Banff Morning - Banff Townsite, Banff National Park, Alberta

For those of you who follow my blog or any of my social media postings, you can't have helped but notice that one of my favorite places on Earth is Banff National Park. Ever since I first visited the area, I have been entranced with it. My first visit to this paradise was in the mid-1990s, when photography was far from my mind. Shooting with my point and shoot film camera became such a frustration for me that, when I got home, I immediately ordered a SLR camera and lenses. That first visit was a rebirth of my love for photography.

I recently came across this photo from my second visit in 2006, when I got up early one morning while my family was still sleeping (this was a vacation, not a photo tour). Walking around the town of Banff proved that you didn't have to wander very far to get some good shots of the beautiful Canadian Rockies.

Lobster Lane - Owls Head Lobster Company, Owls Head, Maine

Today is officially the first day of Jeff Clow's Maine Photo Tour. The official name of the tour includes the name lobster (or lobstah in Maine talk) because, if you are visiting Maine, there is a proliferation of lobster shacks, restaurants, traps, buoys and boats. In fact, you can usually find a myriad of lobster-related merchandise that boggles the mind. I thought it appropriate that I post this photo of Lobster Lane from the pre-scouting trip that Jeff, Jaki Goode Miller and I were on back in April. 

Approaching Ophir Pass - Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado

Fall is my favorite season of the year and I can't wait until the foliage comes to my home state of Connecticut. I think it will be late coming to CT this year, but I am hoping to see some great colors this week in Maine while co-hosting my buddy Jeff Clow's Maine Lighthouse Tour. The reds, oranges and yellows of the New England foliage season give the landscape such a vibrant look.

Until then, I am posting this shot of the foliage season in Colorado that I took last year. While not as varied in color as New England's, the Colorado landscapes more than make up for it with it's wonderful mountains as a backdrop. Here we are approaching Ophir Pass, about to cross over the San Juan Mountains to get to the famed Million Dollar Highway. What an epic drive with drivers extraordinaire Rick Louie and Chris Nitz navigating this treacherous road.

First Light - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Blacktail Ponds Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

One of the best things about Grand Teton National Park are the many turnouts and overlooks that have been built along the park's two main roads, US Route 89 and Teton Park Road. These stops on the road provide many beautiful views of the massive Teton Range, which are part of the larger Rocky Mountain Range. I have a particular affinity for the Blacktail Ponds Overlook. 

Being a sunrise location, you really need to get there early enough to get the morning light as it begins to light up the peaks and work its way down the mountains. One of the challenges when shooting at this time of day here is the high dynamic range of the scene that is often difficult for cameras to capture. Trying to blend the very bright mountains and the very dark foreground takes a bit of thought and practice. There is a fine line in balancing the image by bringing out details in the shadows while reducing the highlights to bring out the of the mountains. 

Pink House - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

John Moulton Homestead, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

There is a section of Grand Teton National Park that is known as Mormon Row. This area of the park got its name from a group of Mormon settlers that settled into the area from Idaho in the 1890's. Today, only a few buildings from the settlement are left, including two of the most photographed barns in the world built by the Moulton brothers (Thomas and John). 

After shooting the more famous of the barns (the Thomas A. Moulton barn), we headed to the John Moulton homestead to shoot some of the buildings there. This stucco house is known as the "Pink House" for its pink color. It was built by John Moulton 30 years after he settled there, replacing the original log cabin that originally housed his family.

Teton Reflections - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Cathloic Bay, Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Before I talk about this photo, I'll try to get something out of the way. Every time I post a shot from this spot and name it Catholic Bay or Chapel Bay, I invariably have someone tell me that, whatever name I assign to it, the other one is the right one. I don't know which one is right, although the NPS website does mention a Catholic Bay and does not contain any mention of Chapel Bay. Suffice to say that it is a section of Jackson Lake, and that, whatever you call it, it is simply beautiful.

This spot is one of the easier places to find, but the hard thing about shooting it is whether the mountains are socked in with clouds or clear, or whether the lake's surface is smooth or rough. As you can see, I had the best conditions possible, with the exception of not having a few cumulous clouds in the sky. It is these times that all you have to do is kickback, relax and enjoy the beauty of the landscape. 

Teton Worship - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Chapel of the Transfiguration, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

When one thinks of our national parks, the last thing that they think of are places of worship. If you think about it, what better places to build them than in front of the Earth's most beautiful sites?  There are two that are in Grand Teton National Park, and this one, the Chapel of the Transfiguration, has the best view of the Tetons. Built in 1925 before the establishment of the national park, this Episcopalian chapel has a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks from both inside and outside the chapel.  It was originally built to serve the many dude ranches that were located in the area. 

