Landscape, Nature And Travel Photography

2011 was a fun year to be behind the camera. I was very lucky to witness some breathtaking moments and round out some projects that made their way into my eBook. As was the case in 2010 it is impossible to rank my best photos like I had been in years past (best photos of 2010, best photos of 2009, best photos of 2008 and best photos of 2007).  So in no particular order here are my 10 favorite photos taken in 2011. Enjoy and feel free to let me know if you have a favorite!

Portrait of Blake
Technically this is my 11th selection, consider it an honorable mention. I had to include a picture of Blake with a big smile for reasons you’ll later understand as you scroll down.

Portrait of Blake

Ecliptic Star Trails – Nature and Landscape Photography by Jim M. Goldstein
I took several star trail photos in Death Valley National Park this year, but this is one that really stood out for me. Being able to photograph the curvature of the stars as they approach both poles was a real highlight of my October Death Valley Photo Tour. I’m looking forward to sharing the incredible night skies here with those in my February Death Valley Photo Tour. I still have room if you want to join me..

Ecliptic Star Trails

Road to the Sun View, Glacier National Park
Being atop the northern Rocky mountain range always yields dramatic views. Wafting clouds through a glacially carved valley made this view extra special from the Road to the Sun in Glacier National Park.

Road to the Sun View, Glacier National Park

Lunar Rainbow (Moonbow) at Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park
Water levels were at record levels during my visit to Yosemite in June. As a result the waterfalls were flowing at a greater capacity than I’ve ever seen before. This made photographing moonbows a lot easier. In this instance I was being drenched from the mist, but it was so worth it. In April and June I return to hunt for Yosemite moonbows during two phototours.

Lunar Rainbow (Moonbow) at Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Racetrack Star Trails
The Racetrack in Death Valley is dramatic enough, but adding star trails takes it to a new level. This was a 4 hour exposure resulting in nearly 60 degrees of rotation in the sky.

Racetrack Star Trails

Trying Moments
Remember that smiling photo of Blake at the beginning of the post. I didn’t want you to think he’s unhappy all the time. He’s a super happy kid. That being said even happy kids have their unhappy moments. I thought this moment was very telling of how challenging it is to be a parent sometimes.

Trying Moments

Stormy Sunrise, Glacier National Park
This fiery sunrise developed as quickly as it vanished. This fleeting moment was magical, but fear not I also took a time-lapse of it (see below).

Stormy Sunrise, Glacier National Park

With a bonus time-lapse:

Sunrise at Wild Goose Island Lookout from Jim Goldstein on Vimeo.

Rendezvous – Racetrack, Death Valley National Park
The mystery of the moving rocks on the Racetrack always fascinate people. Seeing two rocks paths on the verge of intersecting was particularly cool as it left me wondering how long it would be before they meet.

Rendezvous - Racetrack, Death Valley National Park

360° View of Star Trails Above the Racetrack
Ever wonder what the entire visible night sky would look like as a star trail photo? So did I so I made this photo with a Canon 8-15m lens that Borrowlenses.com (the best online lens rental store) made available to me for my trip. At the top of the circle is the eastern mountains that skirt the Racetrack playa. At the bottom of the screen are the western mountains that skirt the Racetrack playa. The small version of this image doesn’t do it justice so be sure to click the image to see a slightly larger version.

360 Degree View of Star Trails Above the Racetrack, Death Valley National Park

Under the Rainbow, Maui
In mid-December we took a family vacation to Maui. This was one of the more magical moments. I couldn’t believe how gigantic this rainbow was.

Under the Rainbow, Maui

Milky Way Over Death Valley (180° Panoramic)
This is a 70 megapixel 180° panoramic photo of the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon above the Racetrack Playa. There is nothing more humbling than seeing an infinite number of stars in the sky. Again this has to be seen large so you may want to check in on my Google+ stream to see it.

Milky Way Over Death Valley (180° Panoramic)

Technorati Tags: best photos, best of 2011, photography, pictures, fine art, stock photo, White Sands National Monument, Glacier National Park, Death Valley, landscape, nature

This past month I had a great time out on the Racetrack in Death Valley. I took a group of clients out for some night photography under a pitch black sky… oh and of course to take classic photos of the Racetrack as well. (Highlight photos to be shared this week so stay tuned.) Being in a star trails kind of mood I didn’t make it long into my drive to Death Valley from San Francisco without the itch to pull over and get in some early photos of star trails. Being one to take in the scenic route I took Tioga Pass through Yosemite National Park over to Highway 395. Before exiting Yosemite I decided to take a 4 hour pitstop at Olmstead Point to get this and a couple other photos in. Note the boulder in the foreground is the size of a car and the small tree just to the right of it is the size of a medium Christmas tree.

The fun highlight of this pitstop was crossing paths with one other photographer who was as enthralled with the night sky as I was. The only difference being that he was smart enough to bring a pizza to eat from Yosemite valley. Unfortunately for him his pizza got cold pretty quick. Temperatures were in the low 20’s.

Seeing that Tioga Pass will be closed when I head to Death Valley in February for my next Racetrack photo tour I’ll have to find a new spot to stop for some star trails assuming the weather cooperates.

Olmstead Point Star Trails, Yosemite National Park

Photo details:
Canon 5D Mark II, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/3.2, 90 minutes (stacked photos) at ISO 3200.

