Dripping Springs Fence- I was hiking out after taking the waterfall pics. I've always wanted to take a photo of this barbed wire hanging on this fence, but the light was never right. When I turned to see the clouds and saw the light coming through them on the mountain, I knew this was my chance.
The Colors Of The Summer Desert- I have never posted this photo. It was from last summer and the sd card was forgotten, hidden away in a drawer. I found it while looking for an sd card for a game camera. I suddenly remembered it and was pretty excited to put it in and see the images pop up. I'd forgotten how beautiful last summer was from all of the rain. I have lived here my whole life and can't remember a summer like last summer. I shot this scene numerous times and on this particular evening, it seems everything came together.
Abiquiu Morning- I took this image on a beautiful morning back in September. It was the morning before a workshop I was leading. My wife still warm in bed back at the Abiquiu Inn. I was alone up on this mesa. The New Mexico sunrise, so vivid, so spectacular, allowing me to take in all of its colors and splendor. I was extremely thankful.
Morning Celebration- The day I arrived in Hawaii, I got a phone call while I was sitting on the beach. It was a call from a good friend. A friend that I had recently reconnected with. We had lost touch over the years as it sometimes happens. Life gets in the way. Back in the day, we went on many trips together. We backpacked, we mountain biked, we snow boarded, we hung out. He even lived with me for a few months while he was waiting for his first job to start, right out of college. Shane's wedding to Lori was one of the best weddings I'd ever been to. It was high in the mountains of Taos. Nothing pretentious, just good friends and so much laughter. Being separated by the miles, we lost touch. Shane and Lori had two children. Unfortunately I just learned a year ago that one of their boys, Austin, had died of cancer at the young age of 20. I was heartbroken. Shane told me about Austin. What a free spirit he was. He was kind, giving, and wise way beyond his years. While I was sitting on that beach talking on the phone with my friend Shane, I told him I was in Maui. He mentioned to me that Maui was one of Austin's favorite places. There was a beach there that Austin loved named Honolua Bay and he loved to surf there. He also loved the forest that was right off the bay and felt at peace there. A good friend had scattered part of Austin's ashes in the bay. After the phone conversation with Shane I decided I would drive the hour to Honolua Bay and photograph it at sunrise. On the morning I arrived, it was cloudy and there wasn't any light to speak of. I set my tripod and camera up along the beach. It was a nice scene, but still the light wasn't the best. I was disappointed. I needed good light. I wanted to send a good photograph to Shane and Lori. A photograph of Austin's paradise. I packed my gear and was going to head back into the forest to try to capture something there when I noticed a rainbow starting to form. The sun was breaking through the clouds and there were surfers enjoying what Austin loved to do in the bay. I put on a telephoto lens and began shooting. This was not my typical landscape scene, but I sure was enjoying the light and the magic of a person actually being able to stand on a board on top of a wave. When the rainbow was the most intense and the surfer was having the ride of their life, that's when it happened, The Whale Breached! To leap in the air, to ride a wave. So free, so at peace, you can feel every color in the rainbow. So in tune, so at one, you glide through the cerulean water that is so clear, as clear to me as Austin's spirit being present here. I couldn't help it. I cried. I never knew Austin, but now, I know him well.
Determination - Gila Wilderness- This is the same tree as my last post, only looking at it from the other side. We all love old trees. The metaphors they can bring out; all the stories they could tell. They take on a human form so much of the time, we can see ourselves in those trees. Since tomorrow is Father's Day, I want to dedicate this photograph to my father. Like the tree, he is getting up there in years and I still hold him in the highest regard. Like the tree, he is strong, complex, and has given so much to others. Like the tree, he has always been a beautiful soul. Happy Father's Day Dad.
The Juniper's Domain- Last week, Kiki and I went up to Abiquiu to scout for an upcoming workshop in Abiquiu, New Mexico. This is one of the many locations we'll photograph during the workshop.
