Ducks at sunrise, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, NM
Landscape or wildlife photo? I chose landscape. Just before sunrise each day, thousands of birds descend on the fields and ponds at Bosque. The intrepid photographer gets in place before the crack of dawn to witness them arrive in droves. They're noisy and full of energy, and it makes sitting around in the chilly temperatures worth the wait.
Sand dune, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
I was surprised to discover that the "sand" is actually made from gypsum, not typical sand. I compacts very tightly and is easy to walk on.
Sand dune, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
The white sand takes on different appearances depending on the lighting.
Tracks on a sand dune, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
I was surprised and disappointed to find that it's difficult to find dunes that don't show evidence of humans, at least not close to the road or parking lot, anyway. I didn't have a lot of time to hike, given that the park opens after sunrise and I was trying to catch the dunes in as early morning light as I could.
Soaptree Yucca plant, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
Soaptree Yucca plant and tracks, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
Sand dune, White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM
I think this photo shows the granular structure of the dune's gypsum very well.
Moon setting over Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, NM
This was taken on my last morning at Bosque. If I lived near there, I would visit every day.
Sunrise, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, NM
The temperature was in the mid-teens that morning, but that didn't stop any of us photographers. While everyone else to my left photographed the snow geese, I wanted to capture the hues of sunrise. I waited until just the right moment when the birds would appear as leaves around the tree on the left,
Newport Bridge shrouded in fog, taken from Jamestown, RI
We get some thick fog here.
Millstone at Jamestown's Windmill
"Foggy Country Road"
On a Sunday morning in March, I went for a drive to chase the fog wherever it would take me. I was struck by this scene at Trillium Farm in Connecticut.
"Soon"
Switch Road, Chariho, Rhode Island
This linear move irrigation system seemed to be patiently waiting for spring; the crows its only companions.
"Sunset at Beavertail State Park"
Jamestown, Rhode Island
What can be a simpler pleasure than watching a sunset?
"Witness"
A tree survives the rocky Maine coast in Acadia National Park, Maine.
"Buttonwood Farm Sunflowers"
Griswold, Connecticut
I love the lone sunflower in front of the shed-like structure.
"Storm Clouds, Arches National Park, Utah"
The rain did not come.
"Jamestown Windmill Millstone"
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Many photographs are taken of the windmill that was built in 1787, but I wanted to capture the stone that did the milling.
"Double Arch, Arches National Park, Utah"
"Moonrise Over Tunnel View"
Yosemite National Park, California.
I went to Yosemite twice in less than six months in 2021 and 2022, in winter and late spring. The light was much more spectacular in winter, as one might guess.
Moonrise Over Tunnel View in Black and White"
I prefer this version.
"Half Dome Reflected in the Merced River"
Yosemite National Park, California.
"Ferns at Fisherville Brook"
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Preserve, Exeter, RI.
I never tire of visiting Fisherville Brook. There is always something to photograph and to marvel at.
"Fisherville Brook"
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Preserve, Exeter, RI.
A gem among gems in Rhode Island's many preserves and refuges. Please, teach your children to respect nature.
"Rim Rock National Recreation Trail"
Near Karber's Ridge, Illinois
"Burnt Sequoia Trunk"
Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California
"Wickford Harbor in Fog"
Wickford, Rhode Island
"Pilings in Fog"
Wickford Harbor, Wickford, Rhode Island
"Lily Leaves on Pond"
Acadia National Park, Maine
"Sea Smoke, Conanicut Marina Dock, Jamestown, Rhode Island"
On the 4th of January 2023, New England was hit with sub-zero temperatures and high winds. In coastal Rhode Island, we experienced temperatures down to -6 degrees or so, with wind chills down to -40 degrees. This created excellent conditions for "sea smoke," which occurs when the extremely cold wind blows over warm water. Having lived in Alaska for almost 14 years, I have the skills and the clothing to work in extremely cold temperatures. I bundled up and got some great shots of the sea smoke from Jamestown, Newport, and Sakonnet, Rhode Island. I saw and met a number of photographers during my excursion and was thrilled to see so many people with actual cameras rather than cell phones.
"Sea Smoke, Breton Point State Park, Newport, Rhode Island"
I took this photograph with my Canon 600mm f/4 IS USM Lens, which compressed the picture and made an interesting juxtaposition among the fore-, middle, and background.
"Gull Flying Through Sea Smoke, Breton Point State Park, Newport, Rhode Island"
"Sea Smoke at Beavertail"
This was taken at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown, Rhode Island. I thought the colors at sunrise demanded that this picture not be converted to black and white like most of my other sea smoke photographs.
"Pilings, Sakonnet Marina"
I took this on the same morning I took the sea smoke pictures, but by this time the smoke had largely disappeared, due to the air temperature warming after sunrise.
"Tree at Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge, Newport, Rhode Island"
This photograph and the one next to it were compositions I'd been wanting to take for a while. I just needed the right conditions. I'm not sure these are the best I can achieve, so I will keep looking for just the right weather. I go to Sachuest nearly every weekend, mostly for the abundant wildlife.
"Leaning Pine, Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge, Newport, Rhode Island"
"Sunrise, Galilee, Rhode Island"
Taken the day after Christmas, 2017. I took this with my Olympus E-510 four-thirds camera, which was the first DSLR I owned.
"Climbers on El Capitan at Night, Yosemite National Park, California"
It was eerie watching the lights moving on the face of El Cap.
"Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California"
