Bow Falls - Banff National Park, Alberta

If you visit Banff National Park, you will notice that the two most used names in the area are Banff and Bow. I often wonder about where locations get their names, so I did a little research. Let's start with Banff. The town was initially built in the early 1880's after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1884, the president of the Canadian Pacific Railway named the area and town Banff after his birthplace in Banff, Scotland. In 1885, Canada created a reserve of the area and named it Rocky Mountain Park, and it became a cornerstone of Canada's National Park System. It was later renamed Banff National Park.

The name Bow is also omnipresent in the area. It's name is attached to many of nature's most beautiful sights, such as the Bow Valley, Bow Lake, Bow River and Bow Falls (pictured here). The name's origin is more related to the area, as the name "Bow" refers to the reeds that grew along its banks, which were used by the local Indian tribes to make bows.

Regardless of how these natural beauties were named, one thing is for sure. They are something to behold.

Headed to Sea - Valletta, Malta

I always like to go back into my archives and see what forgotten gems may await me. I tend not to edit every photo that I shoot right away. I will normally go through a few reviews when I get home from a trip. The first review is looking for the obvious: really bad photos and those that jump off the screen. I will delete the bad ones and start editing on the clear winners. My second review is usually a few months later, when I meticulously divide the wheat from the chaff by identifying the photos that I will edit at a future date. Why? Several reasons. First, I want my head to be totally clear from the recent memories of the trip. Second, if I edited all of the "picks' right away, they might have the same look and feel to them. Third, my editing skills and editing software hopefully improve over time and the resulting edited photos will be even better. Lastly, I want to make sure that the photo itself measures up over time.

This is one of those "picks" from our first Mediterranean cruise. We visited the island of Malta, and spent the day touring the island taking in the history, culture and sights. We even spent time overlooking "Popeye's Village" from the 1980 movie starring Robin Williams. After the long day, as the sun began to sink beyond the horizon, we left port, and this was my last look toward the city of Valetta as we headed to sea.

Sand Trap - The Palouse, Colfax, Washington

The weather here in the Northeast is setting record temperatures this month and it almost feels like the Spring. Let's hope that trend continues. Looking at the ground, it is hard to believe it is not covered with white as it usually is this time of year. Everything is green. The only way you would know what time of year it is are the lack of leaves on the trees.

When I saw this photo in my Lightroom catalogue with all of the green that the Palouse has to offer, I thought it would match my mindset this winter. I was wandering around the Palouse on my own and ventured onto Severs Road. This was the scene as I drove down this back road. It reminded me of a sand trap, albeit a very large one, that you would find on a golf course. To realize how big the "sand trap" is, take a look in the upper left and you will see a large farm machine tilling the sand. Hopefully, that will give you a sense of scale of the Palouse landscape.

Lit Stamen - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Christmas Eve marks the end of all of the shopping madness that comes with the holidays. I wanted to post something today that hopefully conveys the peacefulness that comes when we all enjoy time with our families. When I saw this photo that I took earlier this year, I knew it was the one. The sun had just peeked through the window and began to light one of the stamens of the flower.

Icy Straits - Glacier Bay, Alaska

On the way to see Glacier Bay National Park, one has to navigate through the Alexander Archipelago. The archipelago is 300 miles long and is made up of about 1,100 islands. The islands themselves are really the tops of submerged coastal mountains that rise from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Between the islands and the Alaska mainland there is a series of channels, fiords and straits that are collectively known as the Inside Passage. It was so cool to be standing on the deck of our cruise ship and realize that we were sailing between mountain tops. This particular stretch of water is known as the Icy Straits and is near the entrance to the National Park. 

Crowfoot Reflection - Banff National Park, Alberta

Bow Lake, Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Alberta

One good thing about the Icefields Parkway is that there are outstanding scenes that are mere steps from the road. Crowfoot Mountain, pictured here, is an example of what gems you will find along this 140-mile road. The mountain is part of the Canadian Rockies and measures just barely above 10,000 feet. The mountain get its name from the adjacent glacier that resembles the feet of a crow. 

