Fran's Backpack - Travel Photography

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Travel Photography, by Steve Davey.

Many of the visitors to this site come via clicking on "images" in the search engines. For those who want to know more about taking their own images check out this book.


Travel Photography

"Footprint Travel Photography" is going to change the way that you travel. Written by acclaimed author and photographer of 'Unforgettable Places to see Before you Die' Steve Davey, it covers everything that you need to know about travel photography including preparation, exploring with a camera, all of the technical stuff as well as hints and tips about virtually every travel photography scenario. There is even a comprehensive section on post-processing your pictures using some of the most popular computer software, and tips on making money from your photography.Whatever camera you use and whatever your level this book is packed with information for you. There are Pro-Tips, information about shooting in RAW format, as well as specific information for users of film SLRs, digital compacts as well as Digital SLRs. Broken down by technique and photography style, rather than destination, the layout of this book makes it easy for you to decide what kind of picture you're trying to take and find, at a glance, the right techniques for you. As well as taking pictures, this book will inspire you to head out and see the world. Packed with inspirational pictures and anecdotes from Steve's years on the road, this book is a call to get out and explore.

Fran's Backpack - When Giants Roamed: The Golden Age of Steam DVD

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is When Giants Roamed: The Golden Age of Steam DVD.

I love my train journeys and while in the USA a couple of years ago I travelled on the Grand Canyon and Verde Canyon Railways in Arizona and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad in Colorado. This DVD does look rather interesting with a 4.5 star rating by customers.

Editorial Reviews
In the first half of the 20th century, America's railroads were transformed by the coming of giants. Pushed by the need to haul ever longer and heavier trains, the nation's locomotive works responded with the awe-inspiring articulated engines. Delivering up to 7,500 horsepower, these steel giants could haul trains a mile long and weighing over 15,000 tons. WHEN GIANTS ROAMED journeys back to the golden age of steam for an up-close look at these legendary locos. See the Union Pacific's famed Big Boy in action and ride the rails of the Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western, eastern coal-hauling railroads with an unquenchable thirst for power. Meet the men who drove engines like the Allegheny and Yellowstone, and visit the museums and yards where the largest steamers ever built are preserved today. It's a historic excursion sure to set any railfan's heart pounding.

"Float Planes of Alaska" DVD: a Great Christmas Gift

For people who live in North America, especially mainland USA and Canada, I've produced a DVD devoted entirely to float planes in Alaska.

This would certainly bring back memories for so many who have flown as a part of life and an easy way to travel from place to place.

It's great to watch for relaxation and armchair travel by people of all ages. No commentary or captions, just look, listen and enjoy. It runs for about 26 minutes.

While I was in Alaska a couple of years ago, I spent a day and a half walking around Lake Hood, near the main Anchorage Airport. I also did some float plane training from Lake Hood and Trail Lake at Moose Pass, south of Anchorage.

The planes are colourful and the background shows the beauty of the mountains, the lakes and their surroundings. Reflections in the water abound. There's nothing quite like float planes. You have to be a sailor and a pilot at the same time. You need a life jacket, rope and a paddle and in some cases a rifle case attached to the wing strut.

I've also done an "Alfred Hitchcock" in this DVD. Two of the planes I flew in are well represented. And by the way, you'll never guess what my favourite colour is!

Many of the photos have appeared in "Awesome Aviation" but there are quite a lot which are new. The soundtrack is also the same. As usual this is available in NTSC and PAL format and the price is the same at $25.00 plus postage.

Float Planes of Alaska DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

In future videos you may also see the scenery which I photographed from the plane but buy this one first.


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Be Passionate About What You Do

"Be Passionate About What You Do" is the February issue of the "Pilot Your Life" newsletter. Just email me at fran@franwest.com if you'd like to subscribe to the free monthly email newsletter (or use the "Subscribe by email" link at the bottom of this post). The newsletters usually have photos to illustrate the point and often a free destop wallpaper is offered when emailing a comment back to me.

Pilot your life newsletter no. 20

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Pilot your life newsletter no. 20

If you’re going to succeed in life, or business, you have to believe in what you’re doing and do it with gusto. Half-hearted attempts just aren’t good enough. Passion is what’s required.

