit the next time through, as there are more waterfalls and lakes in even a small area than I could ever hope to see in the short time that I had there this time around.  And bringing a canoe would not be a bad idea, either.

 

A short excursion to Niagara Falls made clear an interesting point about human perception.  Niagara is composed of three separate falls: American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls.  (Not to worry if you thought it was only two: many people think that American and Bridal Veil Falls are all one falls.)  The star of the show is definitely Horseshoe Falls, and that is the falls most people think of when they think “Niagara Falls.”  But at 1060 feet wide and 176 feet high, American Falls is no slouch.  Were it to be off by itself, American Falls would be a huge tourist attraction in its own right.  Yet next to the 2,201 foot wide Horseshoe Falls, the majestic American Falls occupies the position of sideshow attraction to many people.  Watching the reactions of my fellow onlookers, I was reminded that everything is relative.

 

Look for more images from this trip in future releases -- I have so much I want to share with you.  Until next time!

 

 

 

The Clock is Ticking on Your Facebook Friend Discount

 

Don’t forget to use your 5% Facebook friend discount!  Like us on Facebook, place your order by November 11th, and enter the discount code during checkout to take advantage of your 5% savings on any order over $60.  The discount is good on your entire order, not just one item, so if there are several prints that you have been eyeing, this is the time to get them all!

 

Also, don’t forget that from now until December 15th, get 10% off when you buy 5 packs of City Escapes Holiday Cards.  This year, send cards that demonstrate your love of nature AND your support for small businesses – all while saving money!

 

 

November’s Fun Facts

 

November finds stargazers looking skyward during the middle of the month, as the Leonid meteor shower lights up the early morning sky.

-     The Leonids are named for the constellation Leo, because the point from which the meteors seem to emanate, called the “radiant,” is in Leo.

-     The Leonids are the debris trail of the comet Tempel-Tuttle, a periodic comet that makes an orbit around the sun approximately every 33 years.  As the comet nears the sun, frozen gases within the comet thaw, releasing dust particles and causing a spike in Leonid activity.

-     Generally beginning on November 13 and ending on November 21, the Leonids’ greatest activity usually occurs on the night of November 17/18.

-     In most years, between 10 and 15 meteors per hour fall during the peak viewing period.  In years of extraordinary activity, however, more than three thousand meteors plunge into the Earth’s atmosphere every hour.

-     The accumulation of all of this space dust results in up to 12 tons of particulates being deposited on the surface of the Earth annually – just from the Leonids.

-     The meteors that we see each year can be hundreds of years old before they enter our atmosphere.  The particularly active 2001 and 2002 showers, for example, are thought to have been caused by dust ejected from Tempel-Tuttle during its passage by the sun in 1767 and 1866.

 

Want to watch the Leonids?  Here are a few tips:

-     Go out early in the morning.  Though the shower tends to become more visible after midnight, it is generally at its best just before dawn.

-     If you live in a brightly lit city, drive to a dark place north of the city.  Why north?  Because Leo, the center of the Leonids, rises in the northern horizon.  If you drive south, even though it might get you to a dark place, the glow of the city will be on your northern horizon and will diminish your ability to see the meteors.  And let’s face it, if you are going to stay up past midnight or get up before dawn, you want it to be worth it!

-     If you are going to take a star map or will need light for any other reason while stargazing, take along a flashlight with a red filter over the lamp.  This will preserve your night vision.

-     In 2011, unfortunately, there will be a quarter moon close to the radiant during the Leonids, making the shower that much more difficult to see.  But if you are the curious type or a die-hard stargazer, go for it!  And be sure to report back to us about your Leonids experience. 

 

Happy meteor hunting!

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

City Escapes Photography Newsletter - Oct 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

October, 2011

 

 

 

 

Worry-Free Gift Giving with City Escapes

 

Here is the scenario: you have found what you believe to be the perfect print to give to someone special in your life as a birthday or Christmas gift.  But deep inside, a little voice nags at you: is that really the print that your loved one likes the most?  We here at City Escapes Nature Photography know that feeling of doubt, and we don’t like it any more than you do.  From the very beginning, we decided to silence that little voice by making it easy to exchange a print.

