Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Pacific Ocean. Located just south of Yachats, it is a beautiful sight sitting high above the ocean. It's light can be seen almost 21 miles from the coast. Photographing the light is usually from three vantage points. The first is driving up from the south along the coastal highway. There you are shooting across the cove at approximately the same level as the light. The second (this one) is from a cove near the mouth of Cape Creek. As you stand on the beach, you get a sense of how high it sits - about 205 feet above you. The last is right up next to the light just past the old light keeper's house (now a B&B). Bring a wide-angle lens for that shot as there is very little room. Regardless of where you shoot it from (I shot all three), it is a beautiful place.
Canada Place - Vancouver, British Columbia
On our Alaskan cruise a few years ago, we spent some time exploring Denali and taking the a full-day train ride to our cruise ship in Whittier. It was an awesome experience, but all good things come to an end. On our last morning at sea, we pulled into Vancouver Harbor to dock and disembark at Canada Place. It is one of the main sailing ports, where a steady stream of cruise ships can be seen coming and going. Canada Place, with its iconic white sails, is located in the heart of Vancouver's downtown harbor front. The only thing that made the end of the cruise palatable was that we were staying for three days in Vancouver, which is a fantastic place to visit. I shot this photo as we approached the end of our cruise.
Florida Dreaming - Captiva, Florida
Headed to Florida to escape the New England winter. I never thought that I would be one to escape to Florida so often, but the older I get, the less the snow, sleet and cold appeals to me. This will be a relatively short visit, but welcome nonetheless. We are staying mostly on the east coast, north of West Palm Beach. I haven't spent much time in this area but hope to explore. I am hoping to find great weather and scenes like this one from last year's excursion to Florida. If anyone has any great locations to shoot, let me know.
Rainbow Bridge - Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Arizona
Another post on how certain land formations got their name. The Navajo Indians thought that rainbows were the guardians of the universe and they held this rock formation to be sacred because of it. Prior to the creation of Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge was one of the most remote destinations to visit. Even now, there are two ways to reach it - a two-hour boat ride from Page or a 14-mile hike through Navajo land (a permit is required).
The bridge itself is made of sandstone and is thought to be the world's highest natural bridge. It was formed over thousands of years when the area was alternately a sea and desert. This produced layers of sandstone with different levels of hardness and compressed them so tightly as to withstand time.
Big Sur Beauty - California 1, Monterey, California
When I was in the business world, I was able to travel a bit out to California on business trips. Whenever I was scheduled to go to San Francisco or Los Angeles, I would travel early to the other city on the weekend and then drive up (or down) California Highway 1. I probably have done this two-day drive about 10 times and I couldn't get enough of it. Most of the route north of Santa Barbara is along the coast (Highway 1 is also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) and there are spectacular sights to see. My favorite section of the drive is Big Sur, just south of Monterey. As you can see by this photo, the beauty and ruggedness of the coast is on display. I think this photo was taken just south of the Bixby Bridge.
Steeples - Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany
One of the advantages of taking a river cruise is that you get to stop in the middle of cities and be close to everything. Most ocean cruises dock outside of a city (usually in a not so pretty place) and bus or tender you in. When we stopped in Cologne, we were within walking distance of all of the sights. One of the tours that we did was to visit the beautiful Cologne Cathedral, a few mere blocks from the boat. We ate lunch at a great beer house and then explored more points of interest. Our wandering was cut short because of rain, so we headed back to the boat. I had planned to go back out into the city after dinner, but it was still raining on and off. I decided to go to the upper deck of the boat with my tripod and hoped that the movement of the boat would not hamper some long exposure night shots. They didn't. This is a photo of the steeples of the Cathedral that night.
Mediterranean Dreaming - Fira, Santorini, Greece
Doing a little dreaming of places that are warm during the winter doldrums of New England. During the winter, I tend to look back on some of the trips that I have been on and select ones to edit that remind me that spring and summer are not that far away. Came upon this view that I took from the town of Fira on Santorini, and it immediately took me to warmer times.
Santorini is perhaps the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. Photographers love it there for the sunsets and the blue domed churches. Most of the blue domed churches are in the town of Oia on the other side of the island. After shooting them, we headed to the town of Fira and I was able to capture this view.
Vancouver Color - Vancouver, British Columbia
I recently noticed that I have been a little remiss in posting photos of cities. My love for nature and landscapes often takes over my posts. I also love taking photos of architecture, particularly of large cities. So today I am taking you to the city of Vancouver. We had just completed an Alaskan cruise and spent a few days in Vancouver. On our last night before heading home, we wandered the streets and experienced one of those magical times that photographers dream of: perfect golden hour light. This light lit up the building in a warm soft light that accentuated the colors of everything around us. Being a lover of reflections, I shot quite a number of photos that put the neighboring buildings on display.
