One thing that never fails in life is that at some point some new development happens that puts a part of your past in perspective; sometimes these moments are tempests and other times they’re calmer epiphanies.
Having a little time on your hands (whether at 3am lulling a newborn to sleep or perhaps out in wilderness under a star filled sky) you’re bound to have some epiphanies. As I refocus on my photography after the arrival of my son I’ve quickly come to realize and appreciate…
It’s far more meaningful to let what you create define who you are versus what you own.
This thought came to mind not just because I’ve been appreciating the arrival of my son, but because I’ve found myself wondering to myself for months why I never got into photography sooner. In my college years it was far too easy to get caught up in owning things (that now have no meaning or value) versus the enjoyment and value I receive from the art I create. Perhaps this is just a natural progression one goes through, but in hindsight I sure wish I embraced creating sooner.
This thought always resurfaces and seems to intensify as I review the early work of other artists. Rather than letting regret hold me back, I always leverage the inspiration I find in such work in the hope that I might one day stand on the shoulders of giants.
One of my favorite moments when in the field is getting to a location super early in the morning before anyone else shows up to “just be” and feel the pulse of the land. By this I mean I’ll stop what I’m doing, slow my breathing and focus my senses to take in the nature that surrounds me. First I’ll focus my eyes on beautiful features of my surrounding to take it in. Second I’ll close my eyes and take a deep breath to smell my surroundings. Third I’ll keep my eyes closed and focus my hearing to the sounds of the landscape. Lastly I’ll open my eyes and kneel to feel the earth beneath me.
Pulse of Yosemite
In this scene fall dried grasses caught my eye along the bank of an ice crusted Merced river in Yosemite Valley. The air was cold and carried an aroma of pine. In the stillness of the moment ice forming along the banks of the Merced river cracked and popped, while the woosh of a Raven’s flapping wings could be heard as it flew overhead. Shortly after opening my eyes, the call of a nearby Raven broke the silence and I kneeled to feel ice cold course sand and rock that lay at my feet.
To the untrained ear and eye it may very well seem as though nature lacks a heartbeat, but if you pause to tune in you’ll most certainly hear and see it.
Locations to enjoy quiet are few and far between these days. Fewer and fewer locations exist where you can go to avoid hearing man and/or man made objects. Even when I was in the Arctic it was common to hear small planes and on one rare occasion a jumbo jet. As an artist I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of capturing images that exemplify intangible concepts such as “quiet”. Some photos are more successful than others… the following photo, taken in Yosemite National Park, is a favorite of mine capturing the essence of quiet.
Out of curiosity….
When and where was the last time you experienced silence (no man made noises)?
An Unquiet Nation: Audio ecologist Gordon Hempton talks about America’s vanishing quiet spaces, and how our lives can be helped by listening to the silence – Newsweek
The Quiet - The Merced River in Yosemite Valley: rocks, water and reflections - Yosemite National Park, California
“Gates of the Valley” has always been a vantage point that exemplifies the beauty of Yosemite National Park. While many of us know iconic Yosemite from the “tunnel view”, it is the ground level view of “‘Gates of the Valley” that provides a sense of scale that eternally entrances me. Taking in this view with fresh snow on the ground is nothing less than seeing Yosemite in it’s purest form. The snow seemingly takes back what we have taken from the landscape. Roads, fences, and footsteps disappear all while quietly revealing the true denizens of the valley the deer, coyotes and other animals that live under the towering trees & cliff walls.
Even while protected as a U.S. National Park it’s great to see nature take back the land.
What does it look like when 11 inches of snow is falling in Yosemite Valley?
Well it looks something like this. In near white out conditions the iconic Cook’s Meadow Elm was virtually hidden behind a wall of falling snow. At the time this photo was taken, this was the most serene I’ve ever seen the meadow. Not a soul was stirring other than myself.
Yosemite Valley's iconic Cook's Meadow Elm tree in near white out conditions during a winter snow storm - Yosemite National Park, California
In 2009 I was very fortunate to have had some incredible photo opportunities. Selecting my best photos from this past year was much more difficult than choosing my best photos of 2008 and 2007. After taking the time to review the best of the tens of thousands of photos I took this year I narrowed my choices down to the best 50, then best 25 and finally down to these 10 best photos. To view higher resolution versions of these and my other favorite photos of 2009 less the heavy watermark check out the video at the end of this post.
