Photography Activities

Great place for photography a dune landscape, especially near sunrise or sunset

The beauty of this valley has been the subject of endless postcards, commercials, etc. It has also been the setting of many Hollywood westerns. Best to be out early morning or early evening when the termperatures are cooler and the light is low.

Dunes are especially spectacular at sunrise, sunset, and at night during a full moon

Evening and morning light best.

Best from boat in evening light.

Best in early morning

Spectacular 45-foot-high, 33-foot-wide arch perched on the very edge of a slickrock bowl. Lighting best in late afternoon

The whimsically shaped hoodoos are constantly changing colors with the movement of the sun. The best times to photograph are sunrise and sunset, with sunrise being the most spectacular.

Arches and other colorful rock formations. The lighting is best in late afternoon.

Best overlooks: Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial, and Cape Royal. Point Imperial best lighting at sunrise. Bright Angel Point good at sunset.

Awesome views from Desert View Drive, the Rim Trail, and Bright Angel Trail.

Best lighting is at daybreak

Great lighting at sunrise

One of the most beautiful lakes in all of North America.

Multicolored, uniquely-shaped rock spires so photogenic that National Geographic named it Kodachrome Basin

The whimsically shaped hoodoos that constantly change colors with the movement of the sun. The best times to photograph are sunrise and sunset, with sunrise being the most spectacular.

Beautiful turquoise blue waters of the lake set against the stark red sandstone cliffs and rock formations

Especially beautiful at sunrise

The fjord and the giant cliffs surrounding it

Beautiful red sand beach along Rustico Bay. Photography was especially good at sunset.

Beauitful sunset over the rocky beach along the river.

17th century slate-roofed granite houses, churches, forts, castles, and the people of this charming Old World village. One of my favorites sights was the view from the cannons down to the 900 square foot mural on the side of a building depicting the history of the city.

Interesting red standstone rock formations

Beautiful turquoise blue waters of the lake set against the stark red sandstone cliffs and rock formations

Historic and very picturesque early 1900s farmhouse used by Mormon settlers

Arches and other colorful rock formations. The lighting is best in late afternoon.

Ample opportunity to photograph grizzlies, caribou, moose, wolves, etc., as well as the beautiful snow-capped mountains (and hopefully Mt. McKinley)

Flats of Turnagain Arm when the tide is out

The Russian River grizzly cubs that come down to the river to play each day

Homer is the bald eagle capital of the world. In fact, most of the photos you see of bald eagles, including those in National Geographic magazine, were shot here.

The whimsically shaped goblins that constantly change colors with the movement of the sun. The best times to photograph is dusk.

Beautiful turquoise blue waters of the lake set against sandstone cliffs and mountains.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

Spectacular knobs, spires, and minarets of calicium carbonate that rise eerily from the lake.

The beauty of this valley has been the subject of endless postcards, commercials, etc. It has also been the setting of many Hollywood westerns. Best to be out early morning or early evening when the temperatures are cooler and the light is low.

Awesome views from Desert View Drive, the Rim Trail, and Bright Angel Trail. Especially enjoyed Moran Point overlook beyond the fence.

Big striped buoy at the end of Whitehead Street marking the southernmost spot in the continental U.S.

Spectacular knobs, spires, and minarets of calicium carbonate that rise eerily from the lake.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

The parking lot along Beach Road 1.8 miles south of Oak Bluffs is a great spot from which to watch the sun setting over the Pond.

Join the crowd that gathers each summer evening on Menemsha Beach to watch the sun dip into the Vineyard Sound

One of the best vantage points to view the colorful cliffs is from the Gay Head Lighthouse

Lovely setting to watch the sun set over Vineyard Sound. Just across the channel on Menemsha Beach one finds a much larger crowed watching the very same sunset. The advantage to watching from Lobsterville Beach is that it is quiet, and you can photograph the quaint fishing village of Menemsha at the same time.

