On a recent trip through the U.S. my wife and I ended up driving from a winter storm to a sandy beach on the ocean.

I can't help but go to the ocean any time I get anywhere near it.

It was a great trip, I got some nice shots and I feel refreshed.

Of course driving back home was a dog because just as it was when we left, we hit a winter storm.

But even the far north has to give in to summer sooner or later.

And it is always nice to get back home after a few weeks, but I sure wish we had an ocean close by because it's still calling me.

One huge challenge for Nature photographers is to capture birds in flight.

A lot of it is luck because to some extent you have to have the birds play the game before you can get the shot.

That being said you can create the best possible scenario for you to have the best advantage.

If possible I prefer to have the sun at my back, or over my shoulder. This makes for a real nice photo because the wings spread highlighted feathers have a great look, especially on white birds.

Obviously you want to use a fast shutter speed to stop the action.

I think the hardest part of the whole shoot is getting the focus right.

This is where if you talk to ten wildlife photographers you might get ten answers.

I really believe it boils down to what works with the camera ...

Besides the fact that you no longer freeze your tush off as spring moves in, we go from a black and white outside world to a color one.

Every spring flower I look at is amazing to me how that beautiful color all blends together.

It has warmth, colors, wonder and inspiration all over it.

When I see a flower garden and a bench to sit on it's an invitation I can't resist.

It just beckons to come and sit and relax.

All the different smells that flow through only add to experience.

No wonder 3I look so forward to it.

I have been with Dreamstime for almost a year now and like every one else I have had the excitment of my first accepted photo.

This of course inspired me to carry on.

Then I got my first sale. I remember it like it was yesterday, wow was I excited.

That excitment still remains with every sale. I also have tried to keep informed of what goes on in Dreamstime so I continue to read the blogs and forums and occasionlly see where someone mentioned that they sold a photo under an extended license.

So as I accumulated sales from the selling of my photos, I kind of thought the extended licenses was some sort of myth or urban legend.

The thing you here about but never really saw for yourself.

Auhhhhh but one morning when I logged on and saw my earnings balance it had jumped up a bunch....