For me, making landscape photographs means combining the freedom and joy of being outdoors with the challenge and adventure of discovering and composing new and interesting scenes, especially under great light or atmospheric conditions. While simply enjoying the outdoors in search of interesting compositions is ample reward, my ultimate goal is to make a photograph that connects with the viewer and draws them into the scene.
I work to make photographs that authentically present what I experienced, without extensive digital adjustments like replacing skies or adding mist or other elements that weren’t there; I want most of the work to be done before I press the shutter release. Depending on the scene and my intent, I might use slow shutter speeds to emphasize the motion of water, clouds, or other elements, or while intentionally moving the camera during exposure to draw attention to certain details in the scene. During post-processing, I’ll use techniques like focus stacking and exposure blending to overcome the technical limitations of digital cameras. Any photographs that have been heavily processed are in my Just for Fun gallery.
I've been photographing landscapes for many years. I began backpacking with my uncle in the Sierra Nevada in the early 1970s. I loved the scent of the forest, the majesty of the giant sequoia, the craggy mountain peaks, and the gnarly bristlecone pines. A few years later, I became a photographer and then photography editor for my high school’s yearbook, developing film and printing photographs in the darkroom. I also worked in the camera department of the local JC Penney and did photo assignment work for businesses in the mall. So, combining backpacking and photography was inevitable!
After college, my focus was more on family and career, and landscape photography took a back seat. I still backpacked with friends and introduced my sons to the joys of spending time in wilderness areas, but my photography was mostly associated with family activities.
In 2009, with two of my sons in college and my youngest son in high school, I decided to look toward the future and rekindle my passion for landscape photography. I bought a DSLR and talked my eldest son into skipping some classes and going with me for a week to Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra. My roles at work were analytical-oriented and often stressful, so making landscape photographs helped me to both develop my creative self and improve my physical and mental well-being. For the next dozen years, I made two to four photography trips a year.
Below is a photograph of my eldest son and me near Mono Lake, California, during my first digital photography trip in October 2009. He also had a digital camera and we've been on several other photography trips together since then.
Since October 2021, I’ve been able to spend more time on landscape and nature photography. I look forward to making and sharing more photographs to inspire others to get outside, be creative, improve their physical and mental well-being, and help protect the locations photographed.
Regarding protecting locations, I'm a proud member of Nature First: The Alliance for Responsible Nature Photography, and I’m dedicated to following the Nature First Principles:
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Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
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Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
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Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
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Use discretion if sharing locations.
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Know and follow rules and regulations.
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Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them.
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Actively promote and educate others about these principles
Thanks again for visiting my website!