LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

HOT CREEK - CALIFORNIA INYO NATIONAL FOREST

REFLECTION OF HALF DOME - YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

On a cold day in February, I hiked from my tent in Camp Four to Mirror Lake in the heart of Yosemite National Park. The goal for this trip was to capture the sun setting on the face of Half Dome. When I got to the area I discovered a problem. None of my lenses were wide enough to capture the image I had envisioned for this trip. In times like these when the gear doesn't match expectations, you have two choices. Pack up the gear and leave disappointed or solve the problem. This problem led me to wander up and down the Mirror Lake beach looking for a different angle of the scene. Finally, with little time to spare, I saw a reflection of Half Dome in the water. I took off my socks and shoes, then waded into the cold waters of that Yosemite stream. Instead of looking up at Half Dome I pointed my camera at the surface of the water and clicked the shutter.

TUNNEL VIEW - STORMY SUNSET | YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

There's a reason Tunnel View has such a reputation for providing visitors with an iconic view of Yosemite Valley. From here you can see the great, granite formations of El Capitan and Half Dome along with all the other features that make Yosemite a must visit location. While Tunnel View is packed by visitors in the warmer months of the year it is relatively quiet when the snows come and the temperatures drop. One particular afternoon on a cold February day I set up my tripod above Tunnel View in the hopes of catching sunset between the passing clouds. There weren't many opportunities but having a front row seat for the weather on that day was special. 180218_MAC_003414.tif

ANTELOPE CANYON - ARIZONA

The light filtering through Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona creates a tapestry not found in many places in the world.

REED FLUTE CAVE - GUILIN CHINA

When you look at this scene, what do you see? I found the Reed Flute Cave on a trip through Sichuan Province China. The lighting throughout the cave was very interesting, but here, in the main chamber blew me away. I found the chamber in the middle of a full-blown concert, complete with Beijing Opera music and lasers bouncing to and fro. Patience was my ally to capture the image I envisioned. Without a tripod, I needed to lay my camera on my camera bag to stabilize it for the long exposure. Then I laid in the dirt waiting for a break in the laser light show. Thankfully, there was a break in the lasers that allowed me to capture this image of the cave. 101027_MAC_000004.jpg

ENDLESS COAST | POINT REYES - CALIFORNIA

MT LASSEN SHADOW CASTER - LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

I had put all my gear away in preparation for my descent from Mt Lassen when I happened to turn around. I don't remember the last time I was standing atop a mountain as its shadow was cast upon the countryside below. Needless to say, the gear was quickly taken from the bag to capture the moment over Lassen Volcanic National Park. I had spent all my time looking into the sun that I had forgotten to turn around. Isn't that so true for most of us? Not staring into the direction of the sun, but focused on something that we forget to take a moment to consider all the different perspectives around our position. (View looking southeast towards Lake Almanor with Reading Peak in the foreground. Atop Mt Lassen volcano) — at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

LAYERS OF THE SIERRA | LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

MT LASSEN SUNSET2

Standing atop a dormant volcano is a humbling experience. From this spot atop Mt Lassen, I gained immense respect and appreciation for the energy required to move so much earth. Whenever we, as humans, start to feel too big for our britches mother nature reminds us where the real power lies. If you have a chance to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park, take it. The park is one of the few places in the world you can see each of the four main types of volcanoes in one area.

MT LASSEN CRATER SUNSET | LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

Until I moved to California I had never heard of Lassen Volcanic National Park. I had no idea that it was one of the only places in the world that each of the four types of volcanoes can be found together. When I planned my trip I decided to spend one day watching the sunset from the top of Mt Lassen. My reward for hiking to the top was spectacular. From this vantage point, the horizon stretched to Mt. Shasta and beyond, which exceeded my expectations. I felt blessed to have the chance to witness this moment. 180711_MAC_000268-HDR.dng

ARTISTS PALETTE SUNSET - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

SEA-ING STARS | CALIFORNIA COAST

OREGON SEA FOAM

Somewhere along the lost coast of California in early January I pulled off the road near a beautiful black sand beach. As the sun was setting and the cold breeze was blowing in from the ocean I was captivated by the patterns of sea foam that formed on the sand. Here I was, getting lost in the moment, I guess that's why they call it the lost coast. Maybe not, but it was fun to make the pun.

