On a drive back from the Salton Sea, I stopped at this overlook of the Anza Borrego Badlands. Immeidately I knew I needed to return for a sunrise photo. A few weeks later, the universe graced me with soft wispy clouds that caught great colors of sunrise.
The full cascade of Panther Creek Falls in Washington is something to behold. It's well worth the scramble to the base of the falls. And on a sleepy Sunday morning, you'll have the whole place to yourself.
One of several trees in a grove of sorts in the Anza Borrego desert.
A glorious sunrise overlooking the Borrego Desert.
Sunrise is an event to behold in Death Valley. If the skies don't put on a show, the light and shadow play in the mountains will surely delight.
Bolinas Ridge is such a soothing place. There's something about the gentle rise and fall of the rolling hills that speaks to our distant past. It's a place we inherently recognize as hospitable and fertile, a place to make camp.
A gorgeous sky in Del Mar as the sun goes down. A single Torrey Pine stands tall.
I took this image years and years ago, back in the 35mm film days. Seeing it now it almost looks like a miniature model of the Grand Canyon.
In the early morning light, the stark landscape of the Carizzo Badlands looks otherworldly. An alien landscape right here on Earth.
The Racetrack Playa - home to the mysterious sailing stones - a veritable right of passage for any landscape photographer. For the best stones, head to the south end of the Playa. And don't be fooled by the tire tracks :(
As the first rays of a new day wash over Death Valley, Manly Beacon is first to grab the morning light.
It's a scramble to get to the base of Panther Creek Falls. Very challenging in the dark before sunrise. And it's well worth it. Walk slow, be steady, and bring lots of lint free cloth wipes to keep your lens dry. There's lots of spray!
Zabreskie Point is the place to go for sunrise photos in Death Valley. There's a large platform of land beneath the formal viewing area. Bring a sturdy tripod - it gets very windy on the point.
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Broken Hill in, in my opinion, the most picturesque spot in the Torrey Pines Reserve. In the winter months, the sun rises at the right angle, bathing the south-facing side of the hill in golden orange.
An exceptionally foggy morning in the valleys near Lake Hodges in San Diego, California.
Green pastures of east San Diego county turn a brownish gold in the winter months. Cold, crisp, austere at night and still warm in the day.
An impromptu stop on an afternoon drive led to a brilliant light show. The sun filtered through the trees and fog in spectacular rays.
A rainy winter's afternoon, mist and fog shroud the granite walls of the Yosemite Valley.
As the sun rises above the mountains surrounding the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, there's a period of maybe 15 minutes where the mysterious sailing stones cast long narrow shadows.
Breathtaking. Majestic. Powerful. There are so many ways to describe the vista from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park... and none of them are truly capable of describing this natural wonder.
I had a spare afternoon outside of Denver, Colorado. I took a drive through Estes Park to the outskirts of the Rock Mountain National Park. The entire way, the clouds grew thicker and the sky darker. Sure enough, my return drive was in a downpour.
Moss covers a fallen tree on a path in Oregon's forest.
Long shadows stretch across Hidden Valley as the sun goes down in Joshua Tree National Park.
Looking south from the Muir Beach Overlook on a clear afternoon in the Marin Headlands.
The hours before sunrise were cold and wet. The rain was mild, but never let up. Moments before sunrise there was a break in the rain. I climbed down the rocks to capture a makeshift waterfall fed by the incoming tide and the soothing colors of morning.
I waited months for these conditions. Low tide, partly cloudy skies, and on a night I could get to Sunset Cliffs with plenty of time to setup. I love these geometric shapes etched into the rock and how the tide pools look like eyes.
The soft blues and oranges of the afternoon sun on the San Diego shores just north of Scripps Pier.
My last night in Lagos Portugal. I hiked all through the hills around the grottos of the Ponte da Piedade. Evening set in. As I worked my way back up the to the top of the point, the moon peeked through the clouds, shimmering on the ocean. It was time for one more photo.
Don't let its name deter you. Sunset Cliffs in San Diego is an awesome place to watch a sunrise.
A gentle surf caresses the shallows at Praia de Camilo in Lagos, Portugal.