Reflection Of The Past- Located in the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, in the incredible Las Uvas Mountains. These Apache petroglyphs are just a few of the amazing antiquities that deserve protection. I met with Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Interior, for about an hour, along with six other Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks members, including Margaret Berrier, to try and convince him of how important it is to keep the current Monument status in tact. Not only to preserve these valuable treasures, but how important it is for our local economy. Dona Ana County is overwhelmingly in favor of this. Since the Monument status, tourist dollars have grown substantially, along with professional jobs moving into our community because of the beauty that surrounds us. And yes, this is documented and proven to be true. Let us hope that they listen to the majority.
The Bowl Of Eternity- This homestead was built around 1880, located on a long forgotten road between Lincoln and White Oaks NM, near Fetter's Springs. I have been wanting to photograph this scene since I first laid eyes upon it eight months ago. I always envisioned a horizontal photograph at sunset. Every time I would go there to photograph, the wind has been blowing over 30 mph. This time was no different. I was just complaining to a friend about how bad the wind has been lately, and he said "it seems once the sun goes down, the wind stops". I decided to hang out and sure enough, the wind stopped completely. I used an app on my phone to see where the Milky Way was going to be, and I couldn't believe how well it lined up. The problem was, I was going to have to wait until 1:30 a.m. Such is my life, and a big thank you to my unbelievably patient wife who hung out with me for the 5 1/2 hour wait. I also want to thank the rancher who has given me the trust with his key to the gate, and allowed me to enter his land whenever I wish. He also is allowing us to use his land for my upcoming workshops. The Bowl Of Eternity is what his family has named this incredibly beautiful area. He will be receiving a framed print of this.
Night Of The Blood Moon- Blood moons are special to me. This one though, was especially hard because the moon was going to be so high in the sky. I spent weeks contemplating, scouting, and searching for a location that would work. I found this cliff, high in the Organ Mountains, that fit the bill. Because the totality of the Blood Moon lasted for over an hour I was able to get two different photographs. I took another image besides this one, which is a panoramic photograph that I still have to stitch together. It will take hours and I don't have time to do it now, but at some point I'm looking forward to sharing that image as well. What an incredible night. About this photograph: I took it with a 14mm lens. I then took a separate image of just the moon at a higher focal length and blended that moon into the same location for authenticity.
Organ Mountain Mist- A most memorable photograph for me taken in February 2018 after an all night rain. The smell of the desert and the dimensions the fog and mist gave to the landscape added another facet to the desert that is unusual and mysteriously beautiful.
Poppies at Blue Hour- I took this image a little over two weeks ago. The poppies had begun to wane. Now they are all but gone. It was a wonderful year for these delicate yellow flowers. To photographers, Mexican poppies are like gold. It is understandable why we are so drawn to them. For future blooms, it is my hope that we will take better care not to destroy these fragile treasures in our quest to capture them. A poppy must live out its life cycle to be able to reproduce and germinate. When they are stepped on, laid on, run through, or taken, they won't reproduce. When it seems there are literally millions of them, one says to themself, "what will it hurt?". When you multiply that by ten, or in some instances, hundreds of people, it can be devastating. I will step off of my soapbox now and ask if you are a photographer, to look into joining Nature First Photography. #naturefirst_org
Sunday Morning Coming Down- I had planned on taking this image about ten to fifteen minutes before I actually pressed the shutter. I was having a difficult time getting my lights set up correctly. I knew the morning sun was coming. Once astronomical twilight begins, the Milky Way begins to fade and you lose detail in the sky. I finally got the lights placed to my liking, and when I took the photograph, Astronomical Twilight had just begun. What I didn't expect was to get the warm glow from the rising sun in the sky. I certainly didn't expect this amazing meteor. I was able to bring out details in the Milky Way in post processing. What I thought to be a wasted Sunday morning in early February, turned out to be a productive photo shoot. Astronomical Twilight brought a beautiful blue sky. The star, Altair, is rising above the clouds in the left of the image. Venus and Jupiter are proudly shining around the Galactic Center of our Universe, and the warm orange glow of Antaries just made it into the upper right of the frame.
