My last visit to Costa rica was over a decade ago, and yet I still remember walking along sand beaches where the mountains capped with cloud forests met the Pacific, exploring volcanoes rising up from the thick jungles along the spine of the country, and relaxing on sunswept beaches lining the azure waters of the Pacific. It felt like a land that offered a slice of the 'pure life'.
Have you been here? What has been your favorite memory from here?
Costa Rica
Walking around barefoot on the soft sand is an experience like no other. And when I am in the Mesquite sand dunes in Death Valley National Park at the wrong time of day, I try to sample such an experience. However, when the sun starts dipping towards the horizon, I start focusing on the rich patterns formed by the undulating dunes, with the mesquite bush anchoring the wind-swept surfaces.
Perhaps the biggest challenge here may be getting away from the crowds to find your own undisturbed spot in the dunes. Which one is your favorite?
Death Valley national Park
CA USA
The term badlands are perhaps a misnomer as this unique terrain is more than just bad lands. Out here, you can spot layers of colorful sediments and clay rich soils exposed by the erosion patterns. Multiple parks in this part of the country feature such badlands, but perhaps the most famous of these is Badlands National Park. My personal favorite is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Badlands, however, offers very accessible bad lands along with glimpses of the prairie dog life in one easy drive. Here are scenes from Badlands National Park that highlight the unique geology of this place. Which one's your favorite?
Badlands National Park
SD USA
One of the few things that the central American nation of Nicaragua shares with the Pacific Northwest is the abundance of volcanoes. After all, it is the same ring of fire that stretches down from the Alaskan coast through the narrow isthmus of Central America down to Patagonia. And by virtue of being in the tropics, the volcanoes of Nicaragua can be ascended year around, unlike those of the Pacific Northwest.
Here are views from and of two volcanoes, Concepcion and Mombacha, that dot the Nicaraguan ring of fire.
Nicaragua
Even though the tulip blooms only last a couple of weeks, they put on a kaleidoscopic show of color that draws in tourists in record numbers. Perhaps it is their fleeting nature that makes them so special - they certainly would lose their charm if their blooms last the entire year.
Which one do you like the most?
Skagit Valley
WA USA
With travel now opening up generally, where are you planning to go next? What are your fondest travel memories?
I still fondly remember walking down narrow alleyways of the walled city in Chefchaouen where every door, walk, step and adornment was dunked in a rich blue color. After immersing myself in the hustle and bustle of a working medina during the day, I returned back early the following morning to capture the place in silence, where the only sounds were those of a barking dog and a crowing rooster.
Chefchaouen
Morocco
On a rare storm-free winter weekend in Washington, I managed to sneak out to the Olympic coast in search of some color after a long spell of the famous PNW greys. Thankfully the sky opened up that weekend for what turned out to be a remarkable sunset. I tried multiple compositions of that sunset, trying to frame the seastack and the small tidepools with the setting sun. This was one such outcome from that memorable sunset
Olympic National Park
WA USA
High in the eastern slopes of the cascades, the larches break out in a brilliant orange color in unison, transforming the dry green landscape to a vibrant gold. And in the right locations, this is a scene to behold.
Okanogan Wenatchee National Fores
WA USA
Earlier this year, I embarked on an short winter hike on a remarkably sunny day. Hiking through the thin fog that hugged the forest floor, I came across this scene where the sun broke through the fog. I realized this was the perfect opportunity to capture the volumetric lighting enabled by this fog. Specifically, I was looking for the chiaroscuro from the sunlight striking the trees trunks in a specific angle, wile leaving the rest of it in shadows. With the right framing, this can lead to a powerful composition
Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA
