Brent's Photography Adventures

Blue Cypress Lake - Round 3!

2011-12-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

Well, we are due again for another adventure and we're back at it again on Blue Cypress Lake.

We rented out some cabins again on the lake with our friends Mike and Rosa and their kids.

Last time we went to Blue Cypress I got a lot of great shots of the Cypress trees but due to some technical difficulties I wasn't able to make it on the lake for sunrise or sunset, so that was my priority for this trip.

And this time we successfully got our boat to the lake!

DAY 1:
After a late arrival on Friday night I was the only one that was up for sunrise Saturday morning, so I decided to let everyone sleep in and I would take a solo trip on the lake.

It was looking to be a great sunrise, so I had to find a place to set up. I found this little cove on the west shoreline which works well for the sunrise, but I have a hard time staying in one place...

So off I go across the lake to the east shoreline where I haven't yet explored

There are some sweet cypress trees on this part of the lake too.

Nice! Better get back to the cabin and check on the others

Lyla's up, and she knows the rules...no binky outside the crib!

Nice, eggs and bacon on the grill!

Nothin like hot grilled breakfast by the water!

Jesse couldn't wait for breakfast though so he hit the cereal

Well, the wind was ripping out of the east making whitecaps...so it looks like it is not going to be a good day for boating.

So we decided to take a relaxing day at the cabin where Jesse taught Lyla how to fish

we'll get it figured out

There we go!

Jesse took the prize for the biggest fish.

Even though we don't get the rest of the group on the water , it was still nice to chill on the boat in front of the cabin.

Looks like it is nap time though

It was still pretty choppy to take everyone on the boat, so during nap time Mike and I ventured out.

We decided to head across the lake to the east shoreline which will be sheltered from the wind.

After an hour or so of unsuccessful fishing I decided that it was time to bring out the camera. Looks like just the right amount of cloud cover to make for an interesting sunset.

Recent rains in the local area have raised the water level to depths too deep to touch bottom so I couldn't get out of the boat with my tripod to get the shots. I was pretty bummed that I would not be able to take any long exposure shots.

Getting tired of shooting out of the boat and pretty bummed I can't shoot from the water...time to explore other options

For me, I need to be fully embedded in the landscape to really get an appreciation for it as I am shooting...so get on out of here Mike, but don't forget to pick me up later.

Sweet! I am lovin' this sky!

So cool to how these trees grew up in the deep water like this

Check out this cl cormorant that Mike flushed out of the tree as he was taking off.

And the sky keeps getting better and better

Gonna wait it out in the tree here for a few to let the sun drop a little more

Alright I think my feet are going to fall off, hope Mike gets back soon!

It's my third trip to the lake now and each time I am hoping for glassy flat conditions to work with the reflections, but it is always windy. This protected little area is the closest I was able to get to glassy waters.

Time to find a new location

Nice, after another set of unsuccessful casts I gave up on the fishing. Catching some fish would have been nice, but these shots are just as rewarding for me!

The sky and the clouds kept changing so much throughout the sunset that I couldn't set the camera down

Sometimes the afterglow of the sunset is even better than the sunset. I love the subtle colors here

Oh man, its 5:30 and its already dark...I cant get used to this, we forgot to hike. We will just have to do a nighttime hike

And she still fits in the backpack!

...and doesn't want to get out of it either!

Day 2 One last sunrise

Well, one more chance for a few more sunrise shots and Mike was determined to catch a 12 pound bass. Lyla and Nicky were sleeping so soundly that I decided to let them sleep in.

It was pretty calm this morning, but still not glassy flat. Lets see what we can get into

Check out this tree!

I'm going to have to go in for a closer look

Its a whole different view from up here!

The top of the tree is completely hollow, weathered and almost paper thin. I have to be careful not to break it.

Time to get back

...one last shot on the way in

Check out the way the morning light hits the trees. Pretty cool

Hopefully Lyla is up and ready for a boat ride. The lighting is still working even after the sunrise

...uh oh looks like everyone is ready to go!

Hop on board everyone!

Seems like a perfect opportunity for a group photo

And a family photo

Now lets get out there before we lose the morning sunlight

Bummer...just like that the wind picked up, looks like we are going to have to stay on the inside.

Nice shot Nicky!

We have some pretty dramatic lighting to work with...I love it

Dang, I think Nicky has me beat here...

but wait...

Nailed it!

We never did catch that 12 pound bass, but we got some great shots and Mike even called in a couple songbirds for us

Well, time to pack it up and check out by 11:00am

Lyla was excited because she gets to see the big friendly dog again at Mrs. Middleton's camp store

and bonus!...Mrs. Middleton was kind enough to treat the kids to ice cream!

Well, one last group photo to wrap it up

Thanks Mike, Rosa, Jesse and Ariana for tagging along!

And we are outta here

See you all next time!

Never Stop Exploring...

Home to Canada - Marcy's Woods and Niagara Glen Gorge

2011-10-08T00:48:00.000-07:00

Time for a long overdue new adventure...

We decided to take a weekend trip to visit Nicky's family for her grandparents 60th anniversary party. And why not pack the hiking backpack to see what we can get into with one free day for exploring the mighty Niagara Falls territory.

And we're off!

So we thought... glad they found the severe oil leak before we got in the air!

After a two hour delay and a plane switch we were off, for real this time

So long sunny weather...

not sure what the forecast is, but I am going to place my bets on cold and rainy weather.

Oh yeah, better buckle up Lyla!

How sweet is this, we had the back three rows of the plane to ourselves. Not only did Lyla get her own seat, but baby doll got one too!

Almost there! Gotta look pretty for everybody

Didn't take much to pull that off! (And yes Lyla, with that face, daddy will give you anything you want!)

We touched down at 7:00pm into Buffalo and off to Fort Erie for the night.

Lyla insisted that we make sure she can still fit in the backpack.

Good news for her - she still fits...bad news for me - she weighs quite a bit more now!

After a good night sleep at Papa and Grama Juice's house we had the opportunity to get a private tour of Marcy's Woods Nature Reserve, with natural dunes and rare old growth preserved Carolinian forests.

Lyla is up and ready to go at sunrise

And one last test run for the backpack

Little does she know that it is 40 degrees and raining...but that hasn't stopped us before!

Nothin' like 100 slippery steps to start out the morning, and I'm pretty sure Nicky fed Lyla a dozen bricks for breakfast.

There was a bog off the trail a bit that caught my eye.

And the diffused lighting of the dreary morning was perfect for capturing this landscape

A little further down the trail we got a look at this historical 3-story log cabin on the hillside in the middle of the woods that was built in 1928 and still in incredible shape.

Good place for a pic of Nicky and her dad. I owe Dom a thanks for carrying my camera gear!

And the craftsmanship of the interior was quite impressive

Finally we broke through the dunes and made our way to the beach

The weather was turning for the worst, so I had to put my camera away

And Lyla was about ready for a warm restaurant and a hot breakfast.

My back was relieved that Lyla has had enough of the backpack for now...

But Nicky was not looking forward to the hike back.

I was able to set up for one quick shot through the dunes in between raindrops on the way back

Alright Lyla, lets go get breakfast, and we can take the easy way out!

