Picture: Plastic “Meditate” froggy perched on a rock in my Zen Garden in my backyard.

I’ve been in a bit of a self-imposed exile recently while trying to complete the manuscript for my latest book project, which will be on Photographing Northern California. Unfortunately, because of business and life. etc., I’ve been a bit behind where I want to be, so I’ve been keeping the stove on high this month. Froggy reminds me to take appropriate moments for myself and to keep things in perspective.

And speaking of perspective, I did feel it was important to take some time out of my life to help the widow of another professional photographer who felt the time had come to part with her late husband’s camera gear. I felt truly honored she thought of me, and trusted me with this duty. She had saved a bunch of his climbing stuff, and some of his other travel gear and books, but she wasn’t going to save any of his camera stuff. With great respect, I handed her back his old F3 film camera with a single fixed 55mm lens, and told her this needed to be saved and put in a place of honor, seeing how photography was such an important part of his life. She was absolutely delighted with this idea, admitting she hadn’t even thought of that herself. So with her one treasured keepsake back in her hands, I’ll try to sell his gear once I’m done with my book.

But if anyone (readers of this blog) wants a heads-up; I’ll be selling his:

(All Nikon)
Nikon D200
17-35mm f/2.8
70-105 Micro Nikkor
105mm Macro
80-400 f4.5-5.6 VR 1

Assorted flash equipment, cords, tripod, and filters.

If you think you’ll have an interest, shoot me an email.

I shot froggy while testing the lenses. They all work great, but the 17-35 has a stiff, but still working zoom ring.

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Image ID#: 120118_PERS-0043

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Picture: A railroad trestle and counter-weighted draw bridge in the the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta at sunrise, California

I spent the Holidays working on the writing phase of my latest book project, sharing and posting my Top Images of 2011, and revised my New Work Portfolio. Now I want to get back to just sharing some of my other images.

I’d been busy shooting a nesting Cormorant rookery in the fog next to this ugly old train bridge. As soon as the fog began to lift, suddenly I glanced over and the bridge was bathed in this beautiful soft, yet warm light. What was ugly just minutes before was suddenly transformed into something picturesque. It just goes to reinforce what I teach all of my photo workshop students:

“A boring subject in great light will always make a better photo than a great subject in boring light.” – Me.

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Image ID#: 111210_DELTA-0160

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Picture: A break in the storm at sunrise over Lake Alpine, Alpine County, California

Now that we’re officially into the New Year of 2012, (and according to some, potentially earth’s last year – if you believe in the ancient Mayan calendar) there’s no better time for this; The very first thing I want to do in the New Year is to offer my most sincere and humble thanks to everyone who has shown, or expressed an interest in my photography, taken the time to comment, acknowledge, share, or otherwise let me know they’ve been enjoying my work.

Those who know me and my Buddhist leanings, may also know it is very difficult for me to stand up and shout “look at me” or to call attention to myself with any overt self-promotional motivations, or with a constant sales message looming in the foreground.The fact that people are taking the time to let me know they like an image, especially if the share it with their online friends and social circles, moreover without any gimmicks or commercial promotional contests, is most gratifying and appreciated.

I’ve never really considered myself an ‘Artist’, but I’m nonetheless very humbled to know that something about my work occasionally moves another person. So thank you all once more.

… wishing all of us on This Good Earth a more blessed and peace-filled 2012.

(Btw – If it is the Earth’s last year, I’m calling dibs on a front row seat on a white sand beach in Tahiti, with a really strong umbrella cocktail in hand.)

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Image ID#: 111011a_SRA-0095

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Here’s a collection of some of my top photos shot in 2011. (I’ve posted thirteen, because in our house, it’s a lucky number; both our kids were born on a 13th.)

To see more recent images, visit my New Work Portfolio.

Picture: Lightning Bolt striking the Sierra Buttes, during summer thunderstorm above Packer Lake, Sierra County, California

ID# 110913c_SRA-0295

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Picture: Sunset light streaming down Yosemite Valley toward Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

ID# 111024b_YOScr-0004

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Picture: Rainbow in Le Conte Falls at sunset, Tuolumne River Canyon, Yosemite National Park, California

ID# 110715b_YOS-0237

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Read the rest of this post »

Picture: Stormy sunset over Faith Valley, near Carson Pass, Sierra Nevada, California

This last week I sent out my Holiday Newsletter, and announced the addition of a new “New Work” Image Gallery on my web site, along with a new selection of images on the rotating slide show on my Home Page. The New Work gallery showcases a selection of 24 recently shot images taken over the course of the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I hope you’ll take a moment to take a look. I’m offering a special 30% discount on these images through the end of the year for prints 11×14″ or larger.

Also, a quick reminder: If you’re scrambling for gift ideas, consider giving a custom-made Holiday Gift Certificate that can be used for prints, workshops, or consulting. Gift Certificates are available for any amount you choose, and the certificate is emailed to you so you can print it out and give it as as gift in time for Christmas. (Or I can email it directly to a recipient on Christmas Morning.) If you’re thinking of giving a gift certificate for a print, a great idea is to put the certificate in a small frame – like the kind on sale at a local drug store, then gift wrap the framed certificate.

If you want to order a Gift Certificate, use my secure order form and just fill out the bottom Billing Section of the page, using the text box to describe how much ($), and any custom text you’d like placed on the Certificate.

Finally, as we turn the corner into the heart of the Holidays, I just want to extend a personal wish to everyone, hoping you all have a most joyful holiday season, and a very prosperous New Year.