 

Our return policy is very simple: any unframed, non-canvas print can be returned to us – for any reason – within 30 days for either another print of the same size or a full refund.  We even pay for the return shipping!  Any framed print and all canvas prints can be returned within 30 days for a store credit for the full amount* of the item.  It’s that simple.  So when you decide to buy that perfect print, you can rest comfortably knowing that if it wasn’t the right one, the recipient can exchange it for their preferred image. How easy is that?  (See our full return policy for additional information and conditions.)

Around this time of year, some people get a little tripped up by the 30-day time frame.  They want to get the lowest numbered print they can (especially if they can get the very first of an edition), so they want to order their print as early as possible.  They don’t, however, want to have to give their gift print early in order to stay within the 30-day exchange period.  Not a problem – we have a solution for that, too.  The important point here is that the 30-day return period does not begin until the print is actually delivered to you or your “ship-to” designee.  Therefore, when you order a gift print, simply indicate that it is to be given as a gift and include the date that the print is to be presented.  We will then process your order normally, but wait to ship the print until the appropriate time, thereby enabling your recipient to have the print during the 30-day return period. This enables you to get the lowest edition number available at the time of purchase, without having to present your gift weeks or even months early.

There are, of course, a few caveats:

-             Full payment must be made at the time of purchase, not at the time of shipment.

-             While we aim to get as close as possible, we cannot guarantee that your print will arrive on a specific day.  We ship UPS ground, and will err on the side of being early rather than late.  Thus, if it is imperative that the print reach the recipient on a particular day, we suggest that you have us mail it to you directly, so that you may present it to the recipient at the appropriate time.

-             The closer the holidays get, the longer it will take to get items to you.  Order early for the best chance of having your print arrive on time.

As the holidays (and in my family, a whole bunch of birthdays) approach, keep in mind that while our normal turn-around time is one to two weeks, this time of year it is wise to give us a month or more to get your order on its way to you, depending upon what you order.  If we do not already have your desired piece in stock, know that unframed paper prints are the fastest; framed paper prints and gallery-wrapped canvas take a bit longer; and framed canvas pieces take the longest (but can definitely be worth the wait).

Your happiness is our goal!  We strive to make the process of adding beauty to your life, or the life of a loved one, as easy as possible.  If at any point you have questions, problems, or concerns, please contact us at customer-support@city-escapes-photography.com or call us at (509) 396-5154.  We will work with you to ensure your complete satisfaction.  We want you to be thrilled with your new print!

*Items framed in custom-ordered, specialty frames will be issued a store credit for the amount of the item minus a 20% restocking fee.

 

 

‘Tis the Season to Order Christmas Cards – Plus Get a Special Facebook Friend Discount

 

From now until December 15, 2011, get 10% off when you buy 5 packs of City Escapes Holiday Cards.  Each pack contains two each of five different images, for a total of ten cards per pack.  These cards are perfect not only for personal Christmas wishes, but also for companies who want to send greetings that will stand out.  Order early, as this offer is only good for as long as supplies last!  Find the City Escapes Holiday Cards on special at http://www.cityescapesphotography.com/specials/index.html

 

Plus, friend us on Facebook for an additional 5% discount on anything over $60.  But hurry!  This offer is only good until November 11.  Check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NaturePhotographs for details!

 

 

October’s Fun Facts

 

October 16 was National Boss’ Day.  In honor of this special day, this month we focus on none other than the wild ass.

 

-      African wild asses, the ancestors of the modern donkey, were first domesticated by the Egyptians more than 6000 years ago.

-      Only about 570 African wild asses still exist in the wild.

-      The Somali wild ass, though of the familiar gray color in the body and head, sports black stripes across the legs similar to zebra stripes.

-      The brays of the African wild ass can be heard for almost two miles.