Lyla's first off-road back-country excursion!...I miss home

Thanks to our trail guides Dom, John and Joe. Lets do it again sometime! - I'm a little bummed that we forgot to get a picture of the group.

Driving through the countryside where Nicky wore out many pairs of shoes exploring the woods as a little girl brought back many memories for her. And one particular memory where we got to stop and reminisce was the shoe tree. You see, here in Fort Erie when you wore out a pair of shoes, they didn't end up in the garbage...you took them to the shoe tree.

Somewhere here is a piece of Nicky's childhood

After a three hour nap for all of us we met up with Nicky's mom and step dad to venture into the Niagara Gorge. Well, we've all been on the tours of Niagara Falls so it was time to go back country and experience the gorge in its natural state!

Typical of the weather around here, it actually seems colder this afternoon even though the sky was clearing up

Luckily Nana brought Lyla some warm gear for the hike

Its been almost a year now since Lyla had been in the cold

But she didn't mind the extra layers!

She was a little wobbly, but warm

My other concern was if she was ready for another hike

but...no problem, here we go!

A little challenging at times, but this is what we were looking for!

While Lyla and I were making our way though the rough terrain Nicky snapped this shot of Nana getting the picture above of Lyla and me. What great composition with the water falling on the jagged rocks, and a beautiful shot. I wish I would have spent more time shooting here!

Finally we made it to the Niagara River!

and the sun actually came out!

Seems like a perfect spot for a family photo

Along the Niagara we found some great places to relax, and take it all in...

and pose with the trail guide (thanks Steve for carrying the camera gear!)

...And maybe venture a little too close to the raging river, sorry Nicky and Nana for the panic attacks

but we were able to capture some great images

when we made our way to the places where no else ventures!

What a perfect afternoon it turn out to be

OK...2 hours into the hike, and maybe we are a bit lost. Besides the fact that Lyla now weighs 200 pounds. We should probably try to find our way out before the sun sets.

unfortunately the only way out is up!

Luckily we found a path

But not an easy path...

This reminded me that Lyla is still on my back!

But forget the back pain...

The late afternoon lighting was perfect!

And it didn't stop there

As we ventured onward uphill, the rocky hillsides kept offering great opportunities!

And then we hit..."the wall"

And there is only one way out...

OK...

I think I could have made it, but of course I didn't want to put my precious cargo in danger. So we took the stairs

Finally! solid ground, and surprisingly Lyla did not want to get out of her backpack after 2 and a half hours!

After a quick bite to eat...

And a family photo...

and this picture that I couldn't leave out...

Lyla finally decided that she was ready to get out of the backpack...

and walk the home stretch with Nana and Mommy

Thank you GPa Steve for hiking back to the car for us!

...and thank you Mr. Police Officer for pulling us over so I could get this last shot of the beatiful Canada landscape!

Worth a speeding ticket...I think so!

And thank you all for another great adventure!

Never Stop Exploring!

Boney Marsh Oak Hammocks - Lorida, Florida

2011-07-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well the wet season is finally here in Florida and has brought the oak forests to life. During my travels for work along the Kissimmee River I discovered a new area called Boney Marsh in Lorida, Florida that had some serious oak hammocks that had some great potential for some new images.

So we decided to start the long weekend hiking in the oak hammocks of the Florida trail with a Friday afternoon departure.

I think Lyla is trying to tell me that we need to get going

Ahggg!...I just had a flash forward to sixteen years from now when my Little Lyla drives off with her first car

OK...back to reality...whew!

Everybody in? Here we go! The boys are pretty excited that they get to join us on this one.

Alright, dinner on the road and off we go

Our original plans were to camp out over night in Boney Marsh and get up for sunrise and hike, but the weather was not cooperating...

So we decided that it would be best to stay at a friends place nearby and keep dry.

And its a good thing because it rained the entire afternoon and night.

Not sure if the weather is going to be good for photographs, but I have learned to take chances and hope for the best. There is nothing worse that sitting at home and looking outside at the sunrise wishing you would have not chickened out.

...And I am glad we did because it was looking to be a perfect morning!

6:00am! Lyla woke up on time asking for her typical bottle of milk so she could go back to sleep till her usual 7:30 wake up time, but this morning she was a little confused when I pulled her out of her crib at 6:00.

It's early, so I have to make sure to take care of my girls!

Bottle for Lyla...

coffee for Nicky...

And off we go!

Here we are,

One problem Lyla...

Where is your hiking backpack?

Oh boy...I knew we forgot something, good thing you have your hiking shoes on!

We still have a few minutes before the sun is all the way up so we headed south to look for some potential landscapes

Lyla and I were having trouble finding something to work with here...

so we decided to turn around and head back north while we still had time

But before we go, Lyla had to stop and check out these cool oak roots

And my photography can definitely wait if she wants to explore! I completely understand and it is so cool to see that she is just as interested as Nicky and I to explore details in nature.

Oh...much better here. Its going to be a great morning for shooting! These oaks are incredible and we have the perfect lighting to work with.

This one is going to make a perfect three panel mural piece!

We continued on along the edge of the oakline where it meets the Kissimmee River's floodplain. This situation sets up for perfect landscapes into the sunrise, because the open floodplain allows the sunrise to light up the oak trees and the spanish moss

Lyla needed a break from hiking...mommy was quick to help her out

Check out these huge elephant ear plants!

Makes me feel like I am back in the rain forests of Ecuador

I am gong to need to find a new vantage point

Lets move on. We still have at least another hour of good lighting and so much more to explore

But, Lyla says it is snack time, and when she is hungry...she is in charge!

All set with a nutri-grain bar, and off we go

What a perfect morning

About a mile in we stumbled on this incredible landscape on the edge of the floodplain that was absolutely breathtaking.

Nicky and Lyla and the boys enjoyed the sunrise, while I ran around like a maniac taking in all the shots I could get

To get the shot I spent some time on the ground...

in the trees...

back on the ground...

I had to get a shot of Nicky and Lyla in this scene

and back in the trees...

Lyla saw how excited I was and she wanted to join in the fun.

and she nailed it!

but she wasn't done yet!

These shots are definitely going to boost your portfolio Lyla!

Uh oh...Looks like all the hard work tired Lyla out

and that is alright with me because I just had the most incredible hour of shooting that I can remember in the last 15 years.

Since we didn't have a backpack, Nicky made a makeshift cradle for Lyla

and Lyla was diggin' it!

...almost forgot to get a family photo!

and on our way

we found the car again, so that's good

and Lyla got her second wind!

What an incredible morning! Once Lyla tired herself out we jumped in the car and headed back to the house for nap time

for all of us!

Well, we couldn't have asked for any more perfect weather. The sun was only out for 2 hours from 7 - 9am and then the clouds came back for the rest of the day as we were leaving.

So we headed out and back home to finish the long holiday weekend with friends.

If you ever get the opportunity to take a ride along the Martin County Highway it is worth it as the oaks reach out and tunnel the road for many miles.

Thanks for checking in on our adventures!

Next adventure...who knows where, but it will be soon!

Never stop exploring...

