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Whitney Portal Through Mobius Arch - IMG#3734
This is the view through the famous Mobius Arch in Alabam Hills. Every morning the Sierras that are framed by the arch get washed by the sunrise's bright glowing light.
From The East Side
Days Long Forgotten - IMG#3432
This old barn is more than a hundred years old and sits in the middle of the once thriving gold mining town called Bodie. Bodie is known as the best preserved ghost town in California. And while it's thousands of residents have since vanished, it's richness and beauty are more alive than ever.
From The East Side
New Day at Emerald Bay - IMG#1835
Having skied in Tahoe many times but never really taken any photos there and with almost no snow anyhow, I was more than satisfied to spend this winter trip shooting photos. While we did hit the slopes once or twice I was sure to explore the lake throughly. I made this my first stop on New Years day as it is easily shot from near the road and the night before's celebration was "on my mind."
From The East Side
In the Absence of Rain - IMG#2004
With almost no rainfall in California through New Year's, Most of the lakes in the valley and the Sierras were scary low. While the drought is very bad for our farms and economy and I was really bummed with the ski conditions, the introduction of extreme conditions always makes for new and sometimes unique compositions, as is the case with this shot. These withered stumps will surely be submerged again before long.
From The East Side
Western Shore of Lake Tahoe, CA - IMG#1922
Another one from our trip to Tahoe last week... this shot was taken from the western shore of the lake at a popular "bouldering" spot just before sunrise. I took this shot perched on a small flat atop of a 20 foot high boulder. I was rather fortunate to get into this spot, as a fairly small limb had fallen at just the right angle and spot to allow me to shimmy up it and on the boulder. And due to the cracking I heard coming down, I doubt very much that it will be there next time I visit Tahoe.
From The East Side
Bonsai Rock - IMG#2143
Here you see the well known "Bonsai Rock" framed in it's cove and some nice soft colors in the sky. Although not the "explosive" sunrise I tend to prefer, I really like the pastel palette in this shot!
From The East Side
Rainbow Fall - IMG#8314
This waterfall near Devil's Postpile is well known for the beautiful rainbows it produces in the the summer months. Unfortunately the cloud cover and trajectory of the sun meant no such rainbows for me. I opted to show only the waterfall and convert to monochrome for the effect I was looking for.
From The East Side
Foggy Days in Yosemite Valley - IMG#0361
Yosemite Valley is famous for dramatic storms, dramatic mountains, and dramatic light which is perfect for dramatic photos. As is the case with this detail of the evergreen forest found all over the Sierras. I just love the mood, patterns, and composition created by this settling patch of fog in the valley.
Winter El Capitan - IMG#0318
This very popular spot in Yosemite Valley often referred to as "Valley View" or "Gates of Yosemite" is best shot in a late afternoon light . But get there early because you will normally find at least a few other photographers already set up.
Bridalveil Fall - IMG#0303
Bridaveil Fall is the waterfall seen on the right side of the valley from Tunnel View. And can dry up to just a trickle during the winter months.
Sunset atop Sentinel Dome - IMG#7220
Yosemite Valley at Sunset looking West from the top of Sentinel Dome. This is the famous Jeffrey Pine at the top of sentinel dome, although no longer standing, it was once considered the world's most photographed tree.
Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge - IMG#6584
This famous view of Hlaf Dome was captured from Sentinel Bridge in Yosemite Valley. The cloud cover and afternoon light make this shot work.
Upper yosemite Fall - IMG#7253
Upper Yosemite Fall and Lower Yosemite Fall combine to make the tallest waterfall in America. I love the brilliant fall foliage and warm morning light.
Mt. Dana - IMG#7543
I captured the fading light upon Mt. Dana from Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park late one fall afternoon.
Autumn Currents in Fern Spring - IMG#7483
The fallen foliage swirling around in Fern Spring made in really cool effect in this abstract image taken in Yosemite National Park.
Classic Half Dome - IMG#6561
This black and white rendition of the famous Half Dome was captured on a cloudy autumn afternoon.