Peeking Through the Keyhole - Navajo Nation
I have been posting a few photos from the American Southwest recently, probably due to the fact that I will be visiting there in early March. No trip to Utah is complete without stopping by Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border. Located in the northwestern portion of Navajo Nation, it is a place of great landscapes that have appeared in countless westerns and commercials. It has even been featured in a Metallica music video. The official name of the park is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which is the equivalent of an American National Park.
There are many rock formations that, over the years, have been given names either by the Navajo or early settlers to the area. Many of the rock formations can be seen from the 17-mile dirt road that visitors to the park can drive for a daily fee. To get off of the road and see some of the lesser-known formations, the hiring of a Navajo guide is necessary. The arch in this photo is one of those off-road formations. I have been told it is known as Keyhole Arch, but have also heard it called Pottery Arch. Regardless of its name, the view through the center of it is pretty cool.
Double Arch View - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah
In about six weeks or so, I will be standing in this spot looking at one of the coolest landscapes in the southwest, namely Arches National Park. I never tire of the Moab area, having visited it more times than any other location in the west. The arches and rock formations of this great park are a magnet for me. Of all of the arches in the park that I have visited (there are around 4,000 of them, and, no, I have only seen a small fraction of them), Double Arch is my favorite. I love looking at this unique formation and wonder how the arches were formed in the sandstone. So, you must be asking yourself where the arches are in this photo. The answer is nowhere. When you climb up under the arches and look toward the parking lot, this is the view you see. It stands on its own, and I felt it deserved its own photo without its namesake arches.
Cape Perpetua View - Yachats, Oregon
Last week I posted a photo from Gold Beach, which I picked as my favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. It got me thinking about whether it really is my favorite (it is), so I started to review some of my unedited photos of the coast and decided that there are quite a number of close seconds. This is one of those locations, high up looking south over the coast. I am not sure where I took this photo, but it might have been from the Cape Perpetua Visitors center or perhaps just from the road. Regardless, it is a stellar view that shows the road south toward Florence, with some amazing stops along the way, such as Thor's Well. Not all of the 363 miles of Oregon's coast look like this, but when you are driving along the road, it often seems so.
Mount Robson - Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia
Haven't posted a black and white photo in a while and when I saw this photo in my Lightroom library, it spoke to me in B&W.
I first discovered this majestic mountain on my first visit to Jasper National Park in Alberta. I wanted to do some exploring and headed west on the Yellowhead Highway into British Columbia. Along the way, we saw signs for the Mount Robson Provincial Park and wondered what it was all about. When we pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car, this was the scene that I first saw. I have learned since that Mount Robson is the highest point in all of the Canadian Rockies and the second highest peak in British Columbia, measuring almost 13,000 feet. Just standing there, I was mesmerized by its beauty and majesty. Definitely not what I expected when I first started this drive.
Palouse Superhighway - Colfax, Washington
Thought I would have a little fun with the title of this photo. Since June of last year, I have been posting quite a number of photos from the Palouse. I won't bore you with the same facts about the region and how cool it is. I have also talked about how you can wander the roads in the region and can easily get lost, but then come upon a subject that screams at you to shoot it. There is one main highway that runs through the area, running from Pullman to the south and stopping in Spokane to the north. No getting lost there. This photo is more indicative of what you find when you want to explore. Dirt roads, not always wide enough for two cars, with no street signs. Many times you have no idea where the road will end up. Normally, I don't like getting lost, but I found so many abandoned barns, farmhouses, farm machinery and landscapes that I didn't care.
Bow Reflections - Banff National Park, Alberta
It definitely pays to explore iconic locations to see if you can find a composition that is different than everyone else's. I have written and posted lots of photos from this lake located on the awe- inspiring Icefields Parkway. There are simply wonderful views of the lake and the Canadian Rockies from the large parking lot and many take their photos and off they go. Some others pull into the Num-ti-Jah Lodge's parking lot and get a different view from the north end of the lake. I have many terrific shots from those two locations. Looking for something different, I spotted this small dirt road at the southern end of the parking lot and decided to explore. My hope was that it would take me to the southern end of the lake and give me a composition that I had not seen before. Unfortunately, the road ended rather quickly, but there was a small area to park. I was able to walk to the shoreline and get this different composition. That speck on the left shoreline is the lodge. Exploration doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it is time so well spent.
Along the River - Teton Wilderness, Wyoming
Fall color in the Tetons is mostly a one-note yellow. The cottonwoods are the prevalent trees that change color with the seasons. 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. We started out following the river and we spotted this lone bull moose just standing next to the river. While this was a cool shot, what followed was pretty amazing.