I love my country, Australia.

I love travel, taking photos, doing adventurous activities, meeting new people and I particularly love flying.

All these things that I have a passion for I managed to combine in the goal that I had set myself, flying around Australia’s coast in a light aircraft.

During my trip, Oz Flight ’99, people could sense that I was passionate about and committed to the journey that I was undertaking.

They wanted to be a part of it too by helping me, giving me good information and advice, providing new experiences and having a lot of fun together.

If you aren’t enthusiastic about or don’t believe in what you’re doing, then other people won’t waste their time with you either.

When people read my book, Plane Reflections, or hear me speak about my flight, they can relate to what happened to me because of my enthusiasm. I can make them feel that they're in the plane with me experiencing the same highs and lows.

And with the photos, they can see what my eyes saw.

But best of all they realise that I'm just an ordinary person who made a dream reality and that they can also do that for themselves.

They too can achieve their full potential.

It’s truly amazing that we have the power within us to motivate other people and to change lives merely because of what we do.

So, my next tip for how to pilot your life (personal or business) is:

Be passionate about what you do.
Your passion and enthusiasm will also inspire others,
not only for your benefit but also for theirs.

Two of my presentation topics are:

Follow your dreams (at any age)
Success

Australia From The Air: Lighthouses

Some of my most popular posts have been about lighthouses when I was photographing Australia from the air. Here are just three posts about lighthouses in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Check out the other posts by clicking on "lighthouses" on the left in the Topics list. Be sure to check out my DVD "Australia's Coast from the Air" in which two of these appear.

Lighthouse articles from Fran West

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Australia's Coast from the Air DVD (available in NTSC and PAL).

Australia's Coast from the Air DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Isle of Wight's Needles Lighthouse Makes a Point off the Coast of England

The Needles Lighthouse, off the Isle of Wight, England, was one of the "must see" lighthouses that I had to visit when in the United Kingdom.

It was built in 1859 by Trinity House to safeguard not only shipping travelling to Portsmouth and Southampton along the Solent but also shipping in the English Channel.




The present Needles Lighthouse is situated in the western corner of the island, off the south coast of the English mainland. It’s impressive, not only because of its location at the end of the rugged Needles rock formations jutting out of the sea, but also because of the helipad (built in 1987) on top of it.

Here's the link to the rest of the article on HubPages. It has more photos, videos, maps and information for you to enjoy.

Have a Go: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

"Have a go" is the August issue of the "Pilot Your Life" newsletter. Just email me at fran@franwest.com if you'd like to subscribe to the free monthly email newsletter (or use the "Subscribe by email" link at the bottom of this post). The newsletters usually have photos to illustrate the point and often a free destop wallpaper is offered when emailing a comment back to me. My own desktop wallpaper for this month has been of course the horse and rider "flying" over the jump.

Pilot your life newsletter no. 26

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Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah, has the Seal of Approval

Lake Powell, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, has got the "Seal of Approval"! However, you do have to use your imagination a bit.

At Wahweap, I managed to take two boat trips on Lake Powell, exploring the canyons, visiting Rainbow Bridge and cruising around this vast and magnificent lake. Perhaps the attraction isn't so much Lake Powell itself but the rock formations around the edge.

This particular rock formation is really only visible from water level whereas many of the others are more obvious from the air when gaining a bird's eye view.




You will have to zoom in on the photo to enlarge the "seal" on the right hand side of the picture just above the water's edge.

Cruising on Lake Powell and manoeuvring through the canyons is one activity you have to put on your list of "must do" tours. The boat captains are very skilled and well versed in the history, culture and geology of their patch. They also have a great imagination, a wicked sense of humour and an eye for the unique beauty of the area.

Looking up at these great hunks of rock really brings home the fact that we're just tiny specks compared to the vastness of nature. Quite a humbling experience.

