A pretty Teton sunrise last week, captured from a vantage point that I haven't photographed before. I had to hustle through a mile and a half of grizzly country to reach this pond. I've heard that it's best to sing or shout while hiking alone to avoid startling a griz. And while I usually don't make much noise, there might have been a fair bit of singing and shouting when I saw this sunrise unfold!

Tags:   Grand Tetons Tetons Grand Teton National Park mountains sunrise reflection morning nature landscape photography sky pond marsh

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A place that needs no explanation and defies any adequate description. The Tetons.

I'll be out in the lonesome landscape for the next while, seeking beautiful moments to live, love, capture and share. But I'll try to stay a bit more socially connected than I have in the past, however tenuously. Maybe I'll be a bit less lonesome that way.

Tags:   landscape Wyoming Tetons Grand Tetons national parks Grand Teton National Park nature sunrise mountains river reflection summits

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I headed to Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin one cloudy summer day, snooping around for possible sunset spots. It was late afternoon, and I noticed only a few other visitors scattered around the boardwalk. Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and other nearby attractions draw much larger gatherings. I strolled on the wooden walkway between pits of boiling mud, a few spouting geysers and a smattering of chromatic pools and springs. I considered a couple spots that might be worth a shot later in the evening, checked the angle of the setting sunlight, and headed back to the Vanabode for dinner. As I turned, I noticed a woman, sitting alone on a bench next to a dormant geyser. A sign nearby read ‘Fountain Geyser.’ The woman alternated glances between the geyser, her wristwatch, and a paperback novel. By her side on the bench rested a two way radio. I recognized her instantly as a Geyser Gazer. Spend any time among Yellowstone’s geyser basins and you’ll notice these unique citizen scientists, assiduously monitoring and marking geyser eruptions. I took a seat on the far end of the bench and waited.

Tags:   supervolcano Yellowstone national park Wyoming Yellowstone National Park sunset geyser nature landscape geothermal

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Candlestick Tower plays a starring role in countless beautiful images of the so-called False Kiva ancient ruins in Canyonlands Nat’l Park. And like many of us, I’ve visited and photographed that hauntingly compelling scene. Still, my personal preference is to find and photograph landscapes untouched by human presence, ancient and modern both. So on a visit there last year I sought out a different angle on a familiar scene. A short hike on the Wilhite Trail delivers this pretty overlook.

A sad aside--you might have already heard that the False Kiva was closed indefinitely last fall due to vandalism, so that ancient ruins might be spared modern ruin.

Tags:   landscape photography Landscape Utah Southwest sunset Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky False Kiva Candlestick Tower nature canyons sky national park

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I haven’t yet seen another image of this particular u-shaped bend of the Colorado River. But based on the beauty of the place, someone else must surely have been compelled to capture it. Right?! Across the canyon lies the Navajo Nation, where Points Hansbrough and Tatahatso are frequently visited and spectacularly photographed. I recently set out to try just that. I acquired a Navajo backcountry permit at the office in Cameron for two days at Point Hansbrough. I plotted the course on my gps and headed down a long bumpy dirt road toward the edge of Marble Canyon. A few miles from the canyon edge, the narrow road was blocked by two large vehicles. The occupants, locals, told me they wouldn’t allow access without booking and paying for a guided tour with their company. I argued and waved my permit. One gentleman made sure that I saw his rifle. So…after being escorted all the way back down the long bumpy dirt road, I needed a plan b. Google Earth to the rescue. I saw many other twists and turns of Marble Canyon, and access on the west side is across National Forest land. No permit or payment or booking or other hassle required. And so a new course was plotted and new ground was found. I hiked out onto a promontory overlooking this bend. There was a quiet, contemplative quality to the place. It was lonesome. If this viewpoint isn’t already named, it could aptly be called Lonesome Lookout.

If you’ve photographed this area, or have been to this spot or recognize it, let me know! Thanks so much.

Tags:   Arizona landscape sunset sky canyon Marble Canyon river Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park nature Wilderness Saddle Mountain Wilderness Kaibab National Forest American Southwest Desert Southwest Grand Canyon National Park

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