Once again it’s that time to look back and reflect on the Photo Highlights of 2023. The photos in this collection represent some of my favorite images made in 2023.  I also feel they are some of my successful photos because they represent moments in which I felt an overwhelming connection with the natural world. For me, having that intimate connection with the subject is an essential element that gives an image greater depth and meaning.

So here are my selections, and of course, feel free to comment and vote on your favorite. Thanks for viewing, I hope you have a joyous new year filled with peace and prosperity!

1. Valhalla Provincial Park British Columbia #80914  Purchase

2. Purcell Mountains Larches #81435  Purchase

3. Sea Ice Crow Head Newfoundland #80042  Purchase

4. Purcell Mountains Sunset #81019  Purchase

5. Deception Pass Salish Sea Washington #81019  Purchase

6. Avalon Peninsula Newfoundland #80700  Purchase

7. Fogo Island Sunset Newfoundland #80147  Purchase

8. Natural Bridge Falls Yoho National Park #81715  Purchase

9. Sea Ice Fogo Island Newfoundland #80153  Purchase

10. Bonavista Peninsula Newfoundland #79681  Purchase

All photos appearing in Photo Highlights 2023 can be purchased as Fine Art Prints. They can also be licensed for commercial usage.

Help Conserve the places you and I love

If the images in this post inspire you to go out to visit or photograph our natural world please consider some of the ethical guidelines presented below:

Leave No Trace
To learn about the principles and practicing LNT please take a few minutes to visit the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Your children, grandchildren, and the Earth will thank you!

 

Principles of Nature First:

• Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography
• Educate yourself about the places you photograph
• Reflect on the possible impact of your actions
• Use discretion if sharing your locations
• Know and follow all rules and regulations
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles, and strive to leave places better than you found them
• Actively promote and educate others about these principles

Photo Highlights of 2023

Photo Highlights of 2022

Once again the year is coming to a close and it’s time to look back on some of its high points. Of course, there were plenty of low points, but nobody wants to hear about them so they won’t be mentioned.

This year I’m including what I consider some of my most successful images. But there is also one other photo that I must include from possibly the highest point of the year. Last April I had a unique opportunity to pay a visit with a very close friend to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. I grew up during the heady times of the 1960’s space race, and as a kid, I was always dreaming of being present at one of the Apollo moon launches. That never came to be, but the next best thing would be to actually see, and maybe even touch, a real Saturn V rocket. So last April after waiting for way too many years that dream finally came true, and it certainly was an overwhelming experience. It’s been a very long time since I felt like a kid in a toy store. Fun stuff.

Can I be having more fun?!  Photo courtesy of David Gecic

Vote For Your Favorite Photo Highlights of 2022

But back to the main reason for this post. Below are ten of my favorite images made in 2022. Unfortunately, this past year I wasn’t able to get out and photograph in as many different locations as I would have liked.  But once again trips to the North Cascades and Wind River Range of Wyoming came through with some great images.

As always feel free to vote for and comment on your favorites.  Also, check out my BW Photo Highlights of 2022. And please feel free to share this post with friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks for looking!

1. Table Mountain in winter, North Cascades #77175or  Purchase

2. Old-Growth Forest North Cascades #77662or  Purchase

3. Rainbow over the Methow Valley North Cascades #77772  Purchase

4. Old-Growth Forest North Cascades #77798  Purchase

5. Cirque of the Towers Waterfall Wind River Range #78500  Purchase

6. Ambush Peak Wind River Range #78046or  Purchase

7. Cirque of the Towers Wind River Range #78372or  Purchase

8. Pingora Peak Wind River Range #78532  Purchase

9. Shadow Lake Wind River Range #78143or  Purchase

10. Deep Lake Wind River Range #78671or  Purchase

All photos appearing in Photo Highlights 2022 are available for Commercial Licensing and Fine Art Prints. Click on any image to purchase, or contact me for more info!