At Mytoi Gardens and Dike Bridge

Rocky cove where the rocks are weathered to a honeycomb-like surface texture known as tafoni

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

Turnout just before the tunnel to Wawona with iconic and breathtaking view of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley in between.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. in the early morning mist and fog

12 mile long and 5 mile wide amazing moonscape, comprised of approximately 90% common table salt. Bonneville is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks because of its contribution to land speed racing, which has been going on since 1914. It was on the Bonneville Speedway that the 300, 400, 500, and 600 mile-per-hour land speed barriers were broken.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

The meadows, Merced River, Half Dome, El Capitan, wildlife, etc. The opportunities for a great photograph are limitless.

Iconic, pyramid-shaped rock formation

Classic shot of "Mad" King Ludwig II's "fairy tale" from the Marienbrucke above the castle

From a footbridge that spans the gorge. One one side there is a beautiful view of the Lechfall cascading over five man-made tiers. On the other side is a view of water cascading into a rock-studded gorge.

Dry lakebed (3 miles long by 2 miles wide) from which rises a large, dark outcrop of quartz monzonite, which is actually the tip of a mountain buried long ago by material eroded from the surrounding mountains. It looks like an island in a sea of clay. Plus there are those mysterious rocks with tracks marking their stealthy journey along the playa.

Trying to perfectly time the moments of dive, tuck, and contact with the water

Phenomenon caused by a tiny microscopic dinoflagellate called Noctiluca, or sea sparkle, that flashes a bright blue when disturbed, making the water sparkle. The lapping of the water along the shoreline must have provided the necessary disturbance to set off their alarms.

Brilliant yellows (Goldfields) and purples (lupines) along the Temblor Range foothills

The brilliant orange of the California poppies dominated the hillsides, intermixed with the bright golden yellow of Goldfields and the deep lush purples of lupines

The lunar-like landscape consists of more than 500 tufa (calcium carbonate) spires, of varying shapes and sizes, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake basin.

Dry lakebed (3 miles long by 2 miles wide) from which rises a large, dark outcrop of quartz monzonite, which is actually the tip of a mountain buried long ago by material eroded from the surrounding mountains. It looks like an island in a sea of clay. Plus there are those mysterious rocks with tracks marking their stealthy journey along the playa.

Sculptured hills and mounds formed by ash fall layers from ancient volcanoes. The stratifications of red, yellow, green, ocher and black ash in the eroded hills are incredibly beautiful.

From Visitor Center Overlook

Numerous opportunities to photograph bands (herds) of pronghorn antelope in the grasslands along the drive through the Refuge

Full moon rising over Wizard Island from Watchman Lookout

Sunrise over Wizard Island from Watchman Lookout

Half Dome from the Diving Board, where Ansel Adams took his famous photograph: “Monolith, Face of Half Dome” in 1927

Yosemite is a photographer's paradise and we spent our 6 days here meandering through the Valley trying to capture its beauty

From a hilltop in the Buttermilks

Otherworldly bright-white sandstone hoodoos

One of Yosemite National Park’s most amazing spectacles, which normally occurs around the second week of February, when the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle to illuminate the upper reaches of the waterfall. And when conditions are perfect, Horsetail Fall glows orange and red at sunset. Well, as luck would have it, because of the torrential rains of the past few days, Horsetail Falls was running again, and the lighting at the end of October is nearly identical to that of the February window of the Firefall!

Meet up with Tommy and Erin's wedding photographer for a 3-week-belated photo shoot in the Valley at various scenic points, including them bouldering in Camp 4

Watch the sunrise over the Sierra painting the mountains and tufas in a golden light

One of the most spectacular overlooks in the park. A short walk uphill from the parking lot brings you to a panoramic view of Golden Canyon and the surrounding vibrantly colored badlands. The views are particularly stunning in the low light of early morning or late afternoon.

One of the most spectacular overlooks in the park. A short walk uphill from the parking lot brings you to a panoramic view of Golden Canyon and the surrounding vibrantly colored badlands. The views are particularly stunning in the low light of early morning or late afternoon.

Beautiful beach, named after the photographer Edward Weston, with interesting rock textures, colors, and patterns. The colors put on quite a show at the Golden Hour.

At 115-feet tall, this is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States. The lighthouse was first lit on November 15, 1872 using an 8,000 pound Fresnel lens, which has 1,008 prisms and stands 16 feet tall. T

One of the best places to watch sunset from the South Rim

Prime destination for sunrise photography on the South Rim with its open view of miles of canyon toward the west, offering layer upon layer of depth

One of the premier spots along the South Rim to watch sunset. From the Point, there is an excellent, although distant, side view of Wotan’s Throne and Vishnu Temple.

