B&W and COLORIZED
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I stayed in my RV near this desert view many times. I always kept one eye to the sky. As a photographer, I'd watch for some unique lighting conditions, cloud formations, the sun rise, and sunsets. When I saw this storm brewing, I headed out onto the desert floor. The sun was setting, that's why you see the brightly lit clouds on the mountain tops. The sun was hitting the mountains (notice the shadows) and there was enough light to create some shadows in the foreground. That said, I love the combination and contrast in this black and white photograph.
Clear skies are not what a photographer wants, including me. A beautiful sky (along with lighting), can make or break a photograph, that's why you'll see me out on the desert when most people are at home enjoying their morning coffee or having dinner. When there is a storm brewing my eyes are focused on the sky and if I feel it's warranted, I'll make my way to a previously found composition (which was the case here). Finding a composition in the desert can be very difficult, and at times downright frustrating! I can walk miles just to find one, or none. "Why?", because the perfect composition is usually ruined by the surrounding vegetation, especially by the fuzzy trees (as I call them). In this photography however, they add to the composition by separating the foreground from the background. This photo was taken during one of Arizona's famous sunsets; which illuminated the desert floor with a vivid glow and gave the storm clouds these beautiful colors. This moment lasted seconds, so my efforts of pre-planning paid off. :-)
"Brown's Ranch Desert View" BW
Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the rewards often yield the best photographs. It never does however seem like a chore when I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it’s then that I’m in my “happy place”! What could possibly be more fun than searching for spectacular locations and then later have a prize photograph. That said however, weather does play a big roll, and even with all the efforts I’ve made, sometimes sudden weather changes have worked against my plans or rewarded me well. This photograph has such a story. I found this location on a previous morning bike ride, and I made a mental note to return. What I loved about this particular location was the combination of darks and lights (the shadows and highlights), often referred to as the darkest darks and the brightest whites, which are complimentary in any photograph or painting. We planned the night before to be on the bike path before sunrise and then cycle out to this location. Our goal was to be there for golden hour, when the early morning rays of sun make the desert cacti come alive. That said however, the weather didn’t cooperate and even though it was an overcast day the sun did poke through occasionally; just enough to get this shot.
I am at the Grand Canyon! I had the pleasure of visiting the canyon last winter too however I lost all (yes ALL), of my photos when my hard-drive crashed; a valuable lesson... use more than one hard drive! Now that the days are getting shorter and the cold weather is keeping you inside, I'll post photos more often and "report in", for those whom are following my travels :-) I often come across a scene that just takes my breath away, and I ask myself "Does anyone else see what I see?". I guess that's why I enjoy sharing my photos with you so much, in hopes that they'll take your breath away too. I cycled the south rim and got a few fantastic shots, what fun! I had such a grand time at the Grand Canyon. that I named this photo "A Grand Life".
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
I arrived at Brown's Ranch (McDowell Sonoran Preserve) trailhead well before sunrise and walked straight to this previously sought after location; east of the parking lot.
Lately, I’ve been taking a lot more notice of some interesting cloud formations and unique lighting conditions. I’ve also taken more note of why and how they (can) add to an overall photograph. Take the clouds in this photo as an example. While camping in the desert I looked outside every morning in hopes that the rising sun would be casting on some unique cloud formations, and on this particular morning my hopes came to fruition. Knowing that these conditions are generally short lived, I quickly gathered up my camera gear and headed out. I chose to walk down this meandering country road when at a turn in the road, I noticed a cloud appeared to be resting on the top of this mountain. A short distance later I came across this composition and thought, “perfect”. What I love about this photo is it’s strong sense of flow; how the lane leads your eye into the scene, down the lane and then up into mountains and clouds. The flow makes me want wander and explore. I also like the overall contrast in this photo, particularly the darkness on either side of the lane. *notice a bird sitting on the top of the distant saguaro tree on the right.
While on our way to visit Wickenburg, we decided look for some photographic opportunities and potential boondocking (dry-camping) sites in the Lake Pleasant area, north-west of Phoenix. Just a short distant from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, the world changes; as we noticed as we drove down a dusty gravel road, through small mountainous valleys and rocky gorges. The area was (quite notably), densely covered with saguaro trees. When this lake (Lake Pleasant) came into view, I noted how intriguing it was to see both saguaro trees and a lake in one “frame”. Driving further north I noticed the sun’s reflection in the lake and stopped to take a photo. I carefully placed my feet as I made my way down the prickly pear embankment and framed this shot when suddenly a truck barreled past. Seeing the dust, my first instinct was to run back into truck however I knew I wouldn’t make it there in time so I ate the dust, lol! To my surprise however the dust lofted down into my frame! Although my camera (and myself) got sugar coated with dust, I was elated to get this shot! I absolutely love the softness and muted colors of this photo and how the dust (which looks like fog) adds to the interesting combination of sun, lake reflections and sky.
We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!
I am at the Grand Canyon! I had the pleasure of visiting the canyon last winter too however I lost all (yes ALL), of my photos when my hard-drive crashed; a valuable lesson... use more than one hard drive! Now that the days are getting shorter and the cold weather is keeping you inside, I'll post photos more often and "report in", for those whom are following my travels :-) I often come across a scene that just takes my breath away, and I ask myself "Does anyone else see what I see?". I guess that's why I enjoy sharing my photos with you so much, in hopes that they'll take your breath away too. I cycled the south rim and got a few fantastic shots, what fun! I had such a grand time at the Grand Canyon. that I named this photo "A Grand Life".