Photo Highlights of 2022

The year is swiftly coming to a close, so it’s time to look back and present my Photo Highlights of 2021. Although overall it was a better year than 2020, many aspects made it resemble the slightly less evil twin of 2020. But for new photography and business, the past 12 months were outstanding. I added a record number of new images to my library from some outstanding locations. Plus print sales and commercial licensing came in at an all-time high. Many thanks to all of you out there who helped make 2021 a great year!

This year the photos appearing in this post are those which I consider my favorites. Although they are still among some of the best of 2021, for me they mostly reflect fond memories of the past year’s trips.  Selecting these 11 images was especially difficult since there were many more favorites that I would’ve liked to include. And also because I’m still working on editing and processing lots of great new images from my fall Southwest trip. Many of those would easily make this list, but unfortunately, they’ll have to wait.

Vote For Your Favorite Photo Highlights

As always feel free to vote for and comment on your favorites. And if you would like to see more images made in 2021 please check out the New Images Gallery. Also, please feel free to share this post with friends, family, and colleagues. Thanks for looking!

#1  Taylor Dock Boardwalk Bellingham Washington  #70663  Purchase

#2  Cape Perpetua Oregon  #71095  Purchase

#3   Diablo Lake North Cascades  #71702  Purchase

#4  Fog over Olympic Peninsula from Olympic National Park  #71819  Purchase

#5 Myrtle Falls Mount Rainier National Park  #72865s  Purchase

#6 Reflection Lake Mount Rainier National Park #73103  Purchase

#7  Clearing storm over Mount Baker Wilderness North Cascades #73538b  Purchase

#8 Fall color at Oxbow Bend Grand Teton National Park #74143  Purchase

#9  Steamboat Rock reflected in Green River Dinosaur National Monument  #74439  Purchase

#10 Sandstone erosion patterns Dinosaur National Monument  #74400  Purchase

#11 Mesa Arch Canyonlands National Park  #74554  Purchase

Want to learn more, or have a professional photographer guide you in the field? Then take your Creative Photography to the next level with  Private Instruction and Guided Photo Tours.

All photos appearing in Photo Highlights 2021 are available for Commercial Licensing and Fine Art Prints. Click on any image to purchase, or contact me for more info!

Photo Highlights of 2021

Skagit Valley  #61987b  Purchase

#1) Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields. Unable to get out for winter photography this year I was looking forward to a short trip down to the Skagit Valley for the annual daffodil and tulip blooms. This morning offered a brief burst of light and color in an otherwise grey sky.

Photo Highlights 2018: Another year coming to a close, and what a year it was! Like every year there were plenty of ups and downs, but 2018 really packed them in. Most of 2018 was dominated by family-related obligations, which for extended periods kept me from working on my business. However, at one point those same obligations opened up a unique opportunity for me to travel to new photography destinations. Some of the photos in this post were a result of that opportunity.

Every December when I put together these yearly photo highlights I’m somewhat uncertain of which images to include*. On one hand, I want to share my most creatively and technically successful photos. But on the other hand, I also want to share photos of memorable moments, which may not hold any appeal to others. Fortunately, many of the following images represent both viewpoints. In fact, nearly all of them hold a very deep emotional bond with me, and they will always stand out as powerful memories of a year filled with turning points.

*Update: If you enjoyed viewing these images please check out BW Photo Highlights 2018

Please feel free to vote or comment on your favorite photos in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you. Also, if you enjoyed these images please share this post with friends family, and coworkers. Finally, all of the photos are available as fine art prints and commercial licensing, just click on any to see purchasing options. I hope all of you have a new year filled with peace, prosperity, and joy!

Yellow Aster Butte Basin, North Cascades  #62789  Purchase

#2)  Tarn in Yellow Aster Butte Basin, Mount Baker Wilderness, North Cascades.  This is one of the more popular hiking destinations in the North Cascades. Less than two hours from my home, I like to return here every few years, for both photography and just to get away. On this trip, I enjoyed watching and photographing this group of clouds changing shapes at sunset.

