Mahale Mountains National Park & Lake Tanganyika

I last photographed in Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania for my Y2K project The Living Wild. In the intervening years it seems the chimps have become even more nonchalant around people, brushing past like a person would on a crowded street. There is a definite mental connection, but when they come that close you want to be careful in your movements and eye contact. They are incredibly powerful animals and powerfully intelligent so R-E-S-P-E-C-T is in order.

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A Photographic Passion: Aerials over Lake Natron


Lake Natron is a soda lake in the Rift Valley of Tanzania that I have photographed many times. But each time it feels like a new experience. The light, patterns, colors, and textures vary immensely from year to year, even hour to hour. These photos are from my latest trip in October.

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Worst Advice Ever

What is the worst advice you ever followed?

For me – early in my career people told me not to bother going to India – they said it had nothing to offer and I should focus elsewhere. So for over a decade that’s what I did. Worst advice ever!

Once I finally saw India with my own eyes—I’ve been back just about every year since and I’ve still just scratched the surface it’s beautiful, complex and wonderful variety of culture, nature, landscape and wildlife.

I’ve added a new photo tour for India in January/February 2016 that can either be just one week or over two depending the time you have. I’ll be taking you along an extraordinary route that combines the best of Inida, full of lore and splendor, punctuated by diverse photographic attractions.

The Kumbh Mela is a rare mass pilgrimage when Hindus from all over the world journey to bathe in the sacred river Ganges. It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world. I have been to several Kumbhs and can help effectively navigate you through this large and colorful congregation of pilgrims, yogis, and sages. Following the Kumbh we will travel to Ranthambore National Park where a highlight will be the chance to photograph elusive tigers and leopards and other rare wildlife.

Secret, Sacred and Wild India Workshop
January 25, 2016 – February 2, 2016

I hope to see some of you there! And if not with me, just put India on your bucket list regardless. That’s my advice!

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Third Quarter 2015 Images

July 1st to September 30th of this year was manic, photographically speaking: the Palouse in Eastern Washington, brown bears in Alaska, aerials in Iceland, polar bears in Svalbard, fall color in California’s southern Sierra, and then back home in Washington state to the solitude of Mount Rainier.

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Recent Photos from the Southeastern Sierra

I recently led a workshop in the Southern Sierra in California. The fall color put on quite a show, with the aspen trees being a particularly stunning subject to photograph. We also found a lake full of coots, worked on abstracts in Bodie State Historical Park, visited the always fantastical tufas at Mono Lake and stopped at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to add more unique texture to the portfolio.

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Everest

Everest Expedition, Mount Everest, Tibet
Everest Expedition, Mount Everest, Tibet

Recently I went to see Everest with friends and it took me right back to May of 1996 when the tragedy occurred. People will quibble about the movie being true to life, but that’s not what I am addressing here. The climbing community is tight, especially in a town like Seattle, and I knew Scott Fischer through mutual friends. From time to time he would come to my office to select mountain imagery to promote his company Mountain Madness. As is often the case, I was traveling when the news came from Nepal. Scott’s wife Jeannie arrived with his precious film and my staff was galvanized into action. They assisted her with getting it developed, edited and labeled, and making sure the selects got into a stock photography agency for worldwide distribution. It was one small thing we could take care of that helped her and her two daughters through an agonizing time in their lives.

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Last call for Southern Sierra Workshop


Join me in an exploration of the Southern Sierra in California, September 24-27th. The light is exquisite this time of year. It is a fascinating region, full of photographic possibilities. One day we will set up amidst the ancient & twisted Bristlecone pines at 11,000 feet and the next we will pass through the ghost town of Bodie on our way to the surreal tufa formations of Mono Lake. We will take field sessions to the beautiful surroundings of Bishop. Finer points of maximizing light will be discussed in the classroom and in the field. Critiques will be part of the learning process too.

The best way to learn photography, is in the field, one-on-one with an experienced instructor.

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Do You Want to Go to Cuba?

Some of you who get my newsletter may have noticed that I am doing a photo tour to Cuba in March 2016. It filled quickly and I am starting a waiting list for Gavriel Jecan’s tour that is happening right after mine.

Gavriel Jecan is one of my recommended guides. He leads many photography tours and will be visiting all of the same locations and will be utilizing the same Cuban photography guides.

Put your name on the waitlist now to get on Gavriel’s tour!

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Mount Rainier

When running a workshop it is critical never to be absolutely locked into a schedule. Before heading up to Mount Rainier last week, we looked at the weather forecast; there was a possibility of rain on the weekend so we changed around our shooting schedule and did our sunrise shoot at Reflection Lake first thing on Friday. Even then we were concerned that the mountain would be concealed by the surrounding mist but we were pleasantly surprised when the fog lifted for a moment and the golden rays of the sun burst through.

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