Mediterranean Dreaming - Fira, Santorini, Greece

Doing a little dreaming of places that are warm during the winter doldrums of New England. During the winter, I tend to look back on some of the trips that I have been on and select ones to edit that remind me that spring and summer are not that far away. Came upon this view that I took from the town of Fira on Santorini, and it immediately took me to warmer times. 

Santorini is perhaps the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. Photographers love it there for the sunsets and the blue domed churches. Most of the blue domed churches are in the town of Oia on the other side of the island. After shooting them, we headed to the town of Fira and I was able to capture this view.

Vancouver Color - Vancouver, British Columbia

I recently noticed that I have been a little remiss in posting photos of cities. My love for nature and landscapes often takes over my posts. I also love taking photos of architecture, particularly of large cities. So today I am taking you to the city of Vancouver. We had just completed an Alaskan cruise and spent a few days in Vancouver. On our last night before heading home, we wandered the streets and experienced one of those magical times that photographers dream of: perfect golden hour light.  This light lit up the building in a warm soft light that accentuated the colors of everything around us. Being a lover of reflections, I shot quite a number of photos that put the neighboring buildings on display. 

Peeking Through the Keyhole - Navajo Nation

Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Utah / Arizona Border

I have been posting a few photos from the American Southwest recently,  probably due to the fact that I will be visiting there in early March. No trip to Utah is complete without stopping by Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border. Located in the northwestern portion of Navajo Nation, it is a place of great landscapes that have appeared in countless westerns and commercials. It has even been featured in a Metallica music video. The official name of the park is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is the equivalent of an American National Park.

There are many rock formations that, over the years, have been given names either by the Navajo or early settlers to the area. Many of the rock formations can be seen from the 17-mile dirt road that visitors to the park can drive for a daily fee. To get off of the road and see some of the lesser-known formations, the hiring of a Navajo guide is necessary. The arch in this photo is one of those off-road formations. I have been told it is known as Keyhole Arch, but have also heard it called Pottery Arch. Regardless of its name, the view through the center of it is pretty cool.

Double Arch View - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah

In about six weeks or so, I will be standing in this spot looking at one of the coolest landscapes in the southwest, namely Arches National Park. I never tire of the Moab area, having visited it more times than any other location in the west. The arches and rock formations of this great park are a magnet for me. Of all of the arches in the park that I have visited (there are around 4,000 of them, and, no, I have only seen a small fraction of them), Double Arch is my favorite. I love looking at this unique formation and wonder how the arches were formed in the sandstone. So, you must be asking yourself where the arches are in this photo. The answer is nowhere. When you climb up under the arches and look toward the parking lot, this is the view you see. It stands on its own, and I felt it deserved its own photo without its namesake arches.

Cape Perpetua View - Yachats, Oregon

Last week I posted a photo from Gold Beach, which I picked as my favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. It got me thinking about whether it really is my favorite (it is), so I started to review some of my unedited photos of the coast and decided that there are quite a number of close seconds. This is one of those locations, high up looking south over the coast. I am not sure where I took this photo, but it might have been from the Cape Perpetua Visitors center or perhaps just from the road. Regardless, it is a stellar view that shows the road south toward Florence, with some amazing stops along the way, such as Thor's Well. Not all of the 363 miles of Oregon's coast look like this, but when you are driving along the road, it often seems so. 

Mount Robson - Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia

Haven't posted a black and white photo in a while and when I saw this photo in my Lightroom library, it spoke to me in B&W.

I first discovered this majestic mountain on my first visit to Jasper National Park in Alberta. I wanted to do some exploring and headed west on the Yellowhead Highway into British Columbia. Along the way, we saw signs for the Mount Robson Provincial Park and wondered what it was all about. When we pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car, this was the scene that I first saw. I have learned since that Mount Robson is the highest point in all of the Canadian Rockies and the second highest peak in British Columbia, measuring almost 13,000 feet. Just standing there, I was mesmerized by its beauty and majesty. Definitely not what I expected when I first started this drive.

Palouse Superhighway - Colfax, Washington

Steptoe Butte Foothills, Colfax, Washington

Thought I would have a little fun with the title of this photo. Since June of last year, I have been posting quite a number of photos from the Palouse. I won't bore you with the same facts about the region and how cool it is. I have also talked about how you can wander the roads in the region and can easily get lost, but then come upon a subject that screams at you to shoot it. There is one main highway that runs through the area, running from Pullman to the south and stopping in Spokane to the north. No getting lost there. This photo is more indicative of what you find when you want to explore. Dirt roads, not always wide enough for two cars, with no street signs. Many times you have no idea where the road will end up. Normally, I don't like getting lost, but I found so many abandoned barns, farmhouses, farm machinery and landscapes that I didn't care.

