"Mt Hood during the winter is many things. Obviously beautiful and
breathtaking, particularly during snowy conditions such as this day.
But it is also a very unforgiving landscape, one humans were not really
designed to last in very long at all. The recent spate of climber
accidents certainly reminds us of this, but I was particularly reminded
of this looking at the gnarled and weather-beaten trees that dot the area
around Timberline Lodge. The conditions at the time were near-whiteout
and the wind had whipped my ears into a bearable numbness just a few
minutes after leaving the lodge. I lasted out there a couple of hours,
this tree has been there for years. It is interesting how something so
twisted and beaten can still have such a sense of beauty to it. I was
really drawn to this tangle of wood."
He Bore Stoic Witness to it All by Zeb Andrews
This was my first time to Sedona Arizona and I can safely say that it will not be my last. If you have not been there, I highly recommend it. Marika and I drove over from Phoenix. The drive was very easy and had many scenic views. Upon driving into Sedona, it was instantly breathtaking with many red rocks surrounding the small town and a creek adding the finishing touch. We found a good spot to pull off the road to look at the scenery and hopes to capture the beauty I saw. There was a hill that made a good vantage point so we went to the top and set up.
The light was not the greatest as you can see above, but there was a thick cloud cover and it looked as though Mother Nature was brewing up something special. In the past, I have been disappointed with conditions, packed up and left the location too early only to discover that on my way home I missed a beautiful sunset.
I was looking at a beautiful rock formation when all of a sudden, the colors seemed to change as though a light switch had been turned on. The moment was breathtaking! I turned around from the vantage point and looked towards Cathedral Rock to see the sun peaking through a small space between the clouds and the top of the red rock.
The combination was magical and it looked as though the ridge was on fire. The clouds were silky blue. To capture this I used a two stop graduated filter and turned it upside down, darkening the rocks so they were just a silhouette, as well as keeping the red of sunset. It was a 15 second exposure which allowed for a moody image of this stunning desert area.
Arizona Jewel by Bartram Donovan
A recent "Big Wednesday" was enough to get one of our photographers in the local area up before sunrise to capture the huge surf hitting the La Jolla breakwall at Children's Pool. Wave faces reached heights of 15 foot and beyond.
Bend but Don't Break by Bartram Donovan
"I am drawn to photograph primarily by the "light" and only secondarily
by the subject. I search for that special kind of light that can
transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This brings me out at
seemingly odd times---sunrise, sunset, during storms and snowstorms.
The weather can be miserable. But when everything comes together for a
photograph, all that is quickly forgotten."
Charles Cramer, in Alaska, getting his 4x5 Linhof field camera ready to shoot.
Scott Reither traveled far into Wrangell St. Elias and Denali National Parks, explored the Turnagain Arm down to
Homer, Seward, and Valdez, and had some amazing experiences taking in
glaciers such as this- the Matanuska Glacier north of Anchorage. "I spent my first night in Alaska camping here and my first
morning offered a spectacular view of sweet light, ice and glassy reflection that
was the beginning of an unforgettable month long trip. Alaska is vast beyond belief and so is her beauty, and it was a privilege to have been able to spend time immersed in this place of natural wonder."
Matanuska Glacier, Alaska
Jason Christensen waiting patiently for the magic light at Lake Powell with his Toyo 4x5 field camera.
Reverence
Bartram Donovan and Scott Reither in the field photographing California's most breathtaking waterfalls in Shasta County.
Bartram photographing with the square format...
Fresh
While Scott is using a panoramic format...
Mystery Falls
It's not too often that a photographer gets perfect weather and light over several straight days, but during this quick trip to Shasta County to capture some stunning waterfalls, we considered ourselves lucky. At one point, we stopped to photograph Middle McCloud Falls. It was noon and not ideal shooting conditions, but when we needed it, a large cloud came overhead to block the direct light and allowed me to capture "Mystery Falls". Bartram took advantage too and was able to capture "River Spirit".
Bartram explores the canyon for interesting compositions.
Sinuous
"I think people react to the serenity in the photographs as a refuge
from the chaos of our world, much like the serenity I experienced when
taking the photograph. We respond to what we want to see."
David Fokos with his 85 year old, 8x10 Korona View Camera near his favorite subject...the sea.
West Chop Poles