Now more than ever, I’m compelled to spend as much time as possible exploring these wonderful places.  Beyond my vote and my voice on political issues affecting the environment, the best thing I can do is to share what I find so special about these places with other people.  Since I think I can say more with photos than I can with words, I’ll let the photos do most of the talking.

Here is a sampling of the photos I recently made while visiting Big Cypress National Preserve.

A white bird convention along Tamiami Trail (Mostly Wood Storks and Great Egrets, a few Snowy Egrets and Ibis in the mix too.)

View from Tamiami Trail

Florida fall color along the canal that parallels Turner River road.

American Alligator

An impressive set of pearly whites!

Cypress

Little Blue Heron

Morning light on the grasses

Cabbage Palms in late day light

This was our first time paddling on Turner River.  For me, the highlight of this trip was the Mangrove tunnels.  The prop roots covered in epiphytes (air plants) were amazing.  We were the first canoe on the river that day and had it to ourselves for most of the trip.  It made for a very peaceful experience.  The downside to being first and being in the front of the canoe was basically clearing all the spiderwebs with my face as we moved through the tight tunnels.  I’ m not talking a web here and there, I’m talking one right after another, the entire way.  Had I gathered all the fibers from my face and hat, I think it would have been enough to weave a blanket.  Still, a small price to pay for such a beautiful trip.  I was just grateful the biting insects were minimal.

When we started out, it was fairly cool and the sun was just rising.  As we were finishing our trip, the sun was high and the day was warming up.  This is when the Alligators start to come out to bask.  This little one found a perfect spot on a fallen log extending out over the river.  I was surprised he stayed put while we maneuvered the canoe into a position where I could get an unobstructed photo.  Typically these baby gators are more shy.

A youngster basking on a fallen log.

Whenever visiting Big Cypress, I make it a point to visit Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery.  This trip was no exception.  Not only can you see his wonderful work, you can walk a beautiful  little nature trail behind the gallery.  I highly recommend a visit.

Next up will be photos from Corkscrew Swamp and Fakahatchee Strand, two of my all-time favorite places.

Some relatively small Sequoias. The sun pushed through the overcast skies at just the right moment to highlight the red trunks of these wonderful trees.

I managed only a frame or two of this little meadow before a heavy rain started.

There were no beaches here but I did manage some "wave" photos along the Kings River

One of nine Black Bears we saw in Sequoia. This one was wanting to join our picnic.

A lovely spot along Stony Creek

I came across this lovely view during a short mid-day hike through Kings Canyon.

The setting sun turned sky into orange kool-aid and highlighted the high Sierra peaks.

There were beautiful sights around every bend of the road through the canyon.

I wish I had more time in this area.  It’s a place I’ll need to revisit.  Next time, the stay will be much longer.

Next up will be a blog entry or two with some pet photos.  I’ve had the pleasure of photographing some wonderful dogs and cats lately!

Here’s the dilemma I recently faced when visiting Yosemite National Park.  What does a photographer do when she has only a few short days to visit and make photographs in what is arguably the most beautiful location on Earth.  As a photographer, I’m familiar with all the cliché images made in Yosemite.  Most are made from the most heavily visited vantage points in the park, which makes sense.  Just Google Yosemite photos and you’ll see exactly what I mean.  Now don’t get me wrong.  These cliché images are beautiful (when made by a competent photographer).  They are made from the vantage points and at the time of day that takes best advantage of the natural beauty of the area.  As a matter of fact, there are numerous sites on the Internet as well as books that will tell a photographer exactly where to be and at what time of day to be there to get the iconic (ie: cliché ) images.  I bet Ansel Adams had no idea what he started!

So, here’s the internal battle I went through.  I didn’t want to make cliché images.  I didn’t want to make the same images that have been made a million times.  There’s no satisfaction (as a photographer) in setting up in well-worn tripod holes, following a formula.  At the same time, I wanted to see these incredible scenes from the best vantage points under the most beautiful light possible, not to make photographs but to experience the view, soak it in, burn the sights, sounds, and smells into my memory.  In other words, be a tourist, not a photographer.  However, how could I, as a photographer, be in front of such wondrous scenes, with a camera available, and not make photographs?  That would be like putting triple chocolate fudge (anything) in front of me and thinking I wouldn’t take a bite.  I couldn’t help myself.