I took this photo about a year and a half ago in June. The waters were pretty calm for the time of day. Just days before, the lake had a melting sheet of ice on it that precluded any thoughts of a reflection on Bow Lake. I have aways wanted to stay overnight at the lake at the Nun-Ti-Jah Lodge. Another reason to go back to Banff.

2015 - My Year in Review

Grab a cup of coffee and put your feet up.

This post is a bit longer than usual.

I have been posting on this blog for almost five years, and I wrote my first year in review in 2014. I had such a great time reliving the great places that I was fortunate enough to visit, I thought I would do it again for 2015. Before I start, let me first state that I am so thankful that I have been able to travel and experience new things. I know not that many people have the opportunity to travel and document their travels in photos. Thankfully, the plans I made earlier in life have come to fruition. My experiences this year, as in the past, have allowed me to meet some great photographers, and, more importantly, make new friends. Last, but not least, I am very thankful for the support I get from my wife and son, who put up with my travels and passion for taking photos. So, without any further ado, here we go.

Goodbye Sony and Hello Fuji

In last year's review, I reported my move away from Nikon after 15 years. I began the year shooting with both a Sony A7 and a Fuji XT-1. After a few months, I decided to consolidate to one system, primarily due to the cost of maintaining two systems. While I liked each system for different reasons, I ended up staying with the Fuji. There were some compelling reasons for this personal decision. First, the Fuji just felt better in my hands, and I like the old-time dials to control the settings. Second, the Fuji lenses are extremely sharp and are terrific to use. Lastly, and most important, I love the quality of the end product. Before anyone starts saying that I should have went with Sony, I would have been totally comfortable with the A7 and its successors. In this day and age, almost all of the big named cameras are extremely capable and are probably more sophisticated than the photographer using them. Given that, choosing a camera brand is a more personal decision rather than an indictment of other camera manufacturers. 

