Winter in Kings Canyon National Park
The highlight of a visit to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, in California's spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range, must be the giant sequoias, also known as giant redwoods. These trees grow to an average height of 164 to 279 feet, and an average diameter of 20 to 26 feet. They can live for more than 3,000 years. I was lucky enough to visit these giants in April, 2018, and expected spring conditions. I was thrilled (and cold) when it snowed, though, completely transforming the sights available. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
The Alabama Hills, which are part of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, lie just to the east of the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many TV shows and movies have been filmed or had portions filmed here, including The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Tremors, and Gladiator. I took this photo here, shortly after sunrise. Mt. Whitney – the tallest mountain in the lower 48 States – can be seen in the upper, right hand corner of the photo. Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 48x24 Triptych (3 x 16x24), 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 70x35, 70x35 Triptych (3 x 23x35), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40), 96x48, 96x48 Triptych (3 x 32x48).
Vernal Falls is another Yosemite icon, but it is one that actually requires a bit of a hike to reach. I was lucky to have the weather I did for this hike, because the sunlight was powerful enough to create the rainbow made by the mist generated by Vernal Falls' 318 foot drop. Available in the following sizes (Square): 10x10, 12x12, 14x14, 16x16, 20x20, 24x24, 30x30, 36x36, 42x42, 48x48.
Joshua Tree National Park, in southern California, gets its name from the yukka-like Joshua trees that abound in the park. My favorite part of this National Park, though, is the rocks. Rock formations like those in this photo are scattered throughout the park, and are especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when the horizontal light brings the colors to life! Available in the following sizes (Panorama B): 30x12, 40x16, 50x20, 50x20 Triptych (3 x 17x20), 60x24, 60x24 Triptych (3 x 20x24), 75x30, 75x30 Triptych (3 x 25x30), 90x36, 90x36 Triptych (3 x 30x36), 105x42 Triptych (3 x 35x42), 120x48 Triptych (3 x 40x48).
Everyone that goes to Yosemite National Park, in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, is familiar with this scene. Made iconic by Ansel Adams, it even has a name – Tunnel View. (This location is at the mouth of a tunnel that allows one to access areas of the National Park other than the valley.) Many of Yosemite's most famous landmarks are visible from this location, including (from left to right), El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. While this scene is beautiful at any time of day, seeing it at sunrise after a night in which it had snowed six or so inches was truly special. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
Inyo National Forest, in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, is home to the tallest mountain in the continental US – Mt. Whitney. And while Whitney is the highlight of Inyo National Forest, there's much more to it. I don't know the name of this particular peak – it is one of countless less famous mountains throughout the National Forest. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
The highlight of a visit to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, in California's spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range, must be the giant sequoias, also known as giant redwoods. These trees grow to an average height of 164 to 279 feet, and an average diameter of 20 to 26 feet. They can live for more than 3,000 years. I was lucky enough to visit these giants in April, 2018, and expected spring conditions. I was thrilled (and cold) when it snowed, though, completely transforming the sights available. Available in the following sizes (Panorama B): 30x12, 40x16, 50x20, 50x20 Triptych (3 x 17x20), 60x24, 60x24 Triptych (3 x 20x24), 75x30, 75x30 Triptych (3 x 25x30), 90x36, 90x36 Triptych (3 x 30x36), 105x42 Triptych (3 x 35x42), 120x48 Triptych (3 x 40x48).
The highlight of a visit to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, in California's spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range, must be the giant sequoias, also known as giant redwoods. These trees grow to an average height of 164 to 279 feet, and an average diameter of 20 to 26 feet. They can live for more than 3,000 years. I was lucky enough to visit these giants in April, 2018, and expected spring conditions. I was thrilled (and cold) when it snowed, though, completely transforming the sights available. Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 48x24 Triptych (3 x 16x24), 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 70x35, 70x35 Triptych (3 x 23x35), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40), 96x48, 96x48 Triptych (3 x 32x48).
This photo looks like some clouds in the desert. But what looks like clouds is actually sand blowing around. The drive I was on when I stopped to take this photo was absolutely miserable. The wind was trying to blow my van off the road for hours and hours, as I made my way through the desert in southeast California. But all that pain eventually paid off when I arrived in the Sierra Nevadas, where I spent the next week or so shooting some of the most spectacular scenery this country has to offer. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
The Alabama Hills, which are part of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, lie just to the east of the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many TV shows and movies have been filmed or had portions filmed here, including The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Tremors, and Gladiator. I took this photo here, shortly before sunrise. Mt. Whitney – the tallest mountain in the lower 48 States – can be seen in the upper, right hand corner of the photo. Available in the following sizes (Panorama B): 30x12, 40x16, 50x20, 50x20 Triptych (3 x 17x20), 60x24, 60x24 Triptych (3 x 20x24), 75x30, 75x30 Triptych (3 x 25x30), 90x36, 90x36 Triptych (3 x 30x36), 105x42 Triptych (3 x 35x42), 120x48 Triptych (3 x 40x48).
Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet in elevation, is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 States. I took this photo of Mt. Whitney shortly after sunset, when it's colors were at their most subdued. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Hot Creek, which lies in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range, begins as Mammoth Creek, and is made primarily of snow melt … so it isn't exactly hot. It eventually goes along to join warmer water from geothermal springs at the Hot Creek State Fish Hatchery. Even here, it isn't exactly 'hot,' seldom reaching temperatures higher than 68 degrees, but that's hot enough to justify the name. The way the stream curves back and forth, leading one's eye to what I believe is Sharktooth Peak is composition heaven. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36, 30x45, 40x60, 48x72.
Half Dome is one of Yosemite's most famous icons. I took this photo of Half Dome in the clouds with a telephoto lens as the sun set, seeming to set the mountain's western-facing slope on fire. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20, 30x24, 40x30.
Another one of those instances of dumb luck making all the difference in the world. I only had one or two days in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. I was there in mid-April, and anticipated spring conditions. Although the unexpected snow made it cold, and made camping that much less comfortable, it was a blessing, overall, since my photos certainly wouldn't have turned out as well if there had been blue skies and green grass. The tree in this photo is the General Grant Tree, in King's Canyon National Park, and it is the second largest tree in the world. It has a diameter of just under 30 feet at its base, and it stretches 267 feet into the air. It's pretty big. Available in the following sizes (Panorama C): 10x30, 12x36, 16x48, 16x48 Triptych (3 x 16x16), 20x60, 20x60 Triptych (3 x 20x20), 24x72, 24x72 Triptych (3 x 24x24), 30x90, 30x90 Triptych