Mesquite Sand Dunes

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Death Valley Ca. April 2014 With temperatures approaching 100 F during the day, sunrise and sunset were the better options.Getting up early is usually the best time to get shots of clean sand. The night winds tend to erase most of the previous day's footprints. This pic was taken from a distance with a moderate telephoto lens. The light green foreground and golden dunes create a nice scene before the rising sun begins to bake the Valley. Greg

Natural Bridges

Natural Bridges National Monument In a remote area of Utah lies Natural Bridges. Bridges are different from Arches as they usually form in canyons from stream and water erosion. This is Owachomo Bridge, about a 15-20 minute hike from the road. The afternoon sun provided a nice glow to this massive formation. The parks in Utah rarely dissapoint. Greg

North Rim Grand Canyon

 

North Rim 
Grand Canyon

Fall 2020 , Sunset at the North Rim Grand Canyon.

I barely made it before sunset. Some colorful aspens up the road had my attention. I had been here once before in 2014 so a return trip was due. The remoteness of the North Rim makes it far less crowded than the popular South Rim. It is just as epic and well worth the visit, Sunrise or Sunset.

Went for a more low contrast less saturated look as the original was just a bit overwhelming. 

Sure I'll return sometime in the near future.

Greg 

Young Aspens North of Grand Canyon

 

In the Fall of 2020 while traveling to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, I noticed these bright aspens. Much of the surrounding forest had been charred from recent wildfires. The aspens that had taken hold were all very close in size and color. The bright gold colors contrasting with the dark forest remains, made for quite a few photos. In fact I barely made it in time for sunset at the North Rim

Even though this shot has many distracting foreground elements. I like the composition. Normally I would remove such things in post. This time Mother Nature wins out.

Greg

Fort Pickens Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida

 Fort Pickens near Pensacola Florida

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Taken spring 2018 as rays illuminated the dark fort corridors.

As the sayin goes," it's all about the Light"

Cabin with Aspens

Cabin with Aspens
Near Mt. Crested Butte Colorado
Late September 2019

On the way between Mt. Crested Butte and Gothic, this off season cabin was a nice shot that you just had to stop and capture. Shot from a distance using a telephoto lens. The Cabin, Aspens, and Green Hillside all say Fall in Colorado.

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride Ski Resort
September 2019

In the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, Telluride is one of the most scenic ski towns in the country. 
This sunset shot was taken from across the valley at the end of the airport runway. May have to return come snow season for a classic wintertime post card shot.  

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

Purple Mountain

Berthoud Pass Colorado
September 2019

Taken during late twilight with a fast lens. This shot was actually handheld, pushing the limits of camera and lens. The limited visible light made for a great shot of a purple mountain high in the Rockies.

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

Yosemite valley Rainbow

Yosemite Valley
June 2015

Taken from Tunnel View just as an afternoon rain shower passed thru the valley. This is the same location as the two pics from earlier in the week. 

Greg

Yosemite Valley Sunset

Yosemite Valley Sunset

January 18th 2019

The cameras were packed away.

The car was started. 

I had called it a Day.

Then I noticed a Red glow appearing at the Top of El Capitan. Quickly I grabbed my camera, no time for the Tripod. Lucky for me it already had my fastest lens mounted.

A few minutes later, it was over.

Although I missed  out on the snow covered valley shot.

This one will fill in nicely.

Greg

Yosemite Vally with Fog

Yosemite Valley
January 18th 2019

Taken just before sunset. The fog in valley floor was actually mist from one of the waterfalls. This shot is from the tunnel view lookout as you enter the valley. You can see why Ansel Adams took pictures from this location.

Regards,
Greg

www.gregtowns.com

Artist Palette

Artist Palette

Death Valley California 

Death Valley maybe one of the most otherworldly places on earth.

From extreme heat to sand dunes to slot canyons, this place could be a far away planet somewhere. And it has. Hollywood has used Death Valley on a few occasions. Remember the original Star Wars movie ( Tatooine)?

Artist Palette is a colorful rock formation not too far from Badwater Basin. This photo was taken right after sunset in April of 2014.

Greg

www.gregtowns.com

Sunrise Snowy Range

Mirror Lake Snowy Range
Wyoming

A great example of a much sought after atmospheric effect.
Alpenglow.
Just before sunrise or right after sunset, sunlight can be redirected  around the horizon and cause the tops of mountains to glow red for a few moments. The Snowy Range Mountains are isolated  in Southern Wyoming and with no obstructions. This morning shot was a great one to photograph.

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

Storm over Grand Canyon

Hopi Point Grand Canyon

One of personal favorites. On a trip in April of 2014, I camped at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After scouting out potential sunset locations, I decided on Hopi Point.
The sky was grey and the whole shot looked like a bust. But I thought, it's the Grand Canyon let's see if anything will happen.
Then BAM! The Sun broke through and did a spotlight effect on the scene. It only lasted a minute or two, then gone. Almost missed the shot, was that blown away about what was happening.
Now looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to capture this moment.

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

WaterFall Zion National park

Waterfall Zion National Park
March 2016

In March 2016 I was in Zion National park when a Strong rain storm hit. The Navajo sandstone cliffs are quite porous and these Instant Waterfalls popped up all over the place. A longer shutter speed ( 2 + seconds) was used to get the silky water effect. As I have learned, extreme weather can  make a great shot something special.

Greg
www.gregtowns.com

Sunset Loveland Pass

Sunset East of Loveland Pass 
Sunday November 18th 2018

Took this picture after missing a westward facing shot and just hanging out a few moments. This one is looking eastbound and below the top of the Pass. Loveland Pass sits on the continental divide just above the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels and I-70.

Greg

www.gregtowns.com

Cliff Palace Mesa Verde National Park

Well Preserved ancient Pueblo Indian ruins in remote area of southern Colorado.

Cliff Palace is the best known and most Photographed.

Tour Tickets are required and can be purchased at the visitors center. If I recall, tour groups were fairly large, maybe about 30-40 people. Some climbing is involved on wooden ladders at the end of the tour. I am not a big fan of guided tours, but in this case it is the only option. Great place to visit, explore, and photograph. Hope to return one day.

Greg

www.gregtowns.com

Sunrise At Mesa Arch

                                                Sunrise Mesa Arch January 17th 2015
This shot was blessed with a rolling bank of fog just as the morning sun light hit the arch.
Being a cold winter morning, I remember being with only a few hearty souls  on this day.
This is one of those must have shots almost every landscape photographer should get.
Just be prepared for a small crowd of 10-20 on almost every morning.
Also consider the use of post processing methods to remove people and camera gear from your shot.
I have Photoshop Elements 2018 and the clone stamp tool works nicely most of the time.
Mesa Arch is in Canyonlands National Park's Island District. It's about a 30-40min drive from Moab and well worth getting up early to see.

Regards,
Greg
www.gregtowns.com