Landscapes

Seal Rock Sunset

I read an article a few months back about photographing the Oregon Coast, and I was surprised when it recommended the winter months as the best time. The days can be gray and cold, with almost constant rain, but when the storms passes, the result can be amazing. This was one of those times.. Mid February...It had been raining and cold all day, and the evening forecast called for much of the same....but a little break in the clouds just above the horizon held some promise. The sun began to set, the light began to change....and just minutes after the sun completely disappeared, the sky exploded into these amazing colors. It was like watching a scene being painted by the hand of God Himself.....and I felt incredibly blessed to have been able to have seen it.

Sundown at The Bend

Horseshoe Bend - As a photographer, you stand here....and a thousand thoughts go through your head. First, and most obvious, don't step forward. After that you stand mesmerized at the sight… because no matter how many times you have been here, it is always absolutely breathtaking and surreal. A 1000 ft precipice above a 180 degree bend in the Colorado River, carved by nothing but water and time. How do you capture it? How do you do it justice when thousands of better photographers have stood in this exact spot. But then it hits you that no two sunsets are alike and no one else will have captured this exact moment at this exact time. So, you shoot a few frames, pack up your stuff, grab your water…..and just sit on the edge…watching day give way to night…when all that is left is the moonlight and the rushing sound of the water below.

The Subway

The famous Subway, along the Left Fork of North Creek. Zion National Park. I certainly don't get any points for originality, but it was an amazing journey to get here.

Sunset at Canyon Junction

I claim a big zero for originality on this shot. It's the most photographed spot in all of Zion National Park. Every night, you'll see an army of photographers, working to get a shot from this iconic spot. Yet, no matter how many times I visit Zion, i always find myself right there with them. On this particular night, I had actually hiked down in to the river to get this shot from a different angle, which probably made me none too popular with the photographers who's shot I was standing in. But, as I headed back to the car, this scene opened up....so I ran to the bridge and snapped it. The sky was amazing.....I did a poor job of locking my tripod down so it isn't as sharp as I would have liked, but it came out OK all the same.

The Edge of the Sea

Picture the scene…..a Swedish guy (who is a Jersey boy at heart) and me driving a tiny rental through the Faroe Islands. We can’t speak the language…..we can’t really read the signs and we had questions like “How do we get those sheep to move”?… and “Can that bridge support a car”? and a lot of “What did I just step in”?. But the trip was completely awesome and I can’t wait to go back. I found this picture last night in a folder that I had misplaced. It was our first stop after arriving, and it is one of the most photographed scenes in the country. The big circles at the top are where the strong North Atlantic wind was blowing mist from the sea at us. Eventually, I just gave up on wiping it off. That little village is called Gásadalur, and has a swarming population of……..17. We drove through it (which took about 20 seconds), said hello (Halló) to half the population……. and went on our way.

Whitman County Growers

The silos of Whitman County Growers.....as seen from the top of Steptoe Butte. I can't say I am going to win any awards for originality on this image but watching the setting sun light up the hills of the Palouse is pretty amazing. If you are planning a trip, April—June is the perfect time for yellow/green fields of wheat and canola, like in this shot. Later in the year, around August to September is harvest time. I have read that dust from the harvesting does an amazing job of reflecting light, which leads to fantastic sunsets. I'll have to get back to you on that one..

Rain in the Faroe Islands

This was our last day on the Faroe Islands. It was cold, rainy, cold, and rainy. But it didn't slow us down....and we were rewarded with scenes like this. This church is called Saksunar Kirkja on the island of Streymoy

Springtime in the Great Smokey Mountains

Winter is my favorite time of year.......but I'm still looking forward to springtime in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was taken at sunrise along one of the many beautiful streams.

Cheesequake State Park

This is why I love NJ in the fall..

The Lady in the Wind

The Lady in the Wind....one of the beautiful rock formations in Arizona’s Lower Antelope Canyon. A version of this shot was made famous by Peter Lik, the reknowned landscape photographer. He sold it for about 6 gazillion dollars. I'll part with mine, just today, for 3 gazillion

Under Latourelle Falls

The incredible Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Of all the waterfalls along the Gorge, this one is perhaps the easiest to access. You can see it from the parking area and its just about a 5 minute walk to get to this spot. But it is an incredible sight to see. Water flows over basalt cliffs and falls 250 feet into a tiny pool at the bottom. If you look close, you can see a person approaching the bottom of the falls. That would be me. I had actually planned to stand on that rock in front of the base of the falls......but its a bit more daunting when you are actually there.....the force of the falling water makes it tough to get close....and you go from zero to soaked in about 8 seconds.....but it is completely amazing just to stand there and watch nature show off.