#612roadtrip / 32 States in 12 Months

   June 12th is always a special time for photographer Eric McKinney / 6:12 Photography, and this year it falls on #traveltuesday. Most everyone who follows me on social media and this blog can tell the two most important things in my life are photography and travel. Over the past twelve months, I have been fortunate enough to travel to 32 states and see some incredible landscapes, breathtaking views, and fascinating wildlife.

   For more photos from 6:12 Photography by Eric McKinney, visit www.612photog.com. You can also find my work on Facebook at facebook.com/photographybyericmckinney. If you enjoy my work, take a moment to click "like" on my page. You can also follow 6:12 on Instagram @mannequin612.
   Interested in booking a photo session with 6:12 Photography? Contact Eric McKinney at emckinney612@gmail.com to schedule a shoot.

#612CrossCountryRoadTrip / Badlands National Park

On my recent trip across the country, during the drive west, I visited Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The rugged beauty of the Badlands is difficult to put into words, comparable with even the Grand Canyon. Traveling along the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway (Highway 240), I found myself surrounded by rock formations, grasslands, buttes, mounds and the parks interesting wildlife inhabitants.

#612CrossCountryRoadTrip / Glacier National Park

On my recent trip across the country, during the drive west, I visited Glacier National Park in northern Montana. On the drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road, the elevation reaches its highest point of 6,646 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass.

   The beautiful range of blues seen in the mountains, lakes and glaciers of Glacier National Park are incredible in photos, but even more jaw-dropping in person. Arriving at the park at sunset, no matter how early, is worth the loss of sleep to see the park come to life as the sun rises. Going-to-the-Sun Road winds around the park's cliffs, peaks, passes and valleys showing off all of the breathtaking views. Along the cliffs, little to nothing separates you from driving off the side of the road, so it's a challenge to keep your eyes from wandering and make use of the road's many pullouts.

Fun Fact: The opening of 1980's The Shining was filmed at Glacier National Park, and you can see views of the Torrance car driving along Going-to-the-Sun Road.

   At Logan Pass, Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed due to fourteen inches of snow that had fallen a few days prior, with temperatures staying below freezing for days to come.