Mountains
Exhilarating photography adventures amidst nature's majestic masterpieces! It is my passion to capture breathtaking panoramas, glorious sunrises, and enchanting lakes nestled amidst epic mountain locations. Unearthing hidden gems that reveal the true essence of these stunning landscapes. There is nothing like witnessing the dance of light as it gracefully illuminates towering peaks, casting enchanting shadows on lush meadows. I will continuously chase the perfect shot while immersing in tranquility and capturing nature's raw beauty. These epic mountain locations offer a playground to create art while embracing the awe-inspiring wonders of the world.
The Ariel chairlift of the Mt. Ashland Ski Resort sits idle in the summer breeze as Mount McLaughlin (9495' / 2894m) the tallest peak in Southern Oregon dominates the horizon. Mount Ashland is an amazing place. Somewhat easily accessible by car/foot in the summer, it is only accessible by this chairlift during the winter. Location: Mount Ashland
The Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon glow in the setting sun. Ridge shadows give way to the evening haze. It feels like you can almost see the Pacific Ocean from here if it were not for the last bit of the Coast Range in the distance. Location: Oregon Siskiyou Mountains
If you have ever been to Klamath Falls you know it has several mountainous peaks that dominate the landscape. One of which is Stukel Mountain south of town. The Lost River runs around the base of Stukel Mountain as it carves its way through the basin floor. The most majestic place on the river is a near lake like area behind the Horseshoe Dam. On a late spring evening, I came down to those area knowing that the moonlight and Milky Way were going to line up for an iconic shot on the water. Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon
At 7532' / 2296m of elevation, Mount Ashland is a dominant peak in the Southern Oregon Skyline as is Mount McLaughlin seen in the distance. Atop of Mount Ashland sits the only ski resort in Southern Oregon. Its tallest and most iconic double chairlift, Ariel, is a skiers bucket list ride. The views from the top of the lift extend over one hundred miles in every direction possible. Here we stand on granite boulders on a clear evening looking north across the Siskiyous, over the Rogue Valley, and into the Cascade Mountain Range. In the very far distance, the peaks of the Crater Lake rim Diamond Peak can be seen. Location: Mount Ashland, Oregon.
The Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon glow in the setting sun. Ridge shadows give way to the evening haze. It feels like you can almost see the Pacific Ocean from here if it were not for the last bit of the Coast Range in the distance. Location: Oregon Siskiyou Mountains
Crater Lake formed an estimated 7700 years ago when the colossal mountain named Mazama erupted and collapsed. Fast forward seven millennia, the mountain has filled with water become the deepest lake in the United States. Local tribes tell stories of the eruption being a battle between the heavens above and the earth below. It is believed that modern man discovered the lake at or near this location now called Discovery Pont. On a warm August night with a nearly full moon, I found myself re-discovering this location all over again. I have always been a fan of this location, it has the best view of the island, framed by ponderosa and whitebark trees. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregton
On the north side of the Crater Lake Caldera is a green-colored rock face known as the Palisades. This is an often overlooked and fascinating location within the park. This view showcases a Mt. Scott and a full moon in the background. The epic waters of Crater Lake and the interior caldera lit by the moon. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Most who visit Crater Lake do so during the day but it shines brightest under moonlight. This epic location is not too far from Rim Village and is often featured as an Instagram hotspot. Beware, venturing out onto the cliff edge is not without its risks. Several have never made it back from the point alive. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Mount Thielsen is known as the lightning rod of the Cascades. Elidgely, it receives more annual lightning strikes than any other peak in the Cascades. I cannot confirm this, however, it is an absolutely spectacular and majestic peak. Location: Central Oregon
A National Park Ranger once told me that Crater Lake has two seasons, winter and August. This is one of the truest statements I have ever heard about the park. Summer days in the park are often warm, sometimes downright hot. While the nights can be cool and crisp. Before you can enjoy the night, there are epic sunsets to behold. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
The shores of Agency Lake provided a fantastic viewpoint to watch a fast-moving thunderstorm travel north along the crest of the Southern Oregon Cascades in August 2022. As bats flew overhead feasting on summer insects, lighting illuminated the basin. Location: Chiloquin, Oregon
A summer thunderstorm rolled quickly through the Wood River Valley near the base of Crater Lake and the community of Fort Klamath in August 2022. On this night, I set up at one of my favorite locations along a creek to capture the passing storm. Location: Fort Klamath, Oregon
