Long Exposures
Epic long-exposure photography is a captivating art form that mesmerizes viewers by capturing motion in the midst of stillness. With the use of a slow shutter speed, I can transform bustling cityscapes into ethereal scenes of streaking lights and ghostly trails. Majestic waterfalls become a silky cascade, and starry night skies turn into a celestial masterpiece. This technique adds a sense of drama and depth to images, inviting viewers to explore a world where time is beautifully stretched and fleeting moments are immortalized. Engage your senses and embark on a journey through the lens of epic long-exposure photography.
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
A thin crescent moon lights the foreground as the Northern Lights dance in the Southern Oregon sky. Location: Eastern Klamath County, Oregon
The Northern Lights dance with meteors in the South Central Southern Oregon sky of the high desert. Location: Eastern Klamath County, Oregon
In eastern Klamath County, Gerber Reservoir rests quietly. On this warm April night, the Aurora Borealis made a dramatic appearance. As seen here through a fence. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
In the high desert of South Central Oregon, the Aurora Borealis danced across the night sky for several hours. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
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
While walking the beach at blue hour on the Oregon Coast, this set of rocks called to me. The way the waves would envelop the rock formation from both sides. Then swirling in the sand at my feet was extremely mesmerizing. Location: Brookings, Oregon.
San Francisco, California
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.
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
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.
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.
The Oregon Coast is full of beauty from California to Washington. But the best views can be found inside the Boardman Scenic Corridor between Brookings and Gold Beach. The corridor is littered with a high density of state parks including the viewpoint for Arch Rock. Arch Rock is on the north side of the view at Windy Point, but in the summer months, at night, the best view is looking south. Location: Arch Rock State Park, Oregon
The stars shine bright over the Southern Oregon Cascades and Upper Klamath Lake as the glow from the lights of Klamath Falls illuminates the clouds. Location: Rocky Point, 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.