Land of Broken Reflections - IMG#4369
Tioga Pass, in Yosemite, was open extremely so I took the opportunity to access the high country and the eastern side of the Sierras as much as possible. On this trip I spent the afternoon shooting a frozen Tenaya Lake. Temperatures had been just warm enough to create these awesome reflecting pools but still cold enough to allow me to walk out onto the ice. It took me a while to find a group of pools that reflected the scene ahead to my liking. However I eventually found this spot, pretty much right in the middle of the lake, and I am pretty pleased with the result.
The Long View - IMG#8507
This less popular view of Bridalveil can be found along the Big Oak Flat Rd. coming into Yosemite National Park from the North. This was taken after a significant spring snowstorm. I was trying to get to Tunnel or Valley View for the best light of the day but decided that I wouldn't make it and opted to set up here instead. Glad I did because the warm late afternoon glow on the cliffs and the low hanging clouds in the valley below gave this scene added interest. And, in the end, I got a more "original" shot.
Sunset in the High Country - IMG#3239
This scene was captured atop of "pothole dome" in Tuolomne Meadows in the high country of Yosemite. The boulders here, known as glacier erratics, made for nice foreground elements.
Dogwoods and Redwoods - IMG#9087
Yosemite National Park is not famous for it's wildflower displays but every May - June Yosemite's Valley's dogwoods bloom theses beautiful white blooms. Here I was lucky enough to find a nice composition of blooms set in front of the Sierra's famous redwood.
The River Dance - IMG#9802
This is a picture of light reflected off the top of the Tuolomne River in Tuolomne Meadows. The key to capturing this scene was to slow my shutter speed down enough to get some motion blur while keeping it fast enough to keep the ripples from all blurring together.
Iconic - IMG_9275
While there are many grand views of Half Dome found through out Yosemite, for me this one, from Glacier Point, is the most stunning. Half Dome appears so "in your face" from this vantage point.
Glen Aulin Rapids - IMG#9980
A detail of the soft rapids found along the Glen Aulin Trail in Tuolomne Meadows during the spring melt. A slower shutter speed, polarizing filter, and the soft afternoon light allowed to make this composition. One can found endless photographic possibilities around Tuolomne and Yosemite's high country, especially in the spring when rivers are high and pools of snow melt collect throughout the meadow.
Cathedral Peak from the Tuolomne - IMG#0007
I captured this scene on a spring afternoon while out shooting with a fellow photographer. I had shot here before but with the water slowed to almost a trickle this scene changes dramatically and the spring sun was drenching Cathedral with that nice golden afternoon light. I used a Singh Ray "Blue n Gold" polarizer and a 2-stop soft grad to help even out the exposure.
Winter Reflections - IMG#0477
I stumbled onto this scene while doing some scouting in Yosemite during my last visit. I was first drawn to the scene by the crisp reflections of the snow covered trees in the distance. But as I shot shot close ups of the banks, I noticed the clouds above starting to turn orange in the late afternoon light. I threw on my blue-n-gold to help really bring out those warm tones and took this wide angle view of the Mereced River and Yosemite's valley walls. I only wish I could have fit all of the three rocks into my composition.
Ancient Wonders - IMG#3394
Photographed in Yosemite's Tenaya Canyon, I shot this scene using my smart phone to trigger the shutter release remotely. This enabled to crouch down really low beside the tree and light paint from beneath it rather than head on.
Tenaya Lake - IMG#0625
Somewhere in Nebraska.... - IMG#1208
As I was driving from New Jersey to Colorado in the wee hours of the morning I noticed the most spectacular sunrise I have ever seen unfolding in my rearview mirror. I pulled off at the next exit, set up my tripod and managed to snap off a few shots before the color faded. I have no idea where I was... somewhere on I-80.
From Parks and Places
Hanging Lake Creek - IMG#1569
The light was way to harsh to record the awesome color of water at Hanging Lake State Park, CO when I was there. But I did however manage to capture some of that color in these small falls below the lake.
From Parks and Places
Hallett Peak in Nymph Lake - IMG#1518
The lilly pads at Nymph Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park can make very interesting foreground subjects and under the right conditions they give off some really neat reflections. While there wasn't much color in the sky, I did manage to capture a nice reflection of Hallett Peak amongst the sea of lilly pads.
