Scenics

Fall at Quechee Gorge - Vermont, USA

The Quechee Gorge is called "Vermont's Little Grand Canyon". It was covered by glacier's 13,000 years ago and carved out by the melting glaciers. It's considered to be Vermont's most spectacular natural wonder. This top down view was taken from the bridge that crosses over the gorge, with a spectacular showing of the Fall colors that draw visitors from near and far to Vermont.

Blue Mountain Majesty - North Carolina, USA

If you love mountains as much as I do, and especially if you love blue as much as I do, it doesn't get any better than the Blue Ridge Parkway. A 469 mile stretch through the Smokey Mountains in Virginia, and North Carolina. Along this stretch, are endless and breathtaking expanses, and vistas. Famed, and aptly named for the gorgeous blue ridges. This was taken near Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Eastern U.S. I was lucky, on this day trip to Mt. Mitchell, to be treated to a fairly nice sunset, which allowed me to capture these gorgeous blue ridges in all of their majesty. I'm often asked if these are the REAL colors, and yes they absolutely are real, as the eye sees it, and as I usually aim for in my final product. Only minor enhancement to increase the vividness of the scene.

Discovery - Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts - USA

The highlight of Cape Cod National Seashore are the sand dunes. While exploring, I bumped into a Nat'l Park Ranger, and asked him what is his favorite view in the park? He pointed me to this spot up on top of the sandy cliffs. Truthfully, I was a bit underwhelmed by the view. Then I began to notice the various layers and colors among the sand, and how this contrasted beautifully with the ocean and sky. This resulted in me turning the camera to provide an interesting, skewed perspective, bringing into focus the striking contrast of beautiful colors mother nature provides here. In a scene that felt otherwise a bit mundane, I chose to look a little longer, and find the beauty that was waiting to be discovered. This piece can be hung vertically or horizontally.

White Magic - White Sands Nat'l Monument, New Mexico - USA

I believe in magic, and I believe in wonder. And I believe they can be experienced every day in the simplest of ways. The smile of a stranger is magical. The light in another's eyes. The sun peeking through the clouds. The bountiful blooms of nature. Everywhere we go, and everywhere we look, we can experience a sense of magic and wonder. Having been fortunate enough to experience the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, this sense was on maximum overload. It's a true wonder of nature. The geological process of how these pristine, towering, awe inspiring white sand dunes formed is fascinating, as is the experiencing of them. Add in the surrounding New Mexico mountains and desert flora for an extra dash of mysticism. Perhaps more than any other locale that I've experienced in my journeys, I was filled with an immensity of wonder, awe, and connection to something greater, and so much more powerful than myself. My spirit and soul was vibrating with excitement and aliveness, in this place of pure magic.

Picture Perfect - Cherohola Skyway, North Carolina - USA

A perfectly picturesque dusting of snow along the Cherohala Skyway, winding across, and along the Tennesee-North Carolina border in the Smokey Mountains. Decided to explore this national scenic byway on a December day. The threat of snow was minimal, so I was a bit surprised, and even a bit anxious when it began to fall at the higher elevations. Thankfully, it stopped, and the anxiety turned to pure excitement, as it turned out to be just enough to provide this fantastic, lovely scenery along the drive, including this picture perfect vista.

Pines to Palms - Garner Valley, California - USA

Garner Valley is a beautiful remote area of California, on the Pines to Palms highway, west of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains National Forest. I spent the day exploring the area, and fell head over heels in love with these vast, and beautiful fields, completely blanketed in yellow wildflowers. In this scene are the pine trees, abundantly found, and native to the area, as well as the San Jacinto Mountains seen in the distance.

Fall Fascination - Glen, New Hampshire - USA

Much of my work comes from stopping the car when passing a scene that fascinates me, often standing on a thin shoulder of road, with cars buzzing by, probably thinking I'm crazy! This is one of those times, and one of the more memorable of them. A beautiful roadside scene in a tiny NH town, on the edge of the White Mountains. I especially love creating art from these spontaneous, inspired moments of awe and fascination with every day scenes that are available to all of us, and are so often overlooked.

Fantastic Farewell - New Hampshire, USA

New Hampshire captured my heart in many different ways. Being there during the peak Fall colors certainly helped with the romanticism, and allowing it to make it's way into my heart forever. While driving on my way out of New Hampshire, just before entering Maine, I was treated to this absolutely lovely scenic view. What more could I have asked for while saying farewell to my new love? Fall colors, valley, mountains, and foggy clouds rolling through. What a way to remember her by.

The Land of Wow - Jemez Mountains, New Mexico - USA

The 1,000 words of this image sum up how I feel about North Central New Mexico. They call NM the land of enchantment, and it is incredibly enchanting. In this moment, it was the "Land of Wow". Spent the day on a scenic drive through the Jemez Mtns. I was already in a state of heavenly bliss from the breathtaking, and diverse treasures found on this drive. One of the best in America. When I looked out to this scene, my heart skipped a beat, I stepped out of the vehicle, and exclaimed out loud: "WOW". I've attempted to convey the feeling in this capture, with fairly minimal post processing. This is the scene, as seen.

Valles Caldera National Preserve - New Mexico - USA

The Valles Caldera (volcanic crater) in the gorgeous Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, a 13 mile expanse, created 1.25 million years ago is quite a lovely scene.. the expansive views, meandering streams, and huge herds of Elk are the highlights.

