Grand TetonsOne of my favorite photos from our excursion. Over the summer of 2018, my family took an RV trip to see the western states. We made a loop which started in Colorado and went to Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, respectively within a 10-day span. Our kids (12 and 13 at the time) had never seen the mountains or beautiful views this continent has to offer. We felt this would be a great opportunity for them (and us)  to experience the gorgeous western landscapes first hand. This is a photographer's dream vacation and I couldn't wait to start taking pictures. I majority of my work is sports photography so I was thrilled to step outside my comfort zone.

We decided not to waste gas and travel time driving from Chicago to Colorado, so we flew into Denver instead. We rented a van and then traveled 6 hours to pick up the RV we had rented in Bayfield, CO. After an incredibly exhausting day, we finally settled in at our first campsite.

After getting some much needed rest, we were westbound the next morning. We had between 6-8 hours of travel between destinations so we were able to see a lot of country. Most of the photos shown in my blog were actually taken through the front window of the RV while we were on the move. Each time we would stop for fuel, I'd scrub the windshield to try and get all the dirt spots and bugs off the glass. The passenger side was MUCH cleaner than the driver's side!

We had the opportunity to drive through Arches National Park during our adventure. I've never seen so much orange in my life. These pictures are not edited for color at all . . . this is the actual color of the rock AND the sky!

It's amazing to look at the rock formations. You can see where the earth shifted and "sliced" the face of the stone off.

One of the strangest things to me was some of the plants growing in the wild. In the photo above, this evergreen-like bush is a vibrant green color in the midst of dry and dying tumbleweeds. How does a plant, that lives in the desert, stay green like that? Lol! Living in Chicago -- I just can't fathom that!

The main point of interest of our trip was Yellowstone, and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The drive through Yellowstone can take a half of day, depending on the route you take. The views are breathtaking to say the least. The photos shown in this article were taken in late July, and it was quite warm in the sun -- dry heat or not.

While driving through Yellowstone National Park, we encountered a slight traffic jam. A Bison decided to ride the middle line on the road we were on. When you're from the Midwest, you don't see Bison on the road. Watching a 2,000 pound beast walk toward your vehicle is exciting and scary. But, since I had my camera glued to my hand, I had to take some pictures, right?

My husband stayed calm and cool the whole time! The Bison walked by, checking out my husband when he passed. A few hours later, when we turned around to come back, he was still walking down the center of the road. I think he was heading towards the gas station/mini mart. He probably had to run out for a six-pack or some gum.

During our travels through Yellowstone, we stopped to look at the hot mineral springs. These springs are amazingly weird and are a "must-see" if you have the opportunity to visit. The color variation is intense. You might be standing next to a  beautiful, aqua blue hot spring (as show below) and twenty feet to your left or right is another one that's bright orange or yellow. The colors depend on the minerals in the soil. The soil and terrain can change drastically within a very small area. The colors are almost unreal.

When I look at this beautiful aqua blue mineral spring, my brain automatically thinks the water is cold. The reality of it is that the water is extremely hot, so hot it could literally boil the skin off your bones. It's funny how our brains are trained by sight to make our bodies feel or react a certain way. I don't think I could eat a banana if the skin was blue instead of yellow. It wouldn't taste the same. I would expect it to taste like blueberries!

The photo below was taken when we headed into Montana. Looking at the photo reminds me of the drive . . . the clean, crisp air and the serenity I felt while we were there. The streams and rivers are a pristine blue and the water is so clear you could bottle it at the source.

One of the best memories I have was the night sky. Each evening I would venture outside and marvel at the stars. I've never seen so many twinkling stars in my entire life -- there must have been trillions. The sky was a deep, dark, navy blue and it looked as if a giant bottle of glitter had exploded all over it. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen and it's etched in my mind forever. You'd think I would have taken some pictures, right? Nope. I must have been so enamored by the site, I never thought to take a picture of it. That might be a great excuse to take another trip!

If I could pick up and move anywhere in the United States, it would be to Montana -- in a heartbeat!

This was a seatbelt safety sign in Wyoming -- very appropriate for this state. Wyoming is full of wide open areas. They still round up cattle and livestock because the land is so large and vast, there is minimal fencing. I did see antelope roaming the plains. It truly is . . . home on the range!

Several of you have asked for details or "tips" on my RV trip so here you go!

1.  We found our rental on Outdoorsy.com. You are renting from private owners on this site -- it's like a vacation rental. Each rental is unique in price and what it includes. If you're like us (who flew from Chicago to Denver), make sure your rental comes with pots/pans, dinnerware, bedding, etc. You can't bring those with on the plane. Many of them come with a grill, lawn chairs and tables. If you visit a beach, you'll need chairs to sit on and you may want to set up for lunch/dinner outside with a table.

2.   Make sure you map your travel route out ahead of time. There are a lot of mountain passes that you could be traveling through that may be closed due to weather. While we were in Colorado, they just opened Red Mountain Pass the day before we planned on driving it. It had been closed due to falling rock from the rain and mudslides.  Keep tabs on what's going on in the area you plan on vacationing at least a week or two before your trip. Colorado had ongoing fires most of the summer last year so some of the attractions we planned on seeing were either closed or running a different route.

