Summers in northern California are dominated bluebird skies with not a speck of white, a balmy sun and glistening waters. The is why the Bay Area has such a sunny disposition. But the occasional winter storm does roll in, and when it does, it peppers the sky with beautiful clouds that, at sunset, is the canvas over which nature paints vibrant yellows, oranges and reds.
This was one such sunset a few years ago at the Alviso Marina in the southern part of the Bay.
Alviso Marina County Park
CA USA
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that had made all the difference"
The spring of 2017 found me driving on one of the most remote roads in the heart of Morocco. That lonely highway crossed the high Atlas that formed the spine of Morocco. It cut through spectacular montane terrain, deep river canyons and antiquated mud-brick villages. Every new turn in the road brought about more unforgettable imagery.
This was one such amazing scene that awaited me on that memorable journey.
Tislite
Morocco
There are times when light lines up. And when that happens in the mountains, it can lead to an explosion of color like nothing else. And as a photographer, you have to be at the right place at the right time to capture nature's showtime.
I was fortunate to be at the right place to capture this one. The summer days in the Canadian Rockies, during the week I spent exploring the nooks and crannies of the montane terrain, were 16 hour long days filled with vibrant moments like these inbetween long periods of cloudy weather. But these vivid interludes more than made up for the exhausting week in the beautiful Rockies.
Saskatchewan Crossing
AB Canada
I stumbled through the soft snow to the frosty riverbank of the Merced river. The cold waters meandered glacially, it's still surface reflecting the winter landscape of Yosemite valley. Skeletons of trees hugged the icy shores, frostbitten remnants of a lush green summer. Tall dark conifers punctuated the landscape beyond, stalwarts of the polar temperatures. A moody grey sky completed the mood, with a thick mist dropping down to the treeline lending a mysterious aura.
This was one of my winter sojourns many winters ago in Yosemite National Park. It saddens me that such a beautiful treasure has to stay closed due to the shutdown. My thoughts go to the Park employees and Rangers.
Yosemite National Park
CA USA
The Remarkables is a remarkable set of mountain ranges that dominate the mountane terrain of Queenstown. And one of the best places to appreciate this vista is from atop the Skyline Gondola. An endless blue sky punctuated with clouds drawn by a paintbrush reflects on the glistening waters of Lake Wakatipu. Rising up from it's long coastline are the Remarkables on one side, and towering mountain peaks on the other. This is the amazing setting for Queenstown, an unforgettable adventure destination.
Queenstown
Otago, New Zealand
The trail wound it's way along a sun-dappled slope, weaving in and out of trees, with vast vistas of a hilly landscape beyond. Passing through the highest point of Thailand, the trail was in the domain of a montane cloudforest, with fast-moving clouds rising up from the steamy lowlands below and condensing on the cool and crisp slopes of the Shan Hills in the northern corner of the country.
Walking along this trail, with a spectacular scenery to give company, was a great way to end 2018.
Doi Inthanon
Thailand
One of the country's best kept treasures are it's amazing systems of 60 National Parks. I have spent countless sunrises and sunsets exploring nooks and crannies of many of the parks, and every one of them has managed to surprise me, not just in their natural beauty, but in the people who have worked to preserve this for posterity. It takes incredible foresight and effort to manage the many competing goals of such a system, and that has constantly left me in awe of this challenge.
And now, the unneeded shutdown, instigated by the theatrics of a clown, has thrown a wrench in a delicately balanced environment. While federal employees all over the country do suffer, it pains me to see the what the park system is going through to continue it's mission. Full props to the brave people who have worked tirelessly to this effort. And if you are a fan of the National Parks, I urge you to do your part: volunteer your time or money to the various Park foundations that assist the National Park System.
When my hands are finally healed, I hope to lend my hand to heal the National parks as well. I feel it is a moral obligation to return the favor for all the joyous moments I have experienced in the amazing National Park System. You can help too: purchase my 2019 calendar, and all proceeds will be split between the National Park Foundation and WildAid
Seattle
WA USA
The cold winds blowing down from the Cascades chills me to my very bone. The count of weeks without seeing the blue sky even a single day keep increasing. The struggle to wake up at dark to leave in the freezing hours of the morning, and return hours after sunset is getting to me. The dreaded Seasonal Affective Disorder is upon the Pacific Northwest, and trying to keep spirits up in these trying times requires a spirited effort.
It is this dearth of light that makes spring and summer glorious here, where the rays of sunlight evokes a new awakening, a warmth that revitalizes the soul. And that is why I look forward to the next spring, where the bloom of the tulips heralds the welcome to the new year.
Find this image in my 2019 Calendar.
Skagit Valley
WA USA
I am super excited to announce this year's 2019 Calendar. It features 13 photos that highlight the diversity of the National Parks all over the country, and the spectacular beauty of the Pacific Northwest, which I now call home.
And remember, this calendar is for a good cause - all proceeds will get donated to two charities whose work I empathize with: National Park Foundation and WildAid.
Having visited 40 National Parks, I have come to realize the vital importance of our National Park system in protecting and preserving nature, culture, wildlife, and landscapes for the future. The National Park Foundation helps safeguard our national heritage, ensuring generations of national park enthusiasts can enjoy the parks we love.
Illegal wildlife trade has had a serious impact on the populations of many endangered species. While there are efforts to curb poaching, WildAid believes in attacking the demand side of the equation by persuading consumers and strengthening enforcement. I do hope that they succeed in their mission.
You can now purchase this calendar at Lulu.
The grass, green after their long winter slumber, carpeted the rolling hillscape. Skeletons of oak trees dotted this early spring landscape, awaiting warmer temperatures to don new leaves. And it was in this beautiful setting that I was wrapping up one of my last spring hikes of the East Bay foothills before I moved out of California.
The various parks and preserves that dot the eastern side of the Bay Area were a haven of peace and solitude, a welcome retreat from the bustling activity of the Bay. While they stay golden through most of the year, in spring, the life-giving rains paint the hills with a verdant green quite reminiscent of England. And for a short time that the green lasted, the trails here were my pathway to multitudes of photographic opportunities.
As the New Year approaches, nostalgia for one of my favorite hiking destinations rises strongly in my mind. I hope I get to hike there once again.
Sunol Regional Wilderness
CA USA