Mount Sir Donald, British Columbia  #62836  Purchase

#3) Mount Sir Donald, seen from Abbott Ridge, Glacier National Park British Columbia. This photo marks the beginning of a lengthy trip that took me to a variety of destinations in the Midwest, and beyond. Glacier National Park, in British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, has some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the province. The park also has some of the most steepest and challenging hiking trails around. The hike up to this viewpoint gained 3400′ in about 3.5 miles, a real thigh burner!

Upper Falls Old man’s Cave, Ohio #63229  Purchase

#4) Upper Falls, Old Man’s Cave, Hocking Hills State Park Ohio. Further along on the same trip, I spent a sweltering August week in Chicago on family-related business. When finished I started the main photo tour in earnest. Hocking Hills State Park is a great location I  found out about via a rest stop visitor’s guide a few years ago. This region in eastern Ohio is marked by picturesque rolling hills. Hocking Hills State Park contains a few sandstone gorges filled with pretty waterfalls and overhangs. Unfortunately, the steamy humidity followed me here from Chicago and continued tormenting me for most of the trip.

Lindy Point West Virginia #63427  Purchase

#5) Sunset at Lindy Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia. This was my first visit to the central ranges of the Appalachian Mountains. Unlike mountains out west the Appalachians rarely offer sweeping views above the tree line. Here in Blackwater Falls State Park, Lindy Point offers a rare panoramic view of the mountains and valleys. Having the area mostly to myself, I spent the entire afternoon and evening watching and photographing the fascinating changes in clouds and light. And yes, it was still horribly hot and humid!

Lake Superior Michigan  #63866  Purchase

#6) Windy Sunset over Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Michigan was another new destination on this trip. I had been looking forward to photographing many of its locations on the Great Lakes and Upper Peninsula for years. While photographing at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore the wind really whipped up at sunset. I took advantage of the conditions to try some minimalist compositions and slow shutter speeds. I’ll soon be working on a separate post featuring more images from Lake Superior in this style. You can see several more right now in the New Images 2018 gallery.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore  #63933b  Purchase

#7) Elliot Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan. This fun little waterfall was on my must-see list when visiting Pictured Rocks. The waterfall itself isn’t very big or exciting, but together with spilling directly into Lake Superior over colorful layers of sandstone really makes it stand out. Just before sunset, those layers took on a nice warm glow that added another nice dimension to the scene.

Badlands National Park  #64277  Purchase

#8) White River valley Overlook, Badlands National Park South Dakota. On the way home on Interstate 90 after a long tour, I couldn’t pass up making a brief stop in Badlands National Park. I always enjoy visiting this fascinating terrain, plus I was thrilled to be out west again and out of the Midwest humidity. This is another one of those locations that you can visit over and over and always see something new in different seasons and lighting conditions.

Liberty Bell Mountain North Cascades  #64469  Purchase

#9) Liberty Bell Mountain at Washington Pass on a frosty fall morning. The photographic year ended early for me in 2018 but on a very high note. I was swamped with work after returning from nearly seven weeks on the road. Between catching up on business, photo editing, and home projects, I had little time to get out again. But I couldn’t pass up a good stretch of fall weather at the beginning of October. I headed up the North Cascades Highway to some of my favorite spots, Washington Pass and Rainy Pass. After a fresh snowfall, this scene at Washington Pass took on an interesting mood as a bit of fog rolled in over the pass. I’ve photographed this area for over thirty years and this is one of my favorite images so far.

Liberty Bell Mountain, North Cascades  #64568  Purchase

#10) Liberty Bell Mountain from Washington Pass Overlook. My final image is a companion to #9, made about an hour later. After photographing from the meadows in the previous image I almost packed it in and left, since I felt the light had played itself out for the morning. However, I had a hunch to stop by the paved overlook trail to see what may be happening there. I’m glad I did, the light was still and warm with nice wispy clouds in a blue sky. This is a classic Northwest view photographed millions of times, but it never gets old for me. Driving out from Chicago in a beat-up old car when I was 19, this was my first view of the North Cascades. I fell in love with these mountains right then and there, and I always feel blessed I can call them home!

