Simply Nature

winter solstice at allen creek starr ridge         location: bear valley          season: winter          backstory: allen creek is one of those local places that i love to find.  there is no real reason to go there. locals may hunt or snowmobile around the area.  i found it while cross-country skiing. it reflects what i call backyard nature: close to town, not remote like many of my photo treks.  no grand landscapes or features.  simple. down home. and...in the right light, season, conditions, it revels a deep beauty that is always there if...we take the time to notice. from spring through fall we might drive past and hardly see it.  in winter, snow sets off the colors of aspen, sky, willows and pines.  that's one of the reasons i love winter photography: a little snow changes everything. it becomes another place, shows a different aspect of nature in our own backyard. once snow settles in, skis or snowmobile are the best ways to allen creek. it's about a 3 mile ski on forest

leslie gulch by moonlight owyhee canyonlands    (click on image for larger size) location: leslie gulch      season: spring       backstory: leslie gulch is a place i often visit, which is reflected by the number of photos from there in my portfolio.  the rock formations are unique in oregon.  the range of colors and textures is fascinating.  seeing these canyons in different seasons, light, weather brings out different qualities. night photography appeals to me because of the differences in quality and quantity of light.  an advantage of digital cameras is the ability to record very minute amounts of light, especially stars.  less intense light softens a landscape and the eye is drawn to different features compared to daylight. moonlit scenes are exquisite for this quality.  there are photos with the moon as the focus, subject or a part of the composition ( see setting sun/rising moon ). then there are photos where the moon is the source of light, unseen.  size of the moon (how full),

 without planning to, i find myself deeply drawn into this creative photographic process. it's not like i need another career; the healing arts of chinese medicine are very fulfilling. backcountry treks are immensely nourishing on a personal level. body, mind and spirit vibrate with the energy, just being there is enough. why carry around all that photo gear? i do enjoy the creative aspects of camera, editing, printing & frames. there is no compelling need to be known as an artist or a photographer , they seem merely tools. then, tools for what? sitting in the serene quiet of 10,000' staring at immense panoramic landscapes extending hundreds of miles, it becomes very simple and clear: it's about nature.     the deepest call comes to express the beauty, energy, spirit of these places i wander to.  many are off well traveled paths and/or not typically seen, or at times when not easily visited. most of these places are simple, ordinary, what i call backcountry locations.

dawn meditation pronghorn antelope (click on image for larger size) location: hart mountain season: fall backstory: i am enamored of pronghorns.  the colors. the horns. their speed and agility. their ability to survive. and, especially the eyes. the eyes go deep. pronghorn coloration blends in with the high desert country to perfection.  while i'm fond of the earth tones of rock, hills, and mountains, dawn and/or sunset golden hour light on these animals is breathtakingly beautiful. the fastest land mammal in north america (second only to the african cheetah worldwide), pronghorns can run from 35 - 65 mph. for 1-4 miles. watching a dozen does fly across the open country around hart mountain is wonderful to see. they turn and maneuver as a group with ballet-like precision. of 12 similar species from 12,000 to 2 million years ago, pronghorns are the only survivors. they can eat high desert plants that other animals find toxic. their vision extends 320 degrees, which might help explai

fall bows to winter big indian gorge   (click on image for larger size) location: steens mountain season: late fall backstory: this was my first extended trek into the steens.  end of fall, beginning of winter provides some interesting contrasts.  i learned a lot about this mountain range, photography and myself over six days during some shifting and turbulent winter weather. this scene called out as i was preparing to leave.  i was pretty tired. didn't feel i got any great shots. still struggling with some technical details of the camera.  also, struggling with how to express the spirit and energy of this special place. the steens are unlike many other mountains. rather than one main focal peak it is a range that runs 20+ miles north to south.  edging up to the 10,000' ridge are three 3,000' gorges running east to west and two more running north to south. it is a challenge to encompass some small part of this terrain in a camera frame, no matter how many megapixels the sen