Jensen Beach and Key Biscayne

2011-06-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we are well overdue for a new adventure and I am looking for a couple more beach images for this coming art show season.

What do ya say Lyla, we should get packin'

Alright, I think we have everything...

Lyla couldn't wait to get in her backpack, and we were excited to see that she still fits!

Day 1 - Headn' north

With no travel plans made, we decided to just head north up the coast...

for as long as Lyla will sleep and see where we end up.

Well, we made it to Jensen beach and it looked like a good place to check out.

Lyla made a bee-line for the sand and water.

It was good to be sandy again!

Well, it was 2:30pm and the plan was to chill on the beach for a couple hours until prime photography hour, but...

I think this is going to change my schedule.

Storms to the west, but at least the sun has not yet been smothered by the storms. So we decided to grab the backpack and the camera and head for the dunes in search of some new images.

I was originally searching for palm trees on the beach, but there were none to be found.

But these dunes created some great landscapes.

I'm sure I can find something to work with, but it is going to be challenging to work with the mid-day sun.

Alright! I think I found my shot, and just in time because I think Lyla is getting restless. She has a short attention span these days so she only lasted 10 minutes in the backpack

A quick pic with mommy...

And Lyla was ready to do some shooting of her own

Well...

Lyla was pretty bummed with her picture, and wanted to go back and play in the sand instead, so we headed back to the tent.

After another hour or so on the beach, the storms got close and drowned out the sun, so we decided to call it a day and head into the town of Stuart and grab a bite to eat.

Day 1 complete and the plan was to find a place to stay and come back to the beach for the sunrise, but with no hotels nearby, we decided to head home and regroup for tomorrow.

Day 2 - Headn' south

Well, the weather patterns look the same as yesterday,but Lyla was ready to continue the adventure

All suited up for the beach again

and Lyla plugged in the coordinates for Key Biscayne. Lets give it a shot.

Alright, Key Biscayne...to the beach.

While we prepped our hiking and beach gear Lyla found a place to chill

and pose for a few

and...to the beach!

The storms are all around us, but it isn't raining here yet. While Nicky and Lyla headed for the beach I decided to stay back and get a few shots of the dunes while I had a chance because the storms were rapidly approaching.

We got to the beach and found no palm trees here so I thought we could hike back to the main trail and scope out another beach...

but I quickly realized that it is next to impossible to take a 15-month old off the beach after only 5 minutes.

So I decided to put the camera away and let Lyla enjoy the beach

and break some rules.

After a bit I was able to convince Lyla to hop in the backpack and hike on.

We decided to hike to the south tip of the island and maybe catch the sunset

but there was no potential for any landscape shots here, and besides, the storm clouds have crept up on us and drowned out the sunset.

But Lyla thought there was some potential here and wanted to snap a few shots

or at least pretend to be daddy.

Well, we didn't get as many new shots this weekend as I had hoped, but we had a blast exploring the different coastal areas nearby. Looks like we will have an excuse to plan another weekend trip to the beach. This time we are going to be sure to plan a little bit more beforehand.

NEVER STOP EXPLORING!

Florida Keys

2011-05-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Lyla hasn't been to the Keys yet!...pack up the camping gear and call up Grandma and Grandpa for a place to stay...we are headn' south.

First stop - Big Pine Key

We met up with friends at Sugarloaf Key on Friday and set up camp. April is kind of pushing the camping season with the heat and bugs, but we figured we would give it a shot, since we havent been camping since Lyla was born.

Lyla slept peacefully almost the entire 4 hour trip...

which was great because the car seat isn't Lyla's favorite place to be these days.

Lyla got to hang out with her friend's Ariana and Rosa

We searched high and low for photographs...

but made sure not to miss naptime...

Searched by hiking...

on the boat...

even had snacktime on the go...

Well Lyla I agree, time to put the camera down and just enjoy the relaxation of the keys for a day or two.

I had great aspirations to explore and capture some great images of Big Pine Keys, but I will have to settle with this sunrise shot

Time to party!!!

chill by the pool...

and...

skip naptime...

and get silly

Next stop - Marathon Key

Camping was a blast and Lyla did great but it was great to have a place to chill in the condo with AC and a shower, and not to mention a bed. I didn't get any impressive images while camping, so it was time to get serious and search out some landscapes of nearby beaches and natural areas.

Marathon Key DAY 1 : Sunrise to Sunset

Lyla and Nicky slept in on Monday morning but my dad was up for the sunrise. So off we went.

I found a spot on the outskirts of Bahia Honda State Park that offered some opportunity for some red mangrove shots that I was looking for.

I used a long exposure on these shots to soften the water

Dad found these upturned tree roots which made a great frame as I trudged through the muck...love this shot

I had to get an abstract shot of the roots

I was able to squeeze in one last long exposure shot of a mangrove before the sunrise was over

Finally...some shots that I am happy with

Back to the condo...Looks like Lyla is finally up and ready to explore

Nicky only has two days left in the keys so we headed to Bahia Honda State Park. I thought there would be some great photo opportunities here but that was not the case, so we just enjoyed the beach

and explored the shoreline for a bit

Plenty of time...

for a family photos

and off to the boat!

When I think of the Florida Keys I envision endless shorelines lined with palm trees to explore...well instead nearly all of the shorelines are private property or State Parks that close before sundown. So I gave up on trying to find a piece of shoreline to shoot the sunrise and sunset, so plan B... we have to hit the water to explore sunset shots by boat.

Lyla was excited about that...as long we pack a picnic of course...and geeze Lyla, when did you get all those teeth! You are growing up way to fast!

Lyla learned how to sign "please"

We found a nice plot of shoreline that wasn't posted or fenced in!

Time to tromp around in the marl for a bit

Found an abandoned boat

Might make a great subject matter

Well, the sun is setting and we need to find some palm trees...where are all the palm trees on the beaches?

We found some palms which made a great foreground for the sunset

While I was focused on the sunset my mom pointed out this shot to the west

I had to shoot from the top of the center console.

since the tide was ripping out and the anchor line broke while we were setting up... Lyla had to keep me on the shot

I still cant believe it was this difficult to get a sunset shot of palm trees on the water in the Florida Keys!

One last shot as the sun dropped...

and we made it out of the water before dark and got Lyla in bed at a reasonable time.

It was my best day for shooting so far.

DAY 2 : Nicky's last day

Well, it was Nicky's last day in the keys so we just made it a relaxing family day before she had to go back to work.

We were all sad to see Mommy leave!

DAY 3 : Lyla increases her portfolio to 2 landscape images!

We found a small nature trail down the road called Curry Hammock State Park

It was great to see that Lyla still fits in her backpack and still enjoys being in it.

Well, this trail was a joke and it felt like it was 200 degrees and it was the longest 1.5 miles I have ever walked...Lyla is getting heavy!

We finally found a small beach so I set the camera down for a break and Lyla had a picnic with Grandma

After snacktime Lyla headed for the camera

She sets up for her second photograph

After a few minor adjustments

and a few pointers from Daddy

Lyla fires off a shot

;

Nice shot Lyla...a quick pose with the camera

And time to go find some water to cool off

and chill out with Grandma

I was convinced that Lyla was going to be the only one with a good shot here until we were driving out of the Park and we crossed over a bridge. I almost jumped out of the truck window and into this tidal creek through the mangroves!

