At the end of my trip to Italy this past spring, Mike Louthan and I decided to spend time in Venice before heading back home after three great weeks in Italy. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot with Nathaniel Smalley, who also stayed over in Venice. One night, we went out to shoot some night scenes, some of which I have already posted. Once the clock approached midnight, Mike and I headed toward our lodging, located just off of St. Mark’s Square. We got a bit lost but finally ended up at the far end of the square. As we began tp walk onto the square itself, we quickly discovered that half of it was under water by 4-5 inches. Turns out that it was a night with a full moon, which makes high tides rise to their full height. You guessed it, it was high tide when we entered the square. Our feet got soaked and when we got to this spot on the square, I had to stop and shoot this photo of the square with St. Mark’s Cathedral and Campanile on full display.
Cityscape - Seattle, Washington
After photographing the Oregon Coast in early September, my wife, son and I spent some family time on the west coast. This was not a photography trip but, of course, I had my camera with me. After spending some time in the Portland area, we headed to Seattle for several days. I hadn’t been there in over 15 years, and boy, has it changed. One thing that didn’t change is the ferry to and from Bainbridge Island. That has always been a relaxing trip, especially when lunch is sandwiched between the back and forth. The weather while we were in Seattle was off and on with clouds and rain (it is the Pacific Northwest) but, fortunately, the sun came out on the way back to Seattle and I was able to capture this cityscape with this huge cumulous cloud hovering above the city.
Thor's Well - Cape Perpetua, Oregon
On the Oregon Coast there is a location that has been my nemesis for a long time. I have been by this location more than ten times and have been shut out from capturing it. It is an iconic photo location, but it cannot be seen or found when the tide is fully in. Turns out, that in all of my visits to Thor’s Well, the tide was in. This past June, I finally got to shoot this spot, known as either a gaping sinkhole, drainpipe of the Pacific, or the gateway to hell. Turns out it is none of those things. What looks like a sinkhole is nothing of the kind. It is actually a sea cave that was likely created by the relentless waves eroding the rock over time. Eventually, the roof of the sea cave collapsed, creating the circular hole that can be seen when the tide is right. Before I witnessed the well, I thought the many photos of it that I have seen were caused by the water splashing over the top of the roof into the sea cave. Turns out, it is caused by the waves rushing into the sea cave and then exploding through the roof to cover the surrounding rock. As the water on the rock falls back into the sea cave, the above look is created. Such is Thor’s Well. My next goal is to capture it at sunset with great foreboding red clouds.
Bandon Evening - Face Rock Viewpoint, Bandon, Oregon
Finally starting to look at my photos from last month’s trip to the Oregon Coast. The coast was its usual self. Some rain, clouds and sun during most days. Our stop in Bandon was one of the first locations I looked at and I quickly gravitated to this photo. I remember spending my time at the end of the evening on the southern part of the beach, which was pretty secluded. After shooting there until the sun went below the horizon, I started walking toward the stairs to the parking area, I immediately saw this amazing cloud being lit up in the sky above Bandon’s famous sea stacks. I quickly decided to stay a little longer and enjoyed taking in the tranquility of the evening.
Teton Point View - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming Dreaming
A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.
No matter where you go in Grand Teton National Park, the rugged Teton Range always seem to be visible. Driving the 42 miles of the main highway (US 191/89) that runs through the park, there are some wonderful turnouts where you can see these mountains in their full glory. Each turnout has its own personality and this one, Teton Point Turnout, is no exception. The unique part of this scene are the three levels of terraces on the land leading to the mountains. Adding the mountains and the terrific blue sky, the layers just jump out at you. Of course, shooting in early morning light is just icing on the cake.
Great Grey Owl - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming Dreaming
A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.
Many who follow my blog know that my favorite subjects are related to landscapes and travel. On my visits to the Grand Tetons, my main goal is landscapes but the park is also known for its wildlife. There is some specific expertise (which I don't have) and equipment requirements (really big, long lenses that I can hardly lift) to get a great shot. On one of my Teton trips, I was fortunate to be with some very accomplished wildlife and bird photographers who were knocking it out of the park. We came upon a a great gray owl that was all but asking for us to photograph him. This is not a common occurrence, so we all took advantage of the opportunity. Despite my limitations, I actually got a couple of decent shots, this being one my best. I am sure that my fellow wildlife buddies would probably think this is a throw away shot, but I am happy with it. It reminds me what a great experience it was to watch this majestic bird in the wild.
Spouting Off - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming Dreaming
A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.