Here's more information on Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Take Every Opportunity That Comes Your Way

"Take Every Opportunity That Comes Your Way" is the July issue of the "Pilot Your Life" newsletter. Just email me at fran@franwest.com if you'd like to subscribe to the free monthly email newsletter (or use the "Subscribe by email" link at the bottom of this post). July's issue has just been published in www.ezinearticles.com. The newsletters usually have photos to illustrate the point and often a free destop wallpaper is offered when emailing a comment back to me. My own desktop wallpaper for this month has been of course Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Pilot your life newsletter no. 25

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How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success - Ebook

"How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success" is now available as a downloadable ebook.

Here's some information.

"In this guide you will find ten pointers for piloting your business and navigating your way to success. These pointers are based on Fran’s flying experiences both as a pilot and as a passenger.

Fran West has certainly achieved success following her dreams and reaching her goals. She is an award-winning pilot, adventurer, author, photographer and motivational speaker.




After a radical career change in 1999, Fran became the first woman pilot to fly a light aircraft around the coast of mainland Australia and Tasmania during Oz Flight ’99.

With a background in management, local and state government, and small business, she’s observed that there are many parallels between flying and business. Fran’s lived the adventures, learnt lessons from them and put those lessons into practice.

Now she wants others to share in and benefit from her knowledge and experience. So, use these pointers to help you to be successful and your business to soar."

Review:
"Fran West has used the metaphor of flying a plane around Australia as a beautiful way of illustrating how to achieve your goals in life; whether business or personal.
Her photos are stunning and her dedication to achieving her own goals is admirable. We need more role models in this world like Fran."
Hilary Thompson
The Out and About Therapist
http://www.theoutandabouttherapist.com

How to pilot your business and navigate your way to success

Ebook $9.95

Once payment is received, "How to pilot your business and navigate your way to success" will be emailed to you.

Father's Day Gifts: Blokey DVDs and Photo Downloads

Father's Day (Australia and New Zealand) is almost here and if you're looking for a great gift for Dad consider these.

"Outback Adventure", "Australia's Coast from the Air", "Awesome Aviation", Float Planes of Alaska", "Maritime Mix", "Marvellous Machinery", "Tasmania's Overland Track" and "Wonderful Wheels" DVDs are ideal (very blokey!). They're also very good to relax with and reminisce.

Have a look at snippets of the DVDs here.

Maybe a photo download would be more suitable or even complement one of the DVDs. Check out the Photo Downloads page.


If you order as soon as possible via the website you may be able to receive the DVDs before Father's Day. Downloads are easier because they're sent via email.

So, order now to avoid dissapointment!

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, Really is Captivating

Capitol Reef National Park, one of the Utah parks in the south, really is captivating. It's a long skinny national park accessible between Torrey and Hanksville. Or if you're doing a clockwise trip around the national parks like I did, it's between Bryce Canyon National Park to the west and Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park to the east.

I love photographing different signs. The national parks, in particular, have a clear welcoming sign that lets you know that you're in for something spectacular. Photographing signs also indicates where the next photographs have been taken.

It's also not a bad idea to photograph the sign when you leave a place (for obvious reasons).

The Visitor Center very fittingly blends in well with its surroundings. It's well worth a visit to pick up maps and information, look at the exhibits, watch a short video, buy souvenirs and use the rest rooms. The location is at the junction of the Scenic Drive and Route 24.

I really only had time to travel along the Scenic Drive and back and then continue east along the main road. However, the park really needs a couple of days to explore.

Looking at the photos, you can see that Capitol Reef National Park is one of those really rocky Utah parks. It's comprised of 378 square miles of towering landforms, canyons, mesas and folded rock layers and it's a photographer's Paradise (most of my photos of Utah are rocks, rocks and more rocks!). Stay tuned for more posts later.

Here's more information about Capitol Reef National Park.

How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success - Ebook

"How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success" is now available as a downloadable ebook.

Here's some information.

"In this guide you will find ten pointers for piloting your business and navigating your way to success. These pointers are based on Fran’s flying experiences both as a pilot and as a passenger.

Fran West has certainly achieved success following her dreams and reaching her goals. She is an award-winning pilot, adventurer, author, photographer and motivational speaker.




After a radical career change in 1999, Fran became the first woman pilot to fly a light aircraft around the coast of mainland Australia and Tasmania during Oz Flight ’99.