Wapiti Sunrise- My father and mother worked very hard all year to save enough money so we could vacation in the summer time in Colorado. As a child it was the highlight of my year. I’ll never forget the first time I was above timberline. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Nearly 50 years later I still feel the same. As I hiked with my dog to the top of this mountain all those memories came back to me. In the predawn I set up my equipment. I could hear elk below me and could tell it was a herd of cow elk and calves from the way they were talking to each other. It was still too dark to see them. (By the way, they are in this photograph and show up in the high resolution file). As the sun rose to light up my scene, I took the photograph. I then just sat there and took in the magnificence. My dog and I watched and listened to the elk as they slowly made their way to water. The temperature was in the low 40s and as the sun rose it gave me warmth and gave me hope. This is my Church, my spiritual place. I said a prayer and gave thanks, thanks to my mom and dad and thanks for letting me be part of the wild places.
Spring Symphony- With the stay at home order, I haven't been traveling, but I've been on a mission. The claret cup hedgehogs were in full bloom over the last couple of weeks. I spent nearly every night walking out my back door with my gear on my back in search of hedgehogs. The first week of this was very productive. I had nice skies, no winds, and I found some beautiful blooming cactus. The second week wasn't as productive. Harsh light, dust and high winds added a little frustration to my obsession. Now, onto this particular image. I have been trying to photograph this set of hedgehogs for the past couple of years. The first year, the bloom wasn't good. Last year, every time I tried to shoot it, the light didn't cooperate. This group of cactus seem to bloom later than others. Finally, I thought I might have one more chance. The sky was looking good and there was a storm coming in from the North. I set my camera up and waited. All the evenings spent out there, waiting for good light, I had always envisioned this image being a horizontal photo (landscape mode). But then the storm grew. It began to rain on the mountains. As the sun fell to the western horizon, it began to light up the mountain and a double rainbow appeared. The bright light was just a little harsh on the cactus. I just needed a small cloud to cover the sun for my foreground. As the rain began to fall and a very cooperative cloud covered the sun, I began shooting like a madman. The problem was, I wasn't capturing the rainbows because I was shooting horizontal. I focus stacked my foreground, then I began raising my camera. I would take a photograph, raise the camera again. It was hectic there for a moment, cleaning the front element of my lens between every photograph because of the rain. Once I captured the scene, I was able to stop and just enjoy the moment with my wife and dog. We stared at the wonderment in front of us. We stayed long after sunset, watching the light change. On the walk back home, I wondered if I had captured the scene the way I wanted. Once on the computer, I put the panorama together and smiled. All of those years of waiting was so worth it. What an incredible Earth Day celebration we had in our back yard. For the most part, the claret cup hedgehogs are spent. I will miss the splashes of red across the desert floor. I already miss them.
The Peace Tree
I Dream in Color- This wizened old juniper has seen so much in its lifetime. Located at the rim of a beautiful canyon, its view is unmatched. It has paid a price for being at the rim. Strong west winds, heavy snows, summer heat and drought has taken its toll. Like all of us, its environment has shaped it into what it is today.
Sleeping Poppies Under the Stars- When night falls, mexican poppies fold themselves inward. The light glow is from the city of El Paso.
Hedgehog At Sunset In Spring- There are a lot of blooming hedgehogs out there, but this one was special. The colors were brilliant. It even stayed open for me while the sun was setting.
Where I Go- Rock River, San Juan Mountains, Colorado- This is Where I Go, that place in my head, when I need peace. It seems I've lived a lifetime here. I go back every summer, only for a few days, but it's always on my mind. As a child I nearly lost my life here. I thought I would find a faster way down than the trail that led into this canyon. The shiny new graphite fly rod I worked so hard to purchase was broken. This happened when I decided to let go of it and grab the tree instead; the tree that kept me from sliding off the edge of the cliff to my death. It was a good lesson in life for me. There are no easy ways, no shortcuts in life. Do the right thing and follow the right path. I have caught thousands of fish in this river and it's tributaries. Only a few I have kept. The rest, I have held in my hand for a moment and then watched them disappear into the depths of these beautiful pools. I've spent unforgettable times with my Dad, countless friends, and my son Josh, fishing here. A little ways upstream, there is this beautiful crystal clear pool. Water runs off this slick rock into it and it is set into a deep canyon surrounded by aspen trees. This is the pool where I was baptized. It was where my son was baptized. Maybe my grandson will be baptized there as well. My first backpack trip was here, just my brother and a friend. I was thirteen. We didn't eat dinner that night because we ran out of matches, using them to burn ants. (We were boys). I've taken my family backpacking here as well. It's where my children learned about the wilderness, how to fish, the closeness of family, and about protecting the beauty that God has provided for us. I can't come here every day, but I do visit every day in my mind. This is Where I Go.