A few years ago, I was able to revisit a location that I first visited in 2005, namely Yellowstone National Park. On that first visit, I hadn’t recommitted to my photography hobby, and the images from that trip showed the rust that had grown on my skills. When I started to get back into the hobby in 2007, I vowed to revisit some of the places and reshoot them. In some cases, I wanted to get the same composition as I did then but in better light. This is one of those compositions. It is of Mud Volcano, a thermal feature on the eastern side of the park. It has a nice boardwalk where you can get different vantage points to shoot from. I visited just after dawn when there was no one around, and had great morning light. I was hoping for and got some nice blue skies that I used as a nice color backdrop to make the steam stand out. All in all, a much better result that my first visit. On my next visit, I wonder if there is a way to deal with that bad sulfur smell of these thermal features.
Oxbow Splendor - Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming Dreaming
A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.
If you mention Oxbow Bend to any serious landscape photographer, they know exactly where it is, even if they have never been there before. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in the western US, photographed millions of times. Standing anywhere along the shoreline of the Snake River or from the road above, Mount Moran is always present, towering above everything. I have been lucky enough to stand there many times in the past fifteen years, and I will say that every time the scene is different. Contributing to the variety are the clouds or lack of clouds, the time of day (sunrise is the best time to shoot there), the stillness of the water, the presence or lack of wildlife, low-to-the-ground fog or lack thereof, and the season of the year (ice and snow-covered peaks and/or fall foliage). Suffice to say, for some, visiting this majestic location moves you in ways that you never expect.
Barren - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming Dreaming
A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers, posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.
No two national parks can be more different in landscape than Grand Teton and Yellowstone. The amazing thing about them is that they are located right next to one another in northwestern Wyoming. Grand Teton is one of my favorites, and I have visited there many, many times. On one of my trips there, I decided to spend a few days in Yellowstone to explore the park on my own.
After spending a couple of nights at Lake Yellowstone, I headed to Mammoth Springs, with the hope to shoot Canary Springs during sunset. It was sunny when I left the hotel, and, 10 minutes later, I grabbed my gear and started to walk toward the springs. I noticed that there were dark clouds starting to roll in, and I thought that I had plenty of time. I didn't know how fast the rain was coming, but I knew I was in a race to get in a few shots. It turned out to be one of the fastest photo shoots that I ever had, and I barely had enough time to shoot a few photos before the deluge would start. I decided to process this as a black and white, as I wanted to make sure the mood of the moment came through in the image.
Rush Hour - Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, California
What do you think of when someone asks about San Francisco? I'll bet that the Golden Gate Bridge comes to mind. Every city seems to have a defining iconic symbol that somehow conveys what it is known for. For the city by the bay it is this bridge. The bridge is considered by many to be the most beautiful and most photographed bridge in the US, if not the world. Try finding a travel guide or website that doesn't have its image prominently displayed.
I traveled to San Francisco often during my working career. I think one year I was there ten times on business trips, and I would often head down to the bridge and hope the fog would roll in. It is an amazing experience to see the bridge clearly, and then within a few minutes, it would be gone. Unfortunately, those trips were before my passion for photography was reignited. How I wish that I had brought a camera with me. Of course, this was before the iPhone was invented. Whenever I now travel to San Fran, a camera and a stop near the bridge is mandatory. This photo was taken from the Sausalito side of the bridge from Fort Point State Park. It was taken toward the end of rush hour one evening a few years ago.
Grand Central Terminal - Manhattan, New York
Living in Connecticut, I have often visited New York City for various reasons such as work related trips, meeting friends and family, going to concerts, or just spending the day. Driving into the city is not only challenging but can also be quite expensive. As a result, I take the train from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal. Despite all of the the times I have been through the terminal, I had never stopped to take photos. That all changed a few years ago when I had the opportunity to join a workshop where we had the full run of the terminal for four hours with our tripods and gear. This image is of one of the hallways from the main level of the terminal to the gates below. Shown prominently are the beautiful chandeliers that illuminate the terminal.
Shining Brightly - Gold Beach, Oregon
The Oregon Coast, particularly the central and southern portions, have outstanding beaches and rugged landscapes. After multiple trips there, I think that this particular stretch of beach, just south of Gold Beach, is my favorite. The first glimpse of this area, called Myers Creek, is when you drive down Route 101 through the trees and the mountains. The first thought that enters your mind as you round the corner and see the landscape is "Wow". For that reason, I always anticipate my next visit and, thankfully, in two weeks I will back there while co-hosting an Oregon Coast Photo Tour with my buddy, Jeff Clow.
This photo of Back Rock was taken one morning looking north. It is not a sunrise location as the cliffs to my right block the the sun at that time. When the sun does clear the cliffs, the golden morning sun turns Black Rock into Gold Rock as it begins to shine brightly.