3.  If this is your first RV rental, make sure you get a large enough space at your campground to pull the RV through instead of backing up or having to turn around. Some of the campgrounds are a little tight and this can be stressful if you've never had to do this before. Make sure you figure in the length of the vehicle you're towing behind the RV too.

4.  When renting your space at the campground, spend the extra money and get either a gravel pad or a concrete one. There's only a difference of $10-$20 and after you pay for your RV rental, this will seam cheap! The reason for this is because of the dirt you'll track into the RV each time you (and your kids) go in and out. If it's rainy, the dirt will be mud, which is worse.

5.  When planning your travel routes, I found a maximum of six hours in between destinations was it. After six hours of riding in an RV, we were at our limit. Driving an RV isn't like driving a car so it can be more tiring -- especially if you're driving in the mountains.

If there was anything that I would change going forward, it would be to spend more time at each destination and shorter travel between destinations. We covered 5 states in 10 days due to work and time limitations we had but honestly, I wish we would have spent at least 3 days at each place. It's hard to truly relax and settle in when you're on the move so much. There are so many incredible sites to see that you need a little extra time to take it all in, especially if you're from the Midwest. 

Life is too short . . . take the time to enjoy the wonderful things life has to offer while you're here!

My Love of Sports Photography

One of the most common questions I get asked is "how did you get into sports photography?" Photography started out as a hobby of mine in my late teens. Over time, it's turned into a business that I absolutely LOVE! If I would have known how much I enjoyed taking pictures, I would have jumped on the photography bandwagon a long time ago. My family teases me because I take my camera more places than I do my purse or kids! So, when people ask me what type of photography I do, I tell them . . . if it moves, I shoot it!

My first camera was back in 1980. It was a 35mm Yashika. My biggest struggle was making sure the film was intact and attached to the roller that pulled the unexposed film out of the canister and advanced the film.

Back then, you had to know what you were photographing ahead of time. The film you purchased had to be appropriate for the lighting and speed you planned on shooting at. When you were done with a roll of film, you would manually wind a little handle on the camera so the film would retract back into the canister. Then, you would get in your car and drop your film off at Fotomat. It took at least a week for your images to be developed and you never knew if your pictures were decent until you picked them up. Surprise! The top of Grandma's head is missing but she looks happy! There was NO editing either -- you got what you shot. I vividly remember sitting in my car and whipping through my photos to see what they looked like. We've come a long way with digital technology in the past 30 years. Thank goodness too, I don't think I could afford to develop all the pictures I take if we still worked with film!

My children have had a huge impact on my photography career.  I'm fortunate to have 2 athletic kids who have given me an outlet to expand my skills. It all started when my son began playing football at the age of 7. My daughter was a cheerleader too. Being able to photograph both my kids at the same event was a definite plus.

Not only did I take pictures of my kids, but I also took pictures of everyone else's kids. After the games, I would run home, download hundreds of photos and upload them on Facebook for the families to see and download. The gratefulness shown by the kids and parents was my drive to continue taking pictures. It was truly rewarding to see others appreciate my work.

As my kids increased in age, so did their participation in more and more sports -- football, cheer, baseball, softball, track, and volleyball -- and so did my experience in shooting moving objects.

The Thrill of the Game

My favorite sport to photograph is football. The excitement on the sidelines and the intensity of the game make for great photos. Whether it's a grimacing facial expression before a hit or the smile from a victory celebration -- it's exciting to capture those moments through the lens.

Photographing football is challenging, especially when the weather doesn't cooperate. My husband makes fun of me because I'm never happy with the weather when I'm taking pictures -- no matter how beautiful the day is. And . . . he's right! It's either too sunny, too overcast, too rainy, too snowy or too windy. If we could play the game under some REALLY tall tree canopies (with filtered sunlight, of course) it would alleviate a lot of these issues! All joking aside, that's part of the challenge . . .never knowing what you're up against and being able to adjust accordingly makes every shoot unique.

At the start of the football season, I'm sweating profusely in my flip flops and trying to keep cool. At the end of the season, I look like the Michelin Man with all the layers I have on trying to battle rain, snow and cold. And, don't forget the plastic shopping bag I have wrapped around my camera to keep it dry. I'm quite the sight during fall football!

The Beauty in Movement

One of the most exciting subjects to photograph (and another one of my favorites) is horses. The beauty and grace they exude is breathtaking. As a former horse owner and dressage rider, I can appreciate the discipline, athleticism and training that goes into these creatures. Photographing horses soothes my soul.

The photograph below was taken at a local horse show that featured driving classes. It was a great photo opportunity on a beautiful day (the lighting was perfect -- one of those rare days I have!)

Stopping the Clock

Photography allows me to "freeze" a moment in time. Whether it's a facial expression, a great pitch, a fumble or a cheerleader doing a split jump, time essentially stops and is captured in my images. It's life as it happens at that very moment -- it's pure and unadulterated. The ability to "stop the clock" for a split second and cherish that memory for a lifetime is truly amazing and rewarding.

I have Athlete Sessions available for the up and coming 2019 sports season. More information is available HERE. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!

Janet Thompson Photography

Sports/Events/Family & Senior Photos

(847) 812-8648

JanetThompson.zenfolio.com