As we are nearing the end of summer, my thoughts turn toward the annual color display that Mother Nature puts on each Autumn. This is particularly true here in New England. Unlike the thousands of "leaf peepers" who travel here from all over the world, we New Englanders only have to look out the window to see when the peak colors are happening. The foliage can reach it's peak any time from late September to late October. I always feel bad for those who visit from other places who spend a lot of money and just miss peak by a week or two. Some foliage seasons are better than others depending on all kind of variables, such as rainfall and temperatures, but even the "bad" ones are pretty good. I can't wait to visit some local spots when the foliage does hit that are just around the corner from my home, like this scene from Pennwood State Park.
Blue Hour at Hayden Valley - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
One of the best locations to see wildlife in Yellowstone is in Hayden Valley, located on the eastern side of the park. The valley is between Yellowstone Falls and Yellowstone Lake, with the Yellowstone River connecting the two ( it is 7 miles long and 7 miles wide). The valley floor once was an ancient lake bed from a time when Yellowstone Lake was much larger. It has long been a wildlife location providing the natives with a source of food and, later, trappers with furs. Alas, I spent some time wandering the valley looking for wildlife and didn't see any. On the way back to the Yellowstone Hotel one evening, I stopped here to capture the late evening light and a perfect reflection.
Sunrise at Acadia - Acadia National Park, Maine
If you want to be one of the first people to see the sunrise each day in the continental United States, head to Maine. A great place to capture the first light is Acadia National Park. While it is not the most eastern part of the state (West Quoddy Head is), it is pretty close. You also won't find a more beautiful part of the coast to shoot it from. The Maine Coast in Acadia is one of the most rugged in the US. Jagged rocks and boulders of all shapes and sizes are the norm for the coast. Every step might land on what looks like solid rock, but sometimes the rocks move unexpectedly.
There is nothing like the feeling of climbing to your spot on the rocks before the sun rises above the horizon. As you stand there waiting, the sound of the waves hitting the rocks, and the clouds beginning to light up in different shades of colors make you feel insignificant in the overall scheme of things. On this morning, the tide was out, so Thunder Hole was rather silent for the most part. Then the sun crests the horizon and you are glad that you were out of the hotel to experience the scene.
Brothers - Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite. The third park established in the US in 1890 (only Yellowstone and Sequoia preceded it) that conjures up scenes of granite rock formations, waterfalls, streams and rivers, lakes, mountains and giant sequoia trees. Made famous by naturalist John Muir and later, photographer Ansel Adams, it was the fifth most visited National Park in 2017, with almost 4.5 million people taking in this natural wonderland. Walking along the Merced River in the area known as Yosemite Valley allows for the sighting of many of the famous rock formations with great nicknames: El Capitan, Three Brothers, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Glacier Point, Cathedral Rocks to name a few. Each one is unique from the other. This one, Three Brothers, was named after the capture of the three sons of Chief Tenaya near the base of the rock formation. The official names of the three consists of Eagle Peak (the uppermost "brother"), Middle Brother and Lower Brother.
Many Glacier Hotel - Glacier National Park, Montana
Earlier this week, I posted a photo of Monument Valley taken from the View Hotel and how the hotel's proximity to such a beautiful scene made it a place to stay overnight. After writing that post, I came across this photo of Mount Grinnell towering over Swiftcurrent Lake and, all of a sudden, I backed into a theme. In the foreground, you will see the Many Glacier Hotel, which offers a striking view of the scene. Unfortunately, I have never stayed there, so rolling out of bed to catch the sunrise hasn't happened for me yet. Instead, you must stay just outside the eastern boundary of Glacier National Park (30 minutes away). If you are staying near the western entrance to the park where most visitors stay, get ready for a two-and-a-half hour drive in the dark on the dangerous Going-to-the-Sun Road to make sunrise. Again, in this case, Many Glacier Hotel is all about location, location, location.
Desert Growth - Canyonlands, National Park, Utah
It always amazes me how trees survive growing out of rocks in the desert. Think about what this tree (I believe it is a Utah Juniper) has to endure: the searing hot sun of the desert during the day coupled with the very cold chill of the desert night. Add to that the dryness of the desert and extremely strong winds. It is a wonder how they survive growing right out of the rocks. They clearly are the ultimate survivors.
Heavy Load Revisited - Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
I shot this photo way back in 2008 and came across it recently. My editing of it was simply terrible and, since it was one of my favorites, I decided to give it new life with a total post processing redo. Came out much better. Here is my writeup from back then.
