Lion Cub - Welgevonden Reserve, South Africa

I’m back after my extended absence to move from Connecticut to Maryland. I haven’t touched my cameras since my trip to South Africa in early December and, before that, my trip to the West Coast in September. Looks like travel in the near future will be restricted due to the pandemic. Since I have not edited or posted many photos from 2019, I will spend the next few weeks posting some of them.

To kick it off, I will start with this cute lion cub that we spotted on our South Africa Safari in December. Our first class Rangers from the Nedile Lodge (John Richard Nott and Barend van Rooyen) were absolutely amazing in being the first in finding wildlife in the Reserve. They gave us so many great opportunities to capture outstanding photos. This one is one of my favorites. Our Rangers got us in the perfect spot to capture a lioness and some of her young cubs emerging from the dense brush. I was able capture quite a few of this cub and snapped this one just when he seem to look straight at me.

Stalking - Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa

I am in South Africa with Jeff Clow on his African Safari and the trip so far has been awesome. How could it not be? Five star resort (Nedile Lodge); wonderful food and hospitality, killer Rangers that seem to get us everything we could ask for; and, best of all, shooting with my best friends.

This encounter of this lioness happened yesterday morning. Our Rangers tracked the lioness and expertly put us in the perfect position to get wonderful shots of her. She ended walking past our two vehicles within 10 feet of us. This week has been simple amazing and we are only halfway through!

Spotted Thick-Knee - Marievale Bird Sanctuary, South Africa

Back in South Africa for another Jeff Clow Photo Tour Safari Extravaganza. Got a solid 8 hours sleep after a 15 hour red-eye flight. We are headed to our lodge tomorrow and Jeff sponsored a trip to a bird sanctuary for this morning's activities. For my fellow photographer friends, you read that right, a BIRD Sanctuary (I am known as not liking taking photos of them). A very strange and funny thing happened this morning - I actually took a few shots of birds that are probably pretty good. This photo of a Spotted Thick-Knee was one them. So, will I become a bird photographer now? Most likely not but I will ask my friend John McCaine if this photo is passable.

On the Move - Welgevonden Game Reserve, South Africa

Still recovering from my trip to South Africa. All told, I spent 23 hours straight in either an airplane or airport, but I can absolutely say it was well worth it. The Nedile Lodge in the Welgevonden Game Reserve was home for seven days and I can easily see why it was named the Lodge of the Year in the African Continent. Great accommodations, location, amenities and outstanding food. Add to that World Class Rangers, which made it one of my favorite trips ever.

Our Rangers seemed to find the right spots for big game and were usually the ones that found the big game before any of the other Rangers from other lodges. For the first few days, the cheetahs were nowhere to be found. That was okay, as we were treated to lions, lionesses and their cubs. When we set out on our Thursday afternoon game drive, our Rangers were confident that they would find us cheetahs. It wasn’t long before they found them, but they were deep in the bush resting. Since we knew where they were, we went in search of other game. After shooting a lioness, we went back for the cheetahs and after waiting awhile, the cheetahs were on the move. Our Rangers seemed to be in the cheetahs’ heads and always seemed to know where they would end up and get us into prime shooting position. This is a shot of one of the cheetahs (the second one was his brother) in absolutely perfect golden evening light. What a magnificent animal.

River Road Evening - Moab, Utah

With all of the superb parks in the Moab area (Canyonlands NP, Arches NP and Dead Horse SP), River Road is often overlooked by visitors. It is a shame, as there are some stellar spots. The added bonus is that the Colorado River runs along the majority of the road. One of the best areas to visit on the road is Fisher Towers. After visiting Moab a few years ago, Jaki Good Miller and I headed to Grand Junction and decided to take this scenic route. Great choice, as Mother Nature treated us with some great clouds and weather along the way. As we approached Fisher Towers, the sun started to hide behind them and, while we got some quick shots, the towers were dark. Given that we only had less than an hour left of sun, we decided to drive further north and try to get a shot looking south to the towers. I had shot from this spot before, but was never there at the right time of day. Just as we set up, the sun broke though and gave us this scene.

Field of Beauty - Tuscany, Italy

Driving through the Tuscan countryside is a delightful time to spend a day. The rolling hills are simply amazing to see as the beauty is exceptional. Add the quaint historical towns that have been around for hundreds of centuries, the large villas that dot the landscape, and the tasty Italian cuisine and you have the makings of perfection. On the way to finish one of those days at a wonderful Italian restaurant, we made an unscheduled stop to take a few shots of a beautiful Tuscan view. The perfect day just got better.

Medicine Lake Reflection - Jasper National Park, Alberta

Earlier this year, I visited Banff and Jasper National Parks for the third time in the last four years. A tradition that I have followed for many years is to end up the trip with one of my favorite things to do in Jasper—take the boat ride on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. It is aptly named, as it seems to uplift my spirits whenever I am there. On the way back to the town of Jasper, I have always passed Medicine Lake, pictured here. I have passed this lake so many times since my first visit to Jasper but I have never seen the waters perfectly still. Of course, we had to stop to capture the rugged Rocky Mountains reflected in the waters of the lake.

