Sunsets & Sunrises
The "click to shop" button takes you to my store, with a selection of personal favorites available for immediate purchase.
Through The Pines - Idyllwild, CA
I was camping at about a mile high elevation near Idyllwild, CA in the San Jacinto Mountains. Having scoped this spot out earlier in the day, I anxiously returned to soak in & capture the sunset. Idyllwild is a magical place, surrounded by towering pine trees. The sunsets are sublime, looking westward over 100 miles towards the California coast. I had captured 5 or 6 "art worthy" shots from this sunset, and this one produced the most memorable feeling. In the moment, an idea sparked. Find a spot where I can frame the sun inside of the pines. So I ran around with camera in hand, becoming filled with happiness & excitement when I found my spot, knowing it would convey the majesty of this sublime setting & sunset.
Gulf Coast Enchantment - Clearwater, Florida - USA
While exploring this beautiful beach town, I was treated to this enchanting and magnificent sunset, exemplary of W. Florida. While strolling the shoreline, I noticed the pelican perched on this no swimming sign. Filled with excitement, I moved quickly, getting into position to capture it, feeling it would be the perfect signature for this In the Moment capture. Thankfully he hung around for a minute while I fired away. The subtlety of the bird captured in the background was a pleasant, surprise addition.
Not So Pedestrian Sunset - Salem, Oregon - USA
The beautifully constructed Peter Courtney Minto Island Pedestrian Bridge in Salem, Oregon. Referred to as the "taco bridge" by Salemanders. A pedestrian bridge, but not so pedestrian sunset. I'd been telling myself for a while that I wanted to capture a sunset at this wonderful architectural landmark connecting two of Salem's city parks. On this day, I noticed some beautiful cloud cover, and thought there would be a good chance of capturing what I'd envisioned. I was certainly not disappointed by this display, which delivered the feeling of awe & wonder I attempt to convey through my work. Camera in hand, I shuffled around quite a bit, until that familiar feeling came over me, signaling the perfect spot & moment to capture the joy & glory of this Not So Pedestrian Sunset.
High Tide Impressions - Wakonda Beach, OR
Beachside State Park. Drove to the beach to simply watch the sunset. Plans immediately changed in the parking lot, when I spotted these incredible pools of water left from high tide. As the sun was nearly set, and darkness was impending, I literally ran down to the beach, at least 100 yards, through thick sand full of wood debris. I wanted enough time and light to make these pools the focus of the capture. I take care in editing not to "over do it", but threw all reservations out the window here, because the scene left such an impression on me, that I wanted the final product to do the same.
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.
Cotton Candy Cliffs - Torrey Pines, California - USA
High up on the cliffs in Torrey Pines. This sunset was a bit muted compared to many in So Cal., but I was very pleased with the pleasant, soft cotton candy hues. 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.
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.
Summer Sanctuary Sunrise - Dayton, Ohio - USA
This Summer time prairie was found along the roadside in Dayton, Ohio. A rare occasion of me waking up, and setting out on an excursion before the sun rises. I set out with no particular destination in mind, and ended up on Dog Leg Road, just north of Shiloh, near the Stillwater River. The original idea was to find a sunrise scene with the river in it, but it wasn't providing me what I was looking for at this spot. So I drove along, and just past the river, found this lovely prairie, which was actually designated as a "Nature Sanctuary" with a posted sign. Sometimes plans change, and sometimes for the better. It's important to be adaptable, and go with the flow. In doing so, I found this sanctuary, which provided me everything one could ask for in an early morning sunrise. Wildflowers, dew, mist, a beautiful painted sky, and most importantly, joy and happiness.
Bitter Cold Beauty - Dayton, Ohio - USA
Just because it's bitterly cold outside doesn't mean it's any less beautiful. You just have to be willing and available to recognize the beauty that is often unseen. Sunset from atop the hills at Hills and Dales Park.
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.
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.
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.
Serenity - Lincoln City, Oregon - USA
It's hard to put into words just how majestic, powerful, and transformative the ocean is. When I am alone, present, in it's presence, I feel the presence of the Almighty, and a connection to our divine source, aka God. Although it's difficult to describe the ocean's effect, one word that comes to mind is "Serenity". This, among many other feelings, was felt in this moment of time. I actually came to this beach spot to try and create a capture with a rock formation that I fell in love with earlier in the day. However, with the tides changing, it didn't work out as I'd hoped. I captured this while en route to the rock formation. Needless to say, I'm very happy with the decision to stop, and be present in this moment of serenity, instead of passing it up for the rock scene that didn't work out.
