Beach Reflections

Myers Creek, Gold Beach, Oregon

Friend and fellow blogger Andy Hooker has a thought provoking photography website iSighting that I highly recommend visiting. In his most recent post entitled Revisiting, he muses on the advantages of revisiting locations to photograph them. This image from Gold Beach, Oregon is a testament to what can result from patience and determination.

I fell in love with this location back in 2005 when visiting the Oregon Coast for the first time. I came across it early in my stay and visited it every morning and evening for three days. I got some really good shots, but I knew there was a better one to come. Fast forward to last summer, when we spent another ten days on the coast. The weather was quite fickle most of the trip, with fog constantly foiling some planned photography. The first night we stayed in Gold Beach, we had a fabulous dinner at the Tu Tu Tin Lodge on the Rogue River where we were staying (highly recommended). No photography that night, as the beach couldn't even be seen due to the fog. I was determined that the next night was going to be photography-focused, fog or no fog.

I guess the photography gods determined that I had suffered enough and gave me a magical night with great clouds and light. Every shot that I took that night has become a favorite, as it brings back the memories of how beautiful Mother Nature can be. It makes all of the times when the light wasn't good or the fog was too thick worth it.

Belvedere of Tragara

Isle of Capri, Italy

Last week, I posted a photo of a lunette of a church from Bologna, Italy. When I wrote that post, I had never heard of a lunette, and I learned that it was the small semi-circle above a door. It is interesting how much I don't know. Just for kicks, I thought I would continue my education. This image is also from Italy, but, instead of the city, it is taken of the rocky mountain side of the Isle of Capri. When I took this shot, I was mesmerized by how these houses/villas were built into the side of the rocks on this rocky island. When I wanted to find out if there was a name for these types of buildings, I found it on Wikipedia. You guessed it. They are called Belvedere of Tragara, meaning a high panoramic promenade lined with villas. 

For Rent

Rockport, Massachusetts

Did you ever have an image that, for some reason, keeps calling to you to be edited? This photo from Rockport, Massachusetts, has been haunting me for years. Why? I haven't a clue. It just seems to resonate with me. I took this in 2009, and every time I look through the archives, I think I ought to process it. Even now, I am not sure why that is. It is just a old fishing house that sits at the end of the pier. I finally decided to take this on and get it out of my head. Maybe one of you can tell me what is so special about it because damned if I know.

Butte-i-ful

Sorrel River Ranch, Colorado River Scenic Byway, Moab, Utah

Well, I managed to go cold turkey from posting any Moab photos for almost a week and a half, but I couldn't hold out any longer. This image of a butte on the Colorado River Scenic Byway has special meaning to me. Back in 2005, my son and I headed to Utah for a two-week trip to do some hiking and photography. The first place we stayed in was Sorrel River Ranch, and this was the scene that I saw when I walked out of our room there. This trip was great for two reasons. First and foremost, it was a great time to bond with him, as he had just graduated from college. Secondly, this is the trip that rejuvenated my passion for photography, which has only grown since then.

I wanted to reshoot this butte as the photo was edited poorly by me and the original JPEG has long left my computer's hard drive. I knew when I drove this gorgeous road and saw the golden light that the setting sun was casting, that this butte was my destination.

A Walk in the Park

Boston, Massachusetts

Since moving to New England, I have grown to love the city of Boston. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, I had gotten used to it's historic places that spawned the birth of the US. It was quite fortunate that I was able to move near a city that is equally steeped in history. These two cities are the major places that drove our revolution.

Walking through Boston is an interesting contrast in architecture. You can be walking past a building that was built near the city's early days, and right next to it are modern glass-sided monoliths. Boston is also famous for the small parks that seem to be everywhere, and are often located between two sides of the same street. This photo shows one of those parks near the Boston waterfront that is still empty, as the morning commute has not yet started. It is my favorite time to photograph the city.

Yosemite Morning

Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite National Park, California

Nestled next to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California is my favorite national park in the US, Yosemite National Park. In the summer months, visitors swarm to the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley to take in the wonders of the nation's second oldest park. Granite rock formations with familiar names, beautiful waterfalls, clear streams, and towering cliffs are all on display everywhere one looks. In order to avoid the crowds, I will always awake before dawn, head out to take in the peace and quiet, and hopefully get some decent photos as the early morning light begins to light the valley. 