I shot this one evening when the soft light was on full display. This is probably a much better sunrise location, but with the many other stellar sunrise locations, it didn't make my early morning cut. If I were able to spend a longer visit to the park, it would make my sunrise list of locations to shoot.

Finally - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Lower Schwabacher's Landing, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Just about caught up with this year's photo trips and selecting photos to edit. I have spent the most time this year in Grand Teton National Park, and so this week's blog posts will focus on this beautiful place.

You might question my title for today's photo. Schwabacher's Landing is one of the iconic places to shoot in the park. I have visited this location numerous times in the park and have been totally shut out. On four of my visits, the mountains were socked in. On two other visits, the National Park Service, in its infinite wisdom, closed down the access road and I was unable to get there. So on this past visit with my buddy Jeff Clow, all I wanted was to get a decent shot of the Tetons from this spot. Jeff delivered big time (okay, Mother Nature also played a big part) and I was able to snag this shot on a beautiful morning. Normally, I might have wished for some nice cumulous clouds, but beggars can't be choosers. This location is often referred to as Schwabacher's Landing, but, in actuality, it is Lower Schwabacher's Landing, More on the lesser known Upper Schwabacher's Landing later this week.

Red Hills Ranch - Kelly, Wyoming

The Red Hills are located just east of Grand Teton National Park and are rarely visited by tourists. The main attraction of this area are the hills, which have a beautiful red color that I believe are caused by mineral deposits. It is an area that I have photographed a number of times. You might ask where they are in this photo, and my answer is that they are not, but rather to my back. On my visits here before I have tried and failed to get a shot looking west toward the Tetons, because, prior to this visit, the haze has always negatively impacted the scene. This time, the haze was almost non-existent, and I was able to get a decent shot. I composed this using both the split rail fence of Red Hills Ranch and the dirt road as leading lines to the top of the Tetons.

Roof Shadows - The Palouse, Washington

There are times as a landscape photographer that I shoot way too wide and sometimes miss an important feature of a scene. Sure, the scene is usually in a wide-angle photo, but so are a lot of other details that confuse the viewer's eyes and they miss the important part. That is why I find myself trying very different compositions of the same scene, trying to capture the "right" one. Why not just shoot the "right" one in the beginning? My answer is that you don't always know which composition is the one until you get home and edit the image. All you know is that something in the scene caught your eye and compelled you to want to take the photo. 

For this photo, I took probably 25 shots of this abandoned farmhouse in the Palouse. I took wide shots, tight shots and photos from all different angles and heights. It wasn't until I reviewed the images that I discovered what attracted my eye in the first place. It was the shadows of the roof line and how the sunlight came through the openings in the roof that drew my eye to see inside that window. Had I not varied my shooting, I might never have found what inspired me. My advice is to mimic this behavior and you might realize what drove you to take a photo. After all, shooting digital doesn't cost anything but time. 

 

Road to the Tetons - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

What can you say about the Grand Tetons that somebody hasn't said already?  I am usually at a loss when trying to describe their beauty to someone who has never been there. These craggy mountains dominate the landscape and look different from almost every angle. I have visited these majestic peaks many times before, usually in the summer months. I visited the Tetons this past May and I saw them in a different light. As you can see in this photo, they were almost fully covered in snow. I had never seen them this way, and I think that they are even more beautiful with the snow covering. For this composition, I wanted to compose this photo in a way that would make the viewer feel like they were standing next to me  when I took it. I thought that using the dirt road as a leading line and shooting a bit wide would accomplish the goal. After I processed the image, it didn't feel as rustic as I wanted it to, so I converted it to black and white. Hopefully, I succeeded in creating the right mood.  

 

Buffalo Fork Cottonwoods - Teton Wilderness, Wyoming

One of the best things about taking a tour with my great friend Jeff Clow is that he always finds a new location that will surprise you. I have been on three photo tours with Jeff in Wyoming, and, on my last one, he sprung this great landscape on me. Just outside of Grand Teton National Park in the Teton Wilderness, the Buffalo Fork River (a tributary of the famed Snake River) meanders through the cottonwoods. While this scene must be beautiful all year round, it is even more so when the foliage begins to peak and the cottonwoods turn a brilliant shade of gold. 

Standing on a promenade looking down on this scene, this shows the main reason that autumn is by far my favorite season to photograph landscapes. You can argue forever which area of the country has the best colors during peak foliage season. In my opinion, the only right answer to that argument is wherever you happen to be when you see the change of seasons.