Bears Eye View - Shelburne, Vermont

I have been off and on my Blog and Social Media for the past couple of months. Lots of distractions lately - none of them major in any way. I thought I’d post something that hopefully will bring a smile to your face. Back in June of 2016, I had an encounter with a grizzly bear that I was lucky to walk away from. I posted a tongue-in-cheek post about it on Facebook and it is one of my most commented posts there. If you want to read the story, here is the Link to it. Since that time, my photographer friends always seem to want me to tell the story. Some in my family have given me presents, cards etc. that have bears on them. Others have called me the grizzly whisperer. Seems like I will forever be remembered for that minute or so experience.

A few years ago, I spent five days in Vermont with my sister. We ended up spending a day at the Shelburne Museum, an eclectic but must-visit place. One of the exhibits was in this rustic cabin and it brought a big smile to my face. These bears are my peeps, so I took a photo of their view, which is the title of this post. It is a take off of my Photography Website, coincidently named Lens Eye View.

Sedona Wonder - Sedona, Arizona

Just south of Flagstaff, Arizona, in the Upper Sonoran Desert, you find the resort town of Sedona. It is located at the south end of the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon and is completely surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. Sedona attracts many different visitors to the area as it is known for many things, but its red rock formations that surround the immediate town are probably the main reason why it is visited. I had been through Sedona many times, but usually just as a pass through on my way to the Grand Canyon. I resolved myself that I would eventually stay a few days there to photograph this amazing landscape during the golden hours. That is when the rock formations are at their best, taking on an almost unreal glow in the rising and setting sun light. I was hoping to have some clouds to add interest to the scene but, as a local reminded (scolded) me, "It is the desert, you know".

New England Foliage - Echo Lake, New Hampshire

Fall is my favorite season of the year and I am lucky to live in what I consider to be one of the best places to experience the fall foliage. Unfortunately, due to my month-long trip to Oregon, Washington and California in September, I had to spend October catching up with a lot of unfinished tasks and missed the foliage. To make up for this, I went back to some previous fall seasons and found this gem from 2011. We arrived at Echo Lake and were treated to one of the best fall foliage reflections that I have experienced. The sunrise gave up some great warm light and the foliage was at the absolute peak, resulting in some epic fall color.

Siena Villa - Siena, Italy

Sometimes, the unplanned and unanticipated experiences become fond memories. Our tour leaders had made arrangements for a local expert to spend the afternoon with us as we walked and took photographs through the streets of historic Siena. The local expert, Claudia Cesa, was a wonderful tour guide with great detailed knowledge of Siena and the surrounding provinces. Claudia’s knowledge of the area is no surprise – she is a lifelong resident of Siena and she holds a BA in Art History and is a licensed tour guide. The unanticipated experience came at the end of the tour. Claudia asked us if we would like to go to her family’s villa for some wine and cheese. Of course, the answer was yes! Claudia led us through Siena and to her villa, which is just outside the city’s walls. The villa, named Villa Santa Chiara, has been owned by the family since the early 1900’s. I took this photo of an entrance to the villa. The family does rent out rooms and I only can imagine how nice it would be to stay there.

Sandstone Colors - Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

The American Southwest is home to some of the most colorful sandstone rock formations. I just love the look of the reddish-orange color, as it contrasts wonderfully with the green vegetation and blue skies. This color is due to the presence of iron minerals in the rocks. Over thousands of years, the elements have caused these minerals to oxidize, in essence rusting. This results in different shades of red, orange, and brown. When walking though places in the southwest, you often feel that you have been transported to the planet of Mars.

 A few years ago, while visiting one of the most unusual city parks in the US, namely the Garden of the Gods, I came across this scene that I had never seen before or since. Here, a characteristic sandstone rock formation of the southwest acts as the background for a rare (at least in my experienced) white sandstone rock formation. I’m not sure if the formation is really made up of sandstone but I am going with it and calling it albino sandstone.

Cappella dei Principi - Florence, Italy

After arriving in Florence on a red-eye, Mike Louthan and I spent the afternoon walking around this historic city, marveling at the architecture and history before checking into our hotel. After meeting our fellow photographers and having dinner, a number of us headed to the roof of the hotel to take some night photos of the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella below. Looking the opposite way from the piazza, I spotted this dome lighting up the surrounding buildings. After editing this photo, I thought it would be easy to find out the dome’s name. How wrong I was. Do you know how many domes there are in Florence? Let me tell you— a lot. The problem is that every time you try a search looking for a dome in Florence, the famed Brunelleschi's Dome comes up, as it is one of the most famous domes in Europe. I spent a lot of time researching and finally found it. It is the dome of Cappella dei Principi, which is part of the complex of Basilica di San Lorenzo. It is the larger of two chapels on the grounds.