Sliced my foot wide open, but it was worth limping around for a week getting this shot

I used a 30 second exposure to capture this shot and was quite content with this unexpected landscape that I stumbled across. I feel like my mission is complete for the trip and I can relax now.

Time to go find some water to cool off...

and a bit of shade for Lyla

Day 5 : One last scout
So one day left to chill with Grandma and Grandpa on another hike

and a nap on the go

found another mangrove scene to shoot...

but with no help from Lyla, the shot was not as good as I was hoping.

Well, the trip came to an end and it was time to pack it up and head home.

Thanks Mom and Dad for all the fun in the keys. We are already looking forward to next year!

Never stop exploring!

Thanks for following along our journeys!

Naples - Lyla Takes Her First Photograph

2011-04-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Three years ago I took these images on Juno Beach and they have become very popular at the art festivals, especially since I arranged them as a triptic this last year. Well, since this triptic is only a limited edition of 100, and will be closing the edition soon, I am going to attempt to capture some new large panoramics similar to these before I run out. With family staying within walking distance to the beach in Naples, what better place to tackle this endeavor.

We have two weekends of sunrises and sunsets to capture images and a bunch of time in between to catch up with family on the beach! Off we go.

One problem though Lyla...I forgot your backpack so you are going to learn how to walk for this adventure!

Day one sunset was pretty uneventful as far as dramatic skies go. but we enjoyed a picnic and family

leaving footprints on the shoreline...

Watching the sun drop into the ocean...

As for me...I came up empty for landscape images but captured some great shots for memories!

DAY 2 - The Sunset I was hoping for

Without a sunrise over the ocean on the west coast of Florida I decided to leave the camera aside for the morning and head out on the boat for some fishing. Lyla is now 13 months old and watching her grow and learning her likes and interests form is so exciting to see. And I am excited to see that Lyla has the same passion for the outdoors that both me and Nicky have.

So Lyla spent the morning with Nana, mommy and Aunt Nat and Aunt Diane

at the beach...

and at the pool

but...we have to make sure that Lyla has a good nap so that she is ready for the beach-sunset-pizza party-photo hunt.

OK...three hours later, I am getting anxious and Lyla is up and ready again for the beach

nice bed head by the way Lyla!

and it looks like it is setting up to be a great sky for the sunset.

While Lyla spent time exploring with Aunt Nat...

and practicing steps with mommy and Aunt Nat...

I wandered off with my camera and captured this seascape landscape

Well, another great day on the beach and a great sunset shot - success!

DAY 3 - Lyla and sunflowers

Well Lyla woke up at 8:00 and of course Lyla grabbed my hand and pulled me outside to explore before breakfast

the morning sun made for great portraits of Lyla

and this sunflower that Lyla was drawn to...

In review I captured a couple seascape images...but no sea shell macro shots yet....I have my work cut out for me next weekend.

DAY 4 - Back for the shells

Well, we made it through another work week and back to Naples...this time with a mission to capture the sea shell macro images.

I wasn't sure if sunrise or sunset would be best to capture the images, so we started with sunrise.

Well, the sun was right and more importantly the tide was high and was breaking on the shell line. Time to get wet and sandy!

With a little precise placement of shells from Lyla...

and a little sand in the hair for good luck...

I was able to capture this panoramic shot

I like the shot but I do not love it. I think the evening sun will work more to my favor.

but for now Lyla can enjoy the beach

We walked the beach and collected some spiral shells that I never saw before that I thought would be a perfect element in the shot I am looking for.

After a raisin picnic in the tent, Lyla let us know that it was time to head home for a nap to get ready for the big afternoon shoot.

So back to the apartment for a nap - then dinner with Nana and Gpa

And back to the beach

Lyla spotted some birds as soon as we got on the beach, so off she went

But I'm not sure that she realizes...

So Lyla decided to stay closer to mommy for a while

6:30pm and the sunlight is perfect, so back in the sand and water. It is a challenge to keep sand off the camera, especially working with Lyla who is still exploring the joy of sand

The tide was low so the water was below the shell line on the beach...so we took our shells that we collected in Lyla's bucket and dumped them on the water's edge

The position of the sun in the sky was perfect for casting a soft light on the beach turning the saturated sand into silk contrasting the texture of the shells

And I think that the spiral shells work perfect in the overall composition of the images, the only problem I had was that each passerby couldn't help but stopping and collecting my shells from right in front of my lens.

Well, I feel that I accomplished my mission for the day, but I decided to set up for the sunset shot while the sun was heading for the horizon.

Lyla was enjoying the evening sun with Nicky and just as the sky lit up right before sunset...Lyla decided that this was the sunset for her first photograph!

Nicky and I noticed that Lyla is at that age now where she is really starting to pick up on her motor skills as she repeats motions and activities that she sees throughout the day

And it was amazing to see how careful and precise she is with everything that she does

After a quick lesson on composition

And one last look through the viewfinder...she managed to find the shutter button

...And now I have some competition!

DAY 5 - Lyla Consults Clyde Butcher for Photography Tips

On Sunday we stopped to see our friends Clyde and Niki Butcher at their Big Cypress Gallery in the heart of the Everglades. World renowned landscape and conservation photographer Clyde Butcher has been an inspiration of mine ever since I moved to Florida nearly 10 years ago.

I always enjoy listening to Clyde and Niki tell their journey on the road to success as travelling artists, using their photography of the Everglades to captivate and instill public awareness of Florida's delicate ecosystems surrounding us

After the talk we had the opportunity to chat with Niki and Clyde...

Lyla got a book signed by Clyde...

and asked him for a few photography tips...

And Lyla is officially worn out

I always wonder what is running through her little head after a big adventurous weekend like this one.

Thanks Uncle Tom, Aunt Diane, Nana, Nat and Gpa for the great time in Naples. We had a blast!

Let's do it again next year!

Stay tuned - for our April adventure to the Keys

Blue Cypress Lake...Round Two

2011-03-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

Friday 10:00am - Cabin on the Lake...booked. Boat for 3 days of cruisn' the Lake...fueled up and packed up. Two cameras and a tripod...charged up and ready. Jeep...in shop for oil change, tire rotation and new lug stud. Looking forward to a 1:30pm departure to catch the evening shoot.

Friday 12:00am - pick up the jeep and hear grinding and clanking a mile down the road...back to the shop

Friday 4:30pm - plan B...pack up the car and leave the boat behind. Thanks Arrigo for breaking my Jeep

Had to leave a few things behind to fit everything in the car, but we have the most important cargo...

Well, we made it to Middleton's fish camp by 8:30pm, missed the evening shoot but we are all settled in the cabin and ready for a big day tomorrow.

Sunrise...Luckily Joe and Jeane Middleton had a pontoon boat that we were able to rent for the day. While the girls slept in, Ryan and I buzzed out to the lake. It was a pretty uneventful blank sky sunrise so it turned out to be more of a scouting trip.

It was going to be another cold weekend. Its going to be tough to convince myself to get into the water again.