SECRET BEACH - OREGON

The Oregon coast is full of hidden locations that you would miss while driving along at 70 miles per hour on Hwy 1. The Hidden Beach is both a bit of a secret and not that hard to find with a little searching on the web. If you are willing to do a bit of research you will find yourself in an incredibly beautiful place. 171226_MAC_000260.ARW

GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING RAINBOW - YELLOWSTONE

The Grand Prismatic Springs is one of Yellowstone National Park's most recognizable landmarks. Despite scalding temperatures and high mineral content, various organisms thrive. These organisms give the springs its wide range of colors. This view of the springs was from the boardwalk. When I was developing this image I noticed the rainbow in the steam. I was so excited for that unexpected result of this visit to Grand Prismatic Springs. 180504_MAC_003164-HDR-Edit.tif

SNOWFIELD ATOP MT LASSEN - LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

Having the right gear is only useful if you know how to use it. ***EMBARRASSING STORY*** Trudging through the snow and ice field my hiking poles kept coming apart. Each time it happened I got more frustrated. I finally realized that when I assembled them there was a locking mechanism I kept overriding because I thought it was the proper thing to do. The locking mechanism is similar to that of an umbrella. So when the pole was fully extended it should take some work to get it to collapse. Once I realized the error, the sticks worked GREAT! Having learned my lesson, I've put many more miles on my poles. Live and learn. :D

PATTERNS IN SAND - GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK

Patterns in the sand are always changing. No two moments will ever be the same. I felt very fortunate to have a few days to spend exploring the Great Sand Dunes National Park of Colorado. Seeing the golden grains at sunrise and sunset was worth the effort of climbing from one apex to the next. Did you know that the Great Sand Dunes National Park is the highest elevation sand dunes in the world? The dunes exist at just over 9,000 feet above sea level. They are ringed by a Colorado mountain range that tops out at over 14,000 feet. 180827_MAC_2752-HDR.dng

GOLDEN HOUR - GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK

In August of 2018 I drove from my home in the San Francisco Bay Area to Colorado. On the way back from visiting with old friends I spent a couple days exploring the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. The park is at an elevation of over 9,000 feet and has the highest elevation sand dunes in North America. The tallest dune rises more than 650 feet from the desert floor. My goal for the second night was to camp among these giant formations. With a permit in hand and my bag filled with camera and camping gear I started my way into the heart of the sand dunes. As the afternoon turned into evening the light changed to this beautiful golden hue across the land. The shape of the dunes made such interesting subjects that I couldn't stop taking picture after picture. Although the landscape was beautiful, if you look closely you'll see sand being blown across the top of the nearest sand dune. This part of the scene serves as a lesson about preparing myself and my gear for the elements. With sustained winds of 20+ mph, gusting to 40+ mph the sand found its way into every nook and cranny of my camera, tripod, and bag. Also, in places my skin was not covered, I felt the sting of each grain's impact. This is a reminder that for every photo posted there is always a story from behind the scenes. Also, a reminder to do your homework before venturing out into the beautiful places in the world. It can be the difference between an enjoyable adventure and something much worse.

RED ALGAE - ARTHURS PASS NEW ZEALAND

I took my mom to visit New Zealand on her first ever international vacation. For two weeks we drove around the south island taking in the amazing landscapes and culture. One day, while driving to Arthur's Pass, I saw these rocks covered in red algae set against alpine blue waters. Captivated by the colors, I pulled the car to the side of the road to investigate. Thankfully mom is a patient lady because I spent more than an hour testing different angles of this landscape to find interesting compositions. New Zealand is famous for its vast, sweeping landscapes and imposing mountain ranges. However, for this particular moment, the beauty I found was on a smaller scale.

LUPINES OF LAKE TEKAPO

Every spring people come to New Zealand to see the brilliant Lupine blooms. Here, on an early morning at Lake Tekapo, this patch of flowers caught my eye because of the stunning background.

LAKE PUKAKI - NEW ZEALAND

I've never set eyes upon a body of water so blue as Lake Pukaki near Mt. Cook. New Zealand was an amazing place filled with the most varied and photographic landscapes. I look forward to the opportunity to come back to New Zealand with more time to explore.

MILFORD SOUND - NEW ZEALAND

The drive into Milford Sound on the south island of New Zealand was filled with one spectacular vista after another. We only had a day to drive down and back but I can see wanting to spend days and weeks hiking the trails to all the hidden places away from the roads.⁣ The contrast of the green forest with the snow and glaciers of the mountains in Fjordlands National park were breathtaking. If I had been driving myself, mom and I wouldn't have made it very far because everywhere we looked the views were awe-inspiring. 181109_MAC_2856-Edit.tif

REMARKABLES AFLAME1

Driving around the south island of New Zealand for two weeks with mom was an unforgettable experience. As the trip was coming to a close I stopped the car near a cluster of yellow flowering bushes. With the mountain range known as the Remarkables rising in the background, I worked to get a composition that offered contrast. ⁣ This view was near the city of Queenstown, New Zealand. The Remarkables are the most recognizable landmarks around the city. 181109_MAC_3362-Edit.tif

REMARKABLES AFLAME2

Driving around the south island of New Zealand for two weeks with mom was an unforgettable experience. As the trip was coming to a close I stopped the car near a cluster of yellow flowering bushes. With the mountain range known as the Remarkables rising in the background, I worked to get a composition that offered contrast. ⁣ This view was near the city of Queenstown, New Zealand. The Remarkables are the most recognizable landmarks around the city. 181109_MAC_3384-Edit.tif