Once the sun is down in La Jolla, the surfers need to head in. It can be rough navigating around the rocks, especially when the surf is rising. After this shoot, one of the guys had a hard time getting safely to shore... with a banged up knee to show for it.
A forecast for rain didn't discourage me and my workshop from heading to Torrey Pines early Sunday monring. This is why.
I hiked out to Lands End to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge. Setup on Eagle Peak, I was continually drawn to the calm blues of Mile Rock Beach to the north. I want to return to this spot and get down at sea level for another shoot. This is a beautiful spot.
Some beaches are littered with kelp and seaweed. Isolate one, make it your foreground subject, and revel in the simplicity of the composition.
A glorious sunrise at Torrey Pines State Beach. This is what it looks like when it all comes together.
A golden sunset and steady surf at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. I never get tired of this patch of coast.
A gentle sunset along the coast of Davenport, California.
I have been to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, California exactly once. Does it get any better than this?
Low tide reveals an almost alien landscape. Little sea creatures nestle into these nooks and crannies along the San Diego's coastline.
At Swami's Beach in Encinitas, there is a large rock along the shore. Doesn't it look like a sea monster that crawled out of the surf to rest its head in a shallow pool?
High tide at Windansea Beach in La Jolla brings a temporary display of waterfalls cascading down the rocks.
Twilight begins along the rocky shores of La Jolla, California.
The sun makes a brief appearance on an ominously cloudy evening in La Jolla.
I'd finished up a early morning shoot and was packing up to leave. Then, a burst of pink scattered across the sky. I perched on the cliffside and snatched this shot.
The waters around Bird Rock turn to glass at low tide. Unusual streaking clouds reflected in the calm waters, pointing the way to the sunset.
The clouds stream out toward the horizon, chasing the sun. Another beautiful sunset in La Jolla, California.
A lone swimmer amid the cliffs, rocks and surf of Santa Cruz's beaches.
The beaches around Scripps Pier are excellent at low tide. Long stretches of beach, tide pools, and on a cloudy day... reflections!
Even gray days are beautiful in their own way. The rippling overlay of clouds reminds me of oil paintings.
The ocean's swirling patterns and the sky's brilliant palette are briefly joined by the setting sun. Another captivating evening in La Jolla, California.
A picture perfect ending to the day along La Jolla Shores, California.
The base of Bird Rock rises from the ocean floor at low tide on a cloudy, ominous evening.
The sky erupted in pinks and oranges moments before the sun sunk below the horizon in Ocean Beach.
The deep sandy beaches north of Scripps Pier in San Diego reflect puffy clouds at low tide.
A gentle tide rolls in on a cloudy winter evening in La Jolla, California.
Oh, to live in one of the homes overlooking Windansea Beach. I could get used to seeing this day after day.
The sun hid behind this lone patch of clouds until just before sunset. Then, the cliffs were lit up, the clouds got color... for a brief moment all was aligned on the beach.
The still waters of the bath chamber beneath Seville's Real Alcazar glow a golden yellow.
Many of the stairways to the sidewalks that run along the banks of the Tevere were closed when I was in Rome. I scrambled down a barricaded stairway to get down on the banks of the Tiber before sunrise. Thankfully, the staircase to the St. Angelo Bridge opened up after I'd finished shooting, so leaving was an easier fare.
The columns, buttresses, and arches of the Sagrada Familia create a dizzying set of patterns and lines.
Deep purples and fiery reds and oranges light up the San Diego sky.
The San Diego harbor front is connected to the downtown ball park by a swooping pedestrian bridge.
Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is creepy, interesting, and a photographer's playground if you're into old, decaying buildings. I spend several hours here exploring all the old cell blocks. Well worth the visit if you're in the area.
It was a crisp day in April 2004. My wife and I'd climbed a tower overlooking the central square in Prague. It was cramped and crowded with other visitors. With little opportunity - or room - to compose, I took a few shots. This one became one of my favorites of the trip.
A coolly lit night at Scripps Pier. The tide slowly, lazily rolls in.
The brightly colored walls and white washed window frames pepper the alleyways of Seville, Spain.
Named after Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, this huge library looks like a UFO landed on the UCSD campus.