Volcanic plug rising from alongside Highway 163 that looks like Shiprock’s little brother.

Iconic view of three landmark buttes: West Mitten, East Mitten, and Merrick.

It was in this very spot along a long straight road that leads to a majestic view of Monument Valley where Forrest Gump decided after running for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours to just suddenly stop and sit down in the road.

Bluff from which we gazed down 1,000 feet at several huge river bends meandering through a deep canyon formed by a series of stepped cliffs and terraces. It is so twisty that it takes 5 miles to progress westward just 1 mile on its way to Lake Powell

The many sides of Shiprock, a volcanic plug with serrated edges, and its radiating dykes

Iconic stop on Route 66 in the town of Amboy, CA. Opened in 1938, Roy’s was the only stop to find gas, a hot meal, and a bed in the area. During Roy’s heyday in the late 1940s and 1950s, the town (population 150) had three service stations, two cafes, a motor court, and a post office. Roy’s sign and cafe are both classic examples of “Googie” or (“do-wop”) architecture, a popular futuristic art movement in Southern California from the 1940s to 60s, inspired by industrial progress, car culture, and the space age. It’s characterized by geometric shapes, upswept roofs, vast glass surfaces, bold colors, neon, and the symbols of motion, such as arrows, boomerangs, and wings.

We chose to take the 2-day excursion to the Bellavista Cloud Forest, located near the top of the famed Tandayapa Valley, within the Andean cloud forest region, a type of mid-altitude tropical rainforest known for its birds (hummingbirds, toucans, and more) that extends from 3,000 to 8,000 feet elevation. The Bellavista Reserve stands at 7,300 feet.

Private reserve where there is a lek (communal gathering spot for male “Cock of the Rock” birds). There are only a few leks scattered throughout the Andean Cloud Forest.

Family project for the conservation of the cloud forest in the famous Tandayapa Valley, with manicured gardens with beautiful endemic varieties and a hummingbird garden, where one could sit in a chair and watch 30 different species of hummingbirds visit the 8 hummingbird feeders.

Land iguanas, frigatebirds (magnificent and great), adorable blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Fur seal.

Fur seals, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, brown noddies (I think), juvenile blue-footed booby (?), red-footed boobies, yellow-crowned night heron, frigatebirds, sea turtles and rainbow Parrotfish (underwater), red-billed tropicbird in flight, vampire ground finch, marine iguana, vampire ground finch, and a Galapagos short-eared owl

Marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, land iguanas, yellow-crested night heron, sea lions, stingrays, hieroglyphic hawkfish (while snorkeling), oystercatchers, fiddler crabs, ghost crabs, and Galapagos mockingbirds

Brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, lava lizards, Sally Lightfoot crabs, flightless cormorants, penguins, sea tortoises (underwater), sea lions

Flightless cormorants, penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, sea turtles, and a variety of starfish

Galapagos giant tortoises, land iguanas, sea turtles, cow-nosed rays, spotted eagle rays, flightless cormorants, penguins, pelicans, and blue herons

Flamingos, Galapagos Giant Tortoises, sea lions, lava herons, blue-footed boobies

Sea lions, Christmas marine iguanas, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, sea lions zipping about underwater, Mexican hogfish, Giant hawkfish, King angelfish

Dozens of black-tipped sharks were churning up the water in a feeding frenzy. One of the crew members held up a flying fish that had landed in the boat when trying to escape from the sharks.

Blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, sea lions

One of the Galapagos’s most iconic landmarks. It is the remnants of a vertical tuff cone formation that rises 500 feet above the ocean, eroded in half with a narrow channel in between, giving it its characteristic shape of a sleeping lion (Leon Dormido)

sea lions, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs

Beautiful and highly photographed simple Icelandic church with sits atop a prominent hill, visible from everywhere in the village, or at least when it’s not as foggy as it was tonight.

Amaxingly beautiful, perfectly clear pieces broken off from icebergs floating through the channel. They minded me of my mother-in-law’s Swarovski crystal collection.

