Is there any city in the world you actually want to get lost in? I would normally say no, but, when I am in Venice, I almost want to get lost in there. Why, you might ask? The simple answer is that there are 150 canals and 300 foot bridges to explore. Around every turn, there are historic buildings and boats and food to enjoy. Sure, it is a major tourist destination, but most of the visitors stay in only a few portions of the city. That leaves the rest of the city open to explore for photographers. There are so many little canals that are practically abandoned that the area is very serene. The canal above was one of those abandoned serene place in the city that I wandered into while being “lost”.

This year I have spent more time editing photos than taking photos, for obvious reasons. I decided last week that I was going to remedy that and shoot something. I remembered that I had a light tent that has been gathering dust for quite a while and decided to get it out of mothballs and shoot some macros. I decided to get a couple of flowers from a local florist (cost me all of $2). One of the flowers was this Gerbera Daisy. After shooting it from the front, I took a look at the back and really loved the contrast between the colors.

One of the signature sea stacks on the Oregon Coast, the Haystack Rock towers 235 feet above the beach, seemingly reaching out to the sky from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Along with its proximity to the city of Portland, this rock formation has contributed in making Cannon Beach a tourist destination. It is accessible from the beach and can be walked to during low tide. The saying, "you can look but you better not touch" applies to this iconic rock formation. It is protected, as it is a national wildlife refuge and one of seven protected intertidal areas along the Oregon coast. My favorite time to shoot this icon is usually just after sunrise when the sun clears the cliffs to the east. The beach is usually secluded at that time of day. Shooting near sunset can a bit problematic, as there are usually swarms of people walking the beach. For some strange reason unknown to me, when I headed to the beach one night, there was only a small family to share the famous sea stack with me.

The first things photographers think about when they head toward Moab is shooting the two amazing national parks located there, Arches and Canyonlands. Tourists and photographers head to both places almost as soon as they check into their hotels. With all of the attention that these two places get, there is also some amazing beauty in the surrounding area that many visitors never get to. One of those places is the Colorado River Scenic Byway. Also known as the River Road, it follows the twists and turns of the mighty Colorado River for 44 miles and is one of the most scenic drives in the US.

Rock formations rise from the ground everywhere you look, and each one seems more spectacular than the last. Many of these formations have unique names, such as the formation on the left in this photo that is known as the Priest and the Nuns (it is also known as the Rectory). We started out here on our first full day in Moab at sunrise and captured the early morning light and deep shadows that started our day. This particular formation can be found in the Professor Valley section of River Road.

Another photo from the archives from a 2011 trip to Alaska. After an overnight stay in Anchorage, we hopped on a bus for 3 hours to Mt McKinley Lodge. I was really looking forward to getting to the lodge because it looked like a nice day where we might have a chance to actually see Denali (the mountain is only visible 30% of the time). Even more exciting was that we had signed up for a Denali Summit Flight that afternoon. We got to the lodge (yes, Denali was visible), had lunch and hopped on a 45 minute bus ride to Talkeetna Airport. On the way, my wife muttered "I don't know why I agreed to do this" (she is not the best of flyers). When we got to the airport, we were assigned a small 10 seat airplane. She was assigned the co-pilot seat and was told not to touch anything (like she would have). I was alone in the second row and our friends were in the back row. To complicate things, it was raining and a fresh storm was approaching. Off we went anyway.

On the way to Denali, we soared above the Alaskan Range when I captured this image. The majesty of this mountain range is something to see. It was pretty challenging to photograph from the plane. I kept getting the damn propeller in my shot and shooting through a small window at such high speed was a challenge. All-in-all, I do it again in a second but I'm pretty sure my wife won't.