Travels

  • Western Florida - The winters in New England have been getting progressively worse and worse over the years, and we finally decided to spend three weeks in Florida with the rest of the Northeast snowbirds. We had terrific timing. The really bad winter weather in Connecticut started the day after we left for warmer climate. This trip was not necessarily a photography trip, but I managed to get in quite a number of photos over the three week period. The highlights of the trip were Sanibel and Captiva, Sarasota and St Petersburg. Of course, no Florida trip is complete without stopping in Disney World, which we did before heading back home.
  • Flower Macro Workshop - One of my goals for 2015 was to participate in a macro workshop. When I saw that Denise Ippolito was running a Flower Macro Workshop at Longwood Gardens, I couldn't resist. Denise is a wonderful photographer and probably the most creative photographer that I know. Learning from someone you consider one of the best is quite the opportunity. Even better, I was able to visit Longwood Gardens, the site of my very first photo shoot back in the late 1970's. Not only is Longwood Gardens a stellar location, the site was originally owned by William Penn. Combining Denise's skill as a photographer along with the beauty of the gardens, I was pretty happy with my shots from the workshop. I haven't been able to shoot much macro the rest of the year, but plan to do so in 2016.
  • Maine Scouting Trip (Spring) - One of my best friends, Jeff Clow, is not only a great photographer, he also runs a wonderful photo tour company that is the best I have ever participated in. His tour destinations are mostly in the western United States. Jeff's position on locations is that he will not do a tour unless he knows the terrain intimately. I had been trying to get him to have a tour of the Maine Lighthouses, and promised that I would co-host the tour to ensure he had the right amount of local knowledge. Jeff and I, along with Jaki Goode Miller, went on a week-long scouting trip so that he could see the stops with his own eyes. I think that after the first day, he said we would be doing it. Here are some of my photos from that trip.
  • Grand Teton National Park (Spring) - Another adventure with my buddy Jeff Clow. Jeff started his photo tour company based on his knowledge of this amazing National Park. Over my visits there with him, I have grown to love it as much as he does. I was excited about revisiting it with him in May, as I had never visited when the wildlife were emerging from their hibernation with their young and the mountains were covered with snow (that is Mount Moran at the top of this blog post). I had the opportunity to make quite a number of new photographer friends, many of whom are talented wildlife photographers. I guess they rubbed off on me, as some of my favorites are of wildlife.
  • Mount Rainier National Park - I added this short visit as a prequel to my trip to the Palouse. I had visited this cool National Park on a couple of previous visits, but wasn't able to get good weather. I am glad that I did this, as the weather was beautiful, except for the day I arrived. Fortunately, the snow at Rainier was at a record low this past winter and I was able to walk many of the trails. I definitely need to spend a longer time on my next visit.
  • The Palouse - This area in Eastern Washington and Western Idaho has long been on my bucket list. I have seen photos from the region of the Pacific Northwest over the years and they mesmerized me. Upon seeing it with my own eyes, it is even more amazing that I imagined it. The vast farmland, with the its rolling hills and mounds, captures light and shadow in a way that is perfect for photographers. Add to this the many abandoned farmhouses and grain elevators that dot the landscape that tickles the imagination on what happened to lead them to what you see. I hope to revisit this amazing place someday soon.
  • Grand Teton National Park (Fall) - This was an unscheduled trip. We were planning to be in Europe on a two-week river cruise down the Danube. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to go on the trip. When talking with Jeff Clow, he suggested that I come on my second Teton trip this year, specifically to capture the Fall foliage. After making sure that all was well at home, I headed out to Wyoming. I was able to capture some moments that made this a memorable trip.
  • Maine Photo Tour - The inaugural Jeff Clow Maine Lighthouse Tour went off better than can be expected for a first outing. Not only was the weather quite nice (albeit a bit cold), we were blessed to visit during the peak foliage week of the year. It is pure luck to have this happen, as the peak  foliage can happen at any time over a 5 - 6 week period. An additional bonus was that the tour is held the first off-season week of the fall, and there were less people and tons of lobsters. You can't beat Maine and the post-tour extension to Acadia National Park couldn't be better.

WE35 Project

One of the personal initiatives that I undertook this year was to participate in the Photo Frontier's WE35 project. The project is designed to "..to coordinate a global team of explorers and scientists to conduct a worldwide survey from a 35mm field of view." Each month there were challenges that would require creativity while being limited to a 35mm (or equivalent) lens. While I was only able to participate fully for six months, I found that my photography skills were broadened. There were 35  photographers that participated in 2015. The Photo Frontier plans to continue this project in 2016 with a whole new cast of photographers ("scientists"). Check out the Photo Frontier's website if you are interested in participating.

Little Long Pond - Mount Desert, Maine

Just before Jeff Clow's recent inaugural photo tour to Maine where I served as a co-host, I headed up to Acadia early to do some pre-scouting of the area to some spots I hadn't visited before. This spot, Little Long Pond is actually outside the park, but I had read about it and checked it out. When I reached the parking lot, I thought it would be a short walk to the pond. Boy was I wrong. I walked along a trail for maybe two miles before I reached it. I was thinking that it took a little too long to get there and that we wouldn't be able to fit it into the itinerary. As I went a little further, I began hearing the sound of cars, and discovered that the parking lot for the pond was not the best place to get access. This is what pre-scouting is all about. I knew right away as I stood along the road looking at this view that it would definitely be a place to bring the group.

Ominous Clouds - Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine

The rocky shoreline of Acadia National Park encompasses most of Mount Desert Island's eastern side. I am guessing that if you walked along the edge of the shore, it would measure 25-30 miles. All along that walk, you would see one of the most rugged coastlines on the eastern US coast. Towering cliffs and rocks so rugged that you wonder how they were formed. Along the way you might expect some beautiful beaches to enjoy. Well, you would be disappointed. There is only one beach along the coast and it is this one, Sand Beach. This little beach (less than 300 yards long) is one of the most visited attractions in Acadia. Swimming is allowed, but the Atlantic Ocean rarely gets above a water temperature of 55 degrees. 

