I had low expectations for this sunset last weekend. A friend had invited me to meet up that morning but the cloud cover was thick and the wind was blowing vigorously along the coast. I went to the beach with the intentions of hanging out and catching up more than shooting, but miraculously, the clouds began to clear just as the sun began to near the horizon.
Photo: "Ruby Beach Sunrise"
Sunrise at Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington.
Photo: "Treacherous"
Trina the Triceratops braves the raging waters.
Photo: "Gorton Creek Falls"
The waterfalls in Oregon never cease to impress and this waterfall was no different. This was stop number one on my first day in Oregon and the rocks were particularly slippery due to the temps dipping below freezing. I returned home with 2 very large bruises from slipping during this hike, but I also managed to capture a few shots so it was definitely worth it.
Photo: "Bleak Seaside"
Because life is not always felt in color...
Photo: "Point Arena Lighthouse"
Point Arena, California
Spent 3 days last weekend exploring the beautiful Northern California coastline for the first time. Throughout most of the trip, the sky was filled with clouds, but it was still warm, beautiful, relaxing and perfect for long exposure photography.
Photo: "Ruckel Creek"
The Columbia River Gorge has hundreds if not thousands of waterfalls. I have yet to be disappointed by one I've seen and these falls were no different. The terrain, light and foliage varied so much here that I took dozens of images, all very different from one another.
Photo: "Following Rules In National Parks"
The colors of the Excelsior Spring were unreal and watching the steam dance in the sunlight was mesmerizing.
Yellowstone is an absolutely incredible place, but I encourage everyone to follow the rules when you visit.
Yesterday, a photographer flew a drone over the Grand Prismatic Spring, ignoring National Park rules banning drone use inside parks, and it crashed into the Grand Prismatic Spring sinking to the bottom of the 120 foot deep pool - http://time.com/3088792/drone-yellowstone-park/
All it takes it one person to potentially destroy a beautiful natural wonder and ruin it for everyone else...
Photo: "Grand Prismatic Spring"
I took two steps and felt like I had been submerged into a living painting.
My dry skin danced while being steamed by the heat of the spring beneath the dry summer sun.
My eyes began to flutter one hundred miles an hour, faster than my heart could keep up.
I had waited years to see this and it was more grand than I ever imagined...
Photo: Panther Creek Falls II
I had seen a dozen photos of these falls before I finally got to see them in person earlier this year, but even the best photos don't do these falls justice.
There's just something about the smell of the damp ground, the gorgeous blanket of water caressing the rocks and how the mist hits your face when you're standing here.
Photo: "Panther Creek Falls"
During my last trip to Oregon, I shot my first landscape pano with a 17mm tilt shift. The conditions were right for filters to be unnecessary, the only downside of this lens is the inability to use filters, so I snapped a horizontal image and shifted the lens upward to capture the second image. Stitching was done in Photoshop, using a single click. I then brought the image back into Lightroom for final editing.
(Buy - http://smu.gs/Ox8pcG )
Photo: "Wash Away"
Valley View, Yosemite National Park
Last Saturday, I made an impromptu visit to Yosemite in search of some new fallen snow, which never quite made it down to the valley, but the mountain tops were beautifully capped, which was good enough for me. It felt so amazing to be back in nature. I definitely need to do this more often.
Photo: "One Hundred Shades of Red"
"He painted the sky
knowing red was her color
led her outside
covered her eyes
felt the beams on her skin
and when her eyes opened
she looked towards the sky
and saw it painted
in a hundred shades of red."
(Print - http://smu.gs/1hx0WYh )
Photo: "Dusty Roads Home"
Anza-Borrego Desert, California
Photo: "Back to Nature"
Today I was reminded of Death Valley, which was serendipitous because around this time last year, I was there with some close friends for 5 days. I really do love that park, everything from the geology to the long and windy roads to the diverse climates has me aching to go back.
(Purchase a print - http://smu.gs/1idCzhC)