So yes, I made the cliché images.  I was helped along by some stormy late afternoon skies that at least made my clichés slightly less cliché.  I also managed a few images that don’t scream Yosemite icon.  I did what I could to find a balance between photographer and tourist.  The same challenge came into play to a lesser degree in Kings Canyon/Sequoia and out at Big Sur, which we also visited during this California trip (more blog entries to come!).

Valley View-This popular view was a convenient spot to shoot as we headed out of the valley at last light, on our way back to our hotel in El Portal. This photo was made just shortly after we arrived at the park.

This photo was made from the same spot, the next night. It's hard to make a bad photo from this location. That's probably why so many photos are made from here!

This cliche photo was made from Olmsted Point. It's not exactly the iconic shot seem so frequently from this location. However, that tree and rock sure seem to show up in a lot of them. The other popular view from this location includes Half Dome in the background. I made some less cliche photos from this same general area (as recommended by William Neill-see below) but haven't had a close look at those yet.

This photograph made along the Tuolumne River is one I can call my own.

A light dusting of snow covers peaks seen from Tioga Road.

Like clockwork, thunderstorms started building over the Sierras every afternoon we were there.

Mornings were always clear...too clear. Without some interesting texture in the sky, I wasn't inspired to make too many photos of Yosemite Falls. Instead, I played with the lovely warm color reflected in stream at the base of the falls.

Shooting from a popular spot, Washburn Point, I got lucky with some lightening.

Another view from Washburn Point with a nice thunderstorm to add some interest About a minute after this photo was made, I was chased back to the car by the rains and wind.

Tunnel View is probably the most popular spot in the park for photography. If not for the heavy rain just prior to making this photograph, I would have been shoulder to shoulder with a crowd of photographers jockeying for position to shoot the light of a setting sun as it spills into the valley. On this evening, as if on cue, the rain stopped and the light appeared for about two minutes.

Just strolling around the valley floor on our last morning in the park, this scene caught my eye.

The morning fog coupled with the rising sunlight wedging it's way through the narrow valley opening was a treat and a great way to end this trip to Yosemite.

A side note:  On our way from King’s Canyon to Yosemite, I met for lunch with William Neill who lives near Yosemite.  He has lived in the area for over thirty years, worked at the Ansel Adams gallery while Ansel was still alive, writes a regular column for Outdoor Photographer and also happens to teach an online Portfolio course I took about six years ago.  We have stayed in touch over the years and it was great to meet him in person.  His work in and around the Yosemite area is anything but cliché.  Click here to see his website.

North Dakota Farmland

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North Dakota Ranch Land Under A Heavy Sky

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North Dakota Grasslands

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Prepared for the long winter-North Dakota

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We were so close to Devils Tower in Wyoming, we had to have a look.

Devils Tower-Wyoming

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Devils Tower through fall foliage-Wyoming

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Little Missouri National Grasslands-North Dakota

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Sylvan Lake (Created in 1881 when a damn was built across Sunday Gulch) Custer State Park-South Dakota

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Derelict Car-Badlands National Park

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Morning light skimming the grasses-Badlands National Park

While not technically my best wildlife photos, the frames I managed to grab of this once in a lifetime sighting remain my personal favorites from the trip.

Black Footed Ferret

 The main reason the Black Footed Ferret is on the brink of extinction is it’s complete reliance on Prairie Dogs.  Not only  is the Prairie Dog it’s main food source, the Ferrets use the burrows for shelter, to store food, and to rear their young.  With 95% of the Prairie Dog populations wiped out, mostly due to intentional eradication programs, it’s amazing the Ferret has hung on this long.  I won’t go into the details of the situation in this blog entry because it’s both heartbreaking and infuriating.  If anyone is interested, you can check this link for lots of great information on the Black Footed Ferret, it’s reliance on Prairie Dog Towns, the reasons for the population decline, and some hopeful captive breeding/reintroduction programs.

