It is important to pay attention to foreground and background elements when trying to compose an effective surreal landscape image. Shot on location in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Speaking of which, there is only one spot left in my exclusive Glacier Bay Tour happening next July. Cruising the majestic bay in this small yacht is quite a different experience than traveling in one of the large crowded cruise ships. One caveat- due to the cabin space, the remaining spot is for a man only.
I love to create abstract, painterly images. I often find my favorite ones in locations that most people might not even notice. This video was filmed on location in Eastern Idaho.
I also want to instill this passion in the participants of my workshops. I will be focusing on this specifically in my Oregon Coast Workshop next August. Join me and I will change the way you look at photography and the world around you!
Late September is a gorgeous time to be in Wyoming. The air is crisp with fall, the aspen leaves are fluttering golden in the breeze, and the wildlife is out browsing and fattening up for the harsh, but beautiful, winter.
The Photographic Society of America invited me to Jackson, Wyoming, to present at their annual conference. I was able to take the time to catch some favorite spots in Yellowstone National Park, and then teach another successful workshop in Grand Teton National Park. The week was capped off by doing aerials over the jade & sapphire waters of Grand Prismatic Spring.
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.
It is the last frontier, a place where wild dominates humankind. A place known as the land of the midnight sun, here alpenglow lasts for hours, not minutes. Imagine venturing into this wilderness where the brown bears do not fear humans, where the minimal human population has learned and adapted to live in harmony with them. The bears rule, not only because they are strong, large, and on the top of their food chains, but because the humans believe that they should. Now imagine being able to capture photos of these magnificent creatures from 15 feet away. This is Alaska!
All aspects of outdoor photography will be covered, including composition, field techniques, technology, and the unique philosophy of this highly specialized profession. There will be informative lectures, rigorous critiques and portfolio reviews. Instead of concentrating only on f-stops and equipment, we will work on composition, imagination, and the control of every element in the image. We do more than just take you to the location; we help you to maximize your creative and technological skills as a photographer.
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.
The Tetons are one of the newest mountain ranges in North America and at the same time contain some of the oldest geological rocks, dating back some 2.7 million years. How is this possible? Two things, first is the fact that the Teton Fault is still pushing the peaks skyward today. In addition, over 2 million years ago, glaciers flowed down from northern Yellowstone depositing varying materials from up north and simultaneously carving out and sculpting the Teton Skyline. Two different events from two different locations give the Tetons two very different geological finds. Another amazing thing about this mountain range is that because there are no foothills, you get to witness complete unobstructed views of the mountains. All this geologic force has created a fairly flat valley floor with peaks topping out close to 14,000 feet above sea level. Grand Teton National Park also has a plethora of lakes and rivers, coupled with extraordinary wildlife—you have the makings for extremely dramatic photography.
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.
This extroverted journey takes you along an extraordinary route that combines the best of India, 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. Click below to see the full itinerary.
While it takes a bit of doing to get to Svalbard, the photographic payoff is always terrific. It is a land of rugged Arctic landscapes, teeming bird cliffs, hungry carnivores like polar bears and Arctic foxes, and ghostly ruins of a bygone era in European history. We experienced gorgeous golden sunsets over mountains and melting glaciers, a rather spectacular rainbow as a summer rain passed through, and engaging wildlife, in particular Atlantic walrus.
This is my third trip there in recent years, and this was the best yet. It was a terrific group of fellow photographers and we all had fun learning from one another. The staff on the small boat was tremendous in making us feel at home.