American Border Peak, North Cascades #64657  Purchase

#11) American Border Peak in winter, Mount Baker Wilderness North Cascades Washington. This one is a last-minute addition. Made on December 26 at the Mount Baker ski area while testing out a new camera system. This photo was hand-held at 200mm focal length, f/3.2  1/30 exposure, and heavily cropped, but it still is nice and sharp. The VR on this lens is amazing!

See the entire selection of 2018 Photo Highlights in my New Images Gallery

Also, don’t forget to check out my companion post BW Photo Highlights 2018

Photo Highlights 2017

We say it every December, yet another year has flown by! It seems it was only yesterday I was writing on this blog about my favorite images of 2016. As with every passing year, we can look back and revel in our accomplishments, and learn valuable lessons from our disappointments. Hopefully, we all had more of the former!

This year I was once again very fortunate to be able to travel to and photograph some great new locations. I was also thrilled to make a long-awaited backpacking pilgrimage to one of my favorite spots in the North Cascades. Throughout my journeys, I met some great people who shared my love for the natural world.  This past year also brought with it some valuable new clients and business opportunities. Building on these successes I hope to make 2018 an even better year!

So without further ado let’s see some of the photo highlights of 2017.

John Day River

John Day River, Oregon  #59904   Purchase

This image of the John Day River was made during an extended spring photo tour. One of the first stops on this trip was Cottonwood Canyon State Park in north central Oregon. Designated as a wild and scenic river, the John Day snakes its way through steep-walled valleys of the Columbia Plateau. One of the few viewpoints down to the river is above Cottonwood Canyon. I  made this photo shortly before sunrise after car-camping on a muddy backroad near the rim. The green slopes can be misleading. This is a very dry region, with brown as the dominant color for most of the year.

Lichens

Colorful Lichens on Basalt  #59871  Purchase

Down in Cottonwood Canyon, colorful lichens paint exposed cliffs of Columbia Plateau basalt. Seen across the river at the campground I made it a point to check out this display. The lichen colonies are impressive enough from a distance, but a close inspection reveals another world. I spent a good part of the morning exploring the cliffs with my macro lens. Getting in close you can find an infinite range of details and abstract patterns. Some are reminiscent of fractal patterns.

Hood River Valley

Hood River Valley Orchards, Oregon  #60108  Purchase

After photographing in Cottonwood Canyon I returned to the Hood River Valley. I was hoping to photograph the orchards in bloom. However, a cold lingering winter delayed the bloom by a few weeks. On my return, only a few of the orchards offered a good display. Arriving at sunrise throngs of other photographers were already setting up. When it became apparent there would be no dramatic clouds or light, they all left. I lingered on for a few hours, slowly scouting out some compositions. The above composition, and a few others, helped make the most of a blue sky.

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta  #60134  Purchase

Further south the same trip I was able to make this image of Mount Shasta just as I arrived in the area. Driving madly down a gravel road I was able to find this composition only minutes before the light faded. I spent several days exploring this area, however, this was the best light I encountered.

Point Reyes

Point Reyes National Seashore, California  #60262  #Purchase

Point Reyes National Seashore in California is arguably the windiest place on the North American coast. On this and a previous trip, it would’ve been hard to convince me otherwise. To make this photo I crouched down behind a small boulder to shield myself from the incessant wind. Even with the tripod inches off the ground with the legs spread wide I still had to hold on to the camera to reduce shaking.

Redwoods

Coast Redwoods  #60743  #Purchase

The Redwood forests of Northern California are among some of the most beautiful and humbling places to visit. Pictures cannot convey the scale of these massive trees. They are also one of the most difficult subjects to photograph. Generally, the best opportunities are from the edge of a clearing. In this case, my photo was made from alongside a road. While most photos of Redwood forests utilize a wide to super wide angle lens, I used a short telephoto for this one. Of course the nearly constant fog and overcast work in your favor to accentuate colors and keep contrast manageable.