The morning sun made some nice reflections on the water

With a non-dramatic sunrise sky, I decided to use the water reflections to help compose the pictures

I love the dramatic colors that the early morning sun casts on the landscape!

With a couple good shots under my belt, Ryan and I decided to head back to the cabin and get breakfast and the rest of the crew.

For the late morning we decided to take a cruse down towards the south end of the lake to scope out some potential shots for later.

Found some more crazy cypress trees

We got to park the pontoon at dock out front of our cabin. It was a great place to hang out, catch some sun, chow down some lunch...

and a great place for a nap!

OK, nap time is over...

This afternoon will be my last chance to get some shots, I am going to have to make it count.

Here we go

I think it was wind chill in the 50's so I was not ready to get wet yet, I had to last 2 more hours.

...OK shot, but I need to step it up.

Looks like I have some great skies to work with this afternoon. These were two trees that I found a month ago on the last trip and wanted to rephotograph

The sky worked great with these shots, but I am still not happy with them. They are missing something and I think I figured it out. I am going to have to get a multiplier filter so I can take long exposure shots here and soften the water. A calmer day would also create some great reflections.

At least Lyla is having a blast on the pontoon!

Enjoy the boat...I'm headn' into where most other photographers are too scared to venture...

No alligators in sight...here we go

Don't worry about me Lyla...be back in a few

This cypress roots look like sculptures, carved though time

It may look sunny and warm from these images, but by this point I am numb and ready to get out of the water. Besides, we have to get the boat back by 5 o'clock. Bummer because it is going to be an awesome sunset.

Well, back on the boat and looks like Lyla is still having a blast...

I'm going to have to get her one of these!

Well, despite the hassle that Arrigo service center caused us, it turned out to be a great trip. I got some great images and we had a great time with friends.

And Lyla's best friend Ava helped Lyla practice walking.

I'm glad we decided to rent the cabin. The 40 degree nights would have been too cold for the girls

Thanks again for the great adventure Middletons! We will be back...My mission is not yet complete here.

See you on our next adventure!

Blue Cypress Lake

2011-01-23T09:22:00.000-08:00

Since this was my only weekend off from art shows in January I figured it was a good time to explore some new Florida landscapes. I have heard great things about Blue Cypress Lake with its ancient cypress trees lining the shoreline. It is another one of those hidden secrets in Florida..Less than 2 hours from West Palm Beach, Blue Cypress Lake makes the perfect adventure for a day trip. We planned for a two day camping trip, but with forecasts near freezing temperatures we didn't think it would be very fun for Lyla's first camping experience.

So we packed up the jeep, loaded up the boat and headed north. All bundled up for the chilly weather, one quick bottle and Lyla is ready for a two-hour nap.

And off we go

There is basically only one road leading to lake access where there is a small community of houses on a canal and a fishing camp with a boat ramp.

Through a quick tunnel and we were there...

We were greeted by Jeanne Middleton who has owned the Middleton's fish camp with her husband for 40+ years. She offered us free use of their boat ramp and free camping if we were up for it.

With only a few hours to explore we headed for the water

Lyla made sure that mommy kept her on her eating schedule.

Picnic on the boat...while I grabbed the camera

Everywhere I looked was a tree more interesting than the last

There were so many crazy cypress trees surrounding the entire perimeter of the lake. The trees are like no other I have seen anywhere else in Florida.

Each tree has its own unique growth form

Only one problem...

Without sunlight I wasn't able to capture the images that I was looking for.

According to the forecast the clouds were supposed to clear out after the morning. Well, it is 3:00pm and not too much time left in the day.

I had my trees picked out to photograph, now I just have to wait for the sunlight. It would be a bummer if it stays cloudy all day.

Captain Lyla brought us back to the dock to get out of the wind and walk around a little bit

Lyla settled for a quick catnap in the backpack

While Nicky explored for a geocache...

Lyla and I found a little treasure for keepsake

And it looks like the photography Gods were on my side. At 4:00pm the clouds began to break and I was going to get an hour of sunlight to work with!!

Dang...Lyla is hungry again! OK, boat picnic number 2!!

Lyla, enjoy your food, I'm headn' in.

I couldn't even tell you if the water was cold, I was in a photography trance

This was the first tree that caught my eye earlier in the day, so it was my first stop

It was perfect conditions for both color and black and white photography. late afternoon sunlight on the white tree trunks added some great contrast to the darker broken-cloud sky.

Moving on...Nicky and Lyla stayed on the boat and Lyla danced to the songs of the nearby Osprey. Cutest thing I ever saw!

While I jumped back in the water...

The clouds were perfect, but they were disappearing so fast, might be able to keep them around for one more shot.

We have enough sunlight for one more stop.

No clouds in the sky, but we still have some great sunlight

I think Lyla was anxious to join me in the water...

If it was a little warmer I would have brought her in for the shoot

But she is content on the boat with mommy

One last shot

That's about it for the sunlight, plus I just realized I have been soaking wet for the last hour and the temperature has dropped to the low 50's.

Time to head back to the boat...

Snap a family photo...

And hurry up with that bottle!

I'll take one of those please...These were the only structures that I saw on the Lake. The Lake was otherwise undeveloped...and I hope it stays that way!

Back to the ramp and packed up before dark!

What a day. One of my best hours of photography ever! We can't wait to go back in February and stay an entire weekend. We only touched the surface of what Blue Cypress Lake has to offer.

Thanks to the Middleton's for letting us use your boat ramp and grounds. I highly recommend checking out Blue Cypress Lake. If you don't have a boat you can rent one at the fishing camp or take a private guided tour. Check out their webpage...http://middletonsfishcamp.blogspot.com/

Man, I have to stop doing this...one of these days I am not going to make it to a gas station in time!

Never stop exploring...

A Trek to the North

2011-01-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

For the Holidays we decided to put 3000 miles on the Wrangler this year traveling from Florida to Erie, Pennsylvania and Grimsby, Ontario Canada and back. With twelve long days for potential exploration I was looking forward to mastering some snow covered landscape images that have always been a challenge for me.

Although we have done the trip previous years, this year was a bit different traveling with Lyla who is only 10 months. I had faith in her good sleeping habits and decided to travel by night.

Adventure #1 : Knoxville, Tennessee

Well, Lyla slept for 12 hours in her car seat the first night! and we landed at some friends house in Knoxville, Tennessee. We spent the day there catching up on sleep, visiting and letting Lyla crawl around the house. In the afternoon we got a chance to explore a nearby natural area that I spotted on the way in.

Nicky, Bandit and Browser led the way while Lyla and I slowly meandered behind.

The late afternoon sun set the mood for some dramatic landscapes

A quick check over the shoulder and up the hillside we go

I struggled to capture any more powerful landscape images but got some great shots of Nicky and the boys exploring the landscape

When landscape photography fails I always switch to my macro lens and start looking deeper into the landscape

Most of the trees were covered with Ivy vines. Growing up in Pennsylvania it always amazed me that their leaves stay green all year round, even under the snow.

Growing up with Ivy all around me I never thought to photograph it...It must have been the time away from it that made me realize its beauty

Although the trees were mostly bare of leaves as I looked at leaf litter on the ground I realized that nearly all of the trees must be oaks.