-      The Tibetan wild ass is the largest of the wild asses, with the males standing over 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing in at over 800 pounds.

-      Tibetan wild asses live at elevations up to 17,400 feet above sea level!

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

Saturday, September 24, 2011

City Escapes Photography Newsletter - Sept. 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

September, 2011

 

 

 

 

The Well-kept Secret that is South Dakota

 

(This is the second installment in a two-part series on places new to me that I had the good fortune to experience over the summer.  See the August 2011 newsletter for the first installment about the Great Lakes.)

 

I admit, albeit sheepishly now that I have seen my error, that I had very few expectations of South Dakota.  Like many who visit this relatively ignored state, I had done little research and planned on seeing only two things during my short stay: Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial.  After all, I had a lot of ground to cover during the rest of my trip, and what else could I possibly hope to see in South Dakota?  As it turns out, quite a bit.  As my journey through this magnificent region got underway, my ignorance and naïveté of the state’s wonders rapidly became painfully clear. 

 

My exploration centered around the southwestern corner of the state, home of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial.  I had few preconceptions of what kind of ecosystem I would find there, except that there would be one mountain with carvings of four of our presidents gracing its face, and another mountain slowing growing an image of Crazy Horse.  Despite this, I was fairly certain that it would not be too mountainous, at least not on the scale I knew (I spent over a decade in the Rockies), and I was pretty sure that swamplands would be nowhere to be found.  Other than those very vague and generalized ideas, South Dakota was a blank to me.

 

I soon discovered that this area was also home to the Black Hills and Badlands National Park, two gems that are must-sees for any nature lover traveling through the area.  Both are a scrambler’s paradise, full of spires, cliffs, buttes and ravines.  Scramblers should stay alert and focused, however, as the rock is soft and crumbly, and a fall could be deadly.  Oh, and did I mention the rattlesnakes?

 

The Badlands are striking not only for their magnificent striated rock formations, but also for their sudden and barren appearance.  The largest protected mixed-grass prairie in the United States very abruptly gives way to towering cliff faces and sharp peaks, devoid of most vegetation.  The area was created by a fierce combination of volcanic action and erosion, and is quite arid.  It is not surprising then that it is also home to a number of impressive fossil discoveries, including a small camel, a three-toed horse, and my favorite, a saber-toothed cat.  In fact, so many dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Badlands National Park that it has earned the nickname of “the dinosaurs’ playground.” 

 

The park is not all about animals of yesteryear, however; it is also involved in an attempt to keep one particular animal from becoming an animal of yesteryear.  The black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America (in 1981, only 18 were known to exist), has been reintroduced into an area of the Badlands known as the Sage Creek Wilderness, where they find an abundance of the two things they need most to survive: prairies and prairie dogs.  Black-footed ferrets live in prairie dog burrows and rely almost exclusively on prairie dogs for food.  Though the precise number of ferrets now living in the Badlands is not known (it is difficult to count nocturnal animals that live in burrows), it is known that their numbers are increasing.  Nationwide, and including one site in Mexico, it is estimated that 1000 black-footed ferrets now live in the wild, with between 150 and 220 additional ferrets being released annually from captive-breeding centers.

 

It is easy to understand why the ferrets would be released in South Dakota, as there are many jokes here to the effect that prairie dogs greatly outnumber people -- and that is not a difficult concept to believe.  In 1900, a massive prairie dog colony was discovered: 100 miles by 250 miles, it contained an estimated 400 million prairie dogs.  Though their habitat and numbers have been greatly reduced over the last century, the playful rodents are still quite plentiful and easy to find.  Amusing little creatures, one will suddenly stand up on its hind legs and give a shrill bark, which starts a mini-prairie dog wave as others in its colony immediately follow suit.