Gold Bluffs Beach

Triptych, Gold Bluffs Beach, California   Purchase

On Gold Bluffs Beach in Redwoods National Park, I enjoyed making a series of images of surf action as the fog cleared. The simple elements of dark sand, water, and sky were constantly shifting into new shapes and patterns. While several images from this session stand well alone, I feel this triptych helps further project the abstract nature of the experience.

Harris Beach

Harris Beach, Brookings, Oregon  #60783  Purchase

The southern Oregon coast has some of the best locations for photographers. Harris Beach State Park, in Brookings, makes a great base for days or weeks of location work. This photo was made in the twilight before dawn. A long exposure gave the creek a silky feel, which adds another dimension to the curves and textures of the composition.

Liberty Bell Mountain

Liberty Bell Mountain, North Cascades, Washington  #61324

Back on my own home turf in the North Cascades, I made this photo as part of a fun weekend of hiking in the Rainy and Washington Pass vicinities. For over 30 years I’ve visited Washington Pass and marveled at the beauty of Liberty Bell Mountain. Although I’ve photographed this scene many times in the fall, or snow-covered in early spring, this was my first attempt during the height of summer. Photographic compositions here come fairly easily, with help from leading lines and curves of the meandering creek. If you decide to visit this area please tread very lightly, as the meadows are fragile and are showing signs of wear and abuse.

North Cascades National Park

Whatcom Peak reflected in Tapto Lake, North Cascades National Park  #61497  Purchase

I made this photo last August during a six day backpacking trip to Whatcom Pass and Tapto Lakes. It’s a magical place that for various reasons took me over 20 years to return to. North Cascades National Park is a rarity in the National Park System. Over 90 % of the park is designated wilderness, with only one short gravel road intruding on its borders. Most of its magnificent rugged beauty can be seen only by hiking its many trails. Even then, some of the best views are off-trail, requiring mountaineering experience.

Whatcom Pass is an exception. You can visit this scene after trail hiking around 18 miles, over one pass, down into a deep valley, up another pass, and then straight up a rough climbers route. This trip can be made in three days by strong hikers with light packs, but I recommend a more leisurely 5-6 days. Plan a day or two of just sitting around taking in the views. You never know when you’ll get a chance to come back!

Heather Meadows

Heather Meadows, North Cascades, Washington  #61935  Purchase

Adjacent to the Mount Baker Ski Area, Heather Meadows is just a short drive up the road from my home. It’s one of the gateways into the rugged backcountry of the North Cascades, in addition to being one of my longtime go-to places for winter photography. I made this photo after the first major snowfall of the season. Slowing making my way around on skis I came across this composition in soft diffused light. I liked how the soft delicate shapes in the foreground contrasted with the harder rugged shapes in the distance.

I hope you enjoyed my Photo Highlights 2017 please feel free to vote and comment on your favorite images! And don’t forget, all of these images are ready to purchase as fine art prints or commercial licensing. Just click on any image!

Thanks for viewing this post, I wish you and your families, peace, joy, and prosperity in 2018.  I hope to see you on the road and trail in soon!

Photo Highlights 2017

Photo Highlights 2016

Another year come and gone already, it seems like just yesterday I was writing about the 2015 Photo Highlights. For me, like many others, 2016 had some great highlights that were overshadowed by sadness and uncertainty. So many creative and influential people had passed this year, including famous public figures I admired and close family members. It often made me pause and wonder.

On the creative side, 2016 was a year that saw me finally visit and photograph several locations that have been on my list for many years. New Mexico and the Canadian Atlantic Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to name a few. Perhaps even more important were a number of events and realizations that had me look back into the roots of my art and photography, resulting in a growing awareness of the direction my photography should take. Several of the images shown below represent the beginnings of this effort.

So without further ado let’s look at some of the Photo Highlights of 2016, and please feel free to vote or comment on your favorites!