Base on the leaves on the ground it seams that the forest is composed exclusively of oaks and as I looked closer I noticed that there were four or five different species of white and red oaks. Oaks are my favorite tree second to Sycamore, so this was a pretty cool find, and it was great to see that this forest was being preserved.

A quick check over my shoulder ten minutes into the hike...

Uh oh... nap time already!

Since Lyla was out cold, I had to pick out a stone for keepsake without her help... Hope she likes it!

Well, Lyla is not the only one that is tired. Time to head back to the house and get a couple hours rest for tonight's 9 hour drive as we continue our journey.

Thank you so much Jan, Tucker and family for the hospitality! Time to continue the journey northward. Next stop Erie, PA, then Grimsby, Ontario

Day #2 : Bruce Trail - Lake Ontario Escarpment

Lyla slept the entire night in her car seat again all of the way to Erie, PA...what a relief!! After a two day stop to visit family in Erie, Pennsylvania we continued north to Grimsby, Ontario.

Much colder here in Canada! Lyla is suited up and ready for her next adventure.

With Lyla all bundled up we broke trail and headed up the escarpment

Nicky's Mom and step dad joined us on the hike and showed us the area

The 40 mile creek cuts through the hillside here making a deep canyon. The creek cut through the hillside over time exposing giant rocky outcrops overlooking the canyon with breathtaking views.

I had to head down into the creek to check out the ice formations.

We found a break in the jagged hillside where we could make our way down to the creek...with a little convincing for mommy's approval.

Wow - flowing water can make some incredible ice formations!

These are the ice formations that I was hoping to find!

I have to take advantage of these ice formations and hike the creek. We decided that we shouldn't keep Lyla out in the cold for too long so Nicky and Lyla and Nicky's mom headed back to the house with Bandit and Browser, while Steve and I continued up the creek.

After of course we picked up a stone for Lyla's adventure treasure box...

Bonus!...this one is a fossil

Well, one last look into the canyon for Lyla...

And one quick family photo...

It was sad to see Nicky and Lyla leave me there...so sad that I forgot to take a picture, but its a good thing Nicky's mom Lise was there, and quite the photographer herself I might add.

So off I go on my own...

Water in motion, frozen and dusted with snow

Steve stayed a safe distance from getting wet

And somehow I managed to stay dry and on my feet

From the top of the escarpment we could see the entire town of Grimsby and Lake Ontario.

The sun broke through the clouds for the afternoon so we decided to head a few miles down the road where the creek meets Lake Ontario. Many ducks, geese, and seabirds gather here which creates some great photo opportunities.

Oops...little bit too close

I was fortunate that the cloudy sky broke for the afternoon. I found out later that I had goose poop all over my shoes, but of course...small price to pay for these killer shots.

Got some great shots but it just wasn't as fun without Lyla. At least she was able to tag along for a bit.

Lyla, Nicky and Lise made it back safely

And Lyla was very much ready for a bottle and a long nap...

Thanks Lise and Steve, we had a great time and it was very hard to say goodbye...as always. But off we go to Erie, PA to visit with more family and search for new adventures!

Day #3 : Lake Erie Bluffs - Part 1

Near the Ohio/Pennsylvania line along the southern shoreline of Lake Erie lies a hidden treasure - The Erie Bluffs. 90 ft towering cliffs line the rocky, sandy shoreline along one of the last undeveloped tracts of Lake Erie.

After visiting with great grandparent we had a hour of daylight left and a half hour drive to the bluffs. We decided to go check it out and at least find some locations to come back to and photograph tomorrow.

Lyla is ready...

well, for a nap...

That's OK though, not much time for hiking anyway, just scoping out some potential spots for later.

We found a side road off the main path and decided to see where it will lead.

The road dumped us out at a sweet overlook where Elk Creek (a steelhead fishing stream) meets the Lake Erie shoreline. Nicky stayed in the car with sleeping Lyla while my mom and I got out for a quick look at the landscape...still enough light for a couple photographs.

I wasn't too impressed with my landscape shots...

but I'm pretty happy with this macroshot of the frozen water in the foreground

Wow! How cool is this. The only sign of civilization here is one half of a single standing wall of what has to be a historical homestead. I am going to have to look into the history of this.

Grabbed a piece of a mortar joint for Lyla's adventure treasure box and hopped in the Jeep to continue exploring.

After a bit of driving in search for another vantage point we found this view of Lake Erie from atop the Bluff.

It was getting too dark and I didn't have a tripod so I risked a bit of graininess and boosted my ISO to 3200. I am amazed with how little graininess you get with the Canon 5D with such high ISO. I remember back in film photography when 800 film speed was so grainy it wasn't even work using.

One more shot of the afterglow and back to the Jeep

Uh oh, Lyla has awaken and she is HUNGRY! We will never make it home in time. Looks like we are going to have to stop at The Outback. Dad saved the day and packed up some of Lyla's food from the house and met us out.

Day 4 : Lake Erie Bluffs - Part 2

What is that you see Lyla?...a break in the sky...could it be?...quick Lyla get suited up. This will be our last chance to get some sunlight on the partially frozen lake before the warm, grey, rainy weather for the next 3 days.

That was quick...Cool, lets go

First stop was the Roderick Wildlife Reserve.

But it just so happens to be Lyla's nap time...

That's OK, wouldn't you know it...the skies got all cloudy and it began to sprinkle. Bummer, not the best weather for landscape photography

One quick shot from the Bluff and we decided to search for a lower elevation where we could hike along the desolate beach is the rain holds off...and Lyla wakes up.

Found another dead end road that might lead to the beach, and Lyla is up...with a little help from daddy

Found a trail...let's see where it leads

Just one little obstacle...

And down the beach we go...

My landscape lens decided to malfunction, but not much use for it today anyway.

I only ended up with this one decent shot today

And Nicky captured great shot of me and Lyla. It was amazing...the sun somehow peaked through the thick cloud blanket and turned the sky bright red for literally 2 minutes and then it was grey again.

Well, that will do it for our trek to the north. Thanks everyone for the great holiday and sharing our adventures. After spending so much time with family it is so hard to leave it all again and get back to reality.

No clue where are next adventure will be, but I think Lyla is already getting anxious!

NEVER STOP EXPLORING...

The Rocky Shoreline of Jupiter Island, Florida

2010-11-14T06:22:00.000-08:00

This month we decided to do a local adventure since we will be doing a lot of traveling over the holidays. With a storm over the Atlantic creating a huge swell we decided to head to the rocky shores of Jupiter Island in Tequesta Florida.

Day 1 - The Late Afternoon Sun

It would have been a good idea to bring the GPS and the trip would have taken 35 minutes rather than an hour and 10 minutes. But at least Lyla had a nice hour-long nap.

With the sun dropping fast, we had to make a sprint for the beach, where we spotted some rocks to the south along the shoreline

The storm out at sea has blown in an incredible swell bringing in over-head high waves and ripping currents. A perfect time to capture some images of one of the few rocky shorelines that Florida has to offer

Lyla was happy to be back in her hiking backpack and at the beach, and I was happy to have my camera back in hand with the family

I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the waves and give the images the ridged mood of the afternoon

And its not going to be easy to stay dry for these shots. Looking through the camera the waves find a way of sneaking up on you. This will have to be our scrapbook shot for the adventure.