Blood Moon Over The Organ Mountains- A week before I shot this, my good friend and fellow photographer, Rory Hayostek and I researched all of the apps and hiked all over to find the exact location. Once found, we knew the moon would rise right where we wanted it to, so we both hiked in the day of the blood moon and set up all of our equipment and waited. The sky was extremely clear and beautiful. Everything went exactly as planned. The only thing I didn't count on, was the Milky Way conforming to the exact shape of the cave. Andromeda was even in the photo. Rory helped me light paint the cave. The only part of this photo that is a composite is the moon in the original shot is too small to see very well, so after I took this photograph, I immediately put my 70 to 200 mm on my camera body and shot the moon and set it in the exact same location, only a bit larger scale. Since the next time this will occur will be 33 years from now, I figured I better do my homework. You only have one chance to get it right. It sure was fun going to all the effort.
Lonely New Mexico Pine- Located in the high desert of New Mexico, El Malpais stretches out as far as the eye can see. This lonely pine ekes out an existence in the rocks and extreme conditions from cold, wind, and heat.
Sunset on Maui- I had never been to Hawaii. Kiki lived there as a child and spent time there with her sister after she graduated high school. Her sister has lived there for most of her life and is married to a native. They live in his grandmother's home on Maui near the beach. We stayed with them for a couple of weeks. Before we went, I purposely didn't look at any photographs. I did no research. I wanted my photographs to have my own take on the island. Besides, what better guide to have than my sister and brother in law. When they picked us up from the airport, it wasn't long until sunset. As we were driving to their home on the North Shore of Maui, this scene was unfolding through the view of the car window. I couldn't help myself. I asked if we could please pull over. I grabbed my gear and ran down to the beach and found this beautiful green and red moss for the foreground. This was my first of many photographs of this amazing place. For the next few weeks, follow along as I share the photographs of my explorations of the rain forest, the top of a volcano, and of course it's beautiful beaches, not only during the day, but at night as well. I also got to spend some time with my good friend, National Georgraphic Photographer, Dewitt Jones, at his home in Molokai. We had a wonderful time and I'm excited to share my images and time spent with him as well.
Night Rider- It started out a typical evening taking photographs with Rory at the base of the Organ Mountains. Hiking up the La Maria trail, we heard a noise coming at us. As the sound got closer, we stopped and shone our headlamps and couldn’t believe what we were seeing. This colorful skeleton was riding a bike and coming right at us. He came to a screeching halt at our feet. Rory screamed like a baby as I took control of the situation. I asked, “Who goes there?” The skeleton replied, “my friends call me Bones. I ride this trail nightly and I see you two up here often. I decided to make my presence known”. Rory was still unable to speak. I asked, “Would you mind if we took your photograph? It’s a perfect night, there’s a little bit of moon and the stars are beautiful”. He replied, “That’s why I’m here. I’ve seen your photographs and I want to be able to share this with my friends”. I finally calmed Rory down enough to the point where he could get his camera out of the bag and onto his tripod. Rory took his photograph first and then I took this quick photo of our new friend. He seemed like a pretty good rider, so I had to ask, “What’s up with the training wheels”? He replied that he no longer had equilibrium so it helped keep him upright. Rory finally got the nerve to talk and told him, “You know, you really shouldn’t be riding without a helmet and eye protection”. He tilted his head and gave Rory a very sarcastic reply, “Really?” With a quick pedal stroke, he disappeared down the trail into the night...