Life Sentence - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I know that the title of this blog post is probably a bit dramatic, but unless you have visited and spent time at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, you don't know how eerie it feels there. Walking around this immense place and seeing the small cells and peeling walls, I can't help but think what it must have been like being a prisoner there. I can only imagine the terror I would feel walking down this corridor to my cell for the first time. While the conditions were probably not as run down when the penitentiary actually housed prisoners, the place must have been so dreary, at least in my imagination. I think if there is not a "scared straight" program that takes troubled youths through the penitentiary, there should be.
Pre-Dawn Glow - Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Arguably the signature lighthouse of Maine, the Portland Head Light, is actually located outside of Portland on Cape Elizabeth. The light was initially commissioned by George Washington in 1787. The light stands 80 feet above the land and 101 feet above the water. Edward Rowe Snow wrote about the light: “Portland Head and its light seem to symbolize the state of Maine—rocky coast, breaking waves, sparkling water and clear, pure salt air.” The lighthouse is surrounded by a huge park and when I visited it the day before to scout, it was swarming with people. I was sure that I would not be alone the next morning when I went to shoot the light at sunrise. Much to my surprise, the only other person there was a cameraman from the local television station who must have been telecasting a live shot of the light. The sun began to light up the sky and it began to glow along with parts of the lighthouse.
Footbridge Crossing - Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta
Banff National Park is home to some of the most beautiful mountain lakes. There are fabulous lakes throughout the whole region, starting in the town of Banff and continuing northward passed Lake Louise and the world-famous Icefields Parkway. From the Parkway, you have your pick of great lakes along the 140-mile road, some close to the road while others require a hike. Each one of these lakes could easily be your favorite one. One of the most visited lakes is Bow Lake, about 30 minutes north of Lake Louise. This lake is a magnet for photographers, visitors and tour buses. If you time your visit early enough, you can have the lake mostly to yourself. One of the most photographed scenes is that of the footbridge with the massive Crowfoot Mountain in the background. I decided to take a different approach by standing on the footbridge and looking south, with the lake and the magnificent Canadian Rockies on display.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse - Pescadero, California
Those who have followed me for a while know that I cannot pass a lighthouse without stopping and capturing photos of them. A couple of years ago, we decided to drive from Portland, Oregon down the coast of Oregon and then continue down the coastline of California as far as Big Sur. One of the lighthouses that we stopped at was Pigeon Point Lighthouse, which is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. Built in 1871 on a rocky promontory, it is one of the most beautiful in California. The point was named for a clipper ship named the Carrier Pigeon, which had set sail from Boston and sailed around Cape Horn on its way to San Francisco. About 50 miles from its destination, it crashed near the point where the lighthouse now stands. Its loss as well as several other ships was the motivation to build the lighthouse.
Cascade Morning - Banff National Park, Alberta
There are so many places to photograph Mount Rundle around the town of Banff, it is hard to choose which one to go to first. Two Jack Lake and Vermilion Lakes are top notch locations to do so, but there are other less visited spots that offer great views like this one at Cascade Ponds. Just outside of town, the ponds are a day-use facility with hiking trails, picnic tables, restrooms and, most importantly, superb views. The ponds are fed by snow melt from Cascade Mountain, so the level of the ponds is often dependent on the past winter's snowfall. I have been to the ponds when they have dried up. Fortunately, the water level at the ponds last June were quite healthy and I was able to get a good reflection of Mount Rundle in them.
Valley Fog - Glacier National Park, Montana
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is the main (and only) road that runs west to east through the park. From the western entrance to the eastern entrance, the 50-mile road passes along great vistas and valleys that make up some of the best landscapes in the west. The road is very narrow with lots of twists and turns. Because there are very few and very small pullouts (and the great views), many visitors stop at the Heaven's Peak parking area that is located on a hairpin turn. On this visit, we were blessed with great conditions, including nice morning light, terrific clouds and wonderful low-lying fog in the valley.
Yosemite Tranquility - 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 its 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.
Piazza del Campo - Siena, Italy
This public square is the centerpiece of Siena and is often referred to as its heart and soul. The Piazza is considered one of Europe's best examples of a medieval square for its beauty and architecture. The piazza is often crowded with people and is the gathering place of both residents and tourists alike. The square is home to the twice-a-year horse race known as the Palio, in which the 17 distinct areas of the city race against one another. When you first walk into the Piazza, the first thing you notice is the Tower of Mangia. Built in the 13th century, the Tower rises 335 feet above the square and is the the third tallest in all of Italy. Legend has it that the tower got its name from a bell ringer who would climb the 400 steps to the bell and ring it. His nickname was Mangiaguadagni, which he purportedly earned because he often ate through his money.