The Canadian Rockies is famous for the mountain lakes that are fed by melting snow and glaciers. While not knowing how many lakes are there, my guess would number in the hundreds. These lakes are some of the freshest and most colorful that you will see anywhere. The most famous and beautiful lakes are the most visited and are often the largest ones. There are some that are very small but are, in my mind, just as beautiful. Take Herbert Lake, pictured in this photo. It is a small lake and is located at the beginning of the Icefields Parkway headed north. It is a mere five or ten minutes from Lake Louise, one of the most visited locations in Banff NP. You would think that there would always be people there being that it is about 30 feet from the road, but I have never seen it crowded. That is okay with me as I really enjoy the serenity of having the lake to myself. The best time to shoot at this lake is at sunrise and early morning hours. The water is often as smooth as glass and the reflections are perfect.
Window's Reflection - Newport, Rhode Island
Looking through my old photos often results in finding a photo that calls to me. I came across this one that I captured in 2009 while my wife and I were spending a few days in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is known for its many mansions that were built in the “Gilded Age” (1870 - 1900) by the wealthy industrialists and financiers, known as the “Robber Barons”. Newport is also known for its rich sailing history, including hosting the America’s Cup for many years as well as being home to the United States Naval War College. It is no surprise that the town has lots of boats and marinas everywhere. We stayed on Goat Island, and walking around we came across one of the marinas. It was after dinner and the soft evening light lit up the boats. I spotted this window that gave a unique view of the boats in its reflection.
Maine Foliage - Millinocket, Maine
The great thing about fall in New England is that the foliage is some of the best around. The biggest challenge is guessing when the leaves will begin to peak. A couple of years ago, my son and I decided to drive into the heart of the North Woods in Maine. Using Bangor as our base, we headed up to Millinocket so he could do some research for a novel he was thinking about writing. We spent most of the day exploring the town and getting some local color. Near the end of our visit, we found Crandall Park and discovered a different kind of color. Yes, peak foliage had reached Millinocket. Crossing a bridge over the Millinocket stream and looking upstream, we saw the town to our left and the trees on our right showing off their beauty before going to hibernate for the winter. The stream was very calm and gave us a double dose of color.
Under the Bridge - Venice, Italy
There is no better city to walk around than Venice, Italy. It has such a unique feel to it that transports you to a different time. Sure, the fact that the "streets" are canals contributes to the feel. But so do the gondolas, even though they are there for tourists rather than for transportation. Maybe it is the wonderful buildings, some of which have been there for hundreds of centuries. Maybe it is the museums that scream the Italian Renaissance wherever you look. Or it could be the history or the food. I could go on and on. When I edited this image, all of my feelings about Venice came rushing back to me. My wife and friends had headed back to the hotel to rest and I decided to spend the late afternoon just walking around with no destination in mind. I ended up at the south bank of the Grand Canal near the Ponte dell'Accademia, which is one of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal. I wandered underneath the bridge and looked toward St Mark’s Square to get a photo of the activity on the Grand Canal.
Waking Up View - Canmore, Alberta
Last year, I was exploring Kananaskis Country with Jaki Good Miller before a tour of Banff and Jasper National Parks. This little known area is often referred to as “Little Banff” and is located south of the town of Banff. Most of the roads are not paved but are in pretty good shape and the scenery is simply gorgeous. There are no towns that can be used as a base of operations except Canmore. The town is located 20 minutes south of Banff and has plenty of hotels, AirBnbs and restaurants that are not as pricey as staying in Banff.
Being tired from our travel from the eastern United States, we headed out on our first full day to explore Kananaskis Country. We spent the full day driving south, seeing and photographing the wonders that this section of the Canadian Rockies had to offer. Getting back into Canmore and having a late dinner, we crashed. The next thing I knew, it was the next morning and saw that the sun was out. Looking out the window, this scene of the “Three Sisters” presented themselves to me. I quickly grabbed my camera to get some photos of the mountains bathed in beautiful light with great cumulous clouds as a backdrop.
Moody Morning - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Many wonder (including my wife) why I like going back to places that I have already been to, and end up shooting many of the same scenes that I have previously shot. The answer is that one of the most important factors in making a great photograph, besides the subject, is the light. The light changes every hour of every day, and you never know what you will get. I remember that a famous photographer was asked how he ended up getting a particularly great shot. His reply was that he had visited that spot every year for over 20 years, and he finally got the shot that was being asked about.
This photo is an example of what can happen on any given day. In 2013, I had been in Grand Teton National Park in July on a photo tour, and shot tons of images of Mount Moran from Oxbow Bend. When my son and I drove from Oregon to Connecticut in September, he wanted to stop in the park and stay a couple of days. The first morning, off I went to Oxbow Bend and witnessed this scene. It was nothing like July (which was a beautiful morning), but the fog, clouds, and the sun met at the perfect moment to light up the top of the mountain. Ten minutes later and it was all gone, and anyone who came later that morning didn't know what they missed.