mandalas are used in a variety of spiritual, religious, creative contexts.  in general, they are an artistic expression meant to focus or inspire us about core principles or truths. mandalas are believed to represent different aspects of the universe and are used as instruments of meditation and symbols of prayer most notably in china, japan, and tibet. often mandalas focus on a specific teaching or healing aspect. a mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in many asian cultures. it can be used in different ways: externally as a visual representation of the universe or internally as a guide for meditation or spiritual practices. some traditions use mandalas as a gateway, entering and proceeding towards its center, you are guided through a cosmic process of transforming the universe from one of suffering into one of joy and happiness. some traditions consider mandalas a path to enlightenment.  in this sense, they may be teachers or guides in the process.   a moment of stillness

wild mare and colt south steens herd (click on image for larger size) location: steens mountain       season: spring       backstory: this is from one of my first adventures into the steens mountain area. friends had mentioned herds of wild horses in the area and i was curious to see them in their natural range. it had been a very cold and snowy winter.  this was the first truly warm spring day and the desert enthusiastically responded. snow melt provided moist earth for plants to absorb.  a warm sage filled breeze gently blew. the sky cleared it's winter dull gray, sunlight was brighter and noticeably warmer. and the mares with new colts were taking it all in. exploring this area throughout the seasons has given me a great appreciation for creatures, plants and trees that live here. summer is brutally hot; winter bone chilling cold, windy and deep snow. fall can be lovely, although often short as winter comes early. spring is a time to pause a moment, kick back and enjoy before th

homestead in winter cant ranch (click on image for larger size) location: kimberly, oregon                                      season: winter                                backstory: as i wander around this region, i often wonder how this place looked when the first european settlers arrived. outside of the towns and highways, not much has changed. this scene is the original homestead at the cant family ranch near kimberly. before settlers arrived, native tribes, umatilla, wasco, warm springs and northern pauite, seemed to have a nomadic lifestyle, moving from river valleys to mountains with the seasons, animals and food sources. the arid desert climate is naturally conducive to preserving some of this history.  wagon ruts can still be seen in stretches of open desert.  kam wah chung is a chinese building in john day built in the 1860's that is much like when it was built, including the interior. the cant ranch was settled in 1890 on the mainstem of the john day river.  it is no

when i first moved to this area i learned about wild horse herds scattered around the region. the idea of wild horses stimulated images of the wild west and this land before settlers. first experiences were in the murderer's creek area of aldrich mountain. forested rugged terrain made tracking and finding these horses challenging and very rewarding with the first photos. they seemed quite wild to me. murderer's creek herd stud and family as treks expanded south into the steens mountains and alvord desert, seeing these horses became more frequent. i got to know them better. after posting some of the first photos online, i received a comment explaining how true wild horses went extinct thousands of years ago and that they were actually feral - domestic horses set loose in the backcountry. after a little research, my romantic image of wild horses began to dissolve. this, combined with seeing them on almost every photo trek, led me to understand they aren't truly wild.  they ar

taking treks out into backcountry oregon is a great pleasure. there are many benefits: getting out into nature, finding great scenes to photograph, chance encounters with wildlife, seeing star-filled skies without any light pollution, feeling the desert wind scour my spirit, the smell of sage and juniper, the freedom to wander...the list keeps on going. these photos are one way of trying to express these experiences. these journeys aren't a vacation, they are more similar to pilgrimage, native vision quest, or aboriginal walkabout. they have a spiritual quality, are sacred, fill a need for nourishment i don't find in other ways. it didn't start out that way. it just kind of evolved naturally. i've always enjoyed wandering, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes with purpose.  the wide open high desert is very conducive to this. usually i'll leave home with a planned route and series of destinations. it's rare for that plan to be followed very closely. it tends to start