With a few exceptions, Paris is a reasonably flat city. From the Sacre Coeur in Montmarte, you can really see that.
One can't go to Paris and not shoot the Eiffel Tower. Standing under the tower, you feel the strength of it, the power in it's four legs. I framed up this shot to convey that "I'm not going anywhere" vibe this monument was giving me.
A view from travels past. It's been a little more than 10 years since I visited Prague. I do hope I get back someday.
Row after row of tiled roofs capping pastel painted building with shuttered windows in Florence, Italy.
In my brief time in Florence, I spent nearly every evening crossing the Fiume Arno, shooting upstream and downstream. On this evening, the water was like glass, casting a near mirror image of the arches of the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte Vecchio beyond.
The doorways in Europe always fascinate me. Aged, often in disrepair, yet still majestic in their own right. What figures and events was this door in Venice witness to?
I stood on the Ponte Rialto, a cool, overcast evening. I watched the gondolas come and go as ambient light faded. A relaxing way to spend my last night in Venice.
The columns of the Barcelona Cathedral reach high, towering over all who enter. Standing in such places really does make one feel small.
The Puerta de Alcala stands at the top of a gentle slope leading into the center of Madrid. On a clear summer night, the blues of dusk contrast the illuminated facade of this powerful gate.
The Metropol Parasol stands in contrast to the classical European and Spanish architecture of Seville. I like how the new and old blend in this charming city.
In the 1940s, Jacumba, California was a resort town attracting the Hollywood crowd. Now it's a shell of its former self. Along the railroad tracks, several wooden rail cars are slowly being reclaimed by the earth.
Balboa Park is full of architectural beauty. Along the Prado, the covered corridors and archways form pleasing repeating patterns and vanishing points.
San Diego gets its fair share of fog. On this morning, it was insanely thick, rivaling Point Reyes in northern California. This shot is on Harbor Island facing toward downtown San Diego. The horizon is ever so slightly visible. On a clear day, the skyline dominates the harbor.
The front door of the Museum of Man looms over a courtyard in Balboa Park. The park and its grounds are an excellent place to photograph architecture.
In December, the grounds of Balboa Park in San Diego are adorned with holiday lights. The facades of the buildings are also lit up. I really like how the light painting on the botanical building blends with the deep hues of the blue hour.
Built shortly after California was admitted to the Union, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse stood watch over San Diego for 36 years.
America's Finest City at sunset.
Stanford University is an absolutely gorgeous campus with fantastic architecture. There's everything from the more classic European structures to the very modern. The Clark Center falls squarely in the modern category.
San Diego gets its fair share of fog. On this morning, it was insanely thick, rivaling Point Reyes in northern California. This shot is on Harbor Island facing toward downtown San Diego. The horizon is ever so slightly visible. On a clear day, the skyline dominates the harbor.
An exceptionally foggy morning in the valleys near Lake Hodges in San Diego, California.
The rising tide crashing over the rocks, the waves weaving though cracks and fissures along the shore. The coastline is jagged yet smooth at the same time. I watched the patterns of the waves for ten to fifteen minutes before I began shooting, getting in tune with nature's rhythm that morning. I think I found a groove...
Hidden treasures found among the pebbles on Torrey Pines State Beach. Every visit brings new gems to be discovered.
I can stare and stare at this location and never grow tired of it.
The doors of the Passion Facade of the Sagrada Famila are imprinted with words from the Bible. One of countless details in this magnicifent feat of architecture.
Some love it, some hate it. Nobody can deny the metal and glass pyramid entrance to Paris' Louvre Museum is unmistakebly recognizable.
Climbing to the top of the Tower of Pisa induces a little vertigo. The slant of the building rocks you left to right as you wind up the spiral corridor to the top. Touristy, but how can you not do it once?
Every time I visit Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, I'm always fascinated by these pools and stones. They remind me of eggs in a nest. Really, really big eggs.
One of the thousands and thousands of intricate details of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. One could spend months studying each nook and corner of this magnificent feat of architecture.
One of the watchtowers in Chateau de Chillon outside of Montreaux, Switzerland.
Beneath the towering granite peak that is Sentinel Rock, the banks of the Merced River widen forming Sentinel Beach. On calm days, the waters run slowly, mirroring the landscape.
