Where to Live

ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
edited February 26, 2012 in Landscapes
Here's a question for you.

If you, as a landscape photographer, could choose to live anyplace in the continental US, where would you want live?

I say, as a landscape photographer, because I am wondering where the best place to be, visually, aesthetically. A place that will keep you inspired to shoot.
uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
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Comments

  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Why limit the choice to the continental US? I ask that because Hawaii is an obvious first choice to me.
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Good point.

    When I daydream about moving, thinking about family commitments, I usually limit my daydreams to the continent.

    Otherwise, might have to think about the South Pacific or the Seychelles!



    Earache wrote: »
    Why limit the choice to the continental US? I ask that because Hawaii is an obvious first choice to me.
    uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
    ackdoc.com
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Ah......daydreams....I hear ya!
    Hawaii attracts me because of volcanoes, fish, rain-forests, snowy-peaks, whales, culture, canyons, cliffs, etc. etc..... Especially the volcanoes!
    I think I could amuse myself for a year or two.
    Dang it - now I'm gonna spend the whole day dreaming! thumb.gif
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • dave6253dave6253 Registered Users Posts: 229 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Southern Utah
    dave6253.smugmug
  • SystemSystem Registered Users Posts: 8,186 moderator
    edited February 20, 2012
    For mountain landscapes, Estes Park, Colorado
    For sunsets, Captiva, Florida
    For skylines, Chicago, Illinois
  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Winters in Southern Utah and summers near the Canadian border by Glacier.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
    http://500px.com/Shockey
    alloutdoor.smugmug.com
    http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
  • ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Not being that familiar with Southern Utah, I just googled it, came up with an interesting travel piece, with an attached photo gallery that immediately clear why its being mentioned: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/travel/12outback.html?pagewanted=all
    uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
    ackdoc.com
  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Look up Arches Canyonlands Zion if you want to see the good stuff.....and there are a lot more than just those.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
    http://500px.com/Shockey
    alloutdoor.smugmug.com
    http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
  • oldovaloldoval Registered Users Posts: 456 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    Nope, nothing to see here in southern Utah........move along.
    Nate
    http://nathanwiley.smugmug.com/
  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    oldoval wrote: »
    Nope, nothing to see here in southern Utah........move along.

    haha....sorry it is not that big a secret.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
    http://500px.com/Shockey
    alloutdoor.smugmug.com
    http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited February 20, 2012
    I would say Utah and Montana.
    "I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

    Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

    My Smug Site
  • PappyRootPappyRoot Registered Users Posts: 174 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    I vote Utah. I moved here because of the beauty and majesty. If you ever get out this way let me know I will show you around.

    Darryl
    Sometimes, it is better to be kind than to be right. We do not need an intelligent mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listens. Unknown
    *************
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  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,940 moderator
    edited February 21, 2012
    I'm with Zoomer.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,245 moderator
    edited February 21, 2012
    I've been thinking about this very same question for several years. My age forces me to come up with a retirement plan that focuses on National Parks, photography, and low cost living. That brings me to Idaho Falls, or thereabouts, if this plan works out some day. Why Idaho Falls? Nothing special about that place, exactly, but almost every National Park in the northern half of the US is a day trip away. The housing prices are so low there that it pains me every single day what I am paying to live here.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • squirl033squirl033 Registered Users Posts: 1,230 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    Oregon coast. endless source of ever-changing beauty and grandeur, yet within relatively easy driving distance to Crater Lake, southern Utah, the Redwoods, etc...
    ~ Rocky
    "Out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone, and take back something worth remembering..."
    Three Dog Night

    www.northwestnaturalimagery.com
  • squirl033squirl033 Registered Users Posts: 1,230 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    David_S85 wrote: »
    I've been thinking about this very same question for several years. My age forces me to come up with a retirement plan that focuses on National Parks, photography, and low cost living. That brings me to Idaho Falls, or thereabouts, if this plan works out some day. Why Idaho Falls? Nothing special about that place, exactly, but almost every National Park in the northern half of the US is a day trip away. The housing prices are so low there that it pains me every single day what I am paying to live here.

    i hear ya, David! at the moment, i'm planning to retire to Roseburg, Oregon... that is, IF i can find a job to retire FROM!! 2 hours to Coos Bay, 2 hours to Crater Lake, a day's drive to Zion, Bryce, northern, Arizona... and the cost of living there is far lower than here in soggy Seattle! i actually considered Idaho Falls area myself, but decided i don't want to live that far from the ocean... ;)
    ~ Rocky
    "Out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone, and take back something worth remembering..."
    Three Dog Night

    www.northwestnaturalimagery.com
  • David_S85David_S85 Administrators Posts: 13,245 moderator
    edited February 21, 2012
    My wife wants ocean or a very large swimmable lake very near by. Problem is, the cost of those amenities are huge. Other than that, she is on board with the cost of living angle, much lower population, less (Illinois) politics and the possibilities of looking at stars and northern light displays every now and then. I'm waiting for my current employment situation to include Idaho or Montana as an option. Right now that may be many years off. So I am stuck here for now. Bah. We're planning a vacation later in the spring or the summer for an Idaho tour and Yellowstone.
    My Smugmug
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
  • CrokeyCrokey Registered Users Posts: 195 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    I'll have to make do with just a visit to any of the places mentioned above! Or wait for the Chinese to build theme park style replicas of them...won't be long now.
    Regards,