Bow Reflections - Banff National Park, Alberta

Bow Lake, Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Alberta

It definitely pays to explore iconic locations to see if you can find a composition that is different than everyone else's. I have written and posted lots of photos from this lake located on the awe- inspiring Icefields Parkway. There are simply wonderful views of the lake and the Canadian Rockies from the large parking lot and many take their photos and off they go. Some others pull into the Num-ti-Jah Lodge's parking lot and get a different view from the north end of the lake. I have many terrific shots from those two locations. Looking for something different, I spotted this small dirt road at the southern end of the parking lot and decided to explore. My hope was that it would take me to the southern end of the lake and give me a composition that I had not seen before. Unfortunately, the road ended rather quickly, but there was a small area to park. I was able to walk to the shoreline and get this different composition. That speck on the left shoreline is the lodge. Exploration doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it is time so well spent.

Along the River - Teton Wilderness, Wyoming

Bull Moose, Buffalo Fork River, Teton Wilderness, Wyoming

Fall color in the Tetons is mostly a one-note yellow. The cottonwoods  are the prevalent trees that change color with the seasons. Just outside of Grand Teton National Park in the Teton Wilderness, the Buffalo Fork River (a tributary of the famed Snake River) meanders through the cottonwoods. We started out following the river and we spotted this lone bull moose just standing next to the river. While this was a cool shot, what followed was pretty amazing. 

The bull moose eventually crossed the river, and a little downstream there was a lone longhorn steer among a bunch of cows. Eventually the two animals noticed one another and began a stare-down contest. This lasted for a few minutes and then the bull moose started moving. I am guessing this movement threatened the longhorn and he started running toward the bull moose. Much to our surprise, the bull moose took off like a bat out of hell and all we saw was his rear end heading into the distance. We were anticipating a great battle as bull moose are known to fight, but we surmised that the moose was a young one and chose to fight another day. 

Walking Among the Gods - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

I am going out on a limb here. I am going to proclaim the Garden of the Gods the following:

Best. City. Park. Ever.

Okay, I am sure that some will give me examples of better city parks, but I probably won't be swayed. That's okay, as everyone has an opinion that is personal to them. I happen to love natural rock formations, and, while there may be more beautiful ones in State or National Parks, I haven't found any to compare to this one in Colorado Springs. 

Sandstone formations dot the landscape throughout the park's 1,364 acres. There are 15 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, and there is one section of the park where the city has built a walkway. This photo depicts a small section of it. 

Sea Stacks - Gold Beach, Oregon

There are so many beautiful spots along the Oregon Coast that it is hard to choose which one is my favorite. Of course, the Oregon Coast is 363 miles long, so it is quite impossible to pick a favorite, as it would probably take a lifetime to explore every inch of it. Given that is the case, I will qualify that Gold Beach is my personal favorite of all of the spots along the coast that I have visited. This area in southern Oregon is a must visit spot for photographers for sunset shots. Of course, sunrise is also a great time to shoot, although there is not as much golden light as sunset. Why is that the case? The answer is that this stretch of the coast has some serious mountains that block the exceptional light you would expect at sunrise. The beach is covered in deep shadow for quite a while, and by the time the sun rises above the mountain peaks, the light has lost that sunrise glow. That is not to say that it is not worth shooting when the light finally hits the beach, as this photo illustrates.

Vermilion Lakes View - Banff National Park, Alberta

View from Mount Norquay, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Visitors to Banff National Park can be overwhelmed with the number of iconic locations there are to take in. Even though I have been there several times, it seems I find a new one on each trip. One of the popular destinations is Vermilion Lakes. That is probably because the three lakes are just minutes from the town of Banff. They are an especially popular destination at sunrise and sunset when the lakes and mountains get that special glow. The day that Jeff Clow and I went to shoot there, the road to the lakes was closed due to a high level of bear activity. We decided to do the next best thing to get a shot of the lakes - we drove up to the top of Mount Norquay to shoot this view of the lakes. For reference, the town of Banff is situated to the left of the lakes. Definitely worth the short drive up  the mountain, where you can also get a great shot of the town. Even better news, the road to the lakes was opened later in the trip.  

The Palouse - Palouse, Washington

It is no secret that I love mountains and am always looking for the next one to visit. If you had told me that farmland would compete with mountains before I visited the Palouse, I wouldn't have believed you. Don't get me wrong, the Palouse has always been on my bucket list after seeing the many photos from the region, especially from Steptoe Butte. The difference now is that I really want to go back and see it again. Fortunately, I will get my chance in August for a few days. I hope to see the area while it is harvest time. I am told that it looks so different and reminds one of the line "amber waves of grain...". I don't know if I will time the harvest, as every person I talk with tells me it happens at different times. My guess is that it is like predicting the foliage season in the Northeast.

This photo is typical of the landscape in early June when everything is green. The green contrasts well with the blue skies and the clouds are an added bonus. I shot a few photos, but they didn't capture what I was seeing with my eyes. I decided to shoot this panorama to better get the shot that I wanted.

One note. The Palouse is region that covers the states of Washington (eastern); Idaho (western) and Oregon (northeastern). This photo was taken in the region just outside of the town of Palouse.