From Parks and Places
Mouse Creek Falls - IMG#0002
I decided to shoot waterfalls on this dreary rainy day since the lack of light would make long exposures easier. Mouse Creek Falls is probably my favorite waterfall in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It has a beautiful natural composition and plenty of that great green moss to provide an interesting scene.
From Parks and Places
In the Grotto - Great Smoky Mountains National Park IMG_1480In the Grotto - IMG#1480
The cave behind Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountain national Park make this a favorite place for tourist and locals to play, picnic, and enjoy mother nature. In this image I set up to the side in order to showcase that empty space behind the fall.
From Parks and Places
Rising Moon - IMG#1546
I have always found something about the moon mystical and intriguing. So when I noticed the it rising behind this weathered tree I worked fast to snap this composition.
-Great Smoky mountainsFrom Parks and Places
Totality on May 20, 2012 - IMG_9410
My wife and I made it out to Lake Tahoe to witness the recent total eclipse of the sun. With this shot, I again used my sheet of mylar to get a well defined outline of the total eclipse. But I wanted to give the scene a sense of surrealism and add a little of my own artistic interpretation. Since my mylar prevented me from capturing any real color, I boosted my exposure almost all the way up in post processing. Hence, what you are seeing as a red flare of the sun is actually noise.
From Parks and Places
Valley Almond Blooms II - IMG#0621
It is widely know around the San Joaquin Valley that the first sign of spring are the almonds. Late in the winter the orchards of almond trees turn into beautiful white blooming fields of flowers.
From Parks and Places
Midnight Hole - IMG#0089
This little known spot called "midnight hole" is located along the trail to Mouse Creek Falls in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The brilliantly green moss coating the boulders that fill this small stream make this image really pop.
From Parks and Places
Bumble Bee at the Bubble - IMG#5251
I captured this scene on my first vista to Maine in 2010. I love the simplicity and depth that this shot portrays.
From Parks and Places
Fort Point - IMG_0147
An image of the Golden Gate shrouded in fog taken from Fort Point in San Francisco's Presidio.
From Parks and Places
One Faithful Night - IMG#3768
I have been seeing this image in my head for at least four months or so and finally this past weekend, with the help of my beautiful wife, I was able to pull it all together. This was taken on Sunday, the day after the full moon, unfortunately I blew the shot on the night prior. I had watched the weather, I had my heading on the moon rise, I scouted, and we even bought brand new 2-way radios to communicate by. This was it. I was bound and determined to get my shot. Unfortunately I learned very quickly that if you are not far enough away from your subject this just doesn't work. And to my horror, when the moon did rise, my wife was twice as tall as said moon. I ended up spending then next hour or so scouting a spot to try again the next night. In the end I captured this at almost a half of a mile from my wife with my 6D and Sigma 50-500mm lens.
From Parks and Places
Simply Autumn - IMG#1034
A lone Autumn leaf rest precariously on a small stone in the middle of a New England stream.
From Parks and Places
Kancamagus Pass, NH - IMG#1564
This popular scenic drive through New Hampshire's White Mountains offers many scenic vistas and beautiful hiking trails. One can find this view at the crest of the pass.
From Parks and Places
Sabbaday Falls, NH - IMG#1198
This quaint little grotto style waterfall is actually the very top portion of the larger Sabbaday Falls and can be found along Kancamagus Pass in the White Mountains. A short picturesque hike takes you to numerous vantage points of the falls.
From Parks and Places
An Incredible Journey - IMG#3775
I have been seeing this image in my head for at least four months or so and finally this past weekend, with the help of my beautiful wife, I was able to pull it all together. This was taken on Sunday, the day after the full moon, unfortunately I blew the shot on the night prior. I had watched the weather, I had my heading on the moon rise, I scouted, and we even bought brand new 2-way radios to communicate by. This was it. I was bound and determined to get my shot. Unfortunately I learned very quickly that if you are not far enough away from your subject this just doesn't work. And to my horror, when the moon did rise, my wife was twice as tall as said moon. I ended up spending then next hour or so scouting a spot to try again the next night. In the end I captured this at almost a half of a mile from my wife with my 6D and Sigma 50-500mm lens.
From Parks and Places
Autumn Under the Bridge - IMG#1863
From Parks and Places