On this June morning, it seemed like I was in the park by myself. Since the valley is relatively compact, I was able to drive around from spot to spot, easily get a parking spot, and shoot to my heart's content. This particular composition was taken just off the road of Cathedral Rocks. The sun had peaked over the granite cliffs and lit the formations. The bonus was a pool of water that remained on the valley floor that enabled a super reflection.

Intricate Lunette

Basilica di San Petronio, Bologna, Italy

Okay, we got to the end of the week and there have been no Moab photos posted on the blog. It was a hard decision, but I think variety won out. This is an image from Bologna, Italy, of a part of the Basilica di San Petronio. The image was originally in color, but I thought that processing it in black and white would really make the intricacy of the stone pop. As usual, I had a mental block when deciding to name this blog post. I sat there for about five minutes and I had nothing. I then did what I usually do when I encounter this challenge: I went on Google and searched for "What is the arch above a door called?"  You guessed it, a lunette, thus the title. How many of you knew that? I know I didn't.

Savannah River Guardian

Tybee Island Light, Tybee Island, Georgia

Whenever I travel to the coastal regions, the first thing I research is whether there are any lighthouses near the destination I am visiting. It doesn't matter if they are close or not. As long as they are within a two-hour drive, I put them on the itinerary (if they are close, a sunrise or sunset visit is in order).

We spent a week in Hilton Head, and wanted to spend a day in nearby Savannah ( a 40-minute drive). Of course, since Savannah is only about 20-miles from the Atlantic Ocean, there had to be a lighthouse somewhere close, right? Of course there was --Tybee Island Lighthouse. This light was a little unusual, in that it is located in the middle of a neighborhood. It was originally built in 1736 to guard the entrance to the Savannah River from  the Atlantic Ocean. An interesting fact about the light is that it has been rebuilt four times, with the first two iterations not being illuminated (I wonder if it was called a lighthouse then?). In any case, the current iteration was built in the 1860's after being burned down by the Confederate Army. It now stands 154 feet and is beautifully maintained, as can be seen in this photo..

 

Chapel Bridge

Lucerne, Switzerland

Visiting Europe is always a history lesson, where I always walk away with a greater appreciation of the past. That was so on our visit to Lucerne, Switzerland, after our Rhine River cruise a couple of years ago. Lucerne is a great city that lies next to the blue waters of Lake Lucerne, and it is surrounded by towering mountains. One of the most beautiful areas of the city is where the Reuss River passes under the Kapellbrücke (literally the Chapel Bridge) on its way to Lake Lucerne.

The Chapel Bridge is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, as well as the world's oldest surviving truss bridge. The bridge is so named, as it starts on one side of the Reuss River near Saint Peter's Chapel. Originally built in 1333, it is 560 feet in length and is unique, as it houses many interior paintings that originate from the 17th century. Today, the bridge serves as one of Lucerne's main tourist attractions, and is prominent in almost any scene along the main thoroughfare. 

Fall Flow

Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

One of the best places to take in the New England foliage each year is the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. Affectionally known as the "Kanc", it is the destination of leaf peepers from all over the world. The highway can be quite crowded, especially on Columbus Day weekend, when I shot this scene. The Kanc (aka Route 112) runs for almost 35 miles, and during peak foliage season can give a wonderful display of colors. Along its route, you can find numerous hiking trails, a covered bridge, and six campgrounds. 

When I setup for this long exposure shot, I had to work my way through a crowd of people just hanging out on the rocks. As it was mid-afternoon with harsh light, I decided to compose this shot taking advantage of the shade while keeping a glimpse of the color in the distance. 

 

Orange Mounds of the Badlands

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

It is very hard to describe Badlands National Park to someone who hasn't been there. The diversity of rock formations range from jagged peaks to erosion-carved rock. The park has one main road that runs 31 miles from end-to-end. Every curve in the road brings you to a different type of scene. This composition shows the road curving around what are known as the Orange Mounds toward a section of the famed 100-mile "Wall" that acts as the spine of the park. I left the cars on the road to give viewers an idea of how expansive Badlands is, keeping in mind that this photo shows only a small section of the road.