With a background in management, local and state government, and small business, she’s observed that there are many parallels between flying and business. Fran’s lived the adventures, learnt lessons from them and put those lessons into practice.

Now she wants others to share in and benefit from her knowledge and experience. So, use these pointers to help you to be successful and your business to soar."

How to pilot your business and navigate your way to success

Ebook $9.95

Once payment is received, "How to pilot your business and navigate your way to success" will be emailed to you.

Review:
“Fran West is an inspiration! In this e-book she takes you on a journey that few people would dare to make in their lifetime – and from it, draws out ten valuable lessons for achieving success in business and life. Fran encourages you to set goals beyond what you think is possible, and to work towards them step by step. When you see what Fran accomplished, just by having the ambition, setting her goals and persevering, it makes you realize that you too can achieve much more in life. It’s worth reading the book simply for the story and the beautiful photos – it’s a remarkable adventure. But it’s not just about Fran’s journey – the principles that she’s extracted from the experience constitute wise advice for anyone who wants to make the most of what life has to offer.”

Shelley Dunstone
Win in a world without precedent
Web: www.shelleydunstone.com
Web: www.legalcircles.com

Fran's Backpack - British Heritage Magazine

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is British Heritage magazine.

Having just returned from a month in the United Kingdom, this magazine looks like a good read for those who want to find out more about the places visited. It's impossible to take in everything during a trip, so leisurely reading a magazine afterwards is ideal. Also good for catching a glimpse before you travel. I do believe I actually visited the castle on the cover of the magazine too. So much heritage, so little time.

Click on the ad for more information.

Product Description
The magazine of travel, culture and adventure, especially written for those who love England, Scotland and Wales. A must-read for Anglophiles, British Heritage shows a broad spectrum of British life, including popular culture, travel, historic aspects and best places to stay.

Positive Police Presence on Magnificent Mount in London, England

Our South Australian Mounted Police do an incredible job. However, they don't have to deal with the hundreds of thousands of people like the Mounted Police in London do.

For a person from a city of about a million people, Adelaide, South Australia, the millions of people in London are overwhelming. Nevertheless, in all that seeming chaos, there is order, British order, and outside Buckingham Palace, crowd management is essential. Obviously, the Mounted Police play an important role in controlling tourists and locals alike.

As with our South Australian Mounted Police, this officer looks as though he loves his job and his horse. It must be a great feeling to have a job where you get the best view overlooking the crowd, particularly when it's changing the guard at Buckingham Palace.


If you zoom in on the photo, you'll see the horse is looking right at the woman with the camera. I'm sure it's saying "Hurry up, lady, I've got a job to do. I can't stand around posing all day for tourists you know!"

Here's some more information about the City of London Mounted Police.

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - 12th Anniversary, 3rd July

It's hard to believe that it's 12 years since I set off from Naracoorte, in South Australia's South East, to fly around the coast of Australia. I was two days behind schedule because of the dreadful wintry weather. Even one of the flight briefing officers said the weather was so bad that I should go back to bed and not bother flying in the Cessna 172!

Nevertheless, I did set off around Australia's coast, flying over the ocean about a mile out to sea and at about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the water. This provided an excellent oblique angle for the photographs and the Cessna 172 was the right speed aircraft for photographing under the high wing.

Plane Reflections Book

Australia (incl. P&H) $25.00 Overseas (incl. P&H) $28.00

Reflecting back on the flight and the past 12 years has been good for my own reminiscence therapy. Life certainly has changed for me.


Even though I had no team, partner, manager or thousands of dollars of sponsorship behind me, I still achieved my goal. However, I did receive help from people along the way. Members of the Australian Women Pilots' Association and members of Soroptimist International Service Organisation, in particular, provided me with accommodation and local knowledge when possible. I'd also like to thank again the series of friends and strangers who flew with me on different parts of my journey. From them I learnt a lot about flying, myself and life in general.

I had a dream to fly around Australia's coast and photograph while I was flying and I actually did it. The best advice I can give to people is that if you have a burning desire to do something, no matter how big or small, then just do it! Stop stuffing around and get on with it! You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't at least have a go.