Harbor - Rockport, Massachusetts
One of the attractions of New England is exploring the coastlines of five of its six states. Most of the coastline is made up of small towns and villages that began as fishing villages on the Atlantic Ocean. One of my favorite stops in New England is the small town of Rockport, MA, located at the tip of Cape Ann, about 40 miles northeast of Boston. It has a quaint harbor and is home to one of the most recognizable fishing shacks in the world. It got its fame by being one of the most often painted (and probably photographed) fishing stacks in America. Legend has it that the shack got its name by the famous artist and teacher Lester Hornby. He responded to a student who submitted a drawing of the shack for review with the words, "What-Motif No 1 again?" Motif No 1 was originally built in 1840 and was destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978. It was rebuilt later that year and is still a popular subject for artists and photographers alike.
Most compositions of Motif No 1 are close-ups. For this photo, I decided to shoot the small Rockport Harbor showing the bright red fishing shack in the background. To me, this is an example of a quintessential New England coastal town.
Foliage Splendor - Kent, Connecticut
As I look through some old photos, I occasionally find one that I simply remember like yesterday. The only regret when I see one is how I edited it before posting it on social media. I won’t go as far that it was totally processed incorrectly but rather how my editing skills and style has changed since then. When I looked at this photo I took in 2011, I quickly decided to re-edit it to give it a new life and updated look. Below is the original write-up that I posted back then.
When the leaves change in New England every fall, I always head to Lake Waramaug State Park to shoot the foliage. It is a great place to capture the brilliant colors of the changing seasons, especially if you are looking for great reflections. The lake also has some wonderful amenities such as camping, fishing, swimming and picnicking. The best time to go is in the late afternoon when the sun is shining on the opposite shore. The kids are in school and with the daylight getting shorter, there is a golden glow to everything. The lake is named after an Indian chief of the Wyantenock tribe who had hunting grounds near falls on the Housatonic River.
Black Bear Cub - Yoho National Park, British Columbia
My favorite time to visit the Canadian Rockies is in June. There are many reasons for that. The crowds are significantly smaller than the summer months; the snow is still on the mountain peaks (it has snowed in June more than a few times but melts quickly); and the wildlife emerges from the winter, many with their babies. There are many wildlife sightings everywhere in the Canadian Rockies, even on major highways.
After visiting Yoho National Park’s Emerald Lake for sunset, we headed back toward Lake Louise for a quick snack. On the highway, we noticed a mother bear with her baby cub. We quickly pulled over to the shoulder to capture some photos of this cute guy. who seemed to be oblivious to us.
Dawn Beauty - Monument Valley, Navajo Nation
If I were to pick my top 5 favorite places to shoot in the US, Monument Valley would be in it. Located on the border of Utah and Arizona, it is part of the Navajo Nation and should be on every photographers bucket list. I have been there many times and it still is a destination I would like to revisit. If you haven’t visited there before, you still may recognize this scene. It has been in countless movies, television shows and commercials, advertisements and even rock videos.
This photo from 2016 was of my favorite sunrise, as we had the best conditions and light that I have ever encountered on my many visits there. What made it even more special was that I shared it with two of my very best friends, Jeff Clow and Jaki Good Miller. This was the very first time that I stayed at the View Hotel (which is aptly named). Although it is not the best hotel I have ever stayed in, the ability to roll out of bed, walk down the hall and step onto the back patio to see this view makes it a must-stay spot. We were treated with the best Mother Nature could offer: great clouds, great light from the blue hour to the sunrise and, most importantly, the famed sandstone rock formations known as "The Mittens" and Merrick Butte for obvious reasons.
River Road Glow - Moab, Utah
This image of a butte on the Colorado River Scenic Byway (aka River Road) 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.
Painted Ladies - Alamo Square, San Francisco, California
San Francisco has so many attractions and places to visit that it is hard to fit everything in. One such attraction is Alamo Square, where the famous "Painted Ladies" can be seen. The painted ladies refer to a row of Victorian houses painted in colors that make the architectural details stand out. I was surprised to find out that their nickname was only established in 1978 with the publishing of a book. Alamo Square gives visitors a unique perspective that shows the Victorian houses that were built in the 1890's with the city layered behind them as a backdrop.
Low Lying Clouds - Glacier National Park, Montana
There is a saying that mountains make their own weather. I’ve experienced this many times and there is a scientific reason that it is true. During the summer months, the slopes of the mountains heat up. The air surrounding all sides of the mountains flow upwards and meet around their peaks. Clouds form because, as the air rises, it tends to cool due to the saturation that is created when the warm air meets the cooler air. This phenomenon is best shown when photographing a mountain from a distance from a high elevation. This photo illustrates the clouds forming on Reynolds Mountain at Logans Pass. To get this vantage point, we had hiked the Highline Trail, which is one of my favorite trails.