And before I forget…
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Technorati Tags: photography, star trails, Olmstead Point, Yosemite, Yosemite National Park, stock photo

As a photographer and fan of photography I’ve noticed one thing that seems inescapable, a person with a camera can seldom resist taking a reflection photo. You need not look very far as its unlikely you can browse a photo forum and avoid seeing a photo containing a reflection. There is something transcending about seeing the beauty of nature times two.

When Mother Nature graces me with a sight of amazing beauty I’m filled with hope and peace. At that moment such feelings seem boundless if not infinite in nature and yet when that very scene is reflected the visual awe and emotions are amplified all the more. Reflections have long held a special place in the heart of man. I like to think where we see the best of nature, we look to see the best of ourselves. Perhaps that is why so many people are drawn to photographing reflections.

A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.
- Henry David Thoreau

Photographer in Front of a Yosemite Falls Reflection - Yosemite National Park, California

Technorati Tags: photography, nature, landscape, reflection, stock photo, Yosemite, National Park, California

Now that summer has passed and so many photographers are chomping at the bit to photograph Fall Color I thought I’d share a sight of summer I took in of Vernal Falls along the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park this year. I can’t recall a time I’ve seen this waterfall flowing so heavily. It was a great day to bask in the sun and cool off in the iconic mist this trail is known for.

“Look abroad through Nature’s range, Nature’s mighty law is change.”
- Robert Burns

Yosemite Mist Trail Hikers - Yosemite National Park, California

Technorati Tags: California, Yosemite, Mist Trail, national park, stock photo, photography

Tough to believe that Summer has almost passed here in California. I’ve heard many photographers as of late mentioning they’re eagerly awaiting Fall to see the leaves turn color. I myself am quite content with Summer for now. For those suffering from extreme summer temperatures I hope this cool view of a snow covered Merced river in Yosemite National Park  acts as mental air conditioning. Make the most of the weekend as it’s one of the few remaining this Summer.

Snow Covered Trees Along the Merced River - Yosemite National Park, California

View more Yosemite National Park Photos

Technorati Tags: photography, Yosemite, National Park, California, winter, season, stock photo

California is home to some incredible trees including those thought to be the oldest (Bristlecone pines),  tallest (California Redwoods) and massive by volume (Giant Sequoias). Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) can grow to be well over 200 feet tall and have trunks large enough to create a tunnel for a car to drive through. Some of the most impressive specimens in Northern California can be found in Yosemite National Park.

Photographing Sequoias is tricky business as their size is only apparent with an object in frame for scale and fitting an entire 200+ foot tall tree in frame requires a very wide lens. In the photograph below is the Mariposa Grove museum found in the upper Mariposa grove of Yosemite National Park. This cabin is on the registry of  historical places and occupies the location Galen Clark’s original cabin once stood. Galen Clark being the European settler who discovered these amazing trees.  If you haven’t seen these trees in person its well worth the trip and the upper grove hike is a must. The Giant Sequoias are amazingly beautiful and sure to make you unconsciously say “Wow!”

Giant Sequoia Trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Towering over the Mariposa Grove Museum - Yosemite National Park, California

Technorati Tags: Sequoiadendron giganteum, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite, museum, stock photo, stock picture, Yosemite, National Park

Flooding was so extensive this past June in Yosemite that tons of unique photo opportunities presented themselves. One of my favorites was this view of a flooded meadow near Cathedral Rock.

Cathedral Rock Reflected in a Flooded Meadow - Yosemite National Park

The railing is about 3-4 feet tall to guide visitors to walk around the meadow along Yosemite valley loop road. I can’t say I’ve ever seen the valley so flooded to the point water was coming up the shoulder of the road. Other areas were far from calm with water rushing between trees normally on high ground. I have some video in the wings of this that I’m looking forward to sharing. Stay tuned.

Technorati Tags: photography, yosemite, national park, flood, Cathedral Rock, nature, stock photo, stock picture

One of the biggest challenges I faced while in Yosemite photographing moonbows was ensuring that my camera would not be ruined by the heavy mist at the base of Yosemite Falls. The mist was so heavy that it was equivalent to being in a moderate rain shower with wind.  I was very fortunate to receive a ThinkTank Hydrophobia 70-200 rain-cover just before my trip and it sure helped keep my camera dry in trying conditions. I ended my shoot soaked from head to toe, but my camera was dry making it possible to capture the photo below.

I liked the ThinkTank Hydrophobia 70-200 so much I let ThinkTank know and they’ve made one available to give away to a reader of the JMG-Galleries blog. For details on how to win see below…

Lunar Rainbow (Moonbow) at Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Giveaway Rules

There are two ways to enter for a chance to win.

1. Visit the JMG-Galleries on Facebook, become a fan and enter your contact info.
   Note: All personal data is kept in strictest confidence and is not public.
2. Tweet that you’ve entered the contest via this link. An added bonus, for every entry resulting from your tweet you get an extra entry. Be courteous to others on Twitter and only tweet once please.

It’s just that easy.

The contest ends July 25th at 11:59PM and is open to residents of the United States.

Thanks for taking part and good luck.

Technorati Tags: photography, Yosemite, Moonbow, Lunar Rainbow, landscape, nature, stock photo, stock picture, giveaway, ThinkTank