Happy Place - Dana Point, California - USA

This rocky cove is a popular spot. I managed to capture this while a small wedding was taking place just to the right of the image. I sure do love rocks, especially rocks on the beach, and this fantastic cove delivers plenty of them! Cliffs, rocks, gentle waves rolling in, and retracting, and the sun setting is quite a prescription for my happy place, despite the crowd. In my own world of bliss and happiness, the streaks in the sand, from the waves retracting, is what captured my adoration during this sunset, and became the focal point of the capture.

Cotton Candy Cliffs - Torrey Pines, California - USA

High up on the cliffs in Torrey Pines. I had to hike down the hill a little bit, and work my way through some shrubs to get this magnificent, unobstructed view. Just on the other side of the cliffs, to the right, is the famous PGA Torrey Pines golf course. Southern California's coastal sunsets are often breathtaking & mesmerizing. This one was actually quite muted compared to many. Having ventured to the cliffs, I was hoping for one of those unforgettable sunset experiences, and while it didn't happen, I can't say I was disappointed! The pleasant, soft, cotton candy hues were quite pleasing. I feel this piece exemplifies an important realization. We can always look for and find the beauty in life, even when there is a let down in our hopes or expectations.

Portland Head Leap - Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine - USA

They say this is possibly the most photographed light house in America. So naturally, I wanted to capture it in a way that would be a different perspective than countless others. The most fascinating aspect of this historic landmark, and of Maine in general, in my estimation, is the incredible craggy, rocky coast line. Being a lover of geology, and these formations, I wanted it to be the feature of the image. To do this, I had to take a leap over a fence, and ignore a few signs telling me not to do so. I felt this was the best way for me to capture this iconic scene, and I couldn't possibly settle for less. I've been told that the fence has since been removed.

Adirondack Rising - Adirondack Mountains, New York - USA

This sunrise in the Adirondack Mountains of New York filled me with an immense feeling of awe and gratitude for the beauty and majesty of Mother Nature, and life. Left the campsite extra early this morning, before sunrise, with no particular destination in mind. Stopped at this lake, just one of the 3,000 lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks, feeling it would be a wonderful place to watch the sun rise over the mountains. I was already feeling an excitement and connection to the pristine beauty surrounding me, which was added to by this magnificent scene. The rising sun, clouds, calm waters, and silky, metallic reflection fulfilled my soul, and was quite the reward for a somewhat rare early morning rising.

Southwest at It's Best - Southwest Texas, USA

The Pecos River deep in Southwest Texas, near the Mexico border. Passed by this fascinating landscape while driving deep in a remote area of Texas, on the way to Big Bend National Park. Having traveled from the Southeast, across the South through Texas, it was when I arrived at this stunning scene that I felt I had officially arrived in the Southwest. Known for it's vast landscapes, canyons, and rock formations, I felt that this unexpected scene well represented the Southwest at it's Best.

Big Sur Cliff Wildflowers - Big Sur Coast, California - USA

A roadside stop along the famed Big Sur California Coast Highway 1. An expansive view, highlighting these incredible ocean cliffs, lush green, and summertime wildflowers.

Top Notch - White Mountains, New Hampshire - USA

The peak Fall color in New Hampshire is nothing short of magical. And nothing tops the color found in Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains National Forest.

Philo-sophical - Mount Philo, Vermont - USA

“Fear passes by like a cloud in the sky. I smile and wave, as it knows that it has no need to stay, and I know it has no more power over me than a passing cloud. Both are merely an observable phenomena.. and both a welcome part of the human experience. Cya later fear.. til next time” Rural expanse of Vermont from Mount Philo, looking west toward Lake Champlain & the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

Wooden Shoe Surprises #1 - Woodburn, Oregon - USA

I'd never been to a tulip field before, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, beyond the obvious; tulips and crowds of people. Although the only one I've attended, I can't imagine it gets much better than Oregon's Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. It draws visitors from around the world who are visiting Oregon in Spring, featuring endless rows of colorful tulips, surrounded by beautiful scenery. I didn't arrive at the ideal time, but made due with what remained on display. What I didn't quite expect was such an incredible variety of colors and designs, and left with a profound appreciation for this glorious creation. It was an enchanting time of immersion, losing myself in their beauty, and overflowing with gratitude for the experience. I also didn't expect to leave with 352 clicks, quads that remained sore for several days after, and a sunburn on the spot where my hair used to be!

Gray Day - Seal Rock, Oregon - USA

Oregon coast weather tends to be gray. A lot. That didn't deter me from exploring Seal Rock State Park on this day. The most interesting feature of the area is clearly the towering rock formations, commonly found on the Oregon Coast. Color was not required to capture the silhouette of these beauties. Seagulls hanging out around the forefront rock provided extra context. This was a moody, gray day, and when I created the capture, I envisioned it as a moody black and white.

Big Surreality - Big Sur, CA

A roadside stop at sunset along the famed CA-1 coastal highway. I was passing through with no particular sunset destination, and decided that this would suffice as the light was disappearing quickly. I consider this 76 mile stretch of highway through Big Sur to be the premier scenic drive in America, as it provides a mystifying, awe inspiring combination of mountainous terrain, forestry, and rocky shore, all on display in this surreal sundown scene.