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

In Badlands National Park, we were treated to a sighting of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.  Many were wearing collars as the population is closely monitored.  I believe I read some animals have been imported from other areas to ensure the genetic diversity required to sustain a healthy population.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

I don’t know what it was about this trip but more often than not, the wildlife positioned themselves so it was their back sides catching the great light.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep grazing in Badlands National Park

We saw Bison in Badlands NP, Theodore Roosevelt NP, Wind Cave NP, and Custer State Park.  It was a wonderful sight seeing them on the expansive grass prairies (not so great when they were blocking the road for what seemed like a lifetime)

American Bison

American Bison

We frequently saw Pronghorn, both in the parks and on private land.  They don’t seem to think much of fences or borders. 

Pronghorn

The “Wild Burros” in Custer State Park, were really more crazy than wild.

Wild Burro Custer State Park

Very demanding Burro insisting on a snack (which we did NOToffer)

There are wild horses roaming Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  It was a treat to see several.  I love the color pattern on this one.

Wild Horse-Theodore Roosevelt National Park

In addition to the wildlife pictured in this post, we saw a whole lot more.  Each day brought a sighting of at least one animal species I had never seen before (many birds).  I was anticipating wonderful landscapes.  The abundant wildlife was surprising and the icing on the cake!

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What amazed me the most about this park is that I knew so little about it before going there.  It’s not exactly at the top of most people’s list when deciding which park to visit.  Well…it should be!  Rolling grasslands, painted canyons, layered badlands, and “other-worldly” formations make up the geology of the park.  If that’s not enough, there are also herds of Bison, Elk, wild horses, Prairie Dog Towns and Pronghorn.  I’ll save the wildlife photos for another post.  For now, I’m just sticking with a handful of photos that represent the landscape in the park. (Note: there is both a south unit and north unit to the park separated by about 70 miles.)

The light was doing crazy things most of the time we were there.  Between fog, storm clouds, and brief minutes of relatively clear skies (all during the same day) I was treated to a lot of different light and shooting conditions.  Most of the time, the light was fairly flat due to the cloud cover.  However, when the sun finds an opening in the clouds at just the right spot and at the right time, magic happens.  I had Buck Hill all to myself on what started out as a dreary gray evening.  I suspected from the sliver of lighter sky, low on the horizon to the west that I might be treated to a show just before the sun called it a day.  I wasn’t disappointed.  With my camera facing north, I was able to capture the valley and badlands as the warm late day light briefly skimmed the formations, revealing the canyon colors, and painting the sky.  This view lasted mere seconds.  (For my photographer friends, this is not an HDR image)

Theodore Roosevelt National Park-South Unit, viewed from Buck Hill

Shortly after making the image above, I turned my camera to the east where a glowing red spotlight of sun was hitting the badlands in the distance.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park -South Unit, viewed from Buck Hill

The beauty of the grand vista is matched by the unusual and quirky geology on a slightly smaller scale.  Caprock formations can be quite small at just a few feet or quite large, towering over mere humans.  this group ranged from about two feet to roughly 15 feet.  Of course, the duck shaped one was my favorite.

Caprock Formations-Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)

As the light changed, I photographed this group from the opposite side.

Caprock Formations-Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)

We did some exploring in the North Unit of the park.  It was a little challenging due to the rain.  [Just a note to anyone thinking about hiking here when it's raining... The clay soil of the badlands really is like hiking through wet clay.  It's slippery.  When you fall, and you will, it sticks to everything.]    I took advantage of some breaks in the rain to photograph some of the geology.  While the rain made it a challenge at times, the colors in the landscape are actually enhanced by the diffuse light created by the overcast conditions.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park-North Unit

The effects of wind and rain are so clearly demonstrated in this landscape. It’s easy to see the familiar patterns. However, there are some formations that make you scratch your head in wonder.  I’m referring to the Cannonball Concretions found in the park.  These seemingly out of place spheres are revealed as the softer soils and sediment erode around them.  Either that or they were placed there by aliens.  Take your pick.