 

The Black Hills have spires, ravines, and other rock formations similar to the Badlands, but covered in trees.  The trees are actually how the Black Hills got their name -- it certainly wasn’t from the color of the rock, which in many places is a deep and startling red.  Rather, when viewed from a distance on the prairies and grasslands, the Hills look black due to their covering of dark trees.  Famous for the gold found in them, they are also strikingly beautiful.  I stumbled across a part of the Black Hills known as Custer State Park with its lakes, forests, stunning vistas, and winding roads with a few hairpin turns through low, narrow rock tunnels thrown in for good measure, and I immediately wished that I had allocated more time for this surprising gem.

 

Then of course, there was Sturgis, Deadwood (of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane fame), and oh, yeah, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial.  Not to mention other treasures that I didn’t get to, such as Wounded Knee, Jewel Cave (the second-longest cave in the world), Devil’s Tower…  It looks like another trip to this “relatively ignored state” is in order.

 

 

 

Attention Early Birds – City Escapes Christmas Cards on Sale Now!

 

If you’re like most people, you don’t even want to think about the holidays yet.  However, if you’re one those highly motivated few who like to get organized early, you’ll be happy to know that the City Escapes Holiday Cards are already available – and on sale!  From now until December 15, 2011, get 10% off when you buy 5 packs.  (Each pack contains two each of five different images, for a total of ten cards per pack.)  These cards are perfect not only for personal Christmas wishes, but also for companies who want to send greetings that will stand out.  Order early, as this offer is only good for as long as supplies last!

 

 

September’s Fun Facts

 

This month we focus on South Dakota, of course:

 

-      The Black Hills of South Dakota are the highest American peaks east of the Rockies.

-      The oldest continually operating gold mine in the world, and the largest in the United States, is the Homestake Mine in the ironically named town of Lead.  A little alchemy, anyone?

-      Clark boasts a Mashed Potato Wrestling contest.

-      Over 500 wild horses make their home in the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.

-      An artesian well feeds the South Dakota State Capitol Lake.  Water from this well has a natural gas content so high that it is flammable.  The Flaming Fountain, built to take advantage of this unusual water source, is a memorial to all South Dakota veterans and burns in perpetuity.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

Sunday, August 21, 2011

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - August 2011

Text Box:  
Diggin'It 3 -- Crumby Work

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

August, 2011

 

 

 

 

The Wonder of Exploring New Places – The Great Lakes

 

Over the past few months, I had the good fortune to be able to do a little exploring in southern Canada and the northern United States.  Being a Texas girl by birth and a Western transplant by choice, much of the central and eastern parts of North America remain a mystery to me.  Thus it was with great interest that I found myself traversing heretofore unvisited states and provinces for a few weeks – and I must say, I was pretty enthralled most of the time.  Two regions in particular struck me as much more fabulous than I had ever imagined: the Great Lakes and South Dakota.  Up for examination this month: the Great Lakes.

 

The Great Lakes region is well known at the very least for nasty storms and bad winters.  If you don’t live around the area, that is quite possibly all you know about the region’s temperament.  Thus it was with delighted surprise that I found myself bowled over by the Lakes’ beauty and, I admit it, their immensity.  There is something remotely unsettling about being in a boat on a lake and not being able to see land in any direction, even in perfectly clear weather.  About being able to watch as a lake makes a significant impact on weather patterns.  About realizing that the Edmund Fitzgerald lies somewhere not too far south of you, a victim of the fiercest of these innocent-looking lakes.  Even in the relative calm of summer, the Lakes’ reputations for iconic storms hung in the air like a mist, warning that these are not lakes to be tamed by man.  Gazing at the immense bodies of water, I could not suppress the sense of awe I felt at their raw power, made all the more poignant by the calm that maintained control over the tempest.  As the rain clouds gathered, the sky grew ominous, and the winds whipped at my vehicle, I tried to imagine what a serious Great Lakes storm must feel like -- this was just a little rain storm, nothing like the storms of legend.  I had the overwhelming sense that I was at the mercy of Mother Nature, and I was grateful that she was generally in a good mood.

