Red River Paper Blog

The moderate temperatures and wildflowers of spring (March to May) with the changing fall colors (September and October) make these the most desirable times to visit most of the Four Corners sites. Even in the busier summer season, the remoteness of Hovenweep and Chaco Canyon mean that they will be less crowded options for your photography....read more

Much more than a survey marker where four states come together, the Four Corners region in the southwest U.S. is a reminder of how old our planet is. The wind and water have revealed its very bones and a visitor can feel the spirit of the ancient ones who lived here in centuries past....read more

Stuck at the extreme western point of the state of Texas, El Paso is too often forgotten as a photo destination. Yet it offers an amazing nexus of Hisopanic culture, Old West history, varied architecture, and mdern convenience....read more

By Will Keener and Ron Wolfe— There are many great places to photograph in the Black Hills region: Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon, & more...read more

FLASHBACK – Originally posted 2/18 By Laurie Excell Some of the most beautiful coastline in all America is just a short, ninety-minute drive from Portland, Oregon and stretches...read more

By Ron Wolfe and Will Keener— The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a place for all seasons, but autumn is especially spectacular in the fall! Tips to photograph your experience...read more

By Zac Durant— The fierce intensity of the wind had carried my canoe out to the middle of the huge lake, where white caps were threatening to capsize it. Next?...read more

By Lon Shelton & Ron Wolfe— Beneath the prickly pear and cholla cactus of the Chihuahuan desert in southeast New Mexico lies a spectacular treasure. Carlsbad Caverns National Park – a complex of 117 caves including the largest accessible cave chamber on our continent– dazzles visitors with its magnificence, its cathedral-like silence, and the sheer...read more

By Peter E. Randall— Photographing and producing a book on Ghana was not on my mind when I first visited the West African country in 1984 as a United Nations consultant. I was hired to document an improved method of smoking fish, a vital task in a country with little access to refrigeration to preserve...read more

By Will Keener and Ron Wolfe— White Pocket is photographer’s dreamland; a remote, other-worldly experience in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona that looks like chef whipped up a colorful concoction from chunks of multi-colored fudge. Writers tend to wax poetic in describing White Pocket, seeing visions of gum drops, ice cream cones, dragon’s...read more

By Will Keener and Ron Wolfe— It’s hard to imagine an event that could provide more colors, shapes, characters, configurations, and downright joy to photographers than a hot-air balloon festival. The kaleidoscope of color and the interaction of the setting, the viewers, the balloons and their crews make for a stunning variety of possibilities. Living...read more

By Tony Bonanno— I’ve photographed horses for many years– quarter horses on western ranches, grand prix jumpers, rodeo horses and wild roaming Spanish Mustangs, but none have intrigued me more than the White Horses of the Camargue in the South of France. I’d never heard of them until about five years ago when I was...read more

By Albert Chi– There’s a fantastic photo adventure awaiting you, requiring only a vehicle, your camera and some minimal planning for a most exciting trip. And chances are, it’s probably close to where you live and relatively inexpensive to get to so you can take the whole family along. Okay, what’s the catch? There isn’t...read more

By Ron Wolfe and Will Keener– You get to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, south of Socorro, NM, at least a half an hour before sunrise. You position yourself with back to the wind, so the birds will fly over you; your back to the rising sun, even better. In the near dawn,...read more

by Ron Wolfe and Will Keener– Maine earns its title as the “Lighthouse State,” with more than 60 historic lighthouses, many of which are still active, spread out along 5,000 miles of coastline, inlets and islands. As lighthouses became less essential to navigation in the late 20th Century, these historic structures faced demolition. The National...read more

By Ron Wolfe– While the 1,450-mile-long Colorado River is best known for winding through the Grand Canyon, it also offers exciting opportunities for photographers as it meanders through Southeastern Utah. Near the town of Moab, one will find Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument– just a few...read more

 by Shelly Katz– Thinking about going to Las Vegas? Forget about the casinos and bright lights of the strip. Instead take a 2-1/2 hour drive to the northeast and check out Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in southern Utah. Zion National Park is located on State Route 9 in Springdale, Utah – 163 miles from Las...read more

By Ron Wolfe– “The Wave” comprises the Navajo Sandstone dunes that have calcified vertically and horizontally, turning into hardened, compacted rocks over time. Photographs of it are widely published and highly desired but it can be a dangerous location for photographers who are not in good physical condition. Located near the Arizona-Utah border in Paria...read more

If you want to feel isolated on the crowded U.S. East Coast and spend quality time photographing in a unique location, consider the Outer Banks of North Carolina and specifically the Cape Hatteras area, which is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on this thin strip of barrier islands.Cape Hatteras itself is the southeastern...read more

Many great photo locations require perservance, and sometimes even hardship, to capture engaging images. But if you’d like to combine vacation relaxation with photo opportunity, a visit to Maui can satisfy both. In addition to bringing your favorite camera for scenics, invest in rugged camera that you can take underwater for snorkeling or exploring waterfalls....read more

In this edition, Red River Paper Pro Ron Wolfe covers the iconic Mesa Verde in Colorado My most recent trip to Mesa Verde was on the first day of November. Going to a National Park offseason has the advantage of fewer visitors. On the flip side, some attractions may be closed. In this case, several...read more

  See-your-toes-ocean along mile-long powder sand, it’s easy to see how Lanikai means “heavenly sea” in the Hawaiian language. Tucked away on the Windward side of the island of Oahu, 21 miles from Waikiki, Lanikai is one of the hidden jewels of beach resort Kailua. Locals and tourists call Lanikai “one of the best swimming...read more

1. Lake Clark National Park Located just southwest of Anchorage and accessible by float plane, there are several great sites for Brown Bear photography. My favorite is Crescent Lake. When the Brown Bears are on the Salmon runs, there are lots of opportunities for great action shots. I advise staying focused on a single bear,...read more

In this series, Red River Paper Pro Ron Wolfe covers some unique (and out of the way) photo locations in his home state of New Mexico. Bisti Wilderness Area Would you expect to find a duck-billed dinosaur in the desert?  Well, welcome to the Bisti Wilderness. The barren and seemingly lifeless landscape found today is...read more

Paul Hughes lives “the best of both worlds,” summers on the rugged coast of Oregon, winters at Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Paul uses a variety of Red River card stock for frameable souvenir cards he sells in galleries and craft fairs.  A stubborn mule, you might say, gets credit for discovering...read more

In the “panhandle” of the Last Frontier, craggy, snow-capped mountains sweep down to narrow fjords, eagles swirl through turbulent skies, whales splash noisily in the steel-gray waters, and glaciers creep relentlessly toward the sea. Onion-domed Russian Orthodox churches still hold services for descendants of their Indian converts whose tribal celebrations and dancing have been preserved....read more