The beach is protected by Great Head, pictured in the photo, and is probably why the beach was formed. Normally, the beach is packed with people, but being mid-October and with the ominous clouds approaching, there weren't many there. All the better to take in its beauty.

Acadia Sunrise - Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, Maine

Getting up well before dawn is always a challenge, but the rewards can be totally worth it. The first morning of our stay in Acadia this past October was one of those days where the rewards were much better than a little sleep. It was quite cold, and much of our group hailed from Texas. When we walked on the rocky shoreline of Acadia National Park, all thought of being cold was forgotten. Our first stop was Thunder Hole. This location gets its name from the loud thunderous sound when the tide is coming in and the right size wave hits a small inlet. Water typically sprays very high and wets the many people waiting for the sound. This morning the tide was out and we were the only people around. Despite that, the beauty of this rocky shoreline is still beautiful, especially when the sun peeks above the horizon and bathes everything in a wonderful warm light.

The Wheel Fence - Uniontown, Washington

Artisans of the Dahmen Barn, Uniontown, Washington

It seems like a long while since I have posted a photo from The Palouse. This amazing area in eastern Washington and western Idaho is so different from the typical landscapes that you think about when the western US is mentioned. Rolling farmland as far as the eye can see is typical of the Palouse. Every hill and mound gives a different look and feel, especially when the sun is low and casting some warm light and creating shadows. Add to that abandoned farmhouses, grain elevators, and farm equipment that just add to the ambience of the area. 

Just when you think you have seen all that the area has to give, you come upon something unique. An old barn has been renovated and used as a home for artists to display their work and offer it for sale. The Artisans of the Dahmen Barn is well worth a visit to see some amazing art. The most unique part of the barn is the wheel fence that surrounds the property. Constructed over a period of 30 years by artist Steve Dahmen, this fence is a site to see, with all shapes of wheels from various items. I decided to post this very small section of the fence to give you an idea of the detail and work that went into this. I have some wider views, and I will feature them in future posts.

Beaver Created - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Upper Schwabachers Landing, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Finally getting around to get a second look at my Teton trip photographs. One of my goals was to finally get photos of Lower Schwabachers Landing, which has eluded me over the past few years. Between government shutdowns to fogged-out mountains, I have been frustrated in getting the shot that I wanted of this iconic location. On my last trip to the Tetons, the photography gods were smiling on me and I got the elusive shots. What I didn't expect was a new Schwabachers landing location that was created by beavers a few years ago. Seems that the beavers decided to build a dam that, in essence, created a section of water that rivals in many ways the original location. Now dubbed Upper Schwabachers Landing, I think I may like it better than the original. Regardless, standing in front of either Schwabachers location is a terrific experience, as the views of the amazing Teton Range are on display.

Sedona Sunrise - Sedona, Arizona

If you follow me at all, you will note that there are two types of landscapes that fascinate me: mountains and desert. For some reason, they make me relax and I just seep in all that nature has to offer. One of the great desert destinations that I enjoy is Sedona. It is a beautiful place with the requisite sandstone rock formations. On my last visit there, my wife and I were traveling with great friends. I am the only photographer in the group, and my only real photography time is at sunrise. I usually head out before dawn and shoot until it is time to meet them for breakfast. On this occasion, I asked my wife if she wanted to come, not expecting her to say yes (she never has before). She shocked me by saying yes. We headed out before 5:30am, and I drove to this location overlooking the town. I got out of the car and set up. I don't think she got out of the car more than once, and it was for a short time. Needless to say, it was the last time she said that she would go with me for a shoot. 