I have to confess, I removed some graffiti via Photoshop that was scratched into the surface of the sphere (people can be such idiots!)

Cannonball Concretions-Theodore Roosevelt National Park-North Unit

While there were many wonders in this park, what kept taking my breath away were the colors, textures, and forms of the geology.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit

More to come!

Just outside Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is Gunnison Conservation Area. It falls under the Bureau of Land Management and appears to be largely ignored in favor of it’s National Park neighbor. The badlands area was a feast for a photographer’s eyes….all the color, form, texture, etc., especially under ideal light (mostly overcast late day light).  It was a little depressing seeing the tracks of ORVs all over the place. However, it does seem there’s an effort to limit ORV use to specified areas, at least by signage and some fencing. I’m not sure if there’s any real enforcement. During bright daylight hours, the area just appears as gray mounds, not enticing for the average park visitor and possibly viewed as “bad land” by those who just don’t get it. I hope the area is ultimately saved from weekend warriors on their noisy and destructive ORVs.

One of the many great things about National Parks is they are typically surrounded or adjoin other public land (National Forests or Preserves, State Parks, Conservation Areas, Wildlife Reguges, etc.). Most visitors stick to the National Parks and completely overlook the surrounding areas. The visitor “in the know” will make it a point to look beyond the park boundary and spend some time in these much less crowded but often equally enchanting landscapes.

Click here to view the full set of images

I guess I’ll start at the beginning.  Upon landing in Denver, we immediately headed towards our first destination, Great Sand Dunes National Park.  I wish I could elaborate on the drive south to the park but I slept through a good part of it.  I didn’t get any sleep before catching our early morning flight.  I was also suffering from nasty cold symptoms that hit with full force in the middle of the flight (thankfully, I was miraculously back to normal by the following morning…must have been the clean Colorado air).  I did manage to wake up and clear my head in time to appreciate the drive through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains which provides a beautiful backdrop for Great Sand Dunes National Park.  It was dusk when we arrived at Great Sand Dunes Lodge, just outside the park.  From there, even in the fading light, I could see the dune field.  I couldn’t wait until morning when I could get out there and get my feet in the sand.

In addition to the incredible dune field, the park boasts other fascinating and beautiful features.  Sitting in front of the dunes is San Luis Valley, the largest valley in Colorado.  Of course, there are the mountains, both imposing and embracing in every direction.  There are even wetlands, providing invaluable resources for the year round inhabitants and migratory birds.  For now, I’m going to focus just on the dunes.  Rising as high as 750 feet from the valley floor, these are the largest dunes in North America.  Renewed by every gust of wind or passing storm, changing mood every minute as sunlight dances across the ridges, it’s a sight to behold.

Here is a link to a sampling of the images from the dunes.

Click Here to View the Slide Show!

Our first morning was spent at Corkscrew Swamp.  It has a 2 1/2 mile boardwalk that weaves through several habitats including a magical Cypress Swamp.  The trees are littered with epiphytes including a number of endangered orchid species.  We arrived early and were the first people on the boardwalk.  I loved the quiet.  Being the first, we also had the honor of clearing the path of the spider webs crafted overnight by tireless arachnids (I felt a little guilty). Typically, there’s standing water under the boardwalk.  On this trip, it was bone dry due to the drought.  The ponds that normally teem with alligators and wading birds were eerily dry and quiet.  It seems each time I visit, Corkscrew offers a whole new experience.

Boardwalk-Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Next, we headed a little further south to Big Cypress.  It too was much dryer than usual.  While alligators are always easy to spot along the swamps and canals, this time they were concentrated into the few remaining areas of standing water.  At one spot along a canal, we counted 27 alligators-not exactly an inviting swimming hole.

On our last day, storm clouds formed bringing the promise of much needed rain to the dry marsh and Swamp Lilies.

Before long, the sky darkened and the showers arrived and it was time to head home.