Floating Along :: OR
When I was younger, I used to think that adults had it all figured out. Now, I’m certain that adulting is a mix of taking guesses and muddling through the situations you find yourself in. Going with the flow, if you will.
This shot was taken in Oregon, on the way to Tamanawas Falls. It was a dang lovey hike, and the perfect way to start my visit to the Mt. Hood area.
Stubborn Beauty :: OR
On my visit to Oregon last year, we (obviously) explored the Columbia River Gorge to see some waterfalls. This intimate scene was tucked away in the rocks at Wahclella falls. I loved the tenacity of this little flower, and the way the light fell (because light is everything!)
I tried, and failed, to figure out what type of flower it is…but ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Like all plants, it serves an important function as a rest stop for native pollinators. ….. If you just asked what the heck that means, the short version is that native pollinators such as bees, moths, ants, beetles, butterflies, birds, bats, etc all help plant species thrive and without their help we would have a food shortage of critical proportions. Over the last 10 years or so, pollinators have faced significant challenges in the form of mites and fungus, habitat loss, pesticides, etc all contributing to a massive population decline. Want to help? Consider keeping a garden with a variety of native plants that bloom for as much of the year as possible.
Also…Yes, I named this photo after a brewery in CT. Lol
2016 was a year of photographic growth for me. I set several technical goals for myself as a way of pushing myself to be consistently better at my craft, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I’ll admit, it was often a mix of trial and error (a lot of error), persistence, and supportive people around me but I feel like I made a noticeable difference in the quality of my images.
This year, I made a consistent effort to focus stack where appropriate, to really keep an eye on my histogram so that I wasn’t shooting 12 frames when I really needed 1 or 2, and I tried improving both my night sky/milky way techniques and lightning images. Those in-the-field efforts are represented in this “Best of…” gallery.
I’ve also grown in the editing arena, an area we can always work on, no matter how accomplished we are. I feel like my ability to *see* the weak areas of a raw image, and my ability to enhance the light in a positive way with my edits has grown immeasurably. Again, this was a matter of practice, feedback and support from my peers. I’m particularly proud of my Opal Creek wilderness forest shot, as it involved some creative shaping of the light.
The winter image in the gallery was a conscious attempt to force myself out of hibernation. Apparently, I need to do that more often – turns out winter light is lovely! Lol
And finally, the biggest reason I chose all of these images was the LIFE they represent.
I suspect it’s human nature to take things for granted – we developed our ability to tune things out as part of our survival mechanisms (because how could our ancestors focus on important things like hunting and gathering if they were constantly distracted by…oh, the wind! Oh, shiny rock! Oh, noise! Oh, a bird! What was I doing again??). Therefore, it takes a conscious effort to remember to appreciate the blessings in our life.
Write that life lesson down, folks. It’s particularly important in the relationships you hold dear.
So where am I going with this? Well, I’m an American woman. Currently, that means the law considers me to be a person with inherent rights, one of which is the ability to obtain resources and pursue my life aspirations. On the whims of fate, I was born here. I am not viewed as property, or less than human. I have the stability provided by a nation dedicated to protecting our freedoms. I am educated. Compared to so many places in the world, I grew up like a queen – I had food, clean water, health care, and never had the threat of war, unrest and violence looming on my doorstep every day. Although America isn’t perfect, I am GRATEFUL every day for the progressive ideas that surrounds me. As a country we can always improve. We are but a nation of flawed humans afterall, and will always have room to be better versions of ourselves…. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t already holding the human rights bar pretty high and I desperately hope we continue to do so abundantly, and equally across the country.
Because I was blessed be born in a place that respects my rights and raised to believe in pursuing my dream (so much thanks to my family for always inspiring and encouraging me), I have seen and experienced SO MUCH JOY all in pursuit of a photograph. I have traveled to places that have stolen my breath. I have met some incredibly interesting, funny and supportive people who are a constant source of light in my life. I have taken chances that have fed my soul.
In 2016, I was able to see the forest and seascapes (and….uh…wildlife) of Oregon and Northern California, the towering waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge, try out the delightful food trucks in Portland and have my heart swell at the beauty of the Steens Mountains and the Alvord desert. I soaked in a hot spring, while smiling with strangers. I sat under the stars with friends, and pretended to play a violin under the Milky Way. I explored NY and much of New England. I was assaulted by a frog near the Adirondacks, got to see bald eagles in Acadia, the wild ponies on Assateague and black bears in Shenandoah.
I have taught photography students and built friendships around the world through Light & Landscape (thanks for that opportunity Matt!), I wrote another photography book with my business-partner-in-not-crime David, I was blessed to photograph weddings for some amazing couples with my other business-partner-in-not-crime Melissa, worked with one of this year’s 40 under 40 winners (you rock, Fitz!), refined my inner photo-journalist with freelance assignments through the newspaper (shout out to Jared and the staff at the paper for the feedback and encouragement), and saw AMAZING shows / met some wonderful musicians during my nights as a concert photographer (so much thanks to the venue, Kathy, Pat and Angelo).
In short, I have the freedom to LIVE THE LIFE I WANT and these photos represent the landscape side of that. They are a reminder to be THANKFUL EVERY DAY.
