The media has been predicting the dreaded $4 per gallon mark for the past 12 months or so.  I cannot believe that it is an actual reality.  What comes next summer - $5 per gallon?  $6 per gallon?  When will this madness come to an end?  I remember just a few years ago paying less than $2 per gallon - in a few years it has nearly doubled...

I usually head out on free weekends to shoot in Hocking Hills or some other popular attraction here in Ohio.  I don't think that I will be getting that much stock shooting in this year.  It is nearly the same cost for me to jump on a plane and head to Chicago or even go to the west coast.  I have seen flights as low as $120 roundtrip to the windy city and I have seen flights out to LA and San Francisco for $250 to $300 (sometimes less).  Unless you are taking a bus load of people, it is still cheaper to fly than drive (for now).  But those costs can still add up - especially if you stay overnight in a hotel within the popular metro areas.

Instead I think this summer is going to be spent exploring nearest to home.  That's right - finding the secret places in Columbus that few people know about.  That is my goal for the summer - to figure out 10 (new) great places within 30 miles of home to photograph.  There are already a lot of places I know about, but how much more is really out there that we don't explore because of it's less-exotic appeal?  I hope to combine these secret spots with my portrait photography business in the coming years.  Could the high gas prices actually be a blessing in disguise?  How much do those living in central Ohio really know about the area?  Well I am hoping to be surprised by what our area has to offer. 

Have an enjoyable weekend!  Happy driving (or not driving)!

SG