sunrise – Earthwatcher

Scenes From Big Pine – Death Valley Road

October 21, 2020 by Earthwatcher, posted in California, Earthwatcher, Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm Cameras, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, sunrise, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Sunrise From Death Valley Road
Death Valley-Big Pine Rd, Big Pine, CA; OCT 2020

We spent some time exploring Big Pine – Death Valley Road. Along the way, we found some interesting things: A beautiful forest of Joshua Trees, and a wonderful White-tailed Antelope Squirrel. All of this set against the scenery of desert mountains. It was beautiful trip.

Be aware though, if you decide to explore this road, we have read that is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. We found the route to be in good shape but there are some things to consider. We found a lot of tire shredding rocks. There are numerous washes that cross the route so it could be flooded, or the road surface washed out. With photography stops, it took us 7 hours to get from Big Pine to Stovepipe Wells.

This post shares some images from the section between Big Pine, CA and the entrance to Death Valley National Park. I’ll share images from Eureka Valley and Death Valley in a future post.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

A Fan of Joshua Trees
Death Valley-Big Pine Rd, Big Pine, CA; OCT 2020

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
Death Valley-Big Pine Rd, Big Pine, CA; OCT 2020

Joshua Trees at an Outcrop
Death Valley-Big Pine Rd, Big Pine, CA; OCT 2020

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

A Day Trip to the Mountains

September 30, 2020 by Earthwatcher, posted in California, Earthwatcher, Eastern Sierra, Fujifilm Cameras, Infrared Photography, landscape, landscape images, nature, Nature Photography, Seirra Nevada, sunrise, Uncategorized

Sunrise Tinted by Wildfire Smoke
Peddler Hill Scenic Overlook, Pioneer, CA; SEP 2020

Last week we took a day trip into the mountains. We travelled along RT 88 from Jackson, CA to Rt 89 and followed it over Monitor Pass and down to Topaz then returned. It is a beautiful trip through the Sierra Nevada. While we enjoyed clear skies, at places we could see smoke hanging over distant mountain valleys.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

A Sunrise in the Sierra
Carson Spur Vista Point, Rt 88, Pioneer, CA; SEP 2020

A Sunrise in the Sierra – P2
Carson Spur Vista Point, Rt 88, Pioneer, CA; SEP 2020

Looking Out at a Smoke Filled Valley
Rt 89 above Topaz, CA; SEP 2020

Looking Out at a Smoke Filled Valley – Infrared Edition
Rt 89 above Topaz, CA; SEP 2020

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

A Favorite Spot

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 by Earthwatcher, posted in Black & White Photography, California, Earthwatcher, Folsom, Fujifilm Cameras, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, nature, Nature Photography, Night Sky, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Sunrise Over the Foothills
Scott RD, Folsom, CA; JUL 2020

I am sharing 4 images from one of my favorite local spots to photograph. I am drawn to the spot, just outside Folsom, CA, because it is an oak dotted rangeland typical of this area of California.

One of the images is a black and white version of another in the set. I thought it looked very dramatic in black and white.

Please click on caption to se image at higher resolution.

Sierra Foothills with Cloud Covered Skies
Scott Rd, Folsom, CA. AUG 2014
Thunderclouds over the Sierra bring rain but not to the drought ridden foothills of 2014.

Moonrise over the Sierra Foothills
Scott Rd, Folsom, CA, JAN 2015

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Far-flung Seascapes

May 10, 2020May 9, 2020 by Earthwatcher, posted in Africa, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, landscape, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Seascape, South Africa, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Wildflowers on the Rhode Island Coast
Sacheust NWR, Newport, RI ; SEP 2019

Today I am sharing some seascapes from a few places across the globe – Georgia, Rhode Island, Washington and South Africa.

Note: Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution;

Sunrise on the Indian Ocean
Mboyti River Lodge, Lusukisiki, South Africa; AUG 2016

Dune on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island, GA; MAY 2008

Goldenrod at Sunrise
Sacheust NWR, Newport, RI; SEP 2019

A Sunrise on Sequim Bay
Sequim Bay, WA; AUG 2015

Sunset Over Knysna Lagoon
Knysna, South Africa; AUG 2016

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Seal Rock, Oregon

September 1, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Seascape, sunrise, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Seal Rock Beach at Sunrise
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

We recently spent a few days on the beach at Waldport, OR. It is located in Oregon Dunes area of the coast. Just outside of town sets a beach amongst a craggy, old volcanic lava flow. It is a beautiful beach with many tidal pools left teeming with wildlife as the tide recedes.

On this visit, the birds really took center stage. We saw some seals, but they were offshore and all I could see were heads bobbing. So, they weren’t photo worthy. But we found some Pelagic Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus); one with a chick on the nest. We found Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), many of which were recently fledged juveniles.

The Pelagic Cormorant is found along coastal waters and eats fish and marine invertebrates. It roosts and nests on steep, inaccessible rocky cliffs. It swims and dives for food.

The Western Gull is the common gull that you find on US West Coast beaches. They like fish, marine invertebrates, bird eggs and jelly fish. They will also scavenge on carrion and human refuse.

