"The mountains are calling and I must go." John Muir

Studies show that a walk through a forest can boost immunity but it doesn’t take a scientific study to convince me of the restorative powers of communing with nature. I’ve never been as drawn to the beach as I am to the forest and mountains. However that early morning marine layer and heady scent of eucalyptus and pepper trees at my father’s home in California can take all my worries away. Does the feel of salty mist across your face at a rocky beach recharge your mind? Perhaps the quiet whoosh of fresh powder across your skies with the occasional squeak of your boots and intermittent hoop hollering of fellow skiers feeds your soul. Whatever the landscape, a meandering walk with fresh air can be just what the body and mind need.

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“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” Henry David Thoreau

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes life throws us a curveball and it’s up to us to look for moments of grace. I am so grateful to live in a region with so much to offer in terms of a reboot. Some of these images were created steps from my back door, some were discovered down the road, some were found up the road and just barely into a trail, some I hunted for down valley on a farm and one was in Bryce Canyon.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” John Muir

I truly believe that nature is a balm that soothes a lot of wounds. Art can also be quite healing, so combining the two must be double the pleasure, right?

“The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don’t pretend to be any stellar landscape photographer. I don’t own a wide angle lens beyond the 35mm and I don’t have the true dedication required by the genre that includes pre dawn wake ups. But I do get so much out of being outside and creating. This small collection of images made me feel good this year after the loss of my mother.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir

There is magic healing in the mountains.

City and Country

And now for a breather...my own kids needed a break from having a lens in their face all the time but I still had a need to create.  This led me to dabble in landscape photography in order to keep shooting.  So hard to narrow it down to a select few but again I'll start with New York and end in Colorado with a few trips thrown in there as well.

View of Lower Manhattan taken from Governor's Island

View of Lower Manhattan taken from Governor's Island

I'm a huge fan of the blue hour--that time right after the sun has sunk below the horizon.  It's a great time to combine the mixture of warm and cool colors that the tungsten light and the cooler sky provide.  I also love to experiment with different shooting techniques such as free lensing and panning while using a longer shutter speed.  Free lensing is shooting while the lens is separated from the camera body.  It can create some beautiful bokeh.  Panning is the technique of shooting while using a shutter speed that is on the longer side either on a tripod or handheld.  It changes the scene before you almost completely and can simplify a messy background or can lend an abstract look to something as mundane as trees or buildings.  

The following images are from trips to Seattle, San Juan Islands, Moab, and Leadville.....

Strong lines and starbursts can add so much interest to daytime images when the light isn't quite as interesting.

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Mount Daley is a frequent subject in my Colorado landscapes as it is a very recognizable peak in Snowmass Village with it's diagonal stripe.

and here we end with a wintery scene taken behind the gondola on Aspen Mountain.  The kids are lucky to have the opportunity to do some snowshoeing here on a field trip with the school.

These photos have me itching to get out and shoot.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area of the country, with so many opportunities to create fantastic imagery.  Are you interested in a portrait session in one of these idyllic locations?