 

That brief introductory experience was all I needed to become hooked on these magnificent lakes.  A boat trip across Lake Huron followed by a week-long exploration of the North Shore of Lake Superior cemented my love of the area, and I have only just scratched the surface of what there is to see and do there.  I was taken in by a shoreline crowded with thick green forests, interrupted by outcroppings of smooth rock in brilliant oranges, reds, and yellows – rock that is among the oldest on Earth, no less.  (One memorable afternoon, the scene was made even more spectacular by the appearance of a healthy adult black bear on one of these outcroppings.)  The colors of the water were practically chameleonic: slate gray under the overcast sky, but full of ribbons of the most vibrant teals, royal blues, and deep violets when the sun broke through.  When the rocks were wet and the sun was out, it was not difficult to imagine that this is where Mother Nature got the idea for the rainbow.

 

My infatuation, however, was not limited to the Lakes themselves; the entire area is enthralling.  I had never been in a place where the best, and sometimes only, way to explore parks and reserves was in a canoe or a kayak.  I now understand why Minnesota is known as “the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” and this says nothing of its many waterfalls.  While I do not know if this is true or not, it certainly felt as though much more of the region was accessible by canoe than by car.  Everywhere I looked, there was a body of water, usually only a short portage away from yet another body of water.  Due to this summer’s heavy rainfall in the area (sorry, Texas), many of the lakes and rivers were over their banks, lending a slightly surreal air to my visit.  Park benches were underwater to the top slat of their backs, while fields of maple trees more closely resembled Louisiana swamplands than a northern deciduous forest.  Even disregarding the unusually high water levels, a canoe would seem a wise investment for any outdoor enthusiast living in the area.

 

Then, of course, there was the wildlife.  I saw more black bears in this region than I have ever seen before, including two adorable little puff balls with legs (cubs of the year), and a yearling that was a little too used to people for his own good.  Red fox abounded, and moose were not infrequent on the Canadian side. And the butterflies!  Tiger swallowtails flitted about almost en masse.  Unfortunately, other bugs were in top form, too: giant mosquitoes on the Canadian side, black flies on the U.S. side, all of them wanting their pound of flesh.  A bug jacket quickly became my new best friend.  

 

It was in the Great Lakes region that I saw my first, and so far only wild orchids growing in an area that did not include the word “tropics” in its description.  I could scarce believe my eyes when I came across dozens of them dotting the roadway in Canada.  Canada!  The land of snow, ice and polar bears, had native wild orchids growing along its highways, bursting with color like living fireworks.  This is one of the aspects of traveling that I love the most: discovering new and unexpected things about a region.  Breaking through the preconceptions that we all hold of what a particular area will be like, looking for the real character of a place beneath its hype and stereotype.  Learning a bit more than I knew yesterday.  On this particular journey, I discovered that this is an area that simply cries out to be explored -- only next time, I’ll take a canoe.

 

Next month: South Dakota’s beautiful surprises.

 

 

A Great Big Thanks to Atticus Books in Park City

 

The weekend of August 5-7 found us having an impromptu show during the Park City Arts Festival in Park City, Utah.  We want to extend a huge note of gratitude to Randy and Erica of Atticus Books and Tea House on Main Street for their support and assistance in allowing us to set up shop in front of their store.  If you’re ever in Park City, Atticus makes a mean cup of tea (one of Jodi’s favorites is a chocolate cream black tea – yum!), as well as superb coffees.  We met some wonderful people during the Festival, and we want to welcome our newest clients and newsletter subscribers to the City Escapes family.  We’re glad you’re here!

 

 

 

August’s Fun Facts

 

-      There is enough water in Lake Superior to flood all of North and South America to a depth of one foot.

-      Because Lake Superior is about 350 miles wide, in the summer, the sun sets more than 35 minutes later on the western shore than at the southeastern edge.

-      Fifty-eight orchid species are native to the Lake Superior basin.

-      Superior’s southern shores are home to the largest lake effect snows on earth. 

-      It is estimated that 350 ships have been lost on Lake Superior since 1816.

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154