Our experience with the Western Gull brought some amusement. The juveniles were in the water and along the shore. When they wandered too far inland, an adult would chase after and send it back to the shoreline with the others. In the early morning, we even saw adults force the young into the tidal pools to splash and bathe. It was great fun.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution

Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Juvenile Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Starfish in Tide Pool
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Seal Rock, Waldport, OR; AUG 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Grand Canyon Monsoon – Part 2

August 14, 2019August 13, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Grand Canyon, landscape, lightning, Photography, Rainbow, storm, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Sunset Over Grand Canyon – P2;
Rim Trail Between Mojave and Hopi Points,
South Rim, Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

This is the remaining images from the Grand Canyon that I plan to share at this time. Again, I hope you enjoy these images from this amazing place.

Note: Please click on caption to images at higher resolution.

Lightning Over Grand Canyon – P1A;
South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Rainbow Over Grand Canyon;
Imperial Point, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; JUL 2019

Sunset Over Grand Canyon;
Rim Trail Between Mojave and Hopi Points, South Rim,
Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

Sunset From Imperial Point – P1;
Imperial Point, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; JUL 2019

Lightning Over Grand Canyon – P3A;
Mojave Point, South Rim,
Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Grand Canyon Monsoon – Part 1

August 11, 2019August 10, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in cloud, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Grand Canyon, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, lightning, monsoon, Nature Photography, Night Sky, Photography, storm, sunrise, sunset, Uncategorized

Lightning Over Grand Canyon;
South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

I recently had the privilege to photograph the Grand Canyon during the monsoon season of Southwestern North America. It was a marvelous time to visit this national wonder. We were treated to dark and stormy skies, lightning, rainbows and vivid sunrises and sunsets.

I generally don’t think of the southwestern US as having a monsoon season, after all, it is largely desert. I think of torrential rains in places like India and the eastern coast of Africa. But, the monsoon season in southwestern North America is very real. The term monsoon refers to the seasonal wind shift that brings in warm, humid air. Those winds cause most of the rainfall received by the desert southwest each year – all 1” to 8” of it; sometimes more and sometimes less. It can be responsible for torrential downbursts that cause flash flooding and lightning induced wildfires.

The southwestern North American monsoon season generally starts in early July and runs through September.

In this post, I am sharing a few of the images I took while at the Grand Canyon. I’ll share a few more later this week.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Sunrise From Imperial Point;
Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Milky Way From Cape Royal; Cape Royal
North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

Sunset Over Grand Canyon – P1
Mojave Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National; Park; AUG 2019

Sunrise From Imperial Point – P1
Point Imperial, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; AUG 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

An Early Morning at Folsom Lake

March 31, 2019 by Earthwatcher, posted in Folsom, Folsom State Recreation Area, Fujifilm Cameras, Geology, lake, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, Photography, Sacramento, sunrise, tree

Early Morning at Folsom Lake; Doton’s Point,
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Folsom, CA; MAR 2019

This past week, we had a morning where the rain clouds were breaking up in the early morning. I chose that day to explore Doton’s Point trail at Folsom Lake Recreation Area; a trail that was new to me. The grasses and other plants were displaying their spring green. The early morning sun helped saturate the colors. Spring was at its finest. I went with the expectation that I might see some different birds. Instead, I discovered that it was time for some landscapes.

The beautiful rocks in this image are granite. The area around this portion of Folsom Lake is called Granite Bay because of the abundance of granite in the area. Like the Sierra Nevada mountains, this area sets on a pluton, a large blob of magma that cooled slowly underground to form granite then was uplifted and exposed.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Early Morning at Folsom Lake – P2;
Doton’s Point, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Folsom, CA; MAR 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website, www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Bryce Canyon

September 30, 2018 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bryce Canyon, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, hoodoo, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, left brained, Photography, sunrise, sunset, water cycle

Bryce Canyon, in Utah, is stunningly beautiful; especially at sunrise and sunset. It should be on your bucket list. You can enjoy it any time of day but, I recommend being there in the morning, before the sun creeps over the distant mountains and as the sun sets in the evening. The colors saturate, the whites appear almost translucent at hose times and it will take your breath away. If you can, walk the trails that take you below the base and look at the hoodoos face on.

As I looked over the landscape, my thoughts turned to the ancient cities from fantasy and action adventures. Perhaps drawing from Petra in southern Jordan. I can imagine temples and palaces constructed from the hoodoos. I see “impregnable” walls being breached by the barbarians outside. It’s a fun connection.

For me, the process of how the land became to look as it does, enhances its beauty. In this case, water channels away the softer soil, forming the hoodoos. The freeze-thaw cycle sculpts the hoodoos by breaking off chunks. The wind helps sculpt too, but, to a lesser degree. What is left are acres of an orange and cream landscape filled with spectacular hoodoos and the erosional hills and valleys at their base.

I can’t wait to go back. Only this time, I am going to allow a day to hike and see what other treasures I uncover. I wonder what it would like in snow.

Note: Please click on caption to see higher resolution images.