Desert Wonder - Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Utah

There are scenes of the American Southwest that evoke great emotion and memories of the old time westerns. I am sure that the scenes that brings out those feelings are different for each of us. For me, the quintessential scene is one from Dead Horse State Park. This small park is nestled next to Canyonlands National Park, which has a great variety of different landscapes. This little park is more of a one-hit wonder, but what a great hit it is. In my opinion, this one scene is better than any one scene that can be found in Canyonlands.

Just looking at the erosion that the mighty Colorado River has created kind of boggles the mind. Standing about two thousand feet above and looking down on this natural gooseneck in the sunrise light brings chills. Add to that the legend of how this place got its name (wild mustangs were trapped there without water and passed away) just takes you back to the 1800's when settlers headed west.

Whatever comes to mind when you first see these iconic scenes of the west, I am sure that it will stir your mind to a time long ago.

Patiently Waiting - Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado

I have posted photos of Maroon Bells before and described the unbelievably crowded lake shore that teemed with photographers. Tripod legs interlocking, it was hard to get different composition. It was the peak of foliage season and I thought I would change it up by posting an image of the scene without the mountain reflections. I also changed it up by taking the great color of the foliage out with a black and white rendition. I wasn't sure I would like it this way, but the variations of the tones appeal to me. 

Welcoming Committee - Green Hollow Road, Colfax, Washington

There are moments that just happen that bring a smile to your face. Our group was driving through the Palouse headed toward one of the many landscapes with rolling farmlands. As we made a turn, someone spotted this barn and horses down a side road. We turned around and parked quite near the horses. It was real early in the morning when we parked near the horses, and we weren't sure if it was private property or not. We kept as quiet as we could be, and walked up to the fence around the barn. These horses must have been used to people stopping, as they were the friendliest horses to be around. Quite the welcoming committee.

Yavapai Point View - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

To say the Grand Canyon is immense would be a huge understatement. With an area that encompasses over 1.2 million acres, a length of 277 miles and about a mile deep, it is impossible to capture its magnificence in a single photograph. When you do try to photograph it, you must pick small microcosms of the landscape and have the best light possible. That is why photographing it in the early morning and at sunset is a must to get a decent shot. Photographing the canyon during the rest of the day only results in terrible haze (at least that has been my experience). With that in mind, I camped out at Tavapai Point during the last hour of sun and tried to get the light on the point and the background as clear as possible to show the crevices and shadows. 

Waiting for a Train - Glacier National Park, Montana

After a morning shooting in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park, we drove and parked in a rest area. There was a short trail that meandered parallel to this valley. It was drizzling a bit, but I had the cover of over-hanging trees. As I looked at the opposite side, I noticed these train tracks in the dense forest. I stood there for about ten minutes hoping to see a train cross them. Alas, it was not to be, but I still thought the scene was worth capturing.

Nubble from the Rocks - Nubble Light, York, Maine

Sometimes when you shoot a familiar subject, especially one you love, it is hard to come up with a different look. I have visited this island lighthouse a hundred yards off of the Maine coast several times and have photographed it from every angle. I have shot it from the south, straight on, from the north and even taken a boat to get its back side. You might ask yourself, then why does he keep visiting it? The answer is quite simple. It is the conditions that you encounter that makes each shot different. Whether it is great clouds, fog, evening light or early morning light, each of these help create the mood of the shot. At the end of the day, you can probably find tens of thousands photos of this lighthouse. The ones that stand out are the one that recreate a mood and feel that tell a story.

Teton Morning - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Blacktail Ponds Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Wildflowers and mountains during the early morning light, what could be better? This scene makes getting up at 4am on a June morning well worth the lack of sleep. Of course, there is no guarantee that the weather forecasts will be correct, and it usually takes until we get on the road that we get a sense of whether or not we will get a magical sunrise. On this morning, we stopped at the Blacktail Ponds Overlook and weren't sure whether we would get any decent clouds. We ultimately didn't get them, but beautiful light on the Tetons along with the wildflowers in the foreground made up for it. I chose to take a few shots in the portrait orientation and I really like the depth that I got. I always try to make sure I get a couple of shots that way. While they don't always come out to my liking, when they do, it jumps right out at you.

Overgrown - Steptoe Butte Foothills, Colfax, Washington

There are lots of deserted farmhouses, barns and equipment that dot the broad landscape that is the Palouse. Some of them are famous stops that numerous photographers have found and given names. Others are not as widely known (as least to me) that you stumble on and you fall in love with. That is why it pays to take a photo tour or photo workshop to take advantage of the local knowledge. This abandoned barn was located somewhere in the foothills of Steptoe Butte. It was a bit of a dreary day, but the orange equipment in the tall green grass seemed to be a great subject. Working with my friend and workshop leader extraordinaire, Denise Ippolito, we worked this scene from all angles. This composition was my favorite.