This is a sunrise view (looking west) of the most easternmost section of "The Wall" in Badlands National Park. If I turned around, there would be nothing to block the sun as it peeks above the horizon. I had scouted out the location online, but this was my first visit, so I didn't know what to expect. I knew it was at the end of the Door Trail, and everything I read said it wasn't an overly long or strenuous hike. The first surprise when I got there was that there were no cars in the big parking lot. The second surprise was that the trail was actually a wooden boardwalk that was located just behind the formations in this image (the trail ended just to the right of this formation). The last and best surprise was that there was only one other person there the whole time I was shooting. I couldn't think of a better way to experience a visit to Badlands.

The Palouse is an amazing area in eastern Washington and western Idaho, and it is so different from the typical landscapes that you think of in western US locations. Rolling farmland as far as the eye can see is typical of the Palouse. Every hill and mound gives a different look and feel, especially when the sun is low and casting warm light and creating shadows. Add to that abandoned farmhouses, grain elevators, and farm equipment that just add to the ambience of the area. 

Just when you think you have seen all that the area has to give, you come upon something unique. An old barn has been renovated and used as a home for artists to display their works and offer them for sale. The Artisans of the Dahmen Barn is well worth a visit to see some amazing art. The most unique part of the barn is the wheel fence that surrounds the property. Constructed over a period of 30 years by artist Steve Dahmen, this fence is a sight to see, with all shapes of wheels from various items. This section of the fence was shot from the back of the property looking toward the front.

When I tell people that one of my favorite destinations is Banff, they often ask me where it is and why do I like it so much. One of the ways to explain it is to talk about Banff's location and history. Banff is not really that old as far as history goes. It was founded in the early 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through the Bow Valley. The name Banff was given to it by the president of the railroad, who was born in Banff, Scotland.

Banff is situated in the Canadian Rockies and it is surrounded by mountains, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and all of the other beauty that nature provides. Banff became a municipality, and is the first Canadian municipality to be located in a Canadian national park (Banff National Park was formed in 1885). The town is surrounded by mountains (Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain). There are two rivers that flow through it (Spray and Bow), one waterfall (Bow Falls) and numerous lakes (most notably the Vermilion Lakes). For these reasons, Banff has become a huge resort destination, and the people visiting this small town have grown greatly since I first visited it in the mid-1990s.

One of the best compositions that gives an idea of what surrounds the town is this one, shot from Mount Norquay. It shows the town (not very large by town standards), with Mount Rundle towering over it on the left. The clouds were great in this early evening shot and hopefully it conveys why this is one of my favorite destinations.

The Canadian Rockies is famous for the mountain lakes that are fed by melting snow and glaciers. While not knowing how many lakes are there, my guess would number in the hundreds. These lakes are some of the freshest and most colorful that you will see anywhere. The most famous and beautiful lakes are the most visited and are often the largest ones. There are some that are very small but are, in my mind, just as beautiful. Take Herbert Lake, pictured in this photo. It is a small lake and is located at the beginning of the Icefields Parkway headed north. It is a mere five or ten minutes from Lake Louise, one of the most visited locations in Banff NP. You would think that there would always be people there being that it is about 30 feet from the road, but I have never seen it crowded. That is okay with me as I really enjoy the serenity of having the lake to myself. The best time to shoot at this lake is at sunrise and early morning hours. The water is often as smooth as glass and the reflections are perfect.

Looking through my old photos often results in finding a photo that calls to me. I came across this one that I captured in 2009 while my wife and I were spending a few days in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is known for its many mansions that were built in the “Gilded Age” (1870 - 1900) by the wealthy industrialists and financiers, known as the “Robber Barons”. Newport is also known for its rich sailing history, including hosting the America’s Cup for many years as well as being home to the United States Naval War College. It is no surprise that the town has lots of boats and marinas everywhere. We stayed on Goat Island, and walking around we came across one of the marinas. It was after dinner and the soft evening light lit up the boats. I spotted this window that gave a unique view of the boats in its reflection.