Remember to count your blessings often, and appreciate the people and things that enrich your lives. Dwell on the positive, and embrace GRATITUDE instead of criticism. Open your heart to the people that care and the endless possibilities in front of you. Take chances, even knowing you may fail….failure can generally be overcome, but you’ll never get back the time you waste on “What ifs”. Travel as often as you are able to responsibly do so, so that you can learn about the magical places in the world….how else will you learn to cherish and protect them? As you travel near or far, make sure to appreciate that you have the ability to do so.
Wishing you all a wonderful 2017!
Into the Woods :: OR
“The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.”
This image is from Opal Creek Wilderness in Oregon. Where I come from, we just dont have these sort of old growth forests. They have a completely different character than the trees I’m used to. Older, more magical, peaceful and man, oh man, that light was lovely.
The Nerdy stuff: f/9, 1/4 sec, 33mm, iso 100
If you have any questions about my images, never hesitate to ask! 🙂
Bask in the Glow :: OR
There is something pretty special about a field full of wildflowers at sunset. 🙂 This was taken at the Tom McCall Preserve in the Columbia River Gorge last April. I have to say, Oregon really lives up to the hype. It’s a lovely state!
Subtle :: OR
Did you know there is a massive sea of sand dunes in Oregon? Yeah, me neither. But they’re there, and they’re awesome! (I put that adventure up on The Outbound, for those of you who want to learn more.)
Now, the nerdy stuff…this is a simple focus stack, of two layered images. The first focused on the foreground, the second focused on the ridge line in back…I merged the two in PhotoShop using masks. Interested in learning more about things like focus stacking? I offer private lessons and structured online lessons through Light & Landscape. You can contact Matt over at L&L for more information about the program.
Radiance Wild :: OR
This waterfall, known locally as Sawmill Falls, is part of the Opal Creek Wilderness in Oregon. It started as a “side stop” along the way to the Alvord Desert, but it ended up winning me over within just a few short minutes of stepping foot beneath the trees. The whole forest was lush, the light was diffuse, and the waterfalls…well…as you can see, they weren’t bad. 😉 This water was actually a spectacular shade of blue-green, but when I started the edit, because of the overcast skies it seemed to work best in black and white.
This shot is actually a composite – one exposure for the trees, and one exposure for the sky and water using a 10 stop ND filter.
Also (earmuffs, Mom!) this particular vantage point involved a narrow crest of rock with a…um….steep decent behind me. While it wasn’t the most comfortable of seats, you couldn’t beat the view. 🙂
The Guardians :: OR
“We men and women are all in the same boat, upon a stormy sea. We owe to each other a terrible and tragic loyalty.” – G. K. Chesterton
These sea stacks were found along the Oregon coast on an overcast, not so sunset-y sunset. But then, I’m a landscape photographer, and I enjoy the weather that no one else likes because it’s so darn photogenic! lol
I’m working on a new tutorial project to help supplement my teaching materials for the Members Area over at Light & Landscape. You know….a few free videos to help you learn, my gift to you! Can’t beat the price, right? 😉
If you want to keep informed about the upcoming tutorials as they are released, make sure to sign up for my newsletter.
Tender Introductions :: OR
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream. – Poe
This gem is called Ponytail Falls (located above Horsetail Falls) and it was our first stop in the Columbia River Gorge on a recent trip to Oregon. It is a relatively easy, but steep, 0.3 miles from the trailhead, and definitely worth the effort to go see. It was also one of the few falls we saw in the Gorge that didn’t immediately cover your lens in spray. If you intend to go shooting anywhere in either the Columbia River Gorge or along the Oregon Coast, make sure to bring extra lens cloths! 🙂
Many thanks to local photographer TJ Simon for taking time to show us around to his favorite spots in the state. We definitely couldn’t have seen so many great spots without his input and company. Do us a favor…make sure to check out his site and show him some love!
Exif data: f/11, 1/2 sec, iso 100, 10 mm
Caliche :: OR
Strange name for a photo, eh? Well, it’s actually quite literal. This was shot in the Alvord desert of Oregon (a stunning place, in my opinion) on a mostly dry lake bed. I say mostly, because when we arrived, the northern end of the playa still had some water – not much, but enough that there was a thick mud along the water’s edge called “caliche”. (At least according to the locals! I am certainly no mud expert.)
Anyway, this whole set up was interesting in a few ways. First, in the span of just a day, a slight wind caused the water on the northern end of the lake to migrate significantly south vastly changing the face of the damaged playa in just 24 hours. Anyone who was silly enough to park / camp close to the migration area would have been in for a rude surprise.
Second, I have never seen such sticky mud before. Our hike across it got progressively harder…and taller, as the caliche built up beneath the soles of our shoes. According to some of the people living on the playa’s edge, visitors can easily bury their vehicles up to the axle if they don’t heed the subtle color changes that signify the transition from hard, dry earth to mud.
As for the actual image, this was our first sunrise at the desert and obviously, it was pretty dang stunning. This was shot with a wide angle lens and a grad ND filter.
It was also taken as part of a series of images to be used in this month’s lesson, Hyperfocal Distance, that David and I are teaching over at Light & Landscape (a fun, online teaching and critiquing program that we helped launch in February….we have an online image review planned for later this month, so if you’re looking for some feedback and a taste of what we do in the L&L Member’s Area, definitely contact us for more information!)
The camera settings: f/11, 1/8 sec, 10 mm, iso 100
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