For over a decade (or my whole life?) I daydreamed about driving up the Pacific Coast Highway in California going from Santa Monica, turning right where there is no more Road left, then following the Pacific Ocean all the way up to Monterey, stopping at such famous places as the Bixby Bridge. Recently I got to fulfill that dream and had my DJI Mavic Pro drone with me. I got bold, and flew it right under the bridge!
Since living in Japan, I have adopted their custom of viewing the first sunrise of the new year, which is often paired with seeing the last sunset. For 2017, I was able to see one of the more epic views for the sunset, having climbed up to the top of Cave Rock, all of Lake Tahoe was spread out before me. The sun dipped below dramatic clouds just above the horizon casting golding light on snow capped mountain peaks and reflecting off the lake itself. It was even more special because of who I was with, my whole family made it to the top of the rock, Jessica (girlfriend), Kiki (beloved puppy), and Artie (Jessica's dog).
Last week I spent four days in Taos and the Rio Arriba County area photographing rural properties. When traveling back to Taos from a property 2 hours away in the mountains, going around a bend revealed this spectacular sunset valley view.
The Japanese have a custom of watching the first sunrise of the year. My first year living in Japan friends took me to a Buddhist temple at midnight on New Year's Eve and then to a beach at sunrise. I really like this custom. So this morning shortly after 7am I took my camera and tripod out onto the frosty ground and watched the sunrise over an Iowa cornfield. You can see five jets already streaking to far off destinations so early in the new year!
I have not made many photographs of Cape Coral in my time here for a variety of reasons. This photo of the Caloosahatchee River at twilight is the start of a series of Cape Coral fine art photographs I will be making available for commercial license usage (on websites, in local marketing materials, etc) and also as fine art prints.
A view of Smacks Bayou in Snell Isle St. Petersburg Florida at sunrise - 4 image panoramaKiki wakes up around 6:30am each morning wanting to go out and depending on the time of year it is totally dark or already full daylight. At this time of year, January, it usually times out so that I get a glimpse of the sunrise. Instead of just going right back into bed as I usually do, this morning I came back inside and got my camera to go and make a few photos. I ended up hand holding four consecutive shots that I later stitched together into a panorama in Photoshop.