Because I had a dream and did something about it, I set in motion a sequence of events which has led me to where I am now. On the return from my flight, I started speaking to people about my experiences. People then wanted me to write a book, which I did, Plane Reflections, and that led to collaboration in several academic publications. After that, I put my photos on CD and then progressed to movie presentations of the photos on DVDs. That in turn led me to producing DVDs for aged care and dementia patients as reminiscence therapy.

It hasn't been an easy path. In between times I suffered injuries in a head on collision in a car which further forced me in the direction that I'm now heading. Strange how my dream has now turned from me doing something solely for myself to me helping others.

Life is an adventure, so make the most of it.

If you want to hear or read more about my philosophy of life and business you can contact me at fran@franwest.com.

My websites are www.franwest.com and www.alzheimersproducts.blogspot.com.

Amazing Arches is Absolutely Awesome

Arches National Park, in southern Utah, USA, is absolutely awe inspiring. So much so that the state has actually put an image of Delicate Arch, located in the park, on vehicle number plates. I'm obviously not the only one gobsmacked by this national park!

It's easy to get to being not that far out of Moab, action capital of Utah. Just take US 191 and travel for about 5 miles north of Moab - a national park situated so close to a major town. How good is that?

After you've picked up your information at the Arches Visitor Center, you then head up the winding road to really enter the park.





Obviously there are many arches in the park to give it its name. You may think a dozen or so but you'd be wrong. Apparently there are over 2,000 arches and they vary considerably in size from something a few feet across to the largest, which is Landscape Arch. This one is 306 feet wide and so skinny too!

Check out the Arches National Park website for further information.

Fran's Backpack - Allen Brown's English Castles [Paperback]

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Allen Brown's English Castles [Paperback].

I've just returned from a trip to the UK and on the list of things to see were of course castles. This book looks interesting.

Click on the ad for more information.

Review
Anyone with any interest in castles should own and read this book. CASEMATEA good solid book, full of interesting information, which has to be a must for anyone writing or researching the subject of castles. MEDIEVAL HISTORY

Product Description
Castle studies have been shaped and defined over the past half-century by the work of R. Allen Brown. His classic English Castles, renamed here to acknowledge its definitive approach to the subject, has never been superseded by other more recent studies, and is still the foundation study of the English, and Welsh, castles built between the Norman Conquest and the mid 1500s. As the subject evolved, so too did this book, and for the most recent edition a considerable amount of French comparative material was added, though it remains essentially a study of English castles. For Allen Brown, castles were fortified residences (or residential fortresses), and developed, from European precursors, to support political and social realities as the Norman and Angevin kings secured their realm. Once these political ends had been largely met, the castle and castle-building entered a period of decline, and domestic and military interests went in opposite directions. This book, with numerous photographs and plans, remains the outstanding guide to the origins, purpose and identity of the great castles of England and Wales.

How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success - Ebook

"How to Pilot Your Business and Navigate Your Way to Success" is now available as a downloadable ebook.

Here's the information from www.lulu.com.

"In this guide you will find ten pointers for piloting your business and navigating your way to success. These pointers are based on Fran’s flying experiences both as a pilot and as a passenger.

Fran West has certainly achieved success following her dreams and reaching her goals. She is an award-winning pilot, adventurer, author, photographer and motivational speaker.

After a radical career change in 1999, Fran became the first woman pilot to fly a light aircraft around the coast of mainland Australia and Tasmania during Oz Flight ’99.

With a background in management, local and state government, and small business, she’s observed that there are many parallels between flying and business. Fran’s lived the adventures, learnt lessons from them and put those lessons into practice.

Now she wants others to share in and benefit from her knowledge and experience. So, use these pointers to help you to be successful and your business to soar."

Click here to purchase a copy of "How to pilot your business and navigate your way to success" for only $9.95.