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Image ID#: 110913a_SRA-0233

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Picture: Sunset light on Mount Lassen above Lake Helen, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

I’m inviting all photographers who are interested and would like to see their work possibly published in a book to submit images for a book project I’m working on about photographing in Northern California.

Let’s just get all the ugly business out of the way first; Yes, I’m asking for images to be donated to the project; the publisher (another photographer who has created a series with his own books on Photographing the Southwest) is offering 10 copies of the book in exchange for being allowed to use a photo. As the author, I’ll be including not only a credit line with the photo, but a special addendum that lists each contributing photographers web site address or contact info. I understand that there maybe a lot of amateur photographers who are excited and happy to submit images for this project, are happy to be “Published” and don’t care about receiving financial compensation the same as a professional photographer.

Yes, I’m also inviting fellow professionals to submit images, and include what your one-time rate would be for life of title print and electronic versions. If someone submits a great image that I feel we / I just can’t live without, I’m more than happy to dig into my own pocket to cover any appropriate license fees. Yes, of course, I’d be delighted to accept any reduced rate you might consider offering to a fellow photographer.

What do I need:

Your best shots from Northern California, from Santa Cruz and Mammoth Lakes, north to the Oregon Border. This includes scenics, wildflowers, and wildlife. Almost anything is good, but the more unique or less ‘shot to death’ photos will really be what I’m looking for:

A few examples of things I know I need are:
a Moonbow or golden light on Horsetail Falls in Yosemite.
Table Mountain wildflowers in spring
Sacramento & Nor. Cal wildlife refuges.
Sacramento River and Delta
Trinity Alps
Any other scenic or wilderness areas.
Coastal scenes.

I don’t need shots of things like Yosemite from Tunnel View, Glacier Point, or Valley View. Redwood trees. Golden Gate Bridge. If there are already a gazzilliondy-billion shots out there, I probably don’t need it.

How to submit: Read the rest of this post »

Picture: Storm clouds at sunrise in the Whiskeytown Shasta Trinity National Recreation Area, near Redding, California

You know it’s been a busy time when you suddenly look back and realize you’ve never even processed a few of your favorite images that you’ve taken over the last year. Such is the case with the above image that I came across while looking for new replacement images for my web site home page. It turned out that this image was taken exactly six months ago (yesterday), and I’m just now processing and showing the photo for the first time.

This isn’t an isolated case. Read the rest of this post »

Picture: Peacock in front of vineyard in fall, near Avila Beach, California

As I sit here, waking up this morning on the verge of getting sick (again), the fog in my brain still can’t keep away the thoughts of all I am thankful for, most especially the love and support of my wife, and the hugs from my kids. I’m also thankful for all the people that have shown and continue to express their appreciation for my photography.

And speaking of being thankful, I wonder if this beautiful bird has any idea how thankful it should be that people in America aren’t feasting on Peacock and stuffing.

For everyone here in the US, enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.

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Image ID#: slo-1275b

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Picture: Moonset at dawn from Taft Point, with El Capitan in background, Yosemite National Park, California

There’s something incredibly joyful about having a place like this all to yourself. First of all, it’s quiet. (Kind of like this blog over the last few weeks.) My friend and I drove to the trailhead on Glacier Point Road, arriving in plenty of time to hike the short, two-mile trail in the dark.

Taken just 36 hours after having hiked down from Clouds Rest, I had done my research prior to leaving the Bay Area, so I knew exactly when and where the moon would be setting. The day prior to this, the moon would have been lower and more to the left. A moon slightly lower in the sky would have been nice, but more to the left would have been not so good.

What I didn’t want to do was, after down-hiking from Clouds Rest in the middle of the night, then to drive halfway across Yosemite, only to hike out again in the dark for a dawn shot the very next morning. (That would have to get filed under: Just a Little Too Much.) The Morning after this shot was taken, the moon would be setting closer to El Capitan (good), but would be another 15 degrees higher in the sky (bad). So this was the one morning for my shot; make or break.

We had the entire Taft Point area all to ourselves from before dawn, and for the next hour or so, until well after sunrise. Just as we were packing up our tripods and hitting the trail back, the next of the days many visitors arrived. The solitude had been ours, then faded away, just as the moon had faded below the horizon.

To help predict where the moon would be, I used a program called, The Photo Ephemeris (TPE)

BTW – In case you’re wondering; from where I shot this, it’s just a single, 3,000-foot step down to the valley floor.

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Image ID#: 111013a_YOS-0010

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Picture: Clouds over Mount Maclure (L) and Mount Lyell (R) as seen from Clouds Rest, Yosemite National Park, California

During the first week of October, I got interrupted in my pursuit of a couple Sierra locations due to an extremely strong, early season snow storm that blanketed some areas with as much as two feet of snow. Fortunately, there was enough time and warm weather, much of the snow was able to melt, restoring access to part of the high country locations I still wanted to visit.

This week, a new storm has again blanketed the Sierra with snow. Now, with a couple more days of precipitation in the forecast, it’s doubtful that enough snow will melt before the next series of storms roll through the region. If this happens, it will mean that the High Sierra will have seen the last of us ‘normal’ visitors. Of course, she’ll save her grace and beauty for those hearty enough to venture forth with backpacks, cross-country skis, or snow shoes.

So with that, I tip my hat toward the high peaks, saying, “Thanks for a nice 2011 season!”

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Image ID#: 111024_YOScr-0259

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