The Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park burned 257,314 acres was the largest wildfire on record in the Sierra Nevada, and the third largest wildfire in California history. It started on August 17th 2013, and was finally contained on Thursday, October 24, 2013 – the day these photographs were made. The current drought in California [and the West]  is increasing frequency of these megafires that are more catastrophic in scope, demanding new approaches to firefighting and forest restoration.

Interesting to note with the development of more of these catastrophic fires that the US Forest Service decided to log all of the Rim Fire’s ‘ghost’ trees. While there was no dollar estimate attached, the Forest Service will be selling more board feet of timber as a result of the Rim fire than the combined total sold last year in all of California’s national forests. The plan was not approved without controversy.

But don’t worry, I heard this week we still have 3 trillion trees left in the world. If that number is correct that’s about 400 trees for every person on earth, with that number decreasing every year. I wonder if we should move breathing a little higher on the priority list.

You can grab it at Amazon or PA Press.

One of the reasons I call california home.

A few of our favorite from a recent shoot for Belinger Foster Steinmetz Landscape Architects to document their work along the Monterey Rec Trail. Striving to capture the raw spirit of the trail in every-day use, we moved along its many landmarks – Lover’s Point, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Beach – photographing the diverse range of experiences.

Winding along the coast, the trail offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and is a great way to tour the area on bike or foot while enjoying the outdoors. The trail follows the former Southern Pacific Railroad track line where goods where once transferred between Northern California and the historic city of Monterey. It’s a remarkable achievement, extending 18 miles from Pacific Grove before ending in Castroville, and is thought of as one the most scenic, long trails in all of California. We’re fans of Rails to Trails projects [learn more at railstotrails.org] and even bigger fans of BFSLA, amazing!

You don’t take a photograph, you make it.  – Ansel Adams

While this image doesn’t fall in the top tier from the shoot, it nevertheless shows an elevation the client would benefit using as a reference. We try to include this category of images to tell the entire project ‘story’ – It becomes invaluable for clients in securing future projects and developing an office design library.

“It is a peculiar part of the photographer’s adventure to know where luck is most likely to lie in the stream, to hook it, and to bring it in without unfair play and without too much subduing it.”
– James Rufus Agee

As someone who strives to to create original work, I know I will do my best work only when I can spend time focused and removed from excess noise. Cave time. Yet I must also heed the lessons of the river – to gauge its features and dip into the rich eddy of information.  Occasionally I may want to swim out into the main current, hoping that it doesn’t sweep me into raging rapids of confusion or over a waterfall of wasted time.

While informative, don’t get caught frolicking in the river too often – the cave offers more;  It is not banishment to be assigned to the cave – but freedom.  The freedom to be apart, to take the time to examine ideas in detail and follow them wherever they lead, to explore the nooks and crannies of the creative process.  There, it is easier to uncover the ideas that drive you, filtering the substance from the trendy, the essence from the superfluous.

When or how often we should seek higher ground and retreat to a cave of our own?

As primarily a natural light garden photographer I seldom have the chance to visit the creative fun that can be had with controlled lighting. While I often try to make time for it, other projects always push it to the back burner. But good to make time for the personal work and lighting is such a fun a detour to get lost in! We’re not talking about that hideously blown-out rabbit-in-the-headlights look from built-in flash, but exploring what makes beautiful light and how to create different effects that support your overall vision.

Above you can see some experimenting adding in some grunge [youngest son ben]. Below the fold are some before and after images to see the start and end points of the workflow.

All of these images were a combination of two off camera strobes to the sides of the subject.

Looking forward to more adventures in strobeland! Some reference links and portrait photographers I like…

Simple lighting techniques via iPad: http://scottkelby.com
The oldie but goodie: Strobist
Inspiration: Ronald Tan, Francesco Aresta, Zack Arias

We photographed this unique mid-century modern Eichler House remodel for architect Guy Ayers and Landscape Architects Bernard Trainor + Associates.

Designed for a young family of design junkies, the landscape experience unfolds into a journey through serene spaces, lush plantings and beautifully formed hardscape elements.  Hints of color are revealed throughout and large expanses of glass, allowing for a continual sense of indoor-outdoor flow.  Beginning at a completely transformed street-front garden space, the landscape layers unfold around the house, culminating in a private master bedroom oasis of peace and tranquility.