Honorable Mentions:
Honorable Mention #4: Clark’s Grebe and Fish (Aechmophorus clarckii)
This was one of many wildlife photos taken during my Sea Otter Photo Tour trips this year. While Sea Otters are plentiful one cannot ignore the amazing variety of bird life in this area as well.
Honorable Mention #3: Sinopah Mountain Reflected in Two Medicine Lake at Sunrise – Glacier National Park
In early June I was fortunate to arrive in Glacier National Park after a late snow storm. With in the next few days I was graced with amazing scenery and light.
Honorable Mention #5: Yosemite Valley Chapel in Snow Storm
The highlight of the later part of this year was to be present for 11 inches of snowfall in Yosemite valley. It was an incredible experience capturing the essence of winter and the holidays while photographing Yosemite Valley Chapel.
Honorable Mention #1 Illumination
The Sierra foothills are an amazing place and I was quite fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to photograph an Oak tree under an amazing sunset sky.
My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2009:
#10: Sea Otter and Sleeping Pup (Enhydra lutris)
The highlight of every Sea Otter Photo Tour is being able to photograph Sea Otter pups with their mothers. This was one of my favorites.
#9: Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus)
While in Costa Rica I was very fortunate to see a master of camouflage, the Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus). Their intensely green scales and leaf shaped head make them incredibly challenging to find.
#8: Racetrack Textures – Death Valley National Park
One of my favorite landscape abstracts taken at the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park during one of my many photo tours this year.
#7: Mount Grinell Reflected in Swiftcurrent Lake at Sunrise – Glacier National Park, Montana
An early morning view of Mount Grinell reflected in Swiftcurrent Lake just before fog obscured the view.
#6: Zabriskie Point Sunrise, Death Valley National Park, California
Remnants of a storm that swept through the Sierra Nevada mountains added to an already amazing view of Zabriskie Point at sunrise. This was one of the many great landscape opportunities to be had during my Death Valley photo tour.
#5: A Brown-throated Sloth and Her Baby Eat Leafs – Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Wildlife in Costa Rica is plentiful and this special moment of a Brown-throated Sloth and her baby feeding on leafs was one of the many highlights of my trip. My wife was dismayed that this wasn’t my top choice for 2009 as it was her favorite of the year.
#4: Star Trail Abstract
This ultra long exposure of the Milky Way over silhouetted mountains is among my top favorites this year.
#3: Racetrack Light Lasso – Death Valley National Park, California
Never satisfied with the status quo I had a blast experimenting with some light painting on my Death Valley photo tour. After hours of experimentation I came away with 5 excellent photos similar to this, but this is my favorite.
#2: Pattern Abstract I
In 2009 I was working on numerous photo projects, many of which are still under wraps for the moment. One photo that inspired me to start yet another project was this nature abstract. Stay tuned as there’s more to follow for this project.
#1: Mobius Arch Star Trails
7 hours in the field and numerous more in post-production, this photo of Mobius Arch with star trails in the background came out exactly as I had envisioned. Extremely fond of this location I’m always striving to capture something new when I visit.
Bonus: Best Photo Not Taken By Me…
Normally I highlight photos that I’ve taken through out the year, but this is my favorite photo taken by someone else. Baby G should arrive in early June and if my wife and I are lucky we’ll know the sex tomorrow.
Best Photos of 2009 video
Music “Comfort Zone” courtesy of General Fuzz
Thanks a ton General Fuzz your music makes the video!
Check out more of General Fuzz’s great music at http://www.generalfuzz.net
So much snow fell in Yosemite valley this last Monday it was tough to get a clear view of anything for very long. The snow seemed to keep coming and coming. At one point the snow stopped falling for a brief moment to reveal lower Yosemite Fall beyond the iconic Cook’s Meadow Elm. It’s tough to imagine, but the day before this meadow was full of golden brown grass. Seeing the transformation was amazing. As much as I enjoy the colorful landscape of Yosemite Valley I can never get enough of it when its covered in snow.
Monday’s snow storm transformed Yosemite before my eyes from a rusty yellow and green landscape to a white snowy wonderland. Standing in a meadow during a heavy snow storm I couldn’t help but think “Christmas Wonderland” when I photographed the Yosemite Valley Chapel. The snow covered pine tree, vibrant red historic structure and icy Oak trees as a backdrop epitomized what comes to mind when I think of a Yosemite Christmas.
Christmas Wonderland - Yosemite Valley Chapel in Snow Storm
