ART. all things art/business.

In July of 2008, my dad and I went out at sunrise to pick blackberries in rural northwest Missouri. I took my camera and made the photo below, which I have since called "Blackberry Sunrise." A subscriber asked me recently how I come up with titles for my photographs. I really only need titles in order to list images on my website shop, and that process is already quite time consuming, so I spend very little time on this matter; however, most of my photos hold personal meaning to me, and I use that meaning to name/recall them. "Blackberry Sunrise" immediately brings to mind that early morning spent with my dad picking blackberries. I can see that sunrise in my mind as soon as I say it. The Old Shed reminds me of my grandad (it was his old shed before he passed). The Road Home is a road that runs through a wildlife refuge along one of the many routes I so often travel between West Texas and northwest Missouri. The series of After the Hail Storm photos I made on The Colorado Trail are from a spectacular storm and sunset witnessed with a dear friend on my penultimate stretch to finally complete the trail after seven years. The titles themselves may be relatively simple and utilitarian, but they trigger a connection to photographs that are essentially the story of my life.

NATURE. all things nature/outdoors.

A subscriber asked, "What are the best camping gadgets?"

I think I'm fairly basic when it comes to my camping setup, if you exclude the fact that I now live in a "camper van" that has everything plus the kitchen sink (literally). My pull-in campsite setup differs from my backpacking setup, and since I have the van now, that setup is obviously quite different from the others. But let's say I'm going to an established campground to set up my tent for a few nights of camping away from the van, but without needing to hike-in to my site, and I can use all the [heavy] stuff I want because my vehicle is near enough to load it in/out of the site without much difficulty. Here are a few things that I enjoy having at camp (and if you'd like to see a running list of items I use, or have used in the past, for camping and van life, click here):

1. ​Butane or Propane stove. I used an old two-burner Coleman propane stove for a very long time; however, I donated it when the lid started sticking to the bottom half, pulling up the aluminum and making it really difficult to open. I bought an inexpensive one-burner butane stove to replace it, and it's working just as well, despite having to make one dish at a time. If I could change anything about that purchase, I'd have gotten one that uses either butane or propane, instead of only butane.
2. ​Camp kettle. Small kettle for making hot tea in the mornings and evenings.
3. ​Camp Chef Sherpa Table. I no longer have this, only because it wouldn't fit in the van, but when I did have it, I loved it. It's incredibly convenient to store food or utensils or other kitchen items in the four bags (one of which is an insulated cooler bag) that slide right into the storage space under the table. It is height adjustable but unfortunately doesn't pack down small at all.
4. Folding table. If there's no picnic table at the site, then having a larger folding table of some sort is helpful, especially if you're planning to cook at camp. I've just used a regular 6' folding table and put a flame-resistant table cloth over the top, but you can also get a nice camp-specific folding table that packs down even smaller.
5. ​humangear Stax. I use these to store everything from tea bags to olive oil, and I absolutely love them. Have actually wanted more, but they just aren't a priority right now.
6. I use this handy thing to store my camp/van kitchen utensils.
7. Something to store water in. My favorites are the 5-gallon Scepter jugs and these Dometic jugs which I now use in the van because they integrate with a water pump and are the perfect size for my use.
8. Pricey, but possibly my favorite camp item for the dogs: Helinox dog cots. They keep my baby dogs off the ground and away from ants. Many years ago, my Boxer (Bella) got bitten by ants and had a pretty serious reaction. Since then I've tried to keep my dogs off the ground as much as possible when we're just lounging around the campsite.
9. In many ways the Garmin inReach is a luxury camp item (I camped for most of my life without one), but also, so many campsites have minimal cell service, if any service at all, so I'm glad I have it now. I got it for wilderness backpacking but now keep it close anywhere cell service is iffy. Also, my version is the first version which is probably cheaper by now and still works just fine.
10. ​Skywave Weather Radio. I've written before about how this is probably one of my most-used items in the van. It's also essential for camping. Getting weather updates via cell phone is just not reliable when camping in some areas, and in those situations the Skywave is indispensable.
11. A camp chair. I bought this Helinox Chair One many years ago, and it packs down very small, but when I moved into the van a friend bought me a ridiculously expensive but just as ridiculously comfortable Nemo Stargaze Recliner as a van-warming gift and I now use that 99% of the time. I've kept the Chair One for times when I have a friend camping with me.
12. ​Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch. Portable tie-out line for dogs. Fantastic for allowing the dogs to be outside with me safely when I'm cooking or otherwise occupied and can't have them leashed to me or off-leash safely. Does require trees, which is an issue in some places, or something else to tie each end to.
13. Headlamp. I use this one for backpacking as well as camping in established campgrounds. Good for being able to see what you're doing in the dark without having to hold or hang a light.
14. Fan + Light. If you have a tent with a loop at the top for hanging a light, this fan with a light and a hanger is pretty great. I used it in the Napier SUV tent a lot. The fan isn't super strong, but it helps to keep the air moving inside the tent, and the light is great. You can hang it or stand it on its base.
15. Some kind of power station/bank. I started out with this Goal Zero one but upgraded when I got the van. I now use this Bluetti one. Will power most things you'd need to use at a campsite for a few days, if you're a photographer who likes to charge camera batteries, use a laptop to edit photos at camp, or if you have other power needs at camp.
16. A hammock. The one I use is a Sub7 by ENO (Eagles Nest Outfitters). If there are trees, or other means to hang one, a hammock is a nice way to relax at camp after dinner, or even sleep in!