Lenticular Goodness

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

About a month ago, I posted this image when I headed off to Moab. It was taken last year in April when my son and I drove cross-country to Oregon. I know that I have been posting a lot of images from my trip, which is quite unusual for me. I tend to vary my locations on the blog. Starting next week, I will resume that tradition. I wanted to post an image today to close out the Moab series, and decided to post a different composition to the one I posted before leaving on the trip.

The image in this post also brings back some great memories of shooting with old friends and meeting new ones. Our group stopped at Balanced Rock to work the scene. It was early evening, and the light and clouds were amazing. As we were finishing shooting, a few of us decided to wander  in the field toward the Windows Area of Arches National Park. As we walked toward the distant rock formations and La Sal Mountains, two things happened. First, these lenticular clouds became more prominent in the sky. Their unique shapes really stood out agains the blue sky. The second thing that happened was that this huge group of clouds blocked the sun. 

Even though we had plans to head to Delicate Arch later that evening, we all had the same thought: Let's ditch that plan and hang out on the ridge that we were standing on until the clouds blocking the sun cleared. Patience is not my strongest suit, but spending almost 45 minutes waiting for the sun to break through was instead quite enjoyable. We all talked photography, knowing that the scene would be worth it in the end. 

Once the clouds cleared the sun, the rock formations were bathed in great light and shadows, with parts of them being quite bright and other parts being in shadow. The La Sal Mountains were lit perfectly and were as clear as I ever had seen them. Finally, those great lenticular clouds looked like some artist had painted them on the sky. All in all, a wonderful evening in the desert.

On the Rocky Shoreline

Yachats, Oregon

On my trip to the Oregon Coast last summer, we drove up the coast from Gold Beach in southern Oregon and ended up staying overnight in the coastal town of Yachats. Visitors to the coast of Oregon can oftentimes find fog and rain in bunches. This day was no exception, and the wind and cold, even for August, was challenging. After checking into the hotel and having dinner, I was determined to go outside and shoot, especially since the hotel was right on the Pacific Ocean. This scene was shot maybe a block from the hotel, and I decided to shoot a long exposure that would have the water match the same texture as the storm clouds in the distance. When I looked to edit this, I decided to dial back a bit of the rocky shoreline's color to match the mood of the scene.

Potash Road

Moab, Utah

Another place that is often missed by visitors to Moab, Utah, is the drive down Potash Road. The road is roughly 17 miles long and runs parallel to the Colorado River. The scenery is terrific, with rock formations literally right next to the road, which is quite close to the river.  This area being a favorite destination of rock climbers, you can almost always spot them at various stages of their climbs. On this visit, we stopped for a while, and shot a few climbers as they ascended the sheer rock wall. About 5 miles from Moab, there are a number of petroglyphs that are visible on walls.

At one of our stops, I wanted to shoot an image that emphasized the steepness of the cliffs and how narrow the space is where the road runs (the Colorado River is mere feet to the right of the road). I also wanted to use the road as a leading line that would make viewers wonder what was around the bend.

Postbriefkasten

Rudesheim, Germany

Sometimes it is the little things that catch your eye and just pop out of a scene. We had spent the day sailing slowly down the Rhine River from Amsterdam to view the amazing castles that tower above the river. The weather was not good most of the day, with heavy rains. As we neared our destination of Rudesheim, Germany, the weather broke, and, once docked, we went to explore the town. 

Rudesheim is a nice place with lots of shops and restaurants. Whenever my wife and friends went into the stores to do a little shopping, I looked around for subjects to shoot on the streets. When I saw this postbriefkasten (translation: mailbox), I knew that it was going to make a cool subject. The ornateness of it was unlike anything that you might find in the US (I have yet to see a public mailbox that I would describe as ornate). The deep blue color is what first attracted my eye.

