Portrait

Colorful Avalanche Creek

When I first came upon Avalanche Creek on Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park, I couldn't belive the colors. I immediately did a double take because I wasn't sure if I was just seeing things. But it was true and I was watching bright teal water flow through mossy covered rocks. I learned that this water is a beautiful color due to glacial flour (also known as rock flour). This sediment is carried from the glaciers to the lakes and creeks, giving the water that mesmerizing teal color. I really enjoyed this unique setting, the sound of the water falling, the smell of the pine trees, and of course the amazing colors.

Rainy Alligator

Everglades National Park in Florida has the most wildlife I have ever seen in my life. Miles of boardwalks led me through the park and all I had to do was sit there and let all of the wildlife come to me. It was such an amazing experience! For this photo, I arrived at sunrise and as I drank my coffee under my umbrella and listened to the heavy raindrops, this huge alligator started swimming through the swamp right past me. The way his body curved through the water was such a beautiful sight. He was so quiet and calm. What I remember most about this moment was the feeling of being alone with him. It was just him and I with no other visitors around. The rain added to overall feeling of an incredible moment.

Key West Sunset Celebration

Every night in Key West, Florida, there is a sunset celebration at Mallory Square. It was such a joyous occasion to be a part of! Not pictured are the street entertainment, music, and the smell of salty ocean air. I loved watching the seagulls dance in flight and along the top of the water. As the sun was setting, huge streaks of sunlight shot high into the sky above the horizon. The colors changed by the minute until the sun fully set.

Lewis River During Blue Hour

Before the day starts, before the animals wake up, and before the sun rises, Lewis River in Yellowstone Naitonal Park looks like a painting with its beautiful blue hues and fog covering the landscape.

Great Horned Owl

For a couple of weeks, I watched this owl from a distance as it perched high in the sky and watched the ground below. It became a daily ritual wondering where the owl was and getting excited when I would finally spot it. Sometimes it would be early in the morning, during sunset, or late in the night when I would get a glimpse of its wings soaring through the night. Then one day, we finally came face to face as it relaxed in a tree during golden hour. Its piercing eyes held my gaze for awhile before flying away.

Desert Vibrance

Sunsets are always spectacular and a beautiful experience, but sometimes I witness sunsets where all I can think is, "These colors are insane!" This was definitley one of those sunsets and the colors just kept coming! I kneeled low to the ground to bring out some of the wildflowers against the background. The sky showed off swirls of colors in wave-like patterns. Truly a vibrant desert sunset like no other!

Orion Constellation

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. When I look up at the stars, my attention immediately goes to Orion's belt, sword, and shield. What's even cooler is Orion's sword contains the Orion Nebula which is visible to the naked eye. It's distinct glow can be seen in the photo. As for the other stars that make up the Orion Constellation, his head and club can be seen as he hunts in the night sky. I love how I get to use my imaginaiton while star gazing!

Desert Moon

Everything about Big Bend National Park is magical to me. I was greeted with a new scene each night while backcountry camping. On this particular evening, the moon sits high in the sky during blue hour. I loved the colors and the simplicity of the huge desert sky before me. I took a photo of the moon at 300mm and the clouds at 58mm, then combined the two photos in order to bring the image to life.

Pink Rio Grande River

Standing on top of a hill at the end of the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail in Big Bend National Park, I watched the Rio Grande River reflect the changing colors of the sky during sunset. On the left is Mexico, the US is on the right, and in the distance are the Chisos Mountains many miles away. Behind me the small town of Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico was playing mariachi music. The surrounding cliffs and rock formations carried the sound of the music all throughout the valley.

Stormy Cactus

I watch the sunlight as it peeks through a gap of dark, thick clouds during sunset. The effect creates a spotlight on a prickly pear cactus. The vibrant green colors of the cactus shine brightly against the darkened Chisos Mountains. Photo taken in Big Bend National Park at my backcountry camping spot on Paint Gap Road.

Starry Night Boots

Marathon, Texas has some of the darkest skies in the country. Known for its Class 1 Dark Sky, the town turns into magic every night as the stars and the Milky Way light up the sky. These old boots sitting on a fence have always grabbed my attention the few times I've visited Marathon. Located on the perimeter of Marathon Motel & RV Park, I captured the details of the boots and fence against the twinkling stars and Milky Way. When I view this picture, I can smell the fresh desert air, hear the silence, and feel the extraordinary energy of Marathon, Texas.