DOGS. all things dogs.

Have you ever spelled a word instead of saying it, to prevent your dog from getting too excited? Dogs Understand Human Words and Intonation. The linked article discusses a study led by Attila Andics of Eötvös Loránd University, in which they placed dogs in an MRI machine and captured their brain activity as their trainers said various words with different intonations. "The results reveal that, regardless of intonation, dogs process vocabulary, recognizing distinct words. What's more, they do so in a way similar to humans, using the left hemisphere of the brain." If you'd like to delve further into this, there's another study led by researchers at the University of California San Diego and other institutions that discusses dogs' ability to comprehend and respond to humans via AIC (Augmentative Interspecies Communication) devices (soundboard buttons). My dog, Mani, whom I lost to Lymphosarcoma in 2019 had just started learning to use what we called "word buttons" before she passed, and it was remarkable how quickly she took to them. If you're curious, take a look at this video I made of a "conversation" she and I had about it being too dark outside to walk. :) As a life-long dog person, I'm well aware that dogs can understand a lot more than we think they can. I'm also aware that for some, like my Japhy, certain words or even just talking too much can cause overstimulation and confusion, which can lead to poor behavior. I have to be careful what words I use around Japhy and when. Words/phrases like "Who's that?" and even just "Hello" can cause him to overreact, as he assumes that someone is at the door, or outside, etc. Both of my dogs know and get excited by words like "cookies," or "uncle Scott" or "grandma and grandpa" or "ride" or... I could go on and on and on. What are some of your dogs' favorite words and how do they respond to them?

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VAN/LIFE. all things life, including van life.

A subscriber asked, "Can living off-grid be rewarding?"

Throughout the last forty-nine years I've learned that I think a bit differently than many people, but yes. Absolutely, off-grid living can be rewarding. I haven't done nearly enough of it in the last year and a half, but I was able to spend around three weeks off-grid in three different sections of public land in New Mexico at the end of April into May, and I felt very deeply at peace during that time. Of course there are challenges, like getting water and keeping electronic devices charged up even when it's overcast and rainy for days at a time. Using solar requires greater attention to and planning of power usage. I had a schedule that I adhered to every day that included placing my 200-watt briefcase style solar panel on the ground in front of the van each morning and turning it throughout the day so that it always faced the sun in order to maximize energy production. The ground panel powers my frig-freezer as well as my Bluetti when I'm off-grid. The 200 watts of solar on my roof powers pretty much everything else in the rear of the van, including ceiling fan and lights. I have backup lights that run off their own battery power, so having enough light has never been a problem. I was able to drive to the nearest town to refill water jugs and buy groceries when needed, and thanks to a wonderful patron who sent me an outdoor propane shower setup last summer, I can also shower off-grid. Living off-grid is highly rewarding to me, as it allows me and my dogs to be closer to nature and live more fully with less. I love the quiet and solitude, the birdsong, the sunrises and sunsets, and being able to quite literally step out of my home on wheels and into a place that feeds my soul. As a nature photographer and filmmaker, I'm also able to step outside and "work." There is always something to do, and while some tasks may take longer or require a process that modern living made unnecessary, this way of life allows the space for it. It's less rushed. Less tiring. More connected in a very general, broad sense. Certainly it would depend on an individual's personality and what they need in life. But I would whole-heartedly recommend it, and I'm happy to offer any guidance to others if I can.

Until next time, be kind and be well.