 

The Iconic Southwest

Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Utah

One of the musts when shooting scenes with canyons is to shoot when the sun is very low. Besides the fact that you get that great golden hour light, the real reason is that the shadows add tremendous depth to the image. Shooting with the sun higher in the sky will eliminate the shadows, and the resulting image will appear extremely flat. When planning to shoot such a location, knowing whether it is a sunrise shot or a sunset spot (maybe both) is very important. 

Dead Horse Point State Park, pictured here, is one of the most iconic scenes of the southwest. It definitely is a sunrise location, and the light adds a lot of interest, especially with the reflections in the Colorado River as it "goosenecks" around the formations. I really wanted to add some anchor to the scene, and when I saw this lone tree with the leaves lit up, I knew I found it.

The Tree II

Potash Road, Moab, Utah

One of the challenges we were given by our Moab tour leader Jeff Clow was to photograph one (or both) of two great trees on Potash Road. The challenge in shooting the trees is that the formations on both sides of the road are quite high, and the shadows wreak havoc on capturing them. From a composition point of view, a decision needs to be made on whether to include the road, or exclude it in a way that made a compelling image. After shooting from a few different angles, I wasn't happy with the results, as whenever I excluded the road, the tree wasn't prominent in the scene. When I included the road,  it seemed to run away from the tree as opposed to leading to it. I finally got the idea of using the railroad tracks as a complementary leading line to the road and am quite happy with the result. I processed this in black and white, as the colors took away from the tree, and I felt the tones popped better without the color. 

Bulls-Eye Lens

Cape Meares Lighthouse, Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, Oceanside, Oregon

I know I have been posting many images from my Moab trip, and I have quite a few more to post. It is a bit unusual for me to post so many after a trip. I normally vary my posts from different locations, and promise that I will get back to normal after next week. I thought I would break the Moab posting for today and take you to the coast of Oregon (a little different from desert landscapes). 

The lighthouse is located in Oceanside, Oregon, and served as the light for the Tillanook Bay. The lighthouse sits about 200 feet above the Pacific Ocean and it is no longer active. The light is quite small, and the area around the light is quite tight, making photographing it a challenge. I shot it from several angles with a wide-angle lens, but it was too distorted even for Photoshop. I suspect the best place to shoot it is from the ocean. Since Avis only rents cars, that wasn't an option for me. Instead, I decided to get this shot of the light's bulls-eye lens (also known as the Fresnel Lens named after a French physicist who invented the lens in 1822).

River Road Beauty

The Priest and the Nuns, Colorado River Scenic Byway, Moab, Utah

The first things photographers think about when they head toward Moab is shooting the two amazing national parks located there, Arches and Canyonlands. Tourists and photographers head to both places almost as soon as they check into their hotels. With all of the attention that these two places get, there is some amazing beauty in the surrounding area that many visitors never get to. One of those places is the Colorado River Scenic Byway. Also known as the River Road, it follows the twists and turns of the mighty Colorado River for 44 miles and is one of the most scenic drives in the US.

Rock formations rise from the ground everywhere you look, and each one seems more spectacular than the last. Many of these formations have unique names, such as the formation on the left in this photo that is known as the Priest and the Nuns (it is also known as the Rectory). We started out here on our first full day in Moab at sunrise and captured the early morning light and deep shadows that started our day. This particular formation can be found in the Professor Valley section of River Road.

La Sal Aspens

Look What We Found in the Desert

Aspens, La Sal Loop, La Sal Mountains, Moab, Utah

One of the advantages of taking a photo tour is that you benefit  from shooting with someone who knows the area intimately and can point out some great off-the-beaten track locations to experience. When visiting Moab, you are headed into desert country with the great colors of the southwest. Formations rise from the landscape, and are often lit wonderfully with a terrific orange-red glow from the rising or setting sun. A backdrop to these formations is the La Sal Mountain range, and they are often used to offer contrast and scale to the scene. Of all of the times I have been to Moab, I never ventured into the mountains themselves to see what was up there.

Our tour host, Jeff Clow, took us up on the La Sal Loop (which I never knew existed) to shoot the landscape from above. Much to our surprise, we turned a corner in the road and spied these beautiful aspens that were side-lit, making their bark light up. The added bonus was that the snow had not yet melted, and it made a perfect white cover for the ground. It was quite the unexpected scene to find in the middle of desert country.