 add copy ink runs in my blood, possibly from working in the graphics trades after college, doing calligraphy and chinese brush painting where i learned to grind ink on stone. diving into this photography creative process has allowed me to indulge this fascination with ink on paper in another way. about 10 years ago, digital cameras began to match the quality of film cameras.  similar tech advances happened with digital inkjet printers. that's when my lifelong interest in photography resurfaced. after buying a high quality camera and learning how to use it, it became clear a high quality printer was needed next. i jumped in with both feet by purchasing a canon pro 4000. it's a lot of printer for just one photographer.  to me, it is worth it for several reasons: it produces fine art/gallery quality, large, gorgeous prints i can print as orders are made, reducing overhead and storage to maintain an inventory it allows me to simplify (somewhat) the complex tech communications betw

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al  piste skyline ridge (click on image for larger size) location: strawberry mountain wilderness   season: winter             backstory: this photo may resonate most with cross-country (nordic, backcountry) skiers. al piste is french for off trail. a lot of cross-country skiing is done at ski resorts or recreation areas. often the terrain is flat and the trails are well groomed and maintained. this scene is off trail.  no grooming. plenty of steep hills and no easy access. that's what makes it so enjoyable. at 7500' elevation, 60" base with 18" of fresh powder, these are the conditions backcountry skiers dream about. often, it takes some effort to get here.  (see tree spirit for details of getting to this spot.)  it is about 5 miles of skiing and 1500' elevation climb along forest service roads to the wilderness border.  then, it's plenty of open spaces and deep powder, allowing treks to unfold to... wherever. what calls most loudly to me is the freedom pro

location: owyhee canyonlands                season: spring                                       backstory: when i first moved to this area i began exploring around john day: strawberry mountains, john day fossil beds, aldrich and dixie mountains, and the john day river. it felt like a whole new world to explore. as i talked with more locals, the steens were often mentioned. heading south of burns, oregon extended my range significantly. then, a few people talked about the owyhee. the owyhee canyonlands extend from south of the oregon/nevada state line north along the eastern oregon border almost to ontario. it's isolated, rugged and it takes something extra to get there. just my kind of place. the owyhee river flows this entire distance to the 50 mile long reservoir at the north end. this scene is at leslie gulch at the southern end of the reservoir. cresting a ridge and descending down 7 miles through this gulch to the reservoir provides a fascinating view of canyons and rock spi

tree spirit skyline ridge (click on image for larger size) location: strawberry mountain wilderness season: winter backstory: i'm quite fond of tree snags, of which there are many in the forested mountains around the region. there's something about them that draws my attention like a magnet. it's almost as if they have a personality, an aura that calls out, maybe ghostly. when i see one in the distance i'll ski way out of my way to go meet it. i have hundreds of photos of tree snags, which when reviewed at home, simply look like dead trees. somehow the subtle energy felt in the moment doesn't transfer thru camera to ink and paper. this one is different. i do a lot of cross country skiing in and around the strawberry mountain wilderness area where i draw much inspiration for the winter photos in this portfolio; see al piste , road's end , winter solstice at allen creek. skiing here is not like developed ski areas in other areas. i call it back road skiing. the sn

just in this moment virgin valley   (click on image for larger size) location: sheldon wildlife refuge   season: summer   backstory: whether film or digital, photography is primarily about light; how light affects the chemical process of film or the pixels of sensors. nature photographers prize the light available at dawn and sunset for the subtle qualities illuminating a scene. i find myself mostly drawn to the hours around dawn. this scene is a good example of the impact of dawn light. the low angle of sun rays provide shadow, depth and texture.  diffuse light allows for richer and more varied colors.  even the clouds have a little more dimension with dawn light. in a short while the heat of a summer day will wash out all these lovely qualities. photographers refer to it as the golden hour. one of the joys of the photographic/creative process at dawn is when all of these elements appear, briefly, combined like an intricate dance. muted pre-dawn light gives way to golden sun. a light