Licked Clean - Patricia Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta
My favorite time to visit the Canadian Rockies is in June. There are a few reasons for that. Snow is still fresh on the mountains (it occasionally snows in June), the crowds of tourists are smaller that the summer months and the wildlife is plentiful with mothers tending to their young. On our way to Pyramid Mountain, we pass two lakes. The first one, Patricia Lake is known for its elk. As we approached the lake, we saw this female elk licking her young cow clean. Watching this mothering was a cool behavioral moment.
Vista House Viewpoint - Columbia Gorge, Oregon
I have traveled to Oregon quite a bit since 2005 to photograph the Oregon Coast. Now that my son lives in Oregon’s wine country, the trips will be more frequent. A typical trip is to fly into Portland, stay overnight at an airport hotel and head out the next morning to visit the beautiful waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge before heading to the coast later in the day. As a result, I hadn’t shot the Gorge during the evening hours until last year. On our west coast vacation in September, my son acted as our tour guide to show us some places we hadn’t visited before heading to Seattle. Since our evenings were unplanned, we decided to visit the Gorge so I could finally get some evening photos. This is a photo taken from the Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, which looks eastward through the Gorge. The building on a rock promontory is the Vista House, which lies about 750 feet above the Columbia River that separates the states of Oregon and Washington.
Sunset Sail - Key West, Florida
Any visit to Key West includes watching the sun set every evening. It is almost a prerequisite (at least in the winter months) before exploring Duvall Street for either dinner plans or doing some bar hopping. The best place to watch the sunset is at the popular Mallory Square. When we got there, the square was packed (I can't imagine what it is like during busy season). I wasn't able to get a great spot to capture the sunset but was able to shoot over the tops of people’s heads and the railing using my LCD screen (I’ll have to get there earlier on my next visit). This was one of my favorite images of the night as the sun lit up the sky with a spectacular orange color that silhouetted the sailboat passing by.
Blue - Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
There are two things that I remember vividly from my visit to Crater Lake National Park namely Wizard Island and some of the bluest water found in the world. The water is also some of the purest that you will find anywhere. When researching the reason for why the color was so blue, I found the answer on the National Park Service's website (paraphrased in the next paragraph).
The water is so blue because there is hardly anything else in it. The water molecules found in Crater Lake contain no sediments, algae, pesticides or pollution, making it very pure. The water molecules absorb all of the color spectrum of sunlight except for the blues. The key to creating the deep blue color is having enough water to absorb the other colors. Since there are 4.6 trillion gallons of water in the lake, there is no problem.
Getting Ready - Venice, Italy
The city of Venice attracts millions of tourists each year. In 2019, around 36 million visited and typically stay within 3 square miles of the city. For a city that only has 50,000 residents, the pace of the visitors must seem unrelenting. Each day, they get up early to get ready for the surge of tourists. Being an early riser, I headed out of our hotel located at St. Mark’s Square and headed out to shoot the early morning sun. The sidewalks were almost empty, a sharp contrast to the hordes that would be there only a few hours later and would stay to the late evening. The only other people to be found were either getting their booths and carts ready for the day or workers waiting for the Vaporetto (public transportation water buses) to head to their place of business.
Myers Creek - Gold Beach, Oregon
Ask ten people who are familiar with the Oregon Coast to name their top ten locations and you might get fifty different locations. Yes there are tons of possible candidates along the 363-mile long rugged coastline but there are three that may make everyone’s list and this is one of them. Meyers Creek Beach is located south of the town of Gold Beach and is named after the creek that runs into it. Before anyone tells me that I misspelled Meyers and it should be Myers, I have seen signs that spell it both ways. In fact, I went onto Google Maps and discovered that the same creek has both names on it depending on its location.
What makes this location a top one? There are many characteristics that make it so. The dunes on this beach, while not very high, are reminiscent of the dunes found in the desert. The number of sea stacks and rock formations are very much in abundance. When the tide is out, you can walk up to these formations and see terrific tide pools, along with quite the number of starfish clinging to them. When the tide is in the right positions, the reflections of the formations and stacks are just about perfect. Finally, being in the most southern part of the coast, you often have the whole beach to yourselves, as most visitors don’t make it down this far. That certainly works for me along with other photographers.
Volcanic Rock Formation - Agathla Peak, Kayenta, Arizona
Every time I head west, I try to add some days to the trip to visit some new places or revisit some great places. A little over four years ago, I was headed to Monument Valley to spend a few days before a Moab Photo Tour. I met up with Jaki Good Miller in Albuquerque and we headed out on the five-hour drive to Monument Valley. I had never visited Monument Valley from the south, and as we passed the town of Kayenta, we saw this very unique rock formation. We immediately stopped to shoot this scene. Turns out that this 1,500 foot formation is actually a volcanic plug that has blocked a vent of a volcano. As you can see, it really sticks out because of all of the flat land that surrounds it.