The great thing about fall in New England is that the foliage is some of the best around. The biggest challenge is guessing when the leaves will begin to peak. A couple of years ago, my son and I decided to drive into the heart of the North Woods in Maine. Using Bangor as our base, we headed up to Millinocket so he could do some research for a novel he was thinking about writing. We spent most of the day exploring the town and getting some local color. Near the end of our visit, we found Crandall Park and discovered a different kind of color. Yes, peak foliage had reached Millinocket. Crossing a bridge over the Millinocket stream and looking upstream, we saw the town to our left and the trees on our right showing off their beauty before going to hibernate for the winter. The stream was very calm and gave us a double dose of color.

There is no better city to walk around than Venice, Italy. It has such a unique feel to it that transports you to a different time. Sure, the fact that the "streets" are canals contributes to the feel. But so do the gondolas, even though they are there for tourists rather than for transportation. Maybe it is the wonderful buildings, some of which have been there for hundreds of centuries. Maybe it is the museums that scream the Italian Renaissance wherever you look. Or it could be the history or the food. I could go on and on. When I edited this image, all of my feelings about Venice came rushing back to me. My wife and friends had headed back to the hotel to rest and I decided to spend the late afternoon just walking around with no destination in mind. I ended up at the south bank of the Grand Canal near the Ponte dell'Accademia, which is one of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal. I wandered underneath the bridge and looked toward St Mark’s Square to get a photo of the activity on the Grand Canal.

Last year, I was exploring Kananaskis Country with Jaki Good Miller before a tour of Banff and Jasper National Parks. This little known area is often referred to as “Little Banff” and is located south of the town of Banff. Most of the roads are not paved but are in pretty good shape and the scenery is simply gorgeous. There are no towns that can be used as a base of operations except Canmore. The town is located 20 minutes south of Banff and has plenty of hotels, AirBnbs and restaurants that are not as pricey as staying in Banff.

Being tired from our travel from the eastern United States, we headed out on our first full day to explore Kananaskis Country. We spent the full day driving south, seeing and photographing the wonders that this section of the Canadian Rockies had to offer. Getting back into Canmore and having a late dinner, we crashed. The next thing I knew, it was the next morning and saw that the sun was out. Looking out the window, this scene of the “Three Sisters” presented themselves to me. I quickly grabbed my camera to get some photos of the mountains bathed in beautiful light with great cumulous clouds as a backdrop.

Many wonder (including my wife) why I like going back to places that I have already been to, and end up shooting many of the same scenes that I have previously shot. The answer is that one of the most important factors in making a great photograph, besides the subject, is the light. The light changes every hour of every day, and you never know what you will get. I remember that a famous photographer was asked how he ended up getting a particularly great shot. His reply was that he had visited that spot every year for over 20 years, and he finally got the shot that was being asked about.

This photo is an example of what can happen on any given day. In 2013, I had been in Grand Teton National Park in July on a photo tour, and shot tons of images of Mount Moran from Oxbow Bend. When my son and I drove from Oregon to Connecticut in September, he wanted to stop in the park and stay a couple of days. The first morning, off I went to Oxbow Bend and witnessed this scene. It was nothing like July (which was a beautiful morning), but the fog, clouds, and the sun met at the perfect moment to light up the top of the mountain. Ten minutes later and it was all gone, and anyone who came later that morning didn't know what they missed.

One of the attractions of New England is exploring the coastlines of five of its six states. Most of the coastline is made up of small towns and villages that began as fishing villages on the Atlantic Ocean. One of my favorite stops in New England is the small town of Rockport, MA, located at the tip of Cape Ann, about 40 miles northeast of Boston. It has a quaint harbor and is home to one of the most recognizable fishing shacks in the world. It got its fame by being one of the most often painted (and probably photographed) fishing stacks in America. Legend has it that the shack got its name by the famous artist and teacher Lester Hornby.  He responded to a student who submitted a drawing of the shack for review with the words, "What-Motif No 1 again?" Motif No 1 was originally built in 1840 and was destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978. It was rebuilt later that year and is still a popular subject for artists and photographers alike.