Southwest

Borrego Badlands Cloud  #56801r  Purchase

My first major trip of the year was a return to the Desert Southwest. Beginning in Anza Borrego Desert State Park of California I met up with my good friend Cyril Albrecht, visiting from Belgium. Although we both had different itineraries we were able to photograph together in a couple of locations, Fonts Point overlooking the Borrego Badlands was one of them. One evening while waiting for the light I noticed this wonderful cloud formation developing in the opposite direction. I loved the abstract graphic qualities and how the round softness of the cloud contrasted with the harsh desert environment below.

White Sands National Monument #57148    Purchase

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico was one of the new locations I visited this year. Sand dunes are always fun to photograph, and the white gypsum dunes in the monument added an extra level of excitement to my visit. The area is wide open for roaming and exploration. Due to the number of tracks in the sand created by visitors, it was necessary to hike further out for pristine conditions. Although the area is fairly small it is extremely easy to become disoriented and lose the path back to the trailhead. This image is definitely one of the favorites that I brought back. The cool tones, layers, angles, and ripples in the sand created a pleasing composition.

Bisti Badlands New Mexico  #57428r   Purchase

Another new location was the fabled Bisit/De-Na-Zen Wilderness, or simple Bisti Badlands, of northern New Mexico. Badlands and hoodoos are among my favorite subjects to photograph, and Bisti contains some of the best examples of these whimsical eroded rocks. I stayed there for three days and managed to just scratch the surface of creative possibilities. On the second evening, I was treated to some of the most dramatic light I’ve seen in years. That evening, after finishing photographing my prime subjects I hurriedly scrambled around to locate more compositions. This nearby hoodoo exemplified the oddities of Bisti, and post-processing the image to reflect the harsh alien-like environment added to this feeling.

Arches National Park  #57869   Purchase

This image from Arches National Park was made in the Klondike Bluffs area. Although I’ve been to Arches several times before, this remote section of the park was new to me. Klondike Bluffs offers several dramatic arches and lots of red rock pinnacles, in addition to lots of solitude. While the main park attractions were swarming with visitors I enjoyed sharing this beautiful area with just a handful of people. Once again, some wonderful clouds glowing in evening light added to the drama, here balancing the composition with red sandstone pinnacles.

North Cascades

North Gardner Mountain, North Cascades Washington  #58051    Purchase

Back home in the North Cascades, my first backpacking trip of the year yielded this image of an approaching storm over Gardner Mountain. A grueling hike, post-holing through snow and downed trees, led to the summit of Driveway Butte. Although my camp near the top had wonderful vistas, it didn’t really offer the compositions I had hoped for. However, as day broke my fortunes changed as the leading edge of the storm glowed with light and mirrored the angles of the mountain ridges. I made several photos of this event before sitting down to enjoy the show.

New York

Watkins Glen State Park New York  #58452   Purchase

September marked the beginning of a long-anticipated trip with my wife Coleen to New England and the Canadian Atlantic Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The first new location on this trip was a brief stop at Watkins Glen State Park in New York. Situated in the Finger Lakes region, the main attraction in Watkins Glen is a beautifully sculpted narrow gorge. Only about a mile long with moderate elevation gain, the trail passes numerous pools, waterfalls, and hanging gardens. One of the highlights is this view framed by a stone bridge. Unfortunately, I only had a short morning to explore the photographic possibilities of this gem. Oh well, there is always next time.

Nova Scotia

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, Nova Scotia  #58903   Purchase

Nova Scotia was one of the highlights of the trip for me. For many years I’ve wanted to visit and photograph the Atlantic Provinces. The colorful fishing villages and seascapes have a powerful attraction for me. One location was high on my must-see list. Peggy’s Cove is arguably one of the most photographed and visited spots in all of Canada. After spending several days in remote and quiet Cape Bretton Highlands National Park, we were unsettled to be confronted by endless tour buses and crowds of people swarming everywhere! While waiting for evening light and the crowds to thin, we spent a relaxing day picnicking and exploring the nearby granite shoreline.