if you've wandered around this website, seen some of the photos and read some of the words, it is probably obvious: i love this place. that could be the title of the website, portfolio and every photo. it's a big surprise to me.  this isn't the place i thought i would live in and love.  i've traveled extensively around the world and lived in many beautiful places: forested mountains bordering wilderness, foothills of the himalayan mountains, small town oregon coast, thailand, small villages in china, remote sub tropical mountains of taiwan, colorado mountains, rural appalachia. and more. i've had the option to choose where i wanted to be and move. i did it frequently. i lived out of a backpack for many years. those moves and places were influenced by many variables: wanderlust, education in healing, meditation and martial arts, escaping, running, seeking...something else. ultimately not satisfying, no matter the beauty of the place. finding home in eastern oregon wa

winter brilliance cathedral rock john day fossil beds (click on image for larger size) location: kimberly, oregon season: late winter backstory: cathedral rock was one of my initial photography muses in this area. that first drive down hiway 19 thru condon, fossil & spray felt like entering another dimension.  when i came around the curve and saw cathedral rock it felt like a gong reverberating in my head. it hasn't stopped since. the popular name may be cathedral, it is a temple to me. this muse inspired, pushed, teased & demanded i embrace the photographic creative process, if only to create one image that did this place honor. it took awhile. during a six year process i made over three dozen pilgrimages here, thru each of the seasons. kayaking down, then wading thru the river. at dawn, at sunset.  wandering under a summer full moon. scampering up hillsides & across scree. bushwacking thru 10' tall weeds. looking at each angle.  listening to the wind, river and d

nourishment osprey family   (click on image for larger size) location: kimberly, oregon season: early summer backstory: osprey seem to tolerate humans a little more than other raptors. their nests can be easier to see, possibly because they prefer being close to a river. i've found several nests while kayaking down the north fork john day river from 20 miles east of dale to kimberly (about 60 river miles) where it joins the main stem of the river. this scene was after spending a lovely day kayaking, then returning by rig with camera gear. i don't take the expensive gear in the kayak. with this, and the other osprey photos, i often spend several days at the nests, watching their daily life, the comings and goings.  sometimes they tolerate me, other times they don't. this opportunity unfolded after a lovely early summer day.  spring green and growth transitioning to summer.  pleasantly warm into the evening sunset. watching a nest like this can be a very meditative process:

road's end logan valley (click on image for larger size) location: strawberry mountain wilderness   season: late winter backstory: at 9,000 feet elevation, strawberry mountain is the center point for the local mountain ranges. it is a favorite subject for photographers, mainly from the north side.  this scene is from the south side. venturing off the two main highways here (26 & 395) takes us onto county and forest service roads into logan valley. a smaller forest service road (1640) heads north up to the wilderness border: road's end . this is one of my favorite cross country ski routes. it is 12 miles from forest service 16 rd to road's end with a 3000' elevation climb.  lots of switchbacks.  it's a lot of work skiing up; quite fast on the return trip. while skiing, i sometimes think about hitching a ride with passing snowmobiles to the top. the opportunity never arose until this day. the late winter snow wasn't great and after 4 miles i decided to turn b

taking wing three forks (click on image for full screen) location: owyhee canyonlands season: spring backstory:  landscape scenes are my primary calling to photograph.  especially big panoramic vistas, endless sky, throw in some snow or moonlight (or both) and i am enchanted.  sometimes, while framing a scene, wildlife wander in front of the lens.  that was the case with this photo.  this was my first trek into the deep southeast corner of oregon; 40+ miles south and a little east of rome. the dirt ranch road was mostly dry, although someone had driven it recently when it was quite muddy.  some of the ruts, gashes approaching ravines, were up to 24" deep and went on for miles. bad things can happen when unintentionally sliding into those ruts. i was very grateful it wasn't me slogging  through that muck a few days earlier.  it was slow going while straddling the ruts and looking for ways around boggy spots. (i've mentioned this in several posts and it is worth repeating, o