A stone bridge on the campus of University Texas at Austin.
Three interesting rocks among thousands on Torrey Pines beach in San Diego, California.
I love the sound of the waves as the pull back across Torrey Pines beach. It sounds like a fire crackling as the water rushes between the large pebbles that cover this part of San Diego's coastline.
Foreboding skies prelude an afternoon rainstorm in Auckland, New Zealand.
A newer addition to landmarks along the Thames River is the London Eye. This large ferris wheel affords fantastic views of the city at dusk.
A lone sailing stone in Death Valley's Playa Racetrack.
Arriving at St. Paul's Cathedral in the late afternoon is not something I'd recommend. The steps to the Stone Gallery get closed earlier than the church itself. My kids and I maintained a breakneck pace up the 378 steps for a view of London before descending to the Whispering Gallery inside the Cathedral.
On the outskirts of Borrego Springs is Clark Dry Lake. It's similar to Death Valley's Racetrack, but much smaller (and a lot easier to reach).
The Mesquite Dunes are easily reached, just east of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park. Visit early in the morning before the daily visitors arrive. The evenings winds erase the footprints, shaping the dunes anew.
Sunrise is an event to behold in Death Valley. If the skies don't put on a show, the light and shadow play in the mountains will surely delight.
The Racetrack Playa - home to the mysterious sailing stones - a veritable right of passage for any landscape photographer. For the best stones, head to the south end of the Playa. And don't be fooled by the tire tracks :(
A rare minimal view of San Diego's harbor shrouded in a thick fog.
The ocean-carved sandstone shore of La Jolla gives the Minotaur's maze a run for its money. There's all sorts of critters living in these mini-canyons and potholes. iThe curve in the foreground reminds me of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.
The iconic Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, California.
Steady runoff from the Scripps Oceanography Institute create an ever changing series of miniature rivers that wind toward the ocean.
After a very low tide, large rocks at the foot of the Sunset Cliffs bathe in pools of saltwater.
I love how the ocean swirled around this rock at the base of Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. Every so often, the waves would stack up enough to pool up in front of the rock and then rush back out to sea.
On more than one occasion I've been fascinated with this small group of stones at the base of Sunset Cliffs. Only visible at low tide, they make a great foreground subject and almost point the way out to sea.
Stanford University has a variety of stunning architecture, ranging from the classical to the ulta-modern. Nestled among the trees on campus is Stone River, a serpentine sculpture stretching 320 ft.
A hazy afternoon overlooking Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.
The waters around Bird Rock turn to glass at low tide. Unusual streaking clouds reflected in the calm waters, pointing the way to the sunset.
Just me and the ducks before sunrise in Foster City, California.
A calm day along the channel separating Sauvie Island from the main shores of the Portland area. The channel running along the western side of the island is very calm, the surface of the water like glass.
Deep purples and fiery reds and oranges light up the San Diego sky.
The deep sandy beaches north of Scripps Pier in San Diego reflect puffy clouds at low tide.
In my brief time in Florence, I spent nearly every evening crossing the Fiume Arno, shooting upstream and downstream. On this evening, the water was like glass, casting a near mirror image of the arches of the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte Vecchio beyond.
An impromptu drive through the backcountry between San Diego and Riverside counties led me to a small lake outside of Idyllwild, California. Blue, green and calm waters... nothing more.
The soft blues and oranges of the afternoon sun on the San Diego shores just north of Scripps Pier.
I awoke early on my last morning in Florence, sleeping walking the few steps from my hotel to the Ponte Santa Trinita to soak in one last view of my favorite city in Italy.
Many of the stairways to the sidewalks that run along the banks of the Tevere were closed when I was in Rome. I scrambled down a barricaded stairway to get down on the banks of the Tiber before sunrise. Thankfully, the staircase to the St. Angelo Bridge opened up after I'd finished shooting, so leaving was an easier fare.
A gray December day in Tokyo, low winds kept the surface of the water calm, but not entirely still, creating a soft, rippled reflection.
The still waters of the bath chamber beneath Seville's Real Alcazar glow a golden yellow.