So far so good keeping Lyla dry!

And happy...she loves the ocean, talks to it the entire time we are taking pictures.

Looks like Lyla is starting to lose focus...time for a bottle

after we pick up a couple shells for keepsake of course...

not sure if that is the best place to have a bottle Lyla

much better here...

While Lyla and Nicky had a picnic, I decided to venture on back to the beach and see what I could do with what was left of the evening sunlight on the dunes

Once the sunlight fell to a level where the dunes shadowed the ocean, all of the other photographers packed up there things and headed home...

while Lyla, Nicky and I stuck around to see how the setting sun to the west would play the clouds...and I am glad that we stuck it out!

Even though we only had an hour to work with we ended up with some great shots. I was a little frustrated because we got to the beach 10 minutes late and the sun was already partially below the dune shadowing the shore.

Perhaps a second day will be necessary for some sunrise images. Nicky and I agreed to let Lyla make the decision. If she wakes up before 6:00am we will make trip.

Day 2 - Lyla Gets us up for a Sunrise Trip Back to Jupiter Island

Well, Lyla woke up at 5:30am, so it's a go...off to Jupiter Island.

Arrival: 6:35am

Running late again so I take off for the beach while Nicky packs up Lyla...

Missed the sunrise but that's OK, I am looking for the post-sunrise light on the crashing waves. I knew this was going to be a challenge this morning because of the backlighting from the sunrise.

I found some shorebirds to shoot while I was waiting for Nicky and Lyla and the sun

Here they come

Lyla loves the ocean! She has been up for an hour now and hasn't even asked for her first bottle yet...just taking it all in

OK, no successful shots yet, looks like I am going to have to get wet again

Well, I spent a lot of time in the water...

But came up empty for the day, except for one or two macro shots

Regardless, we had a blast, and checked off another adventure!

...NEVER STOP EXPLORING

Tinker's Creek Historical Waterfall

2010-09-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was in a wedding in Cleveland Ohio near my hometown on Lake Erie and I talked Nicky and Lyla into making the trip with me. Even though Lyla wanted to take a longer trip to visit with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, Nicky and I are both low on vacation days so we had to keep the trip short. With that said, we only had one day rain or shine to find another photography adventure...

So here we go...Lyla is getting pretty good at traveling

This plane ride was much shorter than San Fransisco last month, and I think that Lyla is beginning to become a pro at flying...as long she has a window seat

And with all of the excitement there was no time for napping!

After two long nights with old friends it was time to get serious and grab the camera and backpack and head for the nearest natural area.

Cuyahoga National Park...only six miles from the hotel!!

It was great that my brother and his family, my parents and my Aunt Pat made the trip to go exploring with us. With the help of my brother and his wife who are more familiar with the area we found Tinker's Creek, a historical preserve.

While everyone packed up for the hike, my niece Mia and I snuck ahead of the group to get a preview of what we were getting into. With the sound of rushing water in the distance I knew there would be great potential for photography even though it was a grey overcast day.

Wow, this place is much more beautiful than I expected!

Mia and I rushed back to get the others so we could find a way to get closer to Tinker's Creek waterfall.

PART 1 - Above the Falls

Along our search for a trail that would take us to the bottom of the falls there were so many landscapes that caught my eye

And I was so excited to see the first leaves that were falling since I haven't been up north for the autumn in years. I made sure to include them in all of my landscape images. Its ironic to me that dead leaves can bring so much life to a landscape.

I was attracted to the rock ledge formations on the other side of Tinker's Creek and I have learned over the years that sometimes to get the picture I am looking for is going to come with wet shoes and clothes...and a convincing for approval from Nicky to bring Lyla along!!

We made it across...

And it was worth the wet feet for the rest of the day!

We posed for a couple scrapbook shots...

Picked up a stone for keepsake...

Then headed back to the group to stretch out...

And have a bottle with grandma!

While Lyla hung out with grandma the rest of us spent a little more time exploring the stream bed

And I quote my brother here - It is amazing to see how water forms its own paths through the rock over thousands and thousands of years

My dad had a great idea to take a picture of this skinny channel from above to make it look like an aerial shot of a large river in a canyon

And Nicky nailed the shot!...

while I worked on this shot, captivated again by the autumn leaves

While we were gathering the group to venture to the bottom of the falls we found my sister-in-law Amy and my niece Mia taking a moment to take it all in

So many fond memories of exploring with my dad and brother over the years...

Mia and grandma drop some sycamore leaves in the water and watch them go over the waterfall

OK Lyla...full belly...couple of hours of daylight left...back on the trail in search of where our sycamore leaves ended up

Part 2 - The Falls

There were some crazy rocks along the creek that made some great abstracts as we made our way up the lower creek towards the waterfall

Looks like Lyla and I have a new photo companion!

These weathered rock formations are incredible!

Everyone was right on board with my slow meander towards the falls

With time to play in the water...

Chill on the rocks...

search for critters...

Chill on the rocks...

climb the rocks...

Chill on the rocks...

Search for fossils...

And...chill on the rocks

A little mommy/Lyla time

OK, the anticipation has built long enough so off we go

OK Lyla, you chill here for a minute

Dad took the time here to conquer the waterfall and prove his youthfulness

One more minute Lyla, almost got the shot...

The low lighting overcast weather created the perfect scenario for creating these long exposure images

I never would have thought that this waterfall was only six miles away from our hotel in Twinsburg, Ohio

Time to head back for a picnic

Looks like I finally tired Lyla out

Time for some food...

Uh oh, not carrots though

Well, off we go at 4 in the morning back to reality. Maybe one day we will figure out that early morning flights are so tiring

What a great trip though. Thank you so much Aunt Pat for spending the weekend with us and babysitting Lyla, and thank you mom, dad, Matt, Amy, Mia and Delaney, Laurie, Steve and Blake and Easton for making the trip to see us in your busy lives.

We had a blast and I think we made the best of the short time that we had. We cant wait for our next adventure...

Through the years I have observed that as we progress through life our responsibilities with careers and family continue to fill our schedules, it becomes easy to lose track of our passions in life. Nicky and I have agreed that exploring new places is one of those passions that we both share, so we have challenged ourselves to reserve one weekend a month for a new exploration. We have no clue yet where our next adventure will be, but we are looking forward to it

San Francisco

2010-09-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Nicky was attending a conference for work in San Francisco for a week so Lyla and I decided to tag along for a few days and explore the coastline and redwood forests. I had great ambitions to get three full days of photography with Lyla strapped in my backpack.

After 6+ hours of flying, the California coastline is in sight!! The anticipation is building.

DAY 1

We had one family day on Sunday, so all three of us cruised the rocky coastline and then headed for the Muir woods redwood forest. Lyla was great the whole trip, but I realized quickly on Sunday that my ambitions were much to high to take Lyla on all day hiking trips through the California landscapes.

Over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the mountains...

What a refreshing shock it was when we went from mid-90 degree weather in Florida to mid-50's in San Francisco! Lyla enjoyed the cool weather...she could actually stay outside for more than 5 minutes without overheating.

