Yosemite Valley

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Craig

This is another classical view of Yosemite National Park. It was taken along the Merced River near the Pohono Bridge where Rt. 140 splits. Since there’s a parking area along the river, there are always a few photographers taking in the view. So it’s certainly not a unique view since there were dozens of photographers there that day taking the same picture.

Yosemite Valley at Yosemite National Park

I like the shot even though it really isn’t much more than a high resolution snapshot. The rocks in the river lead you into the image, and the yellow and green foliage contrast nicely with the blue sky. As a bonus, the river is calm enough to clearly show reflections of El Capitan.

The other thing I like about it is that it’s my picture. Yes, lots of other photograhers have taken a photo from the same place, but I haven’t. This is my version of the classic image.  I can look at this picture and remember the day I was there.

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A Visit to Yosemite

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Craig

This photo was taken from the Tunnel View overlook at Yosemite National Park,  one of the classical vantage points in Yosemite. It’s been said that it’s one of the most photographed scenes in the world, and it certainly provides a fantastic view of an amazing valley.

Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park

It was the final morning of my visit to the park and I really debated the value of getting up early to make the trip to the overlook. It was about a 30 minute drive from my motel, and for the last two mornings there had been clear blue skies with no clouds to add color or interest. As it turned out, I woke up early and decided to make the trip anyway. Surprisingly, there was only one other photographer there that morning to enjoy the show, and what a show it was. The high clouds drifting in from the west arrived at the same time as the light from the rising sun in the east, and the result was spectacular!

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How About a Date?

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Craig

Here’s a quick look at a date palm tree we discovered near the Palm Springs area. I’ve always heard of Palm Springs, but I never realized that it got its name because of California palm trees that were growing along spring fed creeks. It’s an amazing feeling to walk along a trail filled with plants and trees to the left and have barren rocks on the right.

Date palm tree

We also explored the Salton Sea area just south-east of Palm Springs. The sea itself was disappointing, but the date palm farms were fascinating. It looked like most were about ready to harvest – the trees were just dripping with dates. Fortunately we had seen an episode of “Dirty Jobs” featuring date palms, so we were some versed in the process.

Date palm farm

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Another Photo from Jasper National Park, Canada

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Craig

I thought I’d post another photo from our trip through the Canadian Rockies this past summer. The photo itself is pretty mundane since it lacks dramatic lighting or a clear foreground subject, but the scenery is spectacular. We were driving up one of the very curvy roads to a glacier and stopped at one of the “scenic overlooks” along the way. It was easy to be blown away by the view. Beautiful scenery doesn’t necessarily translate into beautiful photos, but I do feel like this photo portrays the grandeur of the mountains reasonably well.

Jasper National Perk, Canada

That particular day was quite memorable. We had just hiked to a spectacular waterfall, and then drove by a black bear eating berries in the woods right next to the road. Later in the day, we added moose and elk to our list of critters we’d encountered. And of course, the scenery was just fantastic everywhere we went. In other words, it was a day filled with memories.

As a photographer, it’s important to be able to separate the image from your own memories. This image evokes memories for me, but other viewers won’t have my memories – they only see the image. The challenge for a photographic artist is to communicate emotions that you want the viewer to feel even though they won’t have your memories. Hopefully, when you look at this photo, you’ll be struck with the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

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It’s Time for some Color

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Craig

After two black and white photos in a row, I feel a need to post a colorful image. In fact, color is the dominant feature in this image. I love the deep red in the clouds on the horizon contrasting against the deep blues in the sky above and water in the foreground. The photo was actually taken after sunset, during the period known as “civil twilight,” which is the period just after the sun has set (or just before the sun rises). In fact, many of my favorite photos were taken during civil twilight.

Sunset at Goose Pool at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

If you’d like to see this and many other of my photos in person, be sure to stop by the Pekin, Illinois public library. Around 20 of my photos are on display in the entryway during the month of October.

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