This Moment

Sunrise at Death Valley National Park, Nevada. Last day of our tour with Marc Adamus - we travelled many miles chasing light and ended the insane journey in Death Valley National Park. This is Zabriskie Point - acid dream of sorts, which is actually a bottom of the lake formed some nine million years ago. These badlands are insanely popular with photographers from all or the world.

The Beginning

Sunrise near Bishop, California. This was the first time in my life I got a chance to shoot the Sierra Mountains in March of 2014. And although the sunrise did not grant us any special or magical light, there was a moment or two when the mountain tops got touched by the sun before more clouds moved in. This is the same Owens river as in my "Fireborn" shot. Nothing special in this comp - Miles Smith III was shooting to the left of me ( he has some awesome takes on this location) and Marc Adamus has an amazing version as well, who's tour opened up my eyes as a photographer and adventurer - and I am forever grateful.

Prometheus

Sunset at Mono Lake, California. Sand tufa formations at Mono Lake in California. You can't tell from the picture but these fragile structures are only inches tall and get their shape from winds stripping away their sandy coverings. I was lying down, crawling or sitting in order to get different handheld shots with low camera angle and only centimeters away with the sun setting behind them. This is 3 shots blended together for focus. At first I was a little hesitant about blown-out sun but then it grew on me.

Dark Side

Milky Way at Bristlecones National Park, California So this is The tree. The tree that by now has been photographed by a million or so photographers in the Bristlecones National Park in California. The significance of this photo is actually for me is how it all happened...At least in my memory. ..Two day Meeting in Vegas ends at 4 PM. Change my clothes, jump in a rental car, drive to Big Pine, CA. It's about 4 hour drive. Missed epic sunset by about 15 minutes due to traffic. Kicked my own ass for about an hour. Start shooting The tree (and others) from 10 till 1am. Drive two hours to Mono Lake. Sleep in the car about 50 minutes waiting for the sunrise. Light did not happen. Not overly upset as I am a bit worn out. Jump back in the car to drive 4 hours back to Vegas. Shower, change and go to another meeting. Bam. There is always time to see extraordinary things - either bristlecones or sunset or perfectly black night sky. There is always time for life and we'll sleep when we are dead.

MoonStar

Antelope Canyon at night, Full Moon, Arizona. I never thought of photographing Antelope Canyon at night.  It was suggested to me the very last minute by our Indian guide, while navigating locations in the desert. I could not have been happier that I decided to shoot this staple with a night sky, light painted walls, and in almost, absolute freezing weather. A full moon washed out most of the stars in the sky and in this shot it was somewhat obstructed by the rock, so it created this beautiful “Moonstar”.

Shine On

Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Mesa Arch was the last stop of my adventure to the Southwest last year. Canyonlands and Moab got hit with a fresh storm the night before, yet it was still fairly easy to find the trail in complete darkness of 4 AM. By the time sun lit up the arch, clouds completely covered La Sal Mountains, 30 plus miles away on the horizon and I was a bit worried that I would not be able to witness the legendary glow... And then for just a few minutes the arch started to illuminate - I felt like I was looking through a magical window into another, even more beautiful world.

First Light

Sunrise at Horseshoe Bend, Arizona. So I'm sure this area is one of the most photographed and over photographed in Arizona. And there are only so many ways one can frame and compose the same shot - nevertheless, since I was already there and night before navigated around broken up highway 89, I was up at 5 and had the Horseshoe Bend all to myself.

Fireborn

Sunset over Owens River, near Bishop, California. By far the most dramatic light I have ever got a chance to photograph. I took this shot almost at the very end of the light show because I loved how the clouds formed above the tree just for a few seconds. I owe this image to Marc Adamus, who's tour was one of the most incredible adventures of my life - he actually called this sunset a few hours beforehand and drove determined to this location. We did not have to wait long - although we found time to run off a lonely fisherman (sorry dude) standing in this exact spot. The light was so intense, reflective and constantly changing that I could not decide if I should photograph it or just enjoy this incredible display of nature.

In Search Of Ancient Spirits

Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah. “When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you. It is you who belongs to this land.”