We almost made it to Reyes National Seashore, but Lyla decided this was far enough so we explored this trail just on the outskirts of the Reyes National Park.

So after a quick bottle...

Across a few fields...

And through a few obstacles...

we came across some stands of Eucalyptus trees which offered some great photo opportunities

Then back on the road headn' south to the redwood forests in Muir Woods National Monument Lyla decided that it was time to stop again. I learned quickly that Lyla was in charge of what I was going to be photographing, which worked out great because I think that the best photographs come from those situations that you are not expecting.

So while Lyla napped at the car with Nicky I ventured down the rocky banks of the nearby coastline trails

I came across these coastal lily flowers that were growing right out of the dry, dusty, rocky terrain

Further down the landscape I finally got my first view of the California coastline

It was difficult to get the sunlit coastal images that I imagined capturing because of the low fog-like clouds that blanketed the coastline.

It would still be challenging to make it to the shoreline, but I made it this far...

I finally broke trail down the rocky cliff ended up with a great shot of the jagged shoreline.

On the way back up I got a little off track and came across this unique house on the hillside overlooking the ocean

Its not much, but I bet that whoever lives here is at peace

Well, its getting close to Lyla's bedtime (in Florida time) but we think she can hang in there for one more stop at the redwood forest since it would be Nicky's only chance to see it before the conference takes all of her time the rest of the week.

One more bottle on the go...

And Lyla is ready for the hike

We chose a good time of day to visit the redwood forests with the late afternoon sun beaming through the towering redwoods

As usual for me it is a race against the sun in photography. When the sun is right I've learned to act quickly, because it can be only moments before the sunlight is gone, sometimes never to give you the same opportunity again. So we jumped right into it

This is probably an image that many people take, but I had to take it

I imagine that this is what the gates of heaven would be for me.

It was great to see Nicky get into the photography too and challenge me with this shot of her own.

After one quick family photo we wrapped up the day and got Lyla in bed on time. All in all it was a great day.

DAY 2 - LYLA and I...SOLO

Well, Lyla slept in through the sunrise, so we will have to work with the late morning sun.

We headed to the coast but the near shore fog was still blanketing the coastline so we headed inland to see what we could find.

After going to the highest altitude we could find we had stop here for two reasons. First, I could not pass up this view, and secondly Lyla was giving me the warning signs that she has had enough of the car seat for a while.

And it turned out that there was a worn out hiking trail right here that we could explore.

All strapped in, we headed for the hills

Looking back at this picture, I wish I would have turned around and set up for a shot right here. But I knew that it was only a half an hour until Lyla would be hungry, so I rushed ahead...which I have learned is a big mistake in photography...you have to pay attention to every step of the way.

Although the coastal fog did not make this far inland it created a haze across the landscape that layered the mountains in the background

One quick shot for Lyla's scrapbook...

and time for a picnic

After a bottle time to pack it up and head back and call it a day

I think we are going to make a great team!

Time to head home and rest up for another big day tomorrow.

DAY 3 - Testing Lyla's Limits

It is Lyla and my last full day in California and still so much to see and photograph. The question is...is Lyla on board for a full day.

Well, the foggy coastal weather continues, but we have to head to the coast and make the best of it.

First stop was the Golden Gate Recreational Area

There were some great photo opportunities here, but the fog was too thick, so we moved on

It was amazing to see the fog flowing over the landscape like dry ice vapor...but tricky for photography

So there was no choice but to venture into the clouds

After two hours of driving Lyla finally woke up and let me know that we are stopping the car and I am going to have to work with what is here.

I usually don't photograph architecture but I am always captivated by historical ruins

This building was at the highest point of the area overlooking the ocean and was part of a battery built in the late 1800's to protect California from foreign vessels

Found a trail...let's see where it goes

Nice! made it to the rocky shoreline and this time with Lyla on board

There were probably many more photo opportunities if we continued down the beach but I did not want to put Lyla in danger. So I decided to stay put since the tide was rising and was reaching the cliff walls in places that would make our return impassible.

So we chilled on the beach for a bit where Lyla could play in the sand...

picked up a stone for keepsake...

Took a scrapbook photo...

Stumbled on a deer on the way out...

Shared the hillside with her for a few moments...

Lyla let me stop for one last shot...

And we headed back to the city... What a great day!

DAY 4 - The Fog Lifts...But We Have a Plane To Catch

Lyla was up and ready by 8:30am and we had to drop the rental car off and catch a ride to the airport and check in no later than 11:20am. But I had to get back to the Golden Gate Recreational Area for one last shoot... so we went for it!

and it was worth the gamble...

With my photography points already in mind from yesterday I ran through the park with Lyla in one arm and my camera in the other. We made it down the 750 ft grade in 15 minutes taking my photographs along the way.

We reached the bottom and then I realized we have to sprint all the way back up the 750 ft grade

And of course I couldn't help but notice the dune landscape along the way...

We made it to the airport at 11:20am on the dot...although Lyla had enough of the car at that point. Twelve hours later we arrived back home to Florida.

I realize that we only touched the surface of what the west coast landscape has to offer...it was hard to leave

Stay tuned for our next great adventure!

Clarion River, Allegheny National Forest

2010-08-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

Every year I take a four day canoe/camping trip down the Clarion River though the desolation of the Allegheny Mountains with friends and family. My dad and uncle began this annual tradition over 40 years ago. Although this annual trip is heavily weighted on fishing, I always pack my camera. We had a mix of sunshine and rain which offered a great variety of photography opportunities.

On the second day it rained all day but...

the rain let up momentarily on occasion giving me the opportunity to set up for some shots

On the second night we camped next to a small spring-fed tributary stream where I found some great photo opportunities

The thing that I love most about nature is its unpredictability. I have been floating the Clarion River for over ten years, and every year I discover and capture new images.

Well, it was another great adventure through the Allegheny National Forest... I will be counting down the days until next year's river trip

Kissimmee River with Clyde Butcher

2010-08-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to assist Fine art landscape photographer Clyde Butcher and his wife Niki Butcher along with videographer Elam Stoltzfus in the filming and photography on the creation of a documentary film of the Kissimmee River.

Clyde and I found a stand of swamp tupelo trees on the Kissimmee River floodplain. I helped Clyde set up for a shot here.

Clyde gives me photography lessons at each location. I learned so much valuable insight from Clyde that no book or class could ever teach.

Alright, we got the shot and I am holding the negative of one of the next Clyde Butcher masterpieces!

Elam films Clyde and Niki as they capture an image

Niki assists Clyde as he sets up for another shot of the Kissimmee River floodplain

Elam Stoltzfus sets up for sunrise footage over the Kissimmee River floodplain.

Two days of shooting...another great adventure on the river.

Although I spent most of the time assisting Clyde with his photography, I was able to get a few shots of my own.

Summertime afternoon storm clouds fill the sky over the Kissimmee River floodplain landscape

Layers of floating vegetation paint the surface of the water on the floodplain

Sunlight beams through blooming pickerel weed flowers.

Thanks Clyde, Niki and Elam for this amazing opportunity.