Photographing the sunset at the lighthouse was a bit disappointing due to the lack of clouds. The local weather forecast had predicted rain the next morning adding to our frustration. With a chance the storm may arrive after sunrise we spent an uncomfortable night truck camping in the parking lot near the lighthouse. The next morning clouds began to move in just at sunrise. Perfect conditions for those extremely rare light show that starts great and continues to improve over time. I ended up making many images before the clouds finally blocked the sun and everything went grey and rainy.

Maine

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Maine  #59018   Purchase

Next on our trip was Acadia National Park. The park, situated on Mount Desert Island, is said to be the most visited national Park east of the Mississippi. We had several instances of good light here, one of these at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Photographers can’t visit this park without making a photo of this iconic lighthouse. On this evening I was among a sea of tripods. Everyone crowded into a very small space on the edge of the rocks. One photographer told me that it was a low turnout, the previous evening had twice as many photographers!

Cobblestone Beach Acadia National Park  #59047   Purchase

The next morning I planned to make some long exposures at a popular cobblestone beach in the park. Arriving before sunrise, there were several other photographers from the previous evening set up well above the waterline. I, however, wanted to get down to the water’s edge to create a smoky effect of water among the rocks. The wet bowling ball-sized boulders were treacherous. Smooth and extremely slippery, I had to carefully plan every step, the effort was worth it though.

Pennsylvania

Onondaga Falls, Ricketts Glen, Pennsylvania  #59553   Purchase

The last new location we photographed in 2016 was Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania. This park was only a little out of our way as we traveled back home, but it was worth the detour. I’ve seen many wonderful images come from this park, and like Watkins Glen, it really needs time for exploring all the hidden gems in all seasons. The northeastern states were experiencing a drought, so the water flow through the glen was low during my visit. I didn’t mind since there still was an abundance of subject matter to work with. In the image above I utilized a long exposure to create a swirling pattern through the motions of the leaves.

With so many new images and locations added to our files in 2016 selecting the top ten was a very difficult task. There were many images from the SW and New England that I very much wanted to add.

Thank you so much for visiting this post, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite image and feedback!

Photo Highlights 2016

Photo Highlights 2015

Yes, it’s time once again to look back and reflect on the highs and lows of the past year, and hopefully, see how much we have accomplished and learned.  This past year included several great locations that turned out to be very productive and memorable. Most notably my spring trip to the Southwest, where my wife Coleen was able to join in the fun.

So let’s check out some of the photo highlights of 2015. Please feel free to vote for your favorite photos in the comment box and share this post with your friends. Also, don’t forget that all of these photos are available for purchase as Fine Art Prints and Commercial Licensing!

Many sincere thanks to all my friends, colleagues, and loyal clients for making 2015 another successful year. I wish you all a Happy New Year with the best of health and prosperity for you and your families in the coming year!

Jumbo Rocks Joshua Tree National Park California #55199  Purchase

This photo was made at the beginning of my spring southwest trip, with the first stop being Joshua Tree National Park. There is a lot to see and photograph in this park but the Jumbo Rocks have to be among the most interesting. Surrounding a great campsite Jumbo Rocks is a wonderland of whimsical granite rock formations. During our visit, I had a couple of instances of good light. This really kept me on my toes running around for interesting compositions. It definitely paid off to scout the area earlier in the day!

 Cholla Cactus, Superstition Mountains Arizona #55462  Purchase

Later on the same trip, we stopped for a few days at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. I was hoping for some dramatic photos of iconic Flatiron Peak and wildflowers. However the area was in the middle of an early season heat wave. With clear blue skies, conditions were not the best for landscape photography.  The annual bloom of wildflowers was just past peak with the heat withering them fast.

