Sky on fire…

 

Sometimes, as photographers, you just gotta indulge in a moment of passion. I say that because once in a while, there is nothing more succulent than pure, natural color. We humans are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Last night’s fleeting pre-dusk sky was a masterful stroke by Mother Nature, comprising every succulent color from indigo to gold in her palette. You could not help but step outside and, well, just stare… After a moment or two of silently drinking this scene in, I grabbed the first camera I saw and pointed it heavenward. For once, no post-processing was required. Nature, got this one exactly right. Hope you enjoy…

Sky on fire…

 

Sometimes color just rules the day. This evening sky, taken from my Phoenix hotel room window overlooking some of the local flora and fauna at the base of Camelback Mountain, was just too compelling not to shoot. These colors became more muted, then unexpectedly reburst in one final blaze of glory before fading into final twilight.

 

Days end…

Far and near…

 

I’ve often written here about the joys of discovery in your own backyard and neighborhood–and while I completely believe that artistic and visual creativity can be found under your nose, I’ll admit there is nothing so invigorating as exploring new and far away territory. Travel photographers have the ultimate luxury of making their living doing something they are passionate about–and the best of them certainly infuse their work with that passion. Many of us, however, only get to experience this sense of adventure a few times–maybe if we are lucky, a couple of times a year, when we leave our day jobs behind, pack up our gear, and go out to explore the world.

I recently did just that, on a seven-day excursion through the Western Caribbean, where  had the pure joy of exploring three new countries with my family. The image above was taken at Tabyana Beach on Roatan Island, the largest of the Honduran Bay Islands. The dramatic black rock, coral, and dense small palms, even a black iguana, certainly seemed exotic and were incredibly enticing to photograph. While it’s true there is no place like home–the yen to travel, and to find new inspiration through a lens… is pretty compelling as well. Hope you enjoy…

Postscript: I wanted to say I very much appreciate all the new followers and to all of you who like, share, and stop by with a comment. It’s gratifying to know that I am touching others with my work and my thoughts, and the continual addition of followers certainly helps keep me motivated and inspired to improve. Many thanks for your kind words and support!

Autumn art…

 

I live for autumn. The world is awash with the most beautiful color imaginable. Sometimes it truly just stops me dead in my tracks, and I have to pause and breathe it in. I realize it should be a melancholy time, when the vibrant life of summer fades, dries, crumples, and eventually blows away… but I think for  exactly that reason, I cherish autumn’s fleeting, vibrant beauty all the more. Lately, I’ve been blessed with a double dose of opportunity–fantastic autumn color plus an early morning dose of sugar frosting sprinkled over nature’s palette. Two mornings this week I bundled up, cold tripod in hand, and set out to discover new worlds laying right before my feet. Geometry, color, and texture was everywhere… nevermind numb fingers and toes… it was a photographer’s wonderland. Hope you enjoy…

Prickly subject…

 

This is a second take on the subject that appeared in my last post. I liked the monochrome treatment as I felt the stark contrast worked well with catching the light on the prickles. But here, the warmth of the scene gives an entirely different feel. You can truly close you eyes and imagine being bathed in that morning desert light. The subject however, is not any more inviting! Ouch! Hope you enjoy…

Serenity…

Muir Woods offers visitors a serenity that seems worlds away from the day-to-day life most of us lead. I am posting an image of these magnificent Muir giants early this Monday morning, in the hopes that it will offer me, and perhaps others, a sense of peace and calm to carry throughout the day. No matter how stressful life can get, I can close my eyes, or revisit these images, and remember that there are places in the world, where serenity and balance exists. Hope you enjoy…

 

f/6.3, 1/100th, ISO 800, 11 mm

Pacific giants…

Sometimes a photograph needs a bit of perspective. This shot, of one of the starkly beautiful craggy rocks that jut out from the Pacific coastline, is given a more awe-inspiring perspective by the rowers who are dwarfed by its presence. It adds a nice element of interest to the shot, too, and while I wish I could brag that I’d planned it that way, the truth is, the final product was more of a happy accident. I did see the canoe approaching, quickly previsualized the image, and waited until they hit the sweet spot in my composition. What I did plan entirely was the soft yellow flowers in the foreground, which I felt would soften the overall scene and provide a natural contrast to the sharp edges of the rocky subject. In the end, this was one of my favorite images of the Pacific shore, which is awe inspiring to behold, but whose magnificence is more difficult than one might think to portray in a single image. Hope you enjoy…

 

f/9, 1/250 sec, 115 mm, ISO 100

 

Looking up…waaay up…

 

I took a trip recently to the amazing Sedona area and was not disappointed in the gorgeous landscape and scenery of the desert Southwest! With only  a day trip’s worth of time to shoot, my subjects were fairly well known but I still tried my best to capture some creative images. This shot was taken at the popular tourist spot known as Montezuma’s Castle–an ancient cliff dwelling of the Sinagua Indians carved into the sandstone. While the dwelling is indeed impressive from a historic and cultural basis, what captured my attention photographically were the giant white sycamores that populated the ground below, their stature and gleaming albino bark making a sizzling contrast to the deep azure sky above. I was tantalized with so many image possibilities! I could have remained here for hours but in my 30 minute stay, managed to come away with at least a few photographs that recall this unique beauty and experience. This composition captures the dizzying perspective of looking from the base of one of the white giants to the cliffs above. I hope this translates to others as well! Hope you enjoy…

Beckoning…

The title of this post holds a couple of meanings for me. The primary one is purely emotional; the sea and the beautiful windwashed tree create an inner pull that makes me yearn to be standing at this spot once again, on the outermost edge where California meets the vast Pacific–a stepping off point from land to sea. There are few places that hold such beauty as the wild Pacific coast. The second meaning of the title relates more to me as a photographer. This image, no matter how pleasing, doesn’t begin to truly capture the scene as I recall it–it’s a mere snippet of the view I experienced. Perhaps the ocean will always be a challenge… its vastness, its smell, the roar, the feeling of moist, blustery sea spray… How can one photograph capture all that? Perhaps it can’t, and yet, as any photographer can attest, we continue to push the limits of our technology to bring a little piece of such landscapes home with us. And so, the Pacific Coast beckons me as a photographer to return, to try again, to stay longer and to try harder to illustrate this immense beauty in my own art.

Sittin’ on the dock of the Bay…

Tourists may come and go here at San Francisco’s Pier 39, but to the area’s indigenous residents, it’s just another day on the Bay. I caught this guy eyeing the nearby minnows during a mid-day visit to the popular pier last summer. I particularly liked capturing the geometric patterns of the boardwalks, as they jutted in and out of the frame. More images from this fabulously rich area to come, as I am months behind on working on my San Francisco portfolio! So many photos, so little time! Hope you enjoy…