Review:

This ebook has a number of strong features:

• The simplicity of its language and the avoidance of business jargon
• It recognizes that when you bite off more than you can chew in business (as you will), success requires you to simply chew harder!
• I like the analogy of the coastline being like business – ups and downs, smooth patches and constantly changing
• The book reflects life experiences, rather than management textbooks
• The importance of taking time out to reflect. Sometimes its necessary to slow down in order to go faster
• The fact that negative experiences can be turned into positive outcomes
• That life is what happens while you are making your plans

Dripping with life’s experiences and their relevance to business development.

Peter Nicholls
Australia’s People Gardener
Website: www.workleisure.com
Blog: http://www.workleisure.com/enjoy-being-you-blog.html
Twitter: @enjoybeingyou

Fran's Backpack - Bryce Canyon National Park, UT - Trails Illustrated Map # 219

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Bryce Canyon National Park, UT - Trails Illustrated Map # 219 [Folded Map] from National Geographic.

To get the most enjoyment out of a national park, you need a good map. Check out this one.

Click on the ad for more information.

Product Description
The map includes the entire national park area, with detailed trails and topographic information. Also included are portions of Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Bryce Ampitheater, Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon Lodge, Black Birch Canyon, Rainbow Point, the Queens Garden Trail, and more. Includes UTM grids for use with your GPS unit.

Scale = 1:35,000 Size: 26'' x 38''

About the Author
Founded in 1915 as the Cartographic Group, the first division of the National Geographic Society, National Geographic Maps has been responsible for illustrating the world around us through the art and science of mapmaking.
Today, National Geographic Maps continues this mission by creating the world's best wall maps, recreation maps, atlases, and globes which inspire people to care about and explore their world. All proceeds from the sale of National Geographic maps go to support the Society's non-profit mission to increase global understanding and promote conservation of our planet through exploration, research, and education.

Squirrel Stands Up To Snake in Zion National Park, Utah

A hike along the trail in Zion National Park, Utah, led to several discoveries of wildflowers and also wildlife.

Walking in a group may allow for socialising but the noise made by the group can often scare away wildlife and it sometimes drowns out the sounds of nature, like running rivers, bird songs and animal antics.

I'd just left the trail to escape the endless number of noisy hikers and have a closer look at the river and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. On my way back to join the trail I heard this commotion in a fenced off clearing. I thought it sounded like a rattle (I may have been mistaken though).

However, when I looked closer I saw a squirrel and a snake having a go at each other.

The snake definitely didn't like the squirrel in its patch and there was dust flying everywhere with the squirrel artfully dodging the snake's strike. However, it didn't matter how angry the snake was (click on the photo to zoom in on it), that squirrel was determined to stand its ground even if it meant being bitten.

I took several photos (without tele lens unfortunately) before the snake gave up and retreated from the dust bath created by the squirrel. I've always thought squirrels were cute and quick but this particular one was a feisty little critter as well!

A couple of observations:

• if you're going to enjoy nature en masse, then keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut
• watch where you're walking (as an Aussie, part of bushwalking is watching out for snakes on the trail anyway)
• cute and cuddly doesn't necessarily mean weak and lacking courage (perceptions can often be wrong)
• even if you think you're facing insurmountable odds you can sometimes achieve success through sheer determination

Flyabout in Alaska - "Float Planes of Alaska" DVD Out Now!

For people who live in North America, especially mainland USA and Canada, I've produced a DVD devoted entirely to float planes in Alaska.

This would certainly bring back memories for so many who have flown as a part of life and an easy way to travel from place to place.

Although my videos are mostly designed for aged care, they're still great to watch for relaxation and armchair travel by people of all ages.

While I was in Alaska a couple of years ago, I spent a day and a half walking around Lake Hood, near the main Anchorage Airport. I also did some float plane training from Lake Hood and Trail Lake at Moose Pass, south of Anchorage.

The planes are colourful and the background shows the beauty of the mountains, the lakes and their surroundings. Reflections in the water abound. There's nothing quite like float planes. You have to be a sailor and a pilot at the same time. You need a life jacket, rope and a paddle and in some cases a rifle case attached to the wing strut.

I've also done an "Alfred Hitchcock" in this DVD. Two of the planes I flew in are well represented. And by the way, you'll never guess what my favourite colour is!