The bull moose eventually crossed the river, and a little downstream there was a lone longhorn steer among a bunch of cows. Eventually the two animals noticed one another and began a stare-down contest. This lasted for a few minutes and then the bull moose started moving. I am guessing this movement threatened the longhorn and he started running toward the bull moose. Much to our surprise, the bull moose took off like a bat out of hell and all we saw was his rear end heading into the distance. We were anticipating a great battle as bull moose are known to fight, but we surmised that the moose was a young one and chose to fight another day.
Walking Among the Gods - Colorado Springs, Colorado
I am going out on a limb here. I am going to proclaim the Garden of the Gods the following:
Best. City. Park. Ever.
Okay, I am sure that some will give me examples of better city parks, but I probably won't be swayed. That's okay, as everyone has an opinion that is personal to them. I happen to love natural rock formations, and, while there may be more beautiful ones in State or National Parks, I haven't found any to compare to this one in Colorado Springs.
Sandstone formations dot the landscape throughout the park's 1,364 acres. There are 15 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, and there is one section of the park where the city has built a walkway. This photo depicts a small section of it.
Sea Stacks - Gold Beach, Oregon
There are so many beautiful spots along the Oregon Coast that it is hard to choose which one is my favorite. Of course, the Oregon Coast is 363 miles long, so it is quite impossible to pick a favorite, as it would probably take a lifetime to explore every inch of it. Given that is the case, I will qualify that Gold Beach is my personal favorite of all of the spots along the coast that I have visited. This area in southern Oregon is a must visit spot for photographers for sunset shots. Of course, sunrise is also a great time to shoot, although there is not as much golden light as sunset. Why is that the case? The answer is that this stretch of the coast has some serious mountains that block the exceptional light you would expect at sunrise. The beach is covered in deep shadow for quite a while, and by the time the sun rises above the mountain peaks, the light has lost that sunrise glow. That is not to say that it is not worth shooting when the light finally hits the beach, as this photo illustrates.
Vermilion Lakes View - Banff National Park, Alberta
Visitors to Banff National Park can be overwhelmed with the number of iconic locations there are to take in. Even though I have been there several times, it seems I find a new one on each trip. One of the popular destinations is Vermilion Lakes. That is probably because the three lakes are just minutes from the town of Banff. They are an especially popular destination at sunrise and sunset when the lakes and mountains get that special glow. The day that Jeff Clow and I went to shoot there, the road to the lakes was closed due to a high level of bear activity. We decided to do the next best thing to get a shot of the lakes - we drove up to the top of Mount Norquay to shoot this view of the lakes. For reference, the town of Banff is situated to the left of the lakes. Definitely worth the short drive up the mountain, where you can also get a great shot of the town. Even better news, the road to the lakes was opened later in the trip.
The Palouse - Palouse, Washington
It is no secret that I love mountains and am always looking for the next one to visit. If you had told me that farmland would compete with mountains before I visited the Palouse, I wouldn't have believed you. Don't get me wrong, the Palouse has always been on my bucket list after seeing the many photos from the region, especially from Steptoe Butte. The difference now is that I really want to go back and see it again. Fortunately, I will get my chance in August for a few days. I hope to see the area while it is harvest time. I am told that it looks so different and reminds one of the line "amber waves of grain...". I don't know if I will time the harvest, as every person I talk with tells me it happens at different times. My guess is that it is like predicting the foliage season in the Northeast.
This photo is typical of the landscape in early June when everything is green. The green contrasts well with the blue skies and the clouds are an added bonus. I shot a few photos, but they didn't capture what I was seeing with my eyes. I decided to shoot this panorama to better get the shot that I wanted.
One note. The Palouse is region that covers the states of Washington (eastern); Idaho (western) and Oregon (northeastern). This photo was taken in the region just outside of the town of Palouse.
Glacier Point View - Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
Glacier Point is my favorite spot in Yosemite National Park. One reason is that it provides what I consider the best view of Half Dome. Another reason is that from the two sides of the point you can either view the valley floor to one side or spot the waterfalls from the other side. A lot of visitors don't make it up to Glacier Point because it is not obvious where it is located. The point is visible from the valley if you are near the Ahwahnee Hotel. Just look straight up. Just above 7,200 feet from where you are standing is the point. There are two ways to get to the point. The easy way is to take a 32-mile drive out of the valley going around the many granite formations, ending up in the parking lot. The hard way is to hike up the 4.6-mile trail (incorrectly named "Four Mile Trail) which ascends the 3,200 feet before reaching the point. I haven't hiked up the trail but I have hiked down it which wasn't easy. I can't imagine how challenging going up would be.