A single bolt of lighting illuminates the Southern Oregon Cascades as the sky is filled with rain on the right and fire smoke on the left. Location: Chase Mountain, Oregon
In the middle of the 2022 fire season portions of Northern California were burning to the ground. One of these locations was in the view of this fire lookout tower in southern Klamath County. (glow seen in the lower left) . Now occupied by cameras and computers, this tower once housed a couple of full-time scouts that scanned the Southern Oregon Cascades for new and fresh hotspots. Today, the tower automatically scans for new fires but still stands tall 6000 feet over the landscape. On this night, I was just outside of the river of smoke to see witness the lit tower, fire, and Milky Way. Location: Chase Mountain, Oregon
Southern Oregon is full of spectacular views - mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, and so much more. One of those special locations is the vista from Chase Mountain in southern Klamath County. On this afternoon, thunderstorms were rolling across the basin. Clouds were zooming by thanks to the high upper level winds. For a split moment, a rift opened up in the canopy allowing a bright shine of light to gleam through into the Klamath River Canyon below. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to capture this unreal phenomenon. Location: Klamath County, Oregon
On a warm night in July 2022, Mother Nature kicked off an amazing display of the Northern Lights. The aurora was visible as south as Northern California. On this night, I visited Crater Lake, Oregon with the hope of capturing the lights over the park and they did not disappoint. Through some planning, I realized the best views of the aurora on this night would not be over the lake but rather over the northwestern side of the park toward Mt. Thielsen 15-miles north. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
On a warm night in July 2022, Mother Nature kicked off an amazing display of the Northern Lights. The aurora was visible as south as Northern California. On this night, I visited Crater Lake, Oregon with the hope of capturing the lights over the park and they did not disappoint. Through some planning, I realized the best views of the aurora on this night would not be over the lake but rather over the northwestern side of the park toward Mt. Thielsen 15-miles north. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
On a warm night in July 2022, I found myself on the rim of the Crater Lake caldera for a potential night of aurora activity. As I was waiting for the Northern Lights to kick off I set up at Discovery Point to calibrate the camera system. Then all of a sudden, a massive shooting star or possibly even a piece of space junk entered the atmosphere and illuminated the dark sky. I feel fortunate to have been able to witness such a mystical occurrence and just as fortunate to have my camera open and capturing an image as it streaked across the sky. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
One of my all time favorite images and best sellers is "Whitebark and the Wizard." It is an amazing piece but, I never liked how faded the galactic core appeared. For several years, I planned to recreate the image. I patiently waited for the right time of year - to position the Milky Way just right. With just the perfect amount of moonlight to illuminate the foreground, whitebark tree, and Wizard Island. It all came together when a beam of headlights kicked off from Discovery Point to add a little something extra to the capture. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
In early July of 2022 small patches of snow could still be found at Crater Lake including this one inside the caldera at Discovery Point. On this cool summer evening, the winds at the surface were calm but winds at cloud level were fierce. Blowing from the south to the north. Working the wind to my advantage a long exposure created mystical streaking cloud formations and showcased the rotation of the earth through the stars in the sky. Location: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
The eastern sierras near Mammoth are known for epic winter recreation. But the area is also a hotbed for volcanic-heated hot springs. Several hot springs are in view in this image as they flow into Hot Creek. Location: Eastern Sierras, California.
Sunsets in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon rarely dissapoint. On this warm July night, the sky lit up with dramatic pink hues and reflected in the waters of Lava Lake. In the distance South Sister Mountain (on the left) and Broken Top Mountain (on the right) peak above the forest.
White snow-covered Wizard Island pops against the deep blue color of Crater Lake. Winter is by far my favorite time to visit the lake, it is when the park is at its most beautiful.
There are several peaks that circle the Crater Lake caldera. The one seen here is Hillman Peak on the western side of the caldera. I just love how the snow has fallen across the peak and inside the rim. The patterns, the shadows, and if looking closely one can see the tippy tops of evergreen trees buried in the snow. Location: Crater Lake, Oregon.
The wind rarely stops blowing across the Crater Lake, but when it does, it acts as a large mirror reflecting the rim, islands, and sky. Creating an amazing optical illusion. Location: Crater Lake, Oregon