Many of the photos have appeared in "Awesome Aviation" but there are quite a lot which are new. The soundtrack is also the same. As usual this is available in NTSC and PAL format and the price is the same at $25.00 plus postage.

Float Planes of Alaska DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

In future videos you may also see the scenery which I photographed from the plane but buy this one first.


View Larger Map

Giant Worms Found on King Island, Bass Strait, Australia

I thought I'd found giant worms on King Island, Bass Strait, Australia.

A couple of years ago I visited King Island, located between northwest Tasmania, to the south, and the Victorian coast on mainland Australia, to the north. Although there are some spectacular spots around King Island, the island doesn't feature any high mountains. It's mostly beef and dairy cattle (grazing on gently rolling hills), kelp and fishing.

Three days were spent on the island, with a flight around the coast and the rest of the time touring by car. On one of the days, I headed towards the southern end of the island, and saw these long green things in the distance.



With my weird sense of humour, I immediately thought of the Giant Worm Museum at Bass in Victoria. It's a structure which depicts a giant earth worm. Gippsland is apparently the only place in the world where these creatures can grow to about 3 metres in length (good food for nightmares I think).

Or, they could be giant wichetty grubs. In reality, they are only big round bales of hay covered in plastic (silage or haylage bales which begin to ferment with the moisture). Still, it makes for an interesting picture and a very tall tale.

The track that I was driving on was very windy and narrow and fortunately I didn't encounter a kelp truck which would have been around earlier in the day. I'll post about the kelp later on.

Check out the penguins on King Island too.


View Larger Map

"Float Planes of Alaska" DVD coming soon

For people who live in North America especially, I've decided to produce a DVD devoted entirely to float planes in Alaska.

This would certainly bring back memories for so many who have flown as a part of life and an easy way to travel from place to place. There are over 200 float planes in this DVD but as you'll see red is my favourite colour!

While I was in Alaska a couple of years ago, I spent a day and a half walking around Lake Hood, near the main Anchorage Airport. I also did some float plane training from Lake Hood and Trail Lake at Moose Pass, south of Anchorage.

Many of the photos have appeared in "Awesome Aviation" but there are quite a lot which are new. As usual I'll be producing in NTSC and PAL format and the price will be the same at $25.00 plus postage.

If you'd like to reserve a copy, email me at fran@franwest.com.

Fran's Backpack - Zion National Park , UT - Trails Illustrated Map # 214

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Zion National Park , UT - Trails Illustrated Map # 214 [Folded Map]

To get the most enjoyment out of a national park, you need a good map. Check out this one.

Click on the ad for more information.

Product Description
Covering all of Zion National Park, our Trails Illustrated map contains detailed topography with shaded relief, up-to-date trails, roads, and points of interest, plus trail summaries and useful information to get the most from your visit.

The North side of the map covers the popular Zion Narrows with a companion hiking timetable, plus Kolob Canyons, La Verkin Creek Trail, Hop Valley Trail, Wildcat Canyon, the West Rim Trail, and more. The South side of the map details the park headquarters, Floor of the Valley Road, East Rim Trail, Telephone Canyon Trail, and the Virgin River.

Printed on durable, waterproof, tear-resistant and environmentally friendly material that will stand up to any outdoor condition. Both sides feature a UTM and Latitude/Longitude grid for use with a GPS, plus compass rose, scale bar and legend for easy interpretation.

Approximately 4 1/4" x 9 1/4" folded; 26" x 38" fully opened
Scale = 1:37,700

About the Author
Founded in 1915 as the Cartographic Group, the first division of the National Geographic Society, National Geographic Maps has been responsible for illustrating the world around us through the art and science of mapmaking.
Today, National Geographic Maps continues this mission by creating the world's best wall maps, recreation maps, atlases, and globes which inspire people to care about and explore their world. All proceeds from the sale of National Geographic maps go to support the Society s non-profit mission to increase global understanding and promote conservation of our planet through exploration, research, and education.

Fran's Backpack - Locomotives of Australia: 1850s to 2010

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Locomotives of Australia: 1850s to 2010 [Hardcover].

Click on the ad for more information.

