Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’

Favorite Images of the Year… 5 of 2015

01

Jan

2016

bestof2015-header

After 2015 has reached its inevitable end, it’s this time of the year when you reflect on your work as a photographer and browse through the images of the 365 days gone by. If my photographic New Year’s resolution this past year was to shoot less, I would certainly have accomplished this goal, but all kidding aside, here are my 5 favorite images released this year, not particularly taken in 2015.

Nightfall Neret

Nightfall Neret - Purchase Print or License Neret (the Catalan word for the rusty-leaved alpenrose – ‘rhododendron ferrugineum’) blooming above Gran Estany d’Amitges during one of the best sunset displays I was fortunate to witness in the mountains.Aigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Light Bath

Light Bath - Purchase Print or License The emerging leaves of maples, beeches and alders are glowing in the late afternoon sunlight and offer a great backdrop for trunks such as this Oregon pine/Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in the immediate foreground.Ore Mountains, Germany

Higher Calling

Higher Calling - Purchase Print or License Much more than just pixels. Read WHY.Lago di Landro, Dolomites, Italy

Dazzling Dancers

Dazzling Dancers - Purchase Print or License Colorful grasses appear to dancing in the wind high up on a ridge in the Czech part of the Ore Mountains, surrounded by old birches who have seen a fair share of precipitation, wind and ice.Ore Mountains, Czech Republic

Congealed

Buy Prints or License Congealed An intimate view of the impressive basaltic columns that make up the Devils Postpile National Monument in the Sierra Nevada of California. The polygonal structure, which is said to be some odd 100,000 years old, formed when a huge pool of lava cooled evenly and slowly. Similar structures can be found around the globe in areas with high volcanic activity in the past.Devil’s Postpile National Monument, Ca, USA

As usual a few days late, but here’s to a great, stress-free, healthy and prosperous 2016! Cheers.

More Pyrenean Goodies

29

Aug

2015

It’s two years already since I’ve last visited the beautiful rugged peaks of the Pyrenees; a mountain range on the border of Spain and France, covering 305 miles (491km) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Proud (tongue-in-cheek) to announce that today, I am able to publish two new images of the Gran d’Amitges area of the Aigüestortes National Park.

Kiss Goodnight

Buy Prints or License Kiss GoodnightAigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

Both images catch the magical light show after the daily hailstorm accompanied by lightning and heavy gusts and boast some integral elements I always wanted to capture. Ice melting on a high alpine lake and wildflowers blooming on the mountain slopes. In this case, ‘Neret’, the Catalan word for the rusty-leaved alpenrose – ‘rhododendron ferrugineum’.

Nightfall Neret

Nightfall Neret - Purchase Print or LicenseAigüestortes NP, Pyrenees, Spain

There’s just something magical about mountain peaks reflecting in a pool of water, don’t you think?

“Element of Life” Calender 2013

19

Oct

2012

I have been very busy these last few weeks, making photographs of the amazing display of fall colors this year here in Germany. Unlike last year, I have been able to toss together a wall calender for the upcoming year – yes, I know, it’s hard to believe Christmas is only a mere 2 months away. Rather than randomly selecting images of my work, I went ahead and gathered 12 frames around the general theme of “Water”, hence the title of the calender: “Element of Life”.

Sample Granite Reflections Sample Firestorm

It has a bit of everything for the H2O aficionado. High alpine lakes, waterfalls, coastlines in the US and Italy, old sheds in front of the Karwendel massif in Bavaria, Germany and more. Above you’ll find two sample spreads of some of my best selling images included in this calender and below, a selection of all 12 photographs in the calender.

Selection of images

The wall calender is approximately 11.7 x 16.5 inches and printed on 200gsm paper with a satin finish. I decided to make it available through Red Bubble, which has experience in calender printing for many, many years and is known for its high-quality service and beautiful printed products. I prefer to go this route, rather than printing and shipping the calenders myself; as I want to make sure this calender’s turnaround time is low, making it ship timely, all while keeping shipping costs low.

That said, it is available through Red Bubble for $29.90 or 22.99 Euro, respectively.

Besides making a perfect wall decoration for your home or the bland walls of your office, this calender would also make a great Holiday gift for your friends who might enjoy hiking, fishing, camping or maybe just honor skillfully crafted photography. 😉 Your turn!

(A last side note, new images will be released soon.)

The Beauty of the Pyrenees – Western Europe’s Last Mountain Paradise

28

Aug

2012

I recently returned from a wonderful 8-day backpacking trip into the Spanish Pyrenees, one of western Europe’s last mountain paradises and let me tell you, it was fantastic. My focus of this trip was to cover as much miles as possible in the heart of the Aigüestortes and Estany Sant Maurici National Park and the surrounding Saboredo basin, above Port de la Ratera. The landscapes I encountered reminded me much of those of the Eastern Sierra, although not as high or filled with meadows full of wildflowers but compared to the Alps, it was quiet, relaxing and very much enjoyable throughout.