Glacier Point View - Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

Glacier Point is my favorite spot in Yosemite National Park. One reason is that it provides what I consider the best view of Half Dome. Another reason is that from the two sides of the point you can either view the valley floor to one side or spot the waterfalls from the other side. A lot of visitors don't make it up to Glacier Point because it is not obvious where it is located. The point is visible from the valley if you are near the Ahwahnee Hotel. Just look straight up. Just above 7,200 feet from where you are standing is the point. There are two ways to get to the point. The easy way is to take a 32-mile drive out of the valley going around the many granite formations, ending up in the parking lot. The hard way is to hike up the  4.6-mile trail (incorrectly named "Four Mile Trail) which ascends the 3,200 feet before reaching the point. I haven't hiked up the trail but I have hiked down it which wasn't easy. I can't imagine how challenging going up would be.

 

Round Barn - Endicott, Washington

Last week I posted a photo of a unidentified barn that I discovered while I was "lost in the Palouse". This unique round barn is less of an unknown barn and was part of our Palouse photo tour. Located somewhere near St John and Endicott, it is a working farm. It's owner, Dale, has a miniature car inside of the barn that I have posted about already on the blog. While the others were busy shooting the car, I wandered off behind the barn. I spotted the unusual looking piece of farm equipment (I don't know what it is) and, as I was looking at it, discovered I really like how it looked with the barn angles behind it.

Golden Sunrise - Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

One of Maine's most famous lighthouses is conveniently located in Fort Williams Park on Cape Elizabeth. The lighthouse itself is located at the entrance of the channel that leads into Portland Harbor.  It overlooks Casco Bay, which is part of the Gulf of Maine. The light was completed in 1791 and is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine. 

Normally, the park is very crowded and teeming with people, but, if you show up before dawn, you typically have the park to yourself. This light has been photographed many times and has a few iconic compositions that I have shot before. For this angle, I scaled a chain link fence and climbed out onto the rocks to get a different view. My goal was to get low on the rocks and show their many lines and small crevices and how they contrasted with the sunlit lighthouse in the background.

Cottonwood Creek - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The Teton Range is the youngest section of the Rocky Mountains and they rise from the foothills of Jackson Hole to dominate the landscape. There are, however, spots where the mountain range is not visible and you get a chance to enjoy some of the little things in the park. Last May, our group decided to spend one evening exploring the Cottonwood Creek area. There is a great trail that parallels the creek. The creek moves downstream at a very rapid pace in mid-Spring as a result of the melting snow from the mountain peaks (you could say it "springs" to life). As soon as I saw how fast it was moving, I knew that a long exposure shot was called for. I realized that, due to the speed of the water, a half-second exposure was all that I needed to capture the movement. I processed this photo as a black and white as there was little color, and I feel that the lack of color brings out the details of the rocks.

Jasper Beauty - Lake Annette, Jasper National Park, Alberta

There are many well-known destinations within Jasper National Park, but this small lake is a unique one. Most lakes are fed by visible means, but Lake Annette has no visible inlet or outlet. That is because the lake is sourced by an underground river that travels almost 19 miles from Medicine Lake. The Maligne River runs through a cave system to the floor of Lake Annette and many other places in the surrounding valley.

The lake now serves as a destination for locals and tourists alike. It is a great destination for swimmers, as it has a terrific beach with one of the most amazing backdrops. It is also a place where hikers can walk the trail that runs around the whole lake. That is what I did on the last morning of my trip and I took photos from every spot that I could. This is my favorite from the hike.

Hiking Denali - Byers Lake, Denali State Park, Alaska

Every landscape photographer wants to explore Alaska. It is probably the most undeveloped state in the US.  and with its amazing natural resources, amazes even the most traveled of us. This photo was taken on my second trip to Alaska when we stayed at the Mount McKinley Lodge. I knew it was going to be a great trip, because when we checked into the lodge, Denali was visible. This is a treat, as it is only visible 30% of the year. We all had different plans for the day and mine was spent in Denali State Park near the lodge. The morning was so serene at Byers Lake, and the few of us that were there were able to soak in the views as we hiked around the lake. I had never heard of this state park before, but it is a gem. I often wonder that Alaska has thousands of such gems to explore.

Lost in the Palouse - Pullman, Washington

On my last full day exploring the Palouse last June, I had the day to myself, so I went out exploring. For those of you who haven't visited the area, it is massive. It is located in eastern Washington, western Idaho and northeastern Oregon. There are no boundaries that define the area (it is estimated to be more than 19,000 square miles). Locals told me that you will know it when you see it. I thought that to be weird, but after my time there, they were absolutely right.

The landscape is primarily rolling farmland as far as the eye can see. There are no mountains and the only high vantage point is Steptoe Butte, which is an amazing place to photograph from during sunrises and sunsets. There are all kind of buildings and machinery that dot the landscape from farmhouses to grain elevators to silos. Some are obviously abandoned, others may or may not be. The main crop is wheat, although there are other crops like dijon mustard.

It is with that background that filled my head as I explored. I had mapped out a route, but the unnamed dirt roads and turns got me lost a few times. It was on one of these lost moments that I found gems like this barn somewhere near Pullman, WA. I wasn't sure if it was abandoned or not. I couldn't find any house near it and the barn looked like it hadn't been used recently. Regardless, I thought it would be a great subject to photograph.