Venice is a magical place and it is very hard to describe it to someone who hasn't been there. There is a feel to the "city" that is unlike anywhere else I have been. Venice actually lies in a lagoon that is protected from the sea by thin strips of land that have three small inlets. Rather than an island, Venice is actually made up of 124 small islands connected by small bridges. Venice is a favorite destination for tourists who arrive by plane, water taxi and cruise ships. This particular morning, I got up at dawn and wandered out onto the Grand Canal. This is one of the few times you can avoid the crowds of tourists and get some shots without worrying about bumping into someone. I noticed this artist that had the same idea and was painting the scene. As I began to shoot a few photos of the artist, I noticed this large cruise ship being towed down the Grand Canal out to sea by a little tugboat. It was an amazing scene that I never saw coming. I think I enjoy the images that are a result of just dumb luck the best.
Nuzzling - Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
I am so behind in reviewing photos. I am sad to report that I haven't gone through all of my Africa photos while on a safari in 2016. I will try to make up for it this upcoming winter. I shot this photo in Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Our guides were amazing and they got us into position to ride beside a herd of more than fifteen elephants. These two young elephants decided to spend some time playing as the herd headed toward the water hole. What a great experience, one that I will never forget.
Blue Hour Beauty - Monument Valley, Navajo Nation
Being a landscape photographer, you sort of get used to getting up at o'dark thirty and then driving a while to get to the place that you want to shoot well before sunrise. So, when you get a chance to roll out of bed, pick up your camera gear and walk to the hotel's balcony to shoot an iconic scene, you grab it. No where is this easier than the View Hotel in Monument Valley, one of the premier locations in the American Southwest. Prior to being built in 2008, there was only one hotel in the area, about three miles down the road. The next nearest ones are 23 miles away. Why? Monument Valley's official name is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park which is the Navajo Nation's equivalent of the American National Parks. The View Hotel was built and is run by the Navajo People. While no one would mistake the View Hotel as a resort, you go there for the location so you can roll out of bed and watch the blue hour turn in the golden hour.
Amargosa Range Sunrise - Death Valley National Park, California
One of the great spots to shoot in Death Valley is from Dante's View. Many visitors head to it for the panorama view that they get of the southern valley basin (known as Badwater Basin). The basin is the lowest point in North America at 283 feet below sea level. In contrast, Dante's View is from 5,476 feet above sea level, illustrating why people visit it so much. While waiting for sunrise, I took a look in the opposite direction from the basin and saw this scene. The sun had begun to light up the sky, casting beautiful oranges and yellows. It also silhouetted the clouds and the mountain peaks to the east of the Greenwater Mountain Range, located in the Mojave Desert. It was quite inspiring to see, and hopefully I captured some of its beauty.
Weber House Revisited - Colton, Washington
One of the most famous abandoned farmhouses in the Palouse is known as the Weber House, a little north of Pullman. The house is situated on private land but you cannot really get close to the house and need to shoot it from afar like I did in this photo. The house attracts tons of photographers and the majority of them obey the owner's signage and ropes that dictate how close you can get to the house. Of course, a very small minority of photographers are willing to do anything to get "the shot". I have heard that someone actually posted photos taken from inside the house. In any case, our group was on their best behavior while shooting the house. Toward the end of our shoot, a truck approached us and the husband questioned us on how we were doing. Turns out that they are the owners of the house (the wife is a descendant of the Weber family) and they can actually see Weber House from their home. They spent at least a half hour telling us all about the house, their crops and their business. The were the friendliest people that you will ever meet, and would like for visitors and photographers to continue to visit the house. They said that a very small number of photographers have ignored the signs and that the majority are the "good" photographers. All in all, it was a great night learning about the history of what we were shooting.
Coquille Point - Bandon, Oregon
The gem of Bandon is Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, where there are some of the most amazing sea stacks that you will find anywhere. After visiting there, you might be tempted to go on your way. Don't. A few miles down the road, there is another spot you need to see -- Coquille Point. There is a small parking lot there where you can gain access to a trail that runs north above the beach. The trail weaves parallel to the coast, with beautiful cliff-top grass on either side of the trail. The other choice is to take this great little staircase down to the beach to get up close and personal with the rock formations. I really liked the look of the staircase and used it as the foreground looking south toward the sea stacks.
Blacktail Ponds Overlook - Grand Teton National Park,Wyoming
One of the best things about Grand Teton National Park are the many turnouts and overlooks that have been built along the park's two main roads, US Route 89 and Teton Park Road. These stops on the road provide many beautiful views of the massive Teton Range, which are part of the larger Rocky Mountain Range. I have a particular affinity for the Blacktail Ponds Overlook. Being a sunrise location, you really need to get there early enough to get the morning light as it begins to light up the peaks and work its way down the mountains. Many people leave when the mountains are fully lit but I like staying. Why? The overlook sits high above a valley which, like the mountains, gradually light up as the sun continues to rise in the sky. I like the contrast between the light and the shadow and having a creek acting like a leading line doesn't hurt either.
