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Arizona Centennial

Feb 142012

Besides being Valentines Day, this February 14 is the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Statehood for Arizona. This desert southwest state includes some of the most dramatic scenery in the United States and many locations are constant draws for nature and landscape photographers. Arizona also offers a wealth of opportunity for adventure travel and for history buffs. The images in the slideshow imbedded here are from some trips I’ve made to Arizona, and show just a sample of [read more ...]

Bandon Beach, Oregon Coast

Dec 082011

One of the most scenic places on the Oregon coast is Bandon Beach. It’s one of my personal favorites, and I think it is has some of the most photogenic scenery on the entire west coast. The main attraction for photography is the sea stacks – monolithic rock formations that provide dramatic subject matter for photographers in just about any weather condition. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better location for sunset seascapes. Nowhere else on the coast has such [read more ...]

Maui: Beyond Hana

Nov 232011

Alau Island at sunrise, Hana Coast, Maui. After negotiating 600 curves and 54 bridges on the narrow, winding 52 miles of Hana Highway, a lot of visitors to Maui just spend a couple of hours in Hana town, make the obligatory stop at Hasegawa General Store, then turn around and head back to the resorts on the south side of the island. That’s a shame, because some the best parts of the Hana Coast, and some of the most scenic [read more ...]

Parks Canada Centennial

Oct 302011

The U.S. can proudly claim the world’s first National Park with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, but Canada was the first country to institute a nationwide parks service, and 2011 marks the centennial of Parks Canada. Today, Parks Canada manages 42 National Parks, plus a bunch of National Landmarks, Historic Places and Conservation Areas. Those of us in western North America are most familiar with Banff, Waterton Lakes and Jasper National Parks, all of which are outstanding [read more ...]

Where in Washington for Fall Color Photos

Oct 242011

Interested in where to find the best autumn foliage for landscape and scenic photography in Washington State? I did a quick circuit around the Cascades last week and found quite a range of fall color. In most locations, the color was just starting to get good, so this week and the next should be optimal for making photographs, or just viewing for the pleasure of it. In the southern Cascades, around Trout Lake and Mount Adams, there were places with [read more ...]

Waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii

Sep 302011

The Big Island of Hawaii was my home for a number of years and is still one of my favorite destinations. Largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, it contains a full range of environments from arid desert to tropical rainforest. Plentiful rainfall on the Hamakua Coast and in the Hilo area – the northeast side of the island – makes for lush forest and a number of waterfalls that are great subjects for nature photography. Best of known of the [read more ...]

¡Viva Mexico!

Sep 162011

16 de Septiembre is commemorated throughout Mexico with perhaps even greater fervor than the 4th of July in the USA. On this day in 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo, the priest of a small town parish, declared Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. This event generates huge celebrations throughout Mexico, perhaps even more so this year in that Mexicans are celebrating the bicentennial of their independence. Somewhat surprisingly, there has been almost no mention of this in the general American media. Perhaps [read more ...]

Mount Rainier Wildflowers

Aug 092011

In a year with more typical weather, the meadows in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park would look something like this photo around the first week of August, and the place would be swarming with photographers. This year, while much of the country suffers under sweltering heat, summer has barely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. The La Niña weather pattern brought us a long, cool and wet winter and spring, and lots of snow in the mountains. [read more ...]

Micronesia Airpass for a Pacific Islands trip

Jun 142011

Some of my most memorable travels have been to the islands of Micronesia while on assignment for the award winning “Pacifica” magazine, the former inflight for Continental Micronesia Airlines. I made several extended trips around the Pacific Ocean, visiting the volcanic islands and atolls of Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk, Palau, Guam, Saipan, and the Marshall Islands. The Micronesian islands are fantastic places to visit, but except for avid scuba divers they’re largely unknown by most Americans. Some World War II vets [read more ...]

National Wildlife Refuges Anniversary

Mar 142011

The U.S. National Wildlife Refuges system celebrates the 108th anniversary of its founding on March 14. President Teddy Roosevelt signed the law creating the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. Today the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains more than 550 refuges in the country, helping to preserve over 2,000 species of our native critters. The 95 million acres of refuge land are spread throughout all 50 states. The refuges benefit people as well as the animals they were established [read more ...]

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