    Colin Croke

    http://colincroke.smugmug.com/
  • WayupthereWayupthere Registered Users Posts: 179 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    What a great and timely thread..as I steal about 60 min a day looking/calling about Fl real estate..mwink.gif
    Photography wise I am in a sweet spot. 7000ft..27 miles to the nearest traffic light..closest town 900ish people. eek7.gif
    BUT..and there is always a but..I am tired of winter :pissed This time of year all I can think about is a sunrise shot on the Space Coast :seamus
    Gary
  • CornflakeCornflake Registered Users Posts: 3,346 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    Even if photography were the only consideration, I might stay in Arizona. I love it. I have no complaints about the opportunities for photographs.
    Don
    Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
  • shawncshawnc Registered Users Posts: 718 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    Arizona, Utah, N.M. Tremendous landscape opportunities. I'm with Cornflake, Arizona is my fav, with a somewhat short commute to access the beauty in my neigh-boring states.
    http://www.shawncarden.smugmug.com/
    https://www.flickr.com/people/scardenphoto/
  • ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    Well, I feel lost living in New England. Actually, I'm probably in one of the more scenic parts of NE but, as a 14x3 mile island, there's only so much to photograph. I'm daydreaming of a move. And it sounds like a move out west!
    uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
    ackdoc.com
  • A-1 BossA-1 Boss Registered Users Posts: 120 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    I don't know if some of you are like me but I always fail to look in my own backyard. I live in Southern Utah and have never gone and photographed Zion or Arches but I have thousands of photos of California, Hawaii, and Mexico. I know this is an unforgivable sin.....so I confessed. Please forgive me!
  • oldovaloldoval Registered Users Posts: 456 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    A-1 Boss wrote: »
    I don't know if some of you are like me but I always fail to look in my own backyard. I live in Southern Utah and have never gone and photographed Zion or Arches but I have thousands of photos of California, Hawaii, and Mexico. I know this is an unforgivable sin.....so I confessed. Please forgive me!

    You're not alone. I have a friend from work who has lived here the majority of his life and hadn't even driven through Zion or Bryce untill last year.
    Nate
    http://nathanwiley.smugmug.com/
  • ghinsonghinson Registered Users Posts: 933 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    That's the best thing about living on an island. A well-photographed island. I have no choice but to photograph in my backyard. And, have to find new ways to see it too, since everyone else has already photographed it.
    uosuıɥ ƃǝɹƃ
    ackdoc.com
  • CornflakeCornflake Registered Users Posts: 3,346 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    "I know this is an unforgivable sin.....so I confessed. Please forgive me!"

    Go and sin no more, A-1 Boss. Actually, we're all guilty. I pass up great opportunities all around me because I'm anesthetized to them by overexposure.
    Don
    Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
  • eweb84eweb84 Registered Users Posts: 25 Big grins
    edited February 21, 2012
    Now I'm not much of a landscape photographer and I am only 27, but if I had to pick a place. It would be in a RV (big or little it wouldn't matter). That way, one week I could be in southern Utah and the next week I could be at Grand Canyon. Wherever my little heart desired.
    Eric M. Weber
    http://www.ericmweber.smugmug.com/
  • cj99sicj99si Registered Users Posts: 880 Major grins
    edited February 22, 2012
    ghinson wrote: »
    Good point.

    When I daydream about moving, thinking about family commitments, I usually limit my daydreams to the continent.

    Otherwise, might have to think about the South Pacific or the Seychelles!


    I have to agree Seychelles was a very unique amazing place!
  • theprincereturnstheprincereturns Registered Users Posts: 132 Major grins
    edited February 22, 2012
    Go for Hawaii :-) But don't pick Oahu where I live (beat up compared to the other islands). Just got back from a weekend trip to Maui and it was amazing! Only problem is the cost of living on any of the islands that might prevent you from having as much free time to pursue photography. It has been an amazing expirience living here though. One of the coolest things about Hawaii is the extream diversity of climates packed into a very compact location. All the islands are like this to an extent, but for example on maui you can go from near desert, rainforest, ocean, tundra, mountains, snow, lava fields, redwood forest, cattle country, agricultureal feilds, etc. . all on one island on the same day. The water color and skys are amazing.

    Honolulu from Diamond Head.

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    Lucas Smith Photo
    Photography Website
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  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,940 moderator
    edited February 22, 2012
    Wayupthere wrote: »
    BUT..and there is always a but..I am tired of winter :pissed This time of year all I can think about is a sunrise shot on the Space Coast :seamus
    Gary

    Move to Boulder :D Milder winters. Not quite as hot and humid as is FL.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
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