Landscape, Nature and Travel Photography

One thing I’ve trained myself to do over the years while out in the field is to look in the exact opposite direction of what I’m focused on photographing. I call this creative exercise “The Law of Opposites“. If I’m looking in front of me, I’ll check behind me. If I’m looking up, I’ll look down. If I’m looking left, I’ll look right. You get the idea.  The reason for this exercise is to break free of tunnel vision. With almost absolute certainty I’ll find myself focused to the point of distraction on something widely recognizable such as an iconic landscape subject. When looking in the opposite direction you view the world with a blank slate so to speak; all your visual preconceptions are cleared from your mind and you thrust yourself into something new that your brain has to reprocess.

Almost always I’ll photograph my primary focus, but as I wait for lighting conditions to improve or after I’m done I’ll conduct this exercise. Not only does this keep my mind working, it also helps me become hyper aware of my surroundings. Granted this exercise doesn’t guarantee that you’ll capture an image more impressive than your primary subject, but it will certainly exercise your minds eye.

An example of the “Law of Opposites” creative exercise in action…
After locking in on fog clearing to reveal the Grand Teton mountains, I broke my focus to look at what was underfoot and under-tripod. Dew had collected on lupine leafs in the field I was standing and if you looked close enough you could see other lupine leaves in the dew drops. I swapped lenses and began photographing the lupine. Upon review later I found that my macro photos had turned out far better than my landscape images. A perfect example of the “Law of Opposites” helping me see something I’d likely have otherwise missed.

Technorati Tags: photography, macro, law of opposites, lupine, leaf, dew, stock photo

This was taken moments before this crab was quickly devoured by this California Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris). This particular Sea Otter put on quite a show for those on the Sea Otter Photo Tour I put together this past weekend. You never realize how fast a crab can be eaten until you see a Sea Otter in action. Sea Otters eat 20-25% of their body weight in food per day due to an incredibly fast metabolism. By comparison human food eating champions such as Takeru Kobayashi proportionally are put to shame daily by Sea Otters.

View More California Sea Otter photos…

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This weekend was beautiful here in Northern California and conditions were perfect for this past Sundays California Sea Otter Photo Tour. California Sea Otters were out in force dining, playing, relaxing and well just looking cute. I’ll be sharing photos from those that joined me later in the week, so stay tuned.

View More California Sea Otter photos…

Technorati Tags: sea otter,   enhydra lutris,   photography,   stock photo,   workshop,   photo tour

Soft lighting filtering through pre-dawn fog provided some interesting photographic opportunities during my last day at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming back in July. This hike was particularly refreshing as numerous photographic subjects seemed to pop out of the landscape. The layering and juxtaposition of foliage caught my eye. This photo has since become one of my favorites from this trip.

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

I’m not sure what the odds are that I would see complimentary patterns aligned so well at just the perfect time. I’m not a statistician, but perhaps its ten thousand to one… a million to one… a billion to one or maybe even a trillion to one? Who knows. As photographers we often focus more on the outcome than reflecting on the experience and appreciating the odds of finding the proverbial needle in a haystack… magical high impact photo.

While I’m quite happy with how I was able to align, expose and compose this image I can’t seem to shake the thought of how I or any other nature/landscape photographer so often take for granted the very unique environmental phenomenon we photograph. Even photographers need to be reminded to stop and smell the roses now and again.

On that note this will be my last post for the week. I’ll be traveling, but will undoubtedly have more to post when I return this weekend.  Have a great long weekend for those in the U.S. and for those bringing their cameras with them this weekend take the time to appreciate what you photograph.

Technorati Tags: sunset, landscape, photography, stock photo, crepuscular rays

I have to admit it is very difficult for me not to photograph Seal Rock in San Francisco. There is something magical about the heart shaped arch that keeps me coming back over and over. This was taken while out photographing the Sutro Baths area with Richard Wong and Greg Lato. I’m late to the game in posting some teaser photos from this outing, but Richard and Greg both posted a few photos some time ago on their blogs.

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I have to admit that I was rather frustrated being hampered with a broken toe during this outing. This is a great location to explore… just not with a broken toe. Anyhow I still had fun photographing the sunset and hanging out with Richard (photo left) and Greg (photo right)

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Technorati Tags: Seal Rock, Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Seascape, Landscape, photography, stock photo, fine art

I was sad to learn this weekend that Wall Arch collapsed last week. This arch spanned 71 feet and was over 33 feet high. If you ever hiked through the fins in this area you’d know this arch was quite a sight to see.  Due to the tight space in which it resided getting a full shot of the arch was always challenging. Arches National Park is a landscape in flux and in time all the arches there will eventually collapse. Geologic time is so slow by human standards that collapsing arches are rare. The last arch to lose portions of its structure was Landscape Arch in 1991. Let’s hope its sometime longer before any other arches seccumb to gravity.

Wall Arch Sunrise, Arches National Park

Wall Arch Collapses - U.S. National Park Service

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One thing is constant no matter where I travel. What is common place for a local is often special to someone traveling through. Somehow when we are exposed to something, no matter how beautiful, day in and day out it often becomes less special. Yet when you show this “common” item to someone visiting the perception is completely different.

While in Utah I had this experience several times. Sunflowers on the side of the road… nothing special to the locals, yet an incredibly beautiful photographic subject to me. I suppose the moral of this thought is its sometimes helpful to put on the hat of a tourist where you live and rediscover what is in your own backyard.

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Technorati Tags: sun flower, Utah, desert, photography, stock photo