Product Description
The first edition of this book appeared as a 272 page work three decades ago, its main aim being to provide a potted examination of the multiplicity of steam, diesel and electric locomotives that have graced this country from 1854. Since this first humble appearance, the book has grown in content, photography and style, and examining in some detail the massive technological changes that have swept onto the Australian locomotive scene. With an up-to-date map of the nations rail system and photographs provided by some of the nations more dedicated photographers, this book continues to provide a concise profile of the country's diversified motive power in what is the largest railway book yet produced in this country.

Pichi Richi Railway on Track Again near Quorn, South Australia

The Pichi Richi Railway, based at Quorn, in the southern Flinders Ranges, is one of the favourite train journeys in South Australia.

The line extends from the historic little township of Quorn to Woolshed Flat. When I was on "Off the Beaten Track", photographing for the "Outback Adventure" DVD, it was in the spring after such a lot of rain. The grass was green, instead of brown, making everything look especially lush and the wattles were also in bloom adding splashes of yellow to the countryside.

From the train we could see rolling hills, dams, huge gnarled gum trees and fast flowing creeks. Just a pleasant view of the country including the Devil's Peak.

After we'd been on our train journey, we continued on to Wilpena Pound, in the Flinders Ranges, and also to the Gammon Ranges. On the way back we were fortunate to have a roadside view of the Pichi Richi Railway again.



We saw a group of cars parked near the railway crossing and knew that the train was bound to be along shortly. A great photo of the train crossing the road appears in "Outback Adventure" DVD. However, I like to photograph more than just the engine at the front.

Here's a photo of the guard's van at the back of the train. Note the old lamps at the rear of the van.

Modern technology is here to stay with the solar panel in the background providing the power for the railway crossing signals.

More views of the Pichi Richi Railway are on the "Outback Adventure" DVD.

Outback Adventure DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Fran's Backpack - Digital Exposure Handbook

Fran's Backpack brings to you various products on travel, adventure, flying and photography.

They could be books, ebooks, videos, or gear. Check each one out as it's highlighted on the day.

Today's item in the Backpack is Digital Exposure Handbook [Paperback].

You can never have too many photography books. Even if you think you know it all, seeing someone else's view of the world through a lens can still be an eye opener if not a pleasure.

Click on the ad for more information.

Product Description
“Exposure is the heartbeat of photography… If you try to overlook this key fundamental, your photography will never realize its full creative potential.” That’s the compelling message of this extraordinary tutorial. It explains why automatic settings limit the digital camera’s artistic possibilities, and shows with a gallery of spectacular examples how technically “incorrect” exposures achieve dramatic effects—creating bold silhouettes or blazing highlights, manipulating depth of field, blurring to give the sense of motion, or freezing fast action. This exhaustive state-of-the-art manual covers all aspects of its subject, from the basics of metering and the use of flash and filters, to the four-thirds system and exposure in the digital darkroom.

About the Author
Ross Hoddinott (www.rosshoddinott.co.uk) is a professional photographer specialising in nature photography. He regularly contributes to photography magazines including Outdoor Photography. Ross's previous books for Photographer's Institute Press include Digital Macro Photography (9781861085306) and he lives in Bude, Cornwall

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Useless Loop Salt Pans, Western Australia

During my flight around Australia's coast, I flew past several salt pans. Some were located at Useless Loop, in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia, not far from Monkey Mia where the dolphins come to visit.

Each of the salt pans around the coast vary in colour - blues, greens, pink/purple. From the air they reveal a patchwork of colour and different shapes.

The solar salt operation is run by Shark Bay Salt and the town itself is closed to the public. The table salt from the ponds is reputed to be among the purest in the world.






Useless Loop was named by one of the French de Freycinet brothers on the Baudin sailing ship expedition.

Flying around Australia's coast became for me a real history lesson. Many of the names on the map originated with the early English, French and Dutch maritime explorers.

A different photo of Useless Loop appears in my DVD "Australia's Coast from the Air".


View Useless Loop salt pans, Western Australia in a larger map


Australia's Coast from the Air DVD.

Australia's Coast from the Air DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00