There is something appealing about waiting at a fire lookout until the sun sets and the sky turns crimson. The crowds that throng the lookout till sunset slowly melt away, leaving oneself to enjoy the solitude of dusk. As time drags on, the deep blue hues of the distant ranges become more pronounced while stars slowly start making an appearance.
Earlier in the summer, I got to experience this moment, as I waited to make peace with the night. And the moment I snapped this composition, I realized that it would be a keeper.
You can find this and many more images in my 2023 Calendar. Use this link, and use the code CM25 to get 25% off today.
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA
2023 Photography Calendar
My 2023 landscape and nature photography calendar is now available for sale through Lulu
This calendar showcases a wide variety of landscapes from the frozen slopes of the Arctic and the Pacific Northwest to the sun-drenched cities of Italy. With the pandemic easing, we have been blessed to be able to travel and explore the different corners of the country and the world. And this calendar has captured my favorite memories and experiences.
And remember, this calendar is for a good cause - all proceeds will get donated to Sierra Club Foundation. We are gifted to have such amazing public lands, and having visited 54 National Parks and many more wilderness areas, I have come to realize the vital importance of our public lands system in protecting and preserving nature, culture, wildlife, and landscapes for the future. The Sierra Club Foundation helps secure protections for public lands and waters, promote healthy ecosystems and communities, and fight for clean air and water, and build a diverse, inclusive environmental movement that reflects and represents today’s American public, and prioritizes important connections between environmental health and social justice.
Seattle WA
USA
Misty Mountains
Backpacking in Wrangell St. Elias late in the season has its risks: you are likely to be at the whim of the Pacific storms which can dump a lot of moisture. And the short summer here means that you are going to be cold, damp and miserable if you are not moving. And if you are really lucky, you are going to be frozen in the icy north too. My sojourn in the Park had all of these, and more. But it was still an amazing experience.
Waking up in the morning after a day of hiking in the cold miserable rain, I was treated to a landscape blanketed in snow, with the morning light slowly peering through. The warming sunlight led to fog forming and drifting over the rolling hills and snow-capped peaks all around. And for a while, the landscape glowed with alternating pastels of yellow and blue. This magical landscape was the only factor that helped me brave the freezing cold that morning.
Here I tried to capture one such scene from that delightful morning walk.
Wrangell St Elias National Park
AK USA
Moonrise over the Mediterranean
Moving from the stark peaks of the Dolomiti to the azure blues of the Mediterranean was a jump in landscape, light and lifestyle. Here in Sicily, the pace was slower but richer. Every breath brought in a fresh and different aroma, and every sight was of a new vista of a village hugging a rocky coastline. The town of Taormina settles for the evening under a vibrant sunset and bright moonrise.
Taormina
Sicily, Italy
Scenes from Wrangell
After a week long backpack that traversed 27 miles of vertiginous terrain in Wrangell St Elias, I was stunned by the breathtaking scenery in just one small portion of this vast park. I have many more stories to share, but here is a quick preview of the beautiful landscape hidden in the largest National Park of the country.
Wrangell St. Elias National Park
AK USA
Colors of the sky
The Eastern Sierras is not just a desert landscape with dry granite peaks, but is a land of glistening lakes and towering mountains where mountain weather comes alive. The first one captures the reflection of the rainbow after a late afternoon thunderstorm, while the next frames the clear reflections of the mountain landscape typical of the Eastern Sierras.
Inyo National Forest
CA USA
Morning Reflections
In an alpine landscape, I normally strive to shoot reflections of the mountains catching the first light of the day. But sometimes, it pays to look in the opposite direction as well.
These were taken minutes apart at the same lake in the pre-dawn light.
Inyo National Forest
CA USA
Silhouettes at sunrise and sunset
The jagged peaks of the Vancouver Island Range and the North Cascades for spiky silhouettes on what proved to be exceptional clear sunsets and sunrises from the Olympics.
Olympic National Forest
WA USA
Shadows and light in the Palouse
The warm yellow hues of the late afternoon light, juxtaposed against the gentle shadows on the rolling terrain of the region, add the right bit of drama and depth to a scene that would been boring under the mid-day sun.
Here is one such composition where the light highlights the undulating terrain.
Palouse
WA USA
Rainier Hues
As the sun slowly made its way to the horizon after a long summer day, I was enthralled by the kaleidoscope of colors that evening, including the deep blue shadows on the Puget sound, the pink belt of venus, the orange glow atop Mt Rainier, the deep red alpenglow of the Olympics and the azure blue above. On the western horizon, I witnessed the transition between shadow and light as the line between dark and light slowly crept along the horizon towards Tahoma.
Olympic National Forest
WA USA