Golden Glory - Mission Beach, CA
One of my first trips to the beach after purchasing my first DSLR, years ago. I'll always remember the excitement of being at the ocean with a "real" camera. This wasn't your typical, spectacularly colored SoCal sunset. Absent of the reds, oranges, and purples that are so breathtaking. Regardless, this thick layer of clouds on the horizon provided a very deep and rich golden hue to the sky, water and sand. A sunset that may have been a disappointment in the eyes of some, become a scene of Golden Glory in my eyes.
Another one of my personal favorites. This was the first time I set out on day long photographic journey, roaming the hills of Temecula, CA. This was taken to the East of wine country on Black Mountain Road, between Lake Skinner & Diamond Valley Lake. I was very happy to come across this peak with beautiful views of the mountainous landscape, and the color in the sky at this moment in time was simply magnificent.
The sunset was so spectacular this evening that I created six different pieces from it. We were camping high up in the mountains near Idyllwild, CA in the San Jacinto Mountains. I scoped the spot out earlier in the day, and anxiously returned & camped out for sunset. To me, this feels like a sunset you would see on another planet, with the intensity of the red, and the vast mountainous landscape.
Silky Sunset at the Pier - Long Beach, CA
A sunset stroll down the shoreline. First time venturing to the pier provided me this gloriously colored sunset. The silky reflection of the orange and purple hues is what captivated, and moved me to turn on the camera. This resulted from the very gently moving ocean with virtually no waves. This image is nearly untouched in editing.
The sunset was so spectacular this evening that I created six different pieces from it. We were camping high up in the mountains near Idyllwild, CA in the San Jacinto Mountains. I scoped the spot out earlier in the day, and anxiously returned & camped out for sunset. This is looking westward over the Hemet Valley & toward the ocean. Diamond Valley Lake can be seen in the shot. I really enjoyed how much of the sky was covered by the golden/orange hues of this magnificent sunset.
Key West Magic - Key West, Florida - USA
Key West is famed for it's sunsets. So much so, that they have a nightly celebration-festival on their boardwalk-dock, packed with crowds, artists, performers, and of course, paid parking. The one night I was there, the magic in the sky did not disappoint! It was truly a challenge capturing it among the hordes of others doing the same. I managed to make way through the crowd for an unobstructed view, without stepping on any hands or toes that I can recall. This sailboat made a timely appearance, providing a lovely signature on the memory.
Cape Cod Compromise - Cape Cod National Seashore, Mass. - USA
Cape Cod national seashore is known for it's sand dunes. I spent much of the day exploring these dunes, and find them to be quite fascinating. So much so, that I had a hard time pulling myself away in time to get to a good spot for sunset. As the sun began setting I scurried to try and find a trail that would allow me to get to the beach and have an ocean view. I was quickly walking along this trail, as the color in the sky peaked with this glorious showing. I realized in that moment that I wasn't going to make it in time for the ocean view. So I relaxed, and I compromised with what was in front of me. A wonderful reminder to appreciate the beauty that is always right in front us, right now. I chose to use these colorful bushes, wildflower field, and signature cape cod sandy trail as the foreground against the backdrop of this magnificent sky. Per usual, this was taken in the moment, by hand. It's not a long exposure as it may seem. The amazing spread of colors across the sky was exactly as seen by the eye.
Unexpected Beauty - Temecula, California - USA
"Life is all about perspective, and how we choose to see it. As we more consciously choose to see the good, and the beauty in the world, it begins to appear in unexpected places." - BBB This is a special piece to me, as I captured it in my very own backyard, on the day that my first DSLR arrived in the mail. Having hardly an idea of what I was doing with the camera, I stepped into the backyard to find this guy camping out, and chose to see beauty in a place that most would not. It's been commented more than once that it looks like I photoshopped the spider into this shot, and that is certainly not the case!
The sunset was so spectacular this evening that I created six different pieces from it. We were camping high up in the mountains near Idyllwild, CA in the San Jacinto Mountains. I scoped the spot out earlier in the day, and anxiously returned & camped out for sunset. I call it "Like A Dream" because it feels so very surreal. This image is altered a bit heavier than most to give it the very dramatic depth of colors & contrasts.
California Love - Oceanside, California - USA
I've seen quite a few ocean sunsets throughout Southern California, and they're just one of the many reasons why I love the state. I was particularly excited in this moment, during this capture. The beautiful, big rolling waves, lovely color palette, and streaking sunlight came together in fantastic harmony, and reminded me why I Love California.
Long Beach Beauty - Long Beach, CA
Nothing particularly exceptional about this scene on this day. Just your average, beautifully, vibrantly blue Southern California sky, and vibrantly blue water. The Long Beach skyline, and hills of Rancho Palos Verdes are in the distance. My "Silky Sunset at the Pier", also in this gallery, was taken on the same day as I strolled further down the shoreline.