Flora of the Desert

Different flora of the Chihuahuan Desert light up during sunrise in Big Bend National Park. Fog hugs part of the Chisos Mountains in the background. Sunrise in the desert is often a dramatic experience with the change in temperature from the cool nights to the warm days. When I first arrived to this spot, it was cold and the sky was pitch black. Within minutes, the colors of the sky changed, the desert plants turned golden, and the warm sun spilled over me.

Boulder Beach Sunrise

Sitting on cold, wet boulders was not the most pleasant feeling, but being inside the elements of the sunrise was incredible. Everything around me was glowing in the light and the salty ocean air wrapped around me like a blanket. The waves crashed within feet of me and seagulls began searching for their breakfast. Boulder Beach during sunrise in Acadia National Park was the place to be during this beautiful morning!

Starry Minnesota Island

With over 40% of the park water, Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota has hundreds of islands that dot the area. Pictured here is Bittersweet Island on Kabetogama Lake just off the shore from my camping spot. Through the dense forest, I was able to find a small beach to enjoy the night sky. Stars were shining bright and the Milky Way was splashed across the sky. With the area being so heavily forested, I could hear wolves in the distance howling. Just a few hours earlier, I had a long conversation with a park ranger about wolves, so the sound of howling brought everything into perspective. Truly a unique area and even more unique park, this National Park is one for the books.

Otter Point Sunrise

With Otter Point in the distance, I watched the sky as the deep, vibrant colors changed before my eyes. Shades of orange and purple lit up the sky and danced on the moving ocean. Waves were crashing and salty air wrapped around me like a blanket. Watching the sunrise in Acadia National Park in Maine became a favorite activity of mine while camping there. It felt as if the day could only get better.

Splash of Fall Colors

Standing high on Middle Sugarloaf Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I catch my breath from the steep hike only to realize my breath is being taken away again...by the view. Thousands of color-changing trees are sprawled out below me. Using the zoom on my camera, I decide to focus on the details of one, small section. Each individual tree can be seen, but from afar, it's a vibrant splash of fall colors.

Graveyard of the Great Lakes

During my three week stay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I got to see Lake Superior in all kinds of different weather. More often times than not, the wind was strong and the waves were plentiful. But on this beautiful night, Lake Superior was calm. The water was gently lapping against the old wooden pylons as the sun set in the distance. Taken in Whitefish Point, which is also known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes with more than 300 shipwrecks and accidents, I couldn't help but think about the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck a few miles offshore and what the waves must have been like on that sad day in 1975.

Dancing Northern Lights

Sitting on the beach at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I watch the sky intently and wait for the forecasted Northern Lights to appear. I have never seen them before so this is a big moment for me. I also don't know what to expect and what they look like. Suddenly as the sky gets darker with each hour of the sunset and the Milky Way begins to illuminate, I see a glow in the distance that seems to radiate and pulse with the color green. I can't believe my eyes! I realize that watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky is one of the most calming and beautiful moments.

River in the Badlands

Known for its open plains, stunning badlands, roaming wildlife, and remote ruggedness, Theordore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota made an everlasting impression on me. Every lookout, every corner, every view, I was truly in awe at the vastness and openness. Here the Little Missouri River snakes through the badlands during a beautiful golden hour before sunset. Although not the focus of the picture, a tiny, faraway deer can be spotted on the riverbank showing just how enormous the landscape is.

Foggy Big Sur

Fog seems to be the common theme along the Big Sur coastline in California, but it only adds to the magic and beauty of this landscape. McWay Falls is a sight to behold as the waterfall cascades down into the ocean.

Single Joshua Tree

A single Joshua Tree sits among the vast land. The desert sunset deepens the colors and brings out hues of pink and blue.

Foggy Needles Highway

Needles Highway in South Dakota on a foggy day, this view is one of many on this beautiful road. Super narrow tunnels and lots of twisty curves, you never know what you are going to see around the next corner.

Hawaiian Waterfall

Exploring Hanalei Bay in Kauai, I was greeted with a dramatic landscape full of tall waterfalls, moody clouds, and lush greenery. The ocean was directly behind me while taking this photo and I can still feel the sand between my toes.

Sunburst Cabin in the Fall

One of the few historical structures left in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. The warm sun was shining through the colorful trees on this beautiful fall day. Photographing sunbursts is one of my favorite challenges when the conditions are right and it adds to the feeling of the photo.