"Brown's Ranch Desert View" BW 1x1
Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the rewards often yield the best photographs. It never does however seem like a chore when I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it’s then that I’m in my “happy place”! What could possibly be more fun than searching for spectacular locations and then later have a prize photograph. That said however, weather does play a big roll, and even with all the efforts I’ve made, sometimes sudden weather changes have worked against my plans or rewarded me well. This photograph has such a story. I found this location on a previous morning bike ride, and I made a mental note to return. What I loved about this particular location was the combination of darks and lights (the shadows and highlights), often referred to as the darkest darks and the brightest whites, which are complimentary in any photograph or painting. We planned the night before to be on the bike path before sunrise and then cycle out to this location. Our goal was to be there for golden hour, when the early morning rays of sun make the desert cacti come alive. That said however, the weather didn’t cooperate and even though it was an overcast day the sun did poke through occasionally; just enough to get this shot.
I stayed in my RV near this desert view many times. I always kept one eye to the sky. As a photographer, I'd watch for some unique lighting conditions, cloud formations, the sun rise, and sunsets. When I saw this storm brewing, I headed out onto the desert floor. The sun was setting, that's why you see the brightly lit clouds on the mountain tops. The sun was hitting the mountains (notice the shadows) and there was enough light to create some shadows in the foreground. That said, I love the combination and contrast in this black and white photograph.
This photograph of Cathedral Rock took some planning. A couple years back, we drove along the base of Cathedral Rock, in search of the perfect spot to photograph this regal mountain. When we arrived, I knew with the setting sun, that the mountain's vibrancy and clarity would only last minutes. I scurried up a gravel covered hillside to my pre-planned vantage point. I didn’t look back; I had one thing in mind; get I high as I could, as quickly as you I could! Cathedral Rock is just one of the many sandstone buttes that surround the city of Sedona, Arizona. The towering Red Rock Mountains of Sedona are world famous and attracts over 3 million visitors every year. Cathedral Rock is one of the most-photographed landmarks in Sedona, and of Arizona too. Typically, those who fly into Phoenix, with plans to visit The Grand Canyon, will take the short detour into Sedona. The south rim of the Grand Canyon is 2 hours north of Sedona.
"The Mighty Grand Canyon" BW 1x1
The Grand Canyon is most definitely "Mighty" and it's likely one of the most photographed (and sought after) locations in the world. This photo was taken at the "Desert View Watchtower" (located at the eastern entrance to the canyon) were we spent 4 hours (taking photos) as we waited for the golden hour (sunset). We knew that the warm casting light from the sunset would make the canyon colors come alive, and it did! I love the photographic elements in this photograph. That said, I must give thanks to the many professional artists whom have all openly shared their artistic principles with me; including flow, composition and contrast. All of which, I applied to this photograph.
This photo is part of the Desert View Watchtower, at the East Entrance to the Grand Canyon. With the semi opaque canyon in the back ground, the main focus hear is most certainly the structure itself. That said, notice the many lines that lead your eyes to the door; don't you just want to know what's behind that closed door(?)! Considering the physical location of the door, I rightfully name it, “The Grand Door". Perhaps a door that leads to a vast number of opportunities and change. :-)
"Granite Mountain" Scottsdale, AZ Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the reward can often yield some fantastic memories and photographs. That said, scoping out a location is never a chore, it’s a sincere joy! This photograph was taken on the Granite Mountain Loop Trail (north-east Scottsdale, on the Senoran Preserve). As we approached the park's entry gate we heard a beeping noise and discovered that the gate's automatic opener was malfunctioning. As we waited (along with other guests) for the gait to correct itself my partner graciously volunteered to wait and stay with his vehicle so I could cycle off. I had noticed this hillside scene on a previous ride but now (with the early morning sun and the passing storm clouds), it was even more stunning! The color version of this photograph is also a winner however I love how the de-saturated colors created a more powerful and demanding scene. When I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it is truly my “happy place”. That said, what could possibly be more enjoyable then traveling and discovering such spectacular places like this!
Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the reward can yield the best memories and photographs. Scoping out a location is never a chore, it’s a joy! When I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography); it truly is my “happy place”. What could possibly be more enjoyable than traveling and discovering spectacular locations. I feel blessed. When cycling, on this early morning at Brown’s Ranch (north-east Scottsdale), I noticed how this dark hillside made the foreground saguaro trees stand out and this particular tree was stunning. Saguaro trees come in many shapes and sizes; some have no arms (they don’t grow an arm until they’re approximately 60 years old), while others have so many arms that I wonder how it can possibly stand upright! If you need a dose of humor in your day just look at the saguaro trees as humans, and you’ll notice that some configurations are incredibly hilarious! I viewed this saguaro tree however was model material (so perfectly formed). The color version of this photograph is also a winner however I love how the de-saturated colors created a more powerful and demanding scene. I named this photo “On Stage” because it has all the necessities of a desert “stage” (a perfectly formed saguaro tree, a dark background and the sun’s rays of light).