Stunning mountain with spiky peaks rising 1,490 feet above a flat, black sand beach with undulating dunes and giant tufts of grass.

The most photographed mountain in Iceland. Kirkjufell means Church Mountain, because it resembles a church steeple. Danish sailors called it a Sugar Top. When seen from other angles, the peak looks like a witch's hat or a scoop of ice cream. Its isolated position, rising 1,519 feet from the sea, make it extremely photogenic.

Beautiful black church in the small hamlet of Búðir, known for its simplistic beauty, both the church and its remote surroundings.

Little Wild Horse Canyon, Goblin Valley, the Mars Desert Research Station, Long Dong Silver, and Moonscape Overlook, and Factory Butte

Breathtaking view from the edge of a cliff, looking out over an expanse of badlands, known as the Blue Valley, below us and the Henry Mountains in the distance.

The many different sides and perspectives of this beautiful Butte as we drove around it in its entirety

Cathedral Valley’s most iconic monoliths.

Multicolored, uniquely-shaped rock spires so photogenic that National Geographic named it Kodachrome Basin

The whimsically shaped hoodoos that constantly change colors with the movement of the sun. The best times to photograph are sunrise and sunset, with sunrise being the most spectacular.

100-foot spire in the middle of nowhere, atop a tall dirt mound. When you climb up the steep section of trail to a large block rock, we could see that there were actually two spires, the 100-foot-high Long Dong, and its shorter side-kick (Short Dong Silver?), about a third the size.

Spectacular gorge with many spectacular lookouts along the way with stunning views of emerald green valleys, sharp mountain spires, jagged colorful cliffs layered in time, and cascading waterfalls everywhere you look.

The vibrant multi-colored rocks caused by the oxidation of different metals in the rock. Iron oxides produce reds, pinks, and yellows, while manganese minerals create lavender and purple hues. The decomposition of mica adds green tones to the palette.

One of the most spectacular overlooks in the park. A short walk uphill from the parking lot brings you to a panoramic view of Golden Canyon and the surrounding vibrantly colored badlands. The views are particularly stunning in the low light of early morning or late afternoon.

Reflections of the Panamint Range in the newly formed, and temporary Lake Manly

Many cold, early morning strolls to photograph El Cap and the trees in the meadow in the fog and smoke from the prescribed burn

Beautiful beach, named after the photographer Edward Weston, with interesting rock textures, colors, and patterns. The colors put on quite a show at the Golden Hour.

One of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand. The church is a simple one, constructed of local stone, which blends seamlessly with the surrounding mountains.
Its setting is stunning - set on the shores of the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo with a backdrop of the Southern Alps.

The most photographed trees in New Zealand, largely due to its solitary position in the lake, with the backdrop of the Southern Alps, creating a stunning visual. Well, not today. While this lovely willow tree is usually about 50 yards offshore, today it was actually about 10 yards onshore. Not sure if that is typical of late summer or a result of climate change or a drought. Still it was a very beautiful willow tree.

Lovely sunset except for the sandflies

Cathedral Valley’s most iconic monoliths.

Beautiful overlook looking out over the "cathedrals" – towering sandstone monoliths that resemble Gothic architecture.

The many different sides and perspectives of this beautiful Butte as we drove around it in its entirety

Breathtaking view from the edge of a cliff, looking out over an expanse of badlands, known as the Blue Valley, below us and the Henry Mountains in the distance.

The colors of the cliff are best photographed at sunset where theyt put on a spectacular show making their layers of red, yellow, and orange appear even more vibrant.

Reflections and silhouettes of Lion Rock and Taitomo Rock at sunset

The viewing platforms are a photographer's paradise. From the Upper Platform we got a "birds-eye" view of the main nesting area on top of the cliff, with thousands of gannets arranged in their perfect grid pattern. From here, we also get the best view of the two rock stacks out at sea (Motutara and Oaia Islands) which are also covered in birds. Lots of opportunity to photograph birds in flight.

From the Lower Platform we had a more up close and intimate view of the gannets where we could watch them go about their daily business: incubating an egg, nursing their little chicks, flying out to sea, precarious landing on the way back from hunting, their fencing ritual, feeding their chick, squabbling over trespassing, and even mating