Landscape, Nature And Travel Photography

Two of the most photogenic nature icons in San Francisco are the fog and Monterey Pine trees. Shaped by the wind Monterey Pines have a rugged appearance and texture. When shrouded by fog these trees stand out even more with their sweeping canopy and jagged branches. This scene was photographed very close to my home and in viewing it you can’t help but get the feeling these trees are reaching out to embrace the fog as it wisps by. Only after years of walking my dogs here have I learned that in fact that is what they’re doing. Their needles condense water from the fog and it drips down to the ground allowing them to hydrate and grow ever taller into the fog.

Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) Trees in the Fog - San Francisco, California

Technorati Tags: photography, nature, stock photo, San Francisco, California, Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata

As long as there are trees to walk under I will forever enjoy a harmony with nature.

Back in 2007 a morning walk along the shore of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park yielded stellar views of Mount Moran, but it was my brief moments amongst the trees as I returned to the trailhead that grabbed my eye most. Wildflowers, vibrant green grass and dappled light filtering through the tree canopy created an infinite space to let my mind and body wander. While there were infinite elements of the scene before me to grab my eye it was the vastness of the forest that captured my imagination most and inspired my photo “Wonderland”.

Wonderland - Grand Teton National Park

Technorati Tags: photography, fine art, nature, landscape, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park

The dunes of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico are an endless fascination of mine. The landscape here is full of paradoxes. The regularity of irregular patterns formed by the wind create incredibly photogenic sand patterns. The rolling dunes provide an infinite fabric to catch contrasty shadows in the sand patterns throughout the day making optimal lighting virtually an all day affair. Yet what I love most about this terrain is the ability to find simplicity amid the complexity.

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White Sands Textures I - White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Photo Details:
(3) Three photo panoramic, Canon 1Ds Mark III, TS-E 90mm f/2.8

Technorati Tags: photography, fine art, nature, landscape, panoramic, New Mexico, white sands, national monument, stock photo

Glacier National Park is one location that will forever capture my imagination and reverence of nature. No matter where I travel in Glacier National Park I can always find myself lost in thought as I gaze across the landscape. Whether its towering mountains, reflections, eroded stone, or wildlife it can be found with in the maze of glacially carved valleys. It is no wonder that this amazing place is considered sacred by the Blackfoot nation.

Technorati Tags: photography, landscape, nature, fine art, panoramic, Glacier National Park, NPS

Back when I was discussing Consuming Color I noted I’d be sharing more of my work that explored this topic. Here is a second piece to a larger body of work I’ll be releasing in the near future. I couldn’t help but sneak this preview out before the weekend. Stay tuned for more.

Color Abstract II

Technorati Tags: Fine Art, Photography, Landscape, New Mexico, White Sands National Monument

Often hidden in the fog of the northern California coast is the Farallon Islands. On rare days from San Francisco the atmosphere is clear enough to see their outline across 27 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Virtually out my backdoor is a view of these distant islands. The 850 foot elevation of this particular vantage point from my neighborhood helps in conjunction with the 840mm focal length used to capture this image. Of all my years in San Francisco this particular day provided the unique combination of clear view and amazing color in the sky. While the Farallons are often concealed in fog on this evening they were concealed in a curtain of color.

Farallon Islands Curtain of Color

Photo Info:
Canon 1Ds Mark III, 600mm + 1.4x = 840mm,  1/320 sec, f/13, ISO 400, Compensation: +2/3

Technorati Tags: photography, fine art, Farallon Islands, color, stock photo, California, travel, landscape 

One thing I really enjoy about sharing my photography is that every so often a photo finds its perfect audience who can fully appreciate a core thought that inspired its creation. Case in point is my Light Lasso photo from Death Valley National Park that was recently published in the quarterly edition of the DarkSky.org quarterly publication Nightscape with a feature on “Seeing Blue, Blue Rich White Light”.

Darksky.org's Nightscape featuring Racetrack Light Lasso, Death Valley National Park

It is increasingly hard to find night skies that are not polluted by artificial light from our roadways, homes, towns and cities. The Sierra Nevada mountains, parts of the Owens Valley, Death Valley and portions of southern Utah are but a few places I gravitate toward to enjoy the stars. You’d be surprised even on a moonless night how bright the stars in night sky can be. To be able to see the arm of the Milky Way stretch from one horizon to another is breathtaking. Unfortunately such sights are increasingly rare. It’s great to see that organizations like DarkSky.org exist and in case you’re curious they do operate based on contributions/donations. I just made mine and hope you do to lend them a hand.

Technorati Tags: Death Valley National Park, Stock Photo, Stock Photography, Fine Art, Night, Racetrack, Darksky.org

If nature is my religion, the world is my temple.

Zen - White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Walk carefully in the most pristine of locations and you’ll hear whispers and see writing. What you hear and read will be as much a reflection of you as the world before you.

Wind Etching - White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Technorati Tags: Photography, New Mexico, Landscape, Nature, Stock Photo, Fine Art