Canyonlands Beauty - Canyonlands, National Park, Utah
One of the most iconic spots of the American Southwest is Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Requiring a short hike, this arch is a mecca for photographers that want to get the iconic sunrise photo of the arch as the sun peaks over the distant mountains. The area where photographers can take this image is quite small -- only 10-12 people can squeeze into it. Get there well before dawn to procure a good spot. It is always hard to know the right time to get there. It all depends on luck. I've been there when there were only one or two photographers. I have also been there when a whole group of photographers had gotten there at 2am, leaving very few spots for anyone else. Once they set up, they don't move until the sun is well above the horizon. So, what do you do when you are unlucky and can't get a good spot? Try other angles that might not include the arch like this photo. Still some amazing shots if you look hard enough.
Haystack Evening - Cannon Beach, Oregon
One of the signature sea stacks on the Oregon Coast, the Haystack Rock towers 235 feet above the beach, seemingly reaching out to the sky from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Along with its proximity to the city of Portland, this rock formation has contributed in making Cannon Beach a tourist destination. It is accessible from the beach and can be walked to during low tide. The saying, "you can look but you better not touch" applies to this iconic rock formation. It is protected, as it is a national wildlife refuge and one of seven protected intertidal areas along the Oregon coast. My favorite time to shoot this icon is usually just after sunrise when the sun clears the cliffs to the east. The beach is usually secluded at that time of day. Shooting near sunset can a bit problematic, as there are usually swarms of people walking the beach. For some strange reason unknown to me, when I headed to the beach one night this past September, there wasn't anyone around, allowing me to shoot some photos in the great evening light.
Full Moon - Badlands National Park, South Dakota
I have visited Badlands National Park only once, but that one visit enraptured me in such a way that it became one of my very favorite places. The landscape has everything that a photographer could ask for: jagged buttes, twisted canyons, rugged spires and rock formations in the shape of domes often striped in different colors. All of these contrast greatly with prairies on either side of the park. The formations and buttes form what it is known as the Wall. It extends for 100 miles. Approximately 31 of those miles are paved and easy accessible on Route 240, otherwise known as Badlands Loop Road. North of the Wall, there is nothing but plains, and the formations cannot be seen. Coming from the south, the formations can't be missed, showing a sort of natural "skyline". This image was taken at Norbeck Pass on the way back to the hotel. It shows the full moon lighting up the night sky.
Yaquina Head - Newport, Oregon
Many of those who follow me are well aware of my love for lighthouses. Living in New England, there are some amazing ones that can be found from Connecticut to Maine. I am always on the lookout for lighthouses wherever I go. My frequent trips to the Oregon Coast has allowed me to find some new gems to shoot. While there are as many lighthouses on the Oregon Coast, the ones that are there are quite beautiful. This particular lighthouse, Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, Oregon, is perhaps Oregon's most picturesque. The light was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1870's. The lighthouse tower measures 93 feet tall and is the tallest in Oregon. It is managed and maintained by the The Bureau of Land Management and is not far from the center of town.
Old and New - San Francisco, California
Did you ever have a photo that every time you see it, you say to yourself that I really should edit and post it? This photo, taken in 2013, is one of them for me. I used to travel to San Francisco quite a lot on business (my record was 10 times in one year) and never had a camera with me because I never had much free time. San Francisco has always been my favorite city and, since I retired, I can now spend as much leisurely time strolling its hilly streets as I want. Instead of moving quickly to my next meeting, I now can walk slowly and take in the nooks and crannies with photographer eyes. When I saw this scene somewhere on Market Street, I was taken in by how the four buildings lined up. Even more fascinating to me was the style and age of the buildings, from the look of the buildings in the middle exuding character of old contrasting with two new modern buildings on either side of it.
Cathedral Beach View - Yosemite National Park, California
The Merced River is a 145-mile tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada to the central valley of California. The most famous section of the river is where it travels through the renowned Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. The Merced drops over the Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls and passes into the valley, where it flows in the pine forests that fill the valley floor. Visitors to Yosemite Valley can go almost anywhere along the Merced's banks and see the famous granite cliffs and formations. One of my favorite spots along the Merced is Cathedral Beach. Here, one of the most famous rock formations in Yosemite is often reflected in it's waters, El Capitan. It was early morning and the soft light was bathing the formation and the opposite bank. It's no wonder that the Yosemite Valley is one of the most visited national parks in the US.
Mountain View - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
What can you say about the Grand Tetons that somebody hasn't said already? I am usually at a loss when trying to describe their beauty to someone who has never been there. These craggy mountains dominate the landscape and look different from almost every angle. I have visited these majestic peaks many times before, in all different times of the year. My favorite time to visit is in May, as they are often covered in snow which, in my opinion, makes them more beautiful than other times of the year. For this composition, I wanted to compose this photo in a way that would make the viewer feel like they were standing next to me when I took it. I thought that using the road as a leading line and shooting a bit wide would accomplish the goal.