Beneath the towering granite peak that is Sentinel Rock, the banks of the Merced River widen forming Sentinel Beach. On calm days, the waters run slowly, mirroring the landscape.
Calm reflections in the picturesque neighborhoods of Foster City, California.
A calm pool at the base of the waterfall in Penasquitos Canyon. I started my hike early, well before sunrise. I had the whole place to myself when the sun came up.
In December, the grounds of Balboa Park in San Diego are adorned with holiday lights. The facades of the buildings are also lit up. I really like how the light painting on the botanical building blends with the deep hues of the blue hour.
The sun makes a brief appearance on an ominously cloudy evening in La Jolla.
The beaches around Scripps Pier are excellent at low tide. Long stretches of beach, tide pools, and on a cloudy day... reflections!
I have been to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, California exactly once. Does it get any better than this?
This dinghy lit up during an inviting sunrise at the base of the Coronado Bridge.
I stood on the Ponte Rialto, a cool, overcast evening. I watched the gondolas come and go as ambient light faded. A relaxing way to spend my last night in Venice.
Rolling hills in Kriens, Switzerland.
While scouting locations for a sunrise shoot, a girl wandered down to the water's edge. She was taking what seemed to me an epic number of selfies. A story emerged. A lovely young lady on a beautiful stretch of coast.
Living in California, I forget how late the evening light is in parts farther north. In the summers in Northern Europe, sunset isn't until well past 9pm. And then the blue hour holds on past 10pm.
I suppose it's because I was in the heart of Brussels. I could not walk 10 meters without seeing another chocolate shop. And yes ... they're all good.
The Great Wall is a sight to behold, stretching into the distance, seemingly endless.
A walk along the southern bank of the river Seine in Paris is a nice way to view the city. This metal sculpture of a chess match caught my eye.
One of hundreds of picturesque water alleys in Venice.
The magnificent Il Duomo completely dominates the city of Florence, Italy.
I brought this chair with me so I'd have a dry place to sit while I took some long exposures along Coronado Beach. After struggling to find some foreground interest, the chair became the perfect subject.
Walk the streets and back alleys of Florence and you will see bicycles. Lots of bicycles. Although I left Florence with many fond memories, I will forever connect the humble bicycle with the charm of Florence.
On a warm spring's day, the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy are decked out in thousands of flowers.
A beautiful morning along the shores of Torrey Pines. Before the daily crowds arrive for sun and surf, the early morning hours bring a different breed of people. Fisherman, joggers & hikers ... and the occasional photographer.
Iconic. Classic. Romantic. Just a few of the words used to describe the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
The squares of Florence transform as the sun crosses the sky and drops over the horizon. By day, bustling street markets teeming with tourists and locals alike. By night, an escape for children and adults alike.
Locks on bridges, fences, gratings... I saw a lot of locks in Europe. I've since learned they're "love locks" that sweethearts latch in public places to symbolize their love.
Row after row of tiled roofs capping pastel painted building with shuttered windows in Florence, Italy.
Bicycles, bicycles everywhere. I kind of regret not renting a cycle and cruising around Florence.
By day, the square is bustling with worshippers, pilgrims and tourist. Before sunrise, it's very, very quiet.
Synonymous with Venice, and they are everywhere in that watery city. You'll find that classic black frame at almost every mooring.
A humble, decorated window in the Alfama of Lisbon.
Calm waters of Lucerne, nestled in the Swiss Alps.
A lone boat on a river in Taipei.
A gentle sunset along the coast of Davenport, California.
A couple watches the sun go down behind the Oceanside Pier.
A row of mailboxes along Highway 67 as it cuts through Ramona, California.
I went out on this morning hoping for a break in the clouds and a warm sunset. Instead, I got these inviting blues on blues. The yellow signs providing a nice contrast. Sometimes, bad weather yields good things.
This was an interesting morning. A few wispy clouds, catching the colors of the first rays of dawn. The rest of the sky an inky blue, the stars still visible. And palm trees. Who doesn't like palm trees?
Built shortly after California was admitted to the Union, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse stood watch over San Diego for 36 years.
The skyline of Las Vegas is an everchanging mix of international landmarks. The Paris Hotel sports a smaller rendition of the Eiffel Tower.