Tuscan Evening - Chiusure, Province of Siena, Italy

Every time I think back on my visit to Tuscany, this scene is one of the images that come to mind. Before my trip, I had envisioned what the quintessential landscape would look like. The actuality of seeing the Tuscan landscape on the night I captured this photo far exceeded my expectations. Actually, the whole day was quintessential Tuscany. We had started the day with a sunrise shoot, and, after breakfast, we toured a number of small towns throughout the region. Toward the end of the day, we were headed to the town of Chiusure for a late dinner (late for us but not for Italians). On the way to dinner, we had an unscheduled stop to shoot a wonderful landscape scene that was beautiful. When we pulled into the very small town (population 115), we were waylaid again by the scene you see above. Dinner would have to wait a bit longer.

Square Under Water - Venice, Italy

At the end of my trip to Italy this past spring, Mike Louthan and I decided to spend time in Venice before heading back home after three great weeks in Italy. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot with Nathaniel Smalley, who also stayed over in Venice. One night, we went out to shoot some night scenes, some of which I have already posted. Once the clock approached midnight, Mike and I headed toward our lodging, located just off of St. Mark’s Square. We got a bit lost but finally ended up at the far end of the square. As we began tp walk onto the square itself, we quickly discovered that half of it was under water by 4-5 inches. Turns out that it was a night with a full moon, which makes high tides rise to their full height. You guessed it, it was high tide when we entered the square. Our feet got soaked and when we got to this spot on the square, I had to stop and shoot this photo of the square with St. Mark’s Cathedral and Campanile on full display.

Cityscape - Seattle, Washington

After photographing the Oregon Coast in early September, my wife, son and I spent some family time on the west coast. This was not a photography trip but, of course, I had my camera with me. After spending some time in the Portland area, we headed to Seattle for several days. I hadn’t been there in over 15 years, and boy, has it changed. One thing that didn’t change is the ferry to and from Bainbridge Island. That has always been a relaxing trip, especially when lunch is sandwiched between the back and forth. The weather while we were in Seattle was off and on with clouds and rain (it is the Pacific Northwest) but, fortunately, the sun came out on the way back to Seattle and I was able to capture this cityscape with this huge cumulous cloud hovering above the city.

Thor's Well - Cape Perpetua, Oregon

On the Oregon Coast there is a location that has been my nemesis for a long time. I have been by this location more than ten times and have been shut out from capturing it. It is an iconic photo location, but it cannot be seen or found when the tide is fully in. Turns out, that in all of my visits to Thor’s Well, the tide was in. This past June, I finally got to shoot this spot, known as either a gaping sinkhole, drainpipe of the Pacific, or the gateway to hell. Turns out it is none of those things. What looks like a sinkhole is nothing of the kind. It is actually a sea cave that was likely created by the relentless waves eroding the rock over time. Eventually, the roof of the sea cave collapsed, creating the circular hole that can be seen when the tide is right. Before I witnessed the well, I thought the many photos of it that I have seen were caused by the water splashing over the top of the roof into the sea cave. Turns out, it is caused by the waves rushing into the sea cave and then exploding through the roof to cover the surrounding rock. As the water on the rock falls back into the sea cave, the above look is created. Such is Thor’s Well. My next goal is to capture it at sunset with great foreboding red clouds.

Bandon Evening - Face Rock Viewpoint, Bandon, Oregon

Finally starting to look at my photos from last month’s trip to the Oregon Coast. The coast was its usual self. Some rain, clouds and sun during most days. Our stop in Bandon was one of the first locations I looked at and I quickly gravitated to this photo. I remember spending my time at the end of the evening on the southern part of the beach, which was pretty secluded. After shooting there until the sun went below the horizon, I started walking toward the stairs to the parking area, I immediately saw this amazing cloud being lit up in the sky above Bandon’s famous sea stacks. I quickly decided to stay a little longer and enjoyed taking in the tranquility of the evening.

Teton Point View - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Wyoming Dreaming

A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.

No matter where you go in Grand Teton National Park, the rugged Teton Range always seem to be visible. Driving the 42 miles of the main highway (US 191/89) that runs through the park, there are some wonderful turnouts where you can see these mountains in their full glory. Each turnout has its own personality and this one, Teton Point Turnout, is no exception. The unique part of this scene are the three levels of terraces on the land leading to the mountains. Adding the mountains and the terrific blue sky, the layers just jump out at you. Of course, shooting in early morning light is just icing on the cake.

Great Grey Owl - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Wyoming Dreaming

A few weeks ago, my great friend, Steve Somers posted a series of his memorable trips to Alaska and Yosemite. Inspired by Steve, I am dedicating this week’s posts to one of my favorite states, Wyoming.

Many who follow my blog know that my favorite subjects are related to landscapes and travel. On my visits to the Grand Tetons, my main goal is landscapes but the park is also known for its wildlife. There is some specific expertise (which I don't have) and equipment requirements (really big, long lenses that I can hardly lift) to get a great shot. On one of my Teton trips, I was fortunate to be with some very accomplished wildlife and bird photographers who were knocking it out of the park. We came upon a a great gray owl that was all but asking for us to photograph him. This is not a common occurrence, so we all took advantage of the opportunity. Despite my limitations, I actually got a couple of decent shots, this being one my best. I am sure that my fellow wildlife buddies would probably think this is a throw away shot, but I am happy with it. It reminds me what a great experience it was to watch this majestic bird in the wild.