My trip started out with a flight from Munich to Barcelona, two backpacks and a 17-hour layover in Barcelona to catch the bus to Lleida the next morning — a day which turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year. When I set foot into the bus that should bring me to the drop-off at the foot of the steep and winding road to Espot, the city just outside the eastern entrance to the park; the thermometer showed a cozy 45 degrees Celsius (113F).

Els Encantats Rising Through the Fog at Sunrise

Arriving just after 9 in the evening, I settled to spend the first night in one of the campgrounds around Espot. I chose to set my tent at Camping La Mola which turned out to be an affordable deluxe camping experience. Little did I know when I approached the friendly staff that the campground not only offered bathrooms and showers often time not found as nice in hotels; it comes with pool, tennis court, soccer field and a small store that made a backpacker’s heart open up. I especially enjoyed the selection of fruits, Salchichón and the fresh bread, which provided a great energy kick for the trails to tackle later on.

An Evening On The Porch, D'Amitges, Pyrenees

The National Park Aigüestortes y Sant Maurici itself is a mere two hours of very moderate GR11 trail walking (The long distance trail which crosses the Pyrenees east to west from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.) nested above Espot. From the entrance to the park to my first night high in the mountains in 2012, however, it was another four and a half hour hike in the cruel heat of a cloudless day up steep switchbacks and over loose rock trails up to the Refugi D’Amitges, enjoying the views over the Sant Maurici valley and lake on the way and replenishing energy with a trail snack at the Fountain of the Marmots. Camping and off-trail hiking is not permitted and fined immediately (as I was told) within the National Park and the surrounding zone of protection, so the refuges provide shelter and a place to sleep for the night. Reservations have to be made beforehand as the 70 bunk-bed capacity fills quickly over the summer months.

Exploring the area around the refuge, I quickly realized why “Aigüestortes” translates to “winding waters” — dozens of lakes and tarns fill the gaps between the granite boulders and reflect the towering peaks while little streams meander through the meadows and rush down the cliffs.

Light Guardian, Pyrenees, Spain

I was blessed with beautiful weather throughout the trip with temperatures ranging from low 70’s (~24C) in the afternoon to 36 degrees (2C) at night at elevations of 2,400m to 2,700m (roughly 8k to 9k ft.); which made hiking a very enjoyable undertaking.

More images from the trip will have to wait for my return, as I am getting ready for a road trip with Aperture Academy instructor Brian Rueb; which will lead us to the Cinque Terre region and Venice in Italy, the Austrian and German Alps and possibly a few other places. So stay tuned and happy shooting!

Refugi D'Amitges

My favorites of 2010 – Happy New Year everyone!

02

Jan

2011

Whoa, it seems like yesterday that I wished a Happy New Year… wait. It was yesterday. Ugh, never mind. So many things happened in 2010, the year flew by like monarch butterflies over the state of California and I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in the field, photographing in the jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring locations in the western US, namely Yosemite National Park, Arches and Canyonlands NP in Utah, the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and a few lesser known places on the way, but see for yourself.

Without further blah blah, here are my favorite 5 images of the last year.


1. “Granite Reflections” – Yosemite National Park, California

The Death Hike, Cathedral Peak, Yosemite -- Granite Reflections

Cathedral Peak majestically towers over Upper Cathedral Lake high in the Sierra and a lesser visited area in the Yosemite National Park, California. Read the story behind the ascent here or by clicking the image above.



2. “Defiance Falls” – Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Defiance Falls

The official name of this little known jewel in the Columbia River Gorge is Lancaster Falls, named after Samuel C. Lancaster, an engineer responsible for the construction of much of the original Columbia River Gorge Highway. (Which is an awesome drive by the way!)



3. “Captain’s Point” – Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

Captain's Point

A beautiful soft and warm evening light kisses the sandstone formations of Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon coast near Pacific City while the raging surf shapes the ever-changing cliffs.



4. “Rising Dawn” – Convict Lake, California

Early Morning Crime Scene

Stormy rain clouds are pushing over the ridge of Mt. Laurel at Convict Lake, California; lit by the rising sun over the Eastern Sierra Nevada.



5. “Firestorm” – Natural Bridges State Park, California

Firestorm

A rare colorful sunset during the late summer season in California. Usually the beaches in Northern California are covered in a thick marine layer which blankets the coast like an impenetrable coat, suffocating all chances of possible color. With a little luck and a lot of patience, the spectacular sunset eventually happened, accompanied by lit up rain showers.


Last but not least, I want to thank you all for the support throughout the year. I resolve to post more in 2011, spend even more time in the field, explore new places, offer a better experience when browsing and shopping for images on my website (reads: a major upgrade is in the works) and buy more of the Cialis and Rolex watches I am offered every day. Thanks Spammers. I love you too.

Laced In Frost (Firework Edition)

That said, enjoy “Laced in Frost”. My last image of the past year taken on December 30th; complete with hoarfrost covered branches, steam rising from the river and a little pink magic; brings 2010 to a worthy end. Here’s to a great Twenty-Eleven y’all!

David