Most compositions of Motif No 1 are close-ups. For this photo, I decided to shoot the small Rockport Harbor showing the bright red fishing shack in the background. To me, this is an example of a quintessential New England coastal town.

As I look through some old photos, I occasionally find one that I simply remember like yesterday. The only regret when I see one is how I edited it before posting it on social media. I won’t go as far that it was totally processed incorrectly but rather how my editing skills and style has changed since then. When I looked at this photo I took in 2011, I quickly decided to re-edit it to give it a new life and updated look. Below is the original write-up that I posted back then.

When the leaves change in New England every fall, I always head to Lake Waramaug State Park to shoot the foliage. It is a great place to capture the brilliant colors of the changing seasons, especially if you are looking for great reflections. The lake also has some wonderful amenities such as camping, fishing, swimming and picnicking. The best time to go is in the late afternoon when the sun is shining on the opposite shore. The kids are in school and with the daylight getting shorter, there is a golden glow to everything. The lake is named after an Indian chief of the Wyantenock tribe who had hunting grounds near falls on the Housatonic River.

My favorite time to visit the Canadian Rockies is in June. There are many reasons for that. The crowds are significantly smaller than the summer months; the snow is still on the mountain peaks (it has snowed in June more than a few times but melts quickly); and the wildlife emerges from the winter, many with their babies. There are many wildlife sightings everywhere in the Canadian Rockies, even on major highways.

After visiting Yoho National Park’s Emerald Lake for sunset, we headed back toward Lake Louise for a quick snack. On the highway, we noticed a mother bear with her baby cub. We quickly pulled over to the shoulder to capture some photos of this cute guy. who seemed to be oblivious to us.

If I were to pick my top 5 favorite places to shoot in the US, Monument Valley would be in it. Located on the border of Utah and Arizona, it is part of the Navajo Nation and should be on every photographers bucket list. I have been there many times and it still is a destination I would like to revisit. If you haven’t visited there before, you still may recognize this scene. It has been in countless movies, television shows and commercials, advertisements and even rock videos.

This photo from 2016 was of my favorite sunrise, as we had the best conditions and light that I have ever encountered on my many visits there. What made it even more special was that I shared it with two of my very best friends, Jeff Clow and Jaki Good Miller. This was the very first time that I stayed at the View Hotel (which is aptly named). Although it is not the best hotel I have ever stayed in, the ability to roll out of bed, walk down the hall and step onto the back patio to see this view makes it a must-stay spot. We were treated with the best Mother Nature could offer: great clouds, great light from the blue hour to the sunrise and, most importantly, the famed sandstone rock formations known as "The Mittens" and Merrick Butte for obvious reasons.

This image of a butte on the Colorado River Scenic Byway (aka River Road) has special meaning to me. Back in 2005, my son and I headed to Utah for a two-week trip to do some hiking and photography. The first place we stayed in was Sorrel River Ranch, and this was the scene that I saw when I walked out of our room there. This trip was great for two reasons. First and foremost, it was a great time to bond with him, as he had just graduated from college. Secondly, this is the trip that rejuvenated my passion for photography, which has only grown since then.

I wanted to reshoot this butte as the photo was edited poorly by me and the original JPEG has long left my computer's hard drive. I knew when I drove this gorgeous road and saw the golden light that the setting sun was casting, that this butte was my destination.

San Francisco has so many attractions and places to visit that it is hard to fit everything in. One such attraction is Alamo Square, where the famous "Painted Ladies" can be seen. The painted ladies refer to a row of Victorian houses painted in colors that make the architectural details stand out. I was surprised to find out that their nickname was only established in 1978 with the publishing of a book.  Alamo Square gives visitors a unique perspective that shows the Victorian houses that were built in the 1890's with the city layered behind them as a backdrop.