However, I did get some nice photos of one of my favorite desert subjects, the Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus. Illuminated from behind like in this photo they take on a beautiful glow. From a distance and to the uninitiated they look soft and cuddly. But if you even so much as brush lightly against the one you will experience excruciating pain. The barbs are very sharp and can penetrate thick clothing and still keep going into your flesh. I was picking barbs from the inside of my shoes for weeks after!

An evening storm over North Rim of the Grand Canyon #55558  Purchase

The last stop major on the Southwest trip was Grand Canyon, National Park. A classic location filled with endless photographic possibilities. One can spend a lifetime exploring and photographing in the park. The canyon, however, can be very frustrating since everything depends on the right light. Anytime between sunrise and sunset can offer nothing but flat washed out hazy light unless of course there are some storms moving through. Most visitors see the canyon during midday and come home with disappointing images that do not depict the grandeur and immensity of the canyon. During our stay, I was lucky to have three evenings and one morning with good light. The image above was made at sunset as a storm was beginning to clear over the North Rim.

Deception Creek North Cascades Washington #55663

May is a wonderful time in the Northwest. Everywhere there are vivid shades of greens and rushing creeks filled with snowmelt from the mountains. Deception Creek on the north border of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is a classic example of a lush cool old-growth forest. It has been many years since I hiked this short trail, and it was a pleasure just to sit and breathe in the cool scented air!

Whitewater rafting on the Skykomish River Washington #55728  Purchase

Later on the same trip, I decided to spend the afternoon sitting along the banks of the Skykomish River.  Here I photographed rafters negotiating the rapids of Boulder Drop. The Northwest was already experiencing the initial stages of drought with little winter snowpack to feed the rivers. Although the Skykomish had enough to keep these folks hooting and hollering all the way down. I had almost as much fun watching and photographing them as they did running the rapids!

Moon over Stanley Lake, Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho #55933  Purchase

My next trip in June to the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho was perhaps the most successful of the year. During my stay, several rainstorms passed through and began clearing just at the right time. These provided some beautiful light for photographing the scenes. One morning I woke up disappointed to be socked in by fog. Fortunately, it began clearing over Stanley Lake just as the sun was coming up. As I finished my work the fog closed in to shut off the view, talk about timing!

Dawn over Little Red Fish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho #56197  Purchase

Above is one of many variations of sunrise over Little Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains. This was another morning that started out looking like a dud and then really came to life as the sun rose and illuminated the clouds of a passing storm.

Owyhee Canyon sunset, Oregon #56352  Purchase

The final stop on this trip was Owyhee Canyon and the Uplands of both southwest Idaho and southeast Oregon. One of the most remote areas in the west I’ve ever visited,  you can be assured of solitude just about everywhere. The geology is fascinating, ancient basalt lava flows and ash deposits carved by rivers into dramatic cliffs and spires along with natural hot springs sprinkled throughout. The highlight of this area was an overlook of the canyon at sunset, again a clearing storm provided drama to the scene. I’m definitely coming back again to spend more time exploring and photographing, hopefully, my aging truck will survive the beating!

Pasayten Wilderness North Cascades, Washington #56447  Purchase

In the fall I made a trip to Hart’s Pass and Slate Peak in the North Cascades in search of new images of my beloved Subalpine Larch (Larix lyalli). This is another location I used to frequent often in the 90s.  I haven’t been there for many years and it felt good to be back in my old haunts. The road to Slate Peak and Hart’s Pass is the highest drivable in the state and provides an exceptional view of the eastern peaks of the North Cascades along with trailheads to numerous destinations including the Pacific Crest Trail. The above photo shows a grove of larches in full color just before an autumn snowstorm closed in.

Nooksack River, North Cascades, Washington #56544  Purchase

Finally, just a few days ago I made my first winter trip of the season to test out some new ski bindings in the Mount Baker area in preparation for winter photography. What a change from last year, the snow has been piling up for weeks and if it continues we may have a record year. I know it’s too early to say that but I feel optimistic! On the way down the Mount Baker Highway in the late afternoon, I was treated to this view of snow-covered trees along the Nooksack River.