Goosenecks - Goosenecks State Park, Utah

One of my favorite places in the US is Monument Valley, which is part of a large Navajo Reservation on the border of Utah and Arizona. Visitors can really get caught up with the beauty of the valley and don't realize that there are other cool places to visit like Goosenecks State Park. The park is unlike anything I have seen before. Millions of years ago, this area was flat. At some point, a period of uplift occurred, causing the San Juan River to flow faster. As the river began to meander back in forth, it eroded the rock, forming the goosenecks. To get an idea on how much back and forth erosion occurred, the river travels over five miles, but only moves one mile if you went in a straight line. If looking down from a plane, there are actually five of these goosenecks in this section of the river. 

Light Reflections - Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine

One of the advantages of visiting a location multiple times is that you can take advantage of varying lighting conditions that gives the same subject a new look. An added advantage when shooting along the coastline is that low tide can give you different perspectives that are impossible if the tide is in. Our group initially shot Marshall Point Lighthouse at sunrise, when the early morning light was on the other side of the lighthouse. Had we been able to shoot from this vantage point, the light would have been directly in our face, causing sun glare and silhouetting. We decided to revisit that evening, and the light was to our backs. A big bonus was that the tide had gone fully out, and we were able to scramble over the rocks to get some stellar and unusual shots of the lighthouse. While there were lots of reflections to be had in the puddles, I think this one was the best.

No Sign of the Monster - Inverness-Shire, Scotland

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Inverness-Shire, Scotland

When one thinks of Scotland, one of the first things (other than golf) that comes to mind are its castles, and, of course, the Loch Ness Monster. We visited Urquhart Castle several years ago as part of a bus tour. It was a pretty miserable day, which can be common in Scotland. Our group was the first one to get to the castle, and, when the gates were opened, I skipped the pre-tour movie and headed to the castle to get some shots without a hundred people milling around. The castle was built in the 13th century and had a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. All that is left of the castle are the ruins that you see here.

The lake (or Loch) you see behind the castle is the famous Loch Ness that is supposedly the home of "Nessie" the famed monster. Even though I kept a keen eye on the lake, I was unable to prove that Nessie exists.

The Bubbles - Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

One of the sights that is associated with Acadia National Park are the "bubbles" that are prominent when visiting Jordan Pond. The Bubbles are the two rounded mountains that probably do not qualify as mountains. The North Bubble measures only 872 feet and the South Bubble is a bit shorter at 766 feet. Regardless of their height, some of the best views of Acadia are from the the Bubbles. While they can be seen from many different stops, the best view is from Jordan Pond.

This composition is not the usual one when you see photos of the pond and the Bubbles. Most photos are taken from the south to the middle part of the pond that gives you a more direct view. On this fall morning, I decided to hike toward the northern end of the trail, and got this angle of these cool rocks while showing off the fall colors.

Chinook Destination - Rearguard Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia

One of the areas high on my bucket list is eastern British Columbia. I have only done some minor exploring of the area and need to revisit, hopefully next year when I visit Banff and Jasper National Parks. Both parks, although in Alberta, are pretty close to the BC border. I will also revisit some of the places I first set eyes on like this one.

This beautiful scene is of the Fraser River, which is the longest river in British Columbia, measuring 854 miles long. It originates near Mount Robson (very close to where I shot this photo) and terminates in the Strait of Georgia at Vancouver. I was immediately taken with the color of the river, which is typical of mountain-fed rivers, especially near their source.

The only thing that would have made this scene even more special is the return of the Chinook Salmon to visit their spawning grounds. The salmon return here after years of swimming in the sea and it must be a sight to see. I suspect that when their return does happen, trying to get to this spot would be difficult, as it probably attracts a lot of visitors and photographers. 

Exploring London - St Paul's Cathedral, London, England

I can't believe that it has been so long (8 years) since I have set foot in London. My first few visits to there were during my business career, and I was fortunate to be guided by a British business associate. I wasn't actively involved in photography during those trips, so I don't have any photographs from them (I sure wish I had). It wasn't until 2007, right after I retired early, that I rekindled my photography passion and began to shoot on our trips. This is a shot from then just outside St. Paul's Cathedral. It was early morning, and the commuters were just arriving for work. I really liked the timing of this, with the brick street leading the eye to the famous double decker bus.