  regal presence ferruginous hawk three forks (click on image for larger size)   location: owyhee canyonlands season: spring backstory: raptors have a presence unlike many other wildlife i've seen in the high desert. we can see it in the eyes.  they are alert, constantly scanning and aware of a large area around them. their clarity and distance of vision is outstanding. this photo is one of several of a ferruginous hawk; see  taking wing & raptor's cry. each of these photos reflects an aspect of this powerful bird's personality. in the moment, it seemed as if this hawk was posing, much like a royal prince would for a portrait. it felt regal, fully aware of it's strength and power within the realm. there is little that it misses with that powerful gaze. it is a confident and self assured being that knows it's place in nature.   ps - after writing this, i learned that the latin name is buteo regalis - royal hawk .  (return to simply nature portfolio site )

  location: owyhee reservoir season: last days of summer   backstory:  this is one of those photo opportunities that sneaks up on you. literally.  i was intensely focused on a scene 180º in the other direction.  throughout this 90º+ day, desert colors were thin and washed out while kayaking from a camping spot back to my rig. there was a channel that ran around to the right side of this photo.  i was up on the ridge of the island trying to shoot the reflection of the background cliffs in the channel.  it just wasn't working.  sunset light began to shift colors.  the island ridge shadow blocked the channel.  i could feel the sand in the hourglass beginning to trickle away.  sunset light is so fleeting and short. letting go of the channel shot, i turned around, hiked to the ridge top and saw this.  a few clicks of the camera, a subtle setting of the sun and the moment dissolves. The golden light of sunset teaches impermanence of all things. moral of the story: when intensely focused

click on image for full screen signs of spring sandhill cranes (click on image for larger size) location: harney county season: spring backstory: before moving to this area i had never seen or heard of sandhill cranes.  there is something about their personality, so... strong.  in this area you know spring is on the way when you can hear their very distinctive calling way high in the sky as they migrate.  on the ground, when they call, they stretch their necks straight up.  fascinating. they fly in formation with great precision. sandhills also have a very elaborate mating dance. this scene is part of the bird migratory path through harney county, that includes the malheur wildlife refuge. it is such a joy when driving through a fairly barren and desolate high desert to crest a ridge and see these amazing creatures. there is something deeply intriguing about the red area around the golden eyes.  (return to simply nature portfolio site )

setting sun/rising moon juniper gulch (click on image for larger size) location: owyhee reservoir season: spring backstory: there are planned photos and then there are spontaneous photos. this is the later. i often organize backcountry treks around the full moon, a few days before and after the peak. most of the time i'm interested in using the moon to light a landscape. on this journey, i had planned a series of moonlit photos along several miles of leslie gulch. the canyons wind around affording different lighting angles based on moon and canyon positions.  i finished one scene with the moon cresting the horizon along a jagged ridgeline. it wasn't quite the right composition. figuring that was the horizon/moonrise chance for the night, i began hiking toward the next planned shot with the moon at a higher angle providing a light source. walking the high desert backcountry at night feels... other-worldly, except that i now consider it this-worldly; the rest is other. after a ho

...nature provides the beauty.   in some ways, nature photography is easy. the beauty that we look for in art is right in front of us: form, lines, color palettes, contrast, composition, texture, flow, balance, movement. these are the basics an artist learns when seeking to create a piece from scratch, starting with a blank canvas, page, stone. whether landscape, wildlife or both, all of these elements are intrinsic to the scene. it is very clear to me that i don't create that, nor could i improve on the natural beauty i find in these places. when first diving deeper into landscape photography, i, rather naively, thought i would get a high quality camera, go to beautiful places all around here, then send photos through a high quality printer to produce beautiful prints.  so much for thinking.  i've learned along the way that is only the front and back end of the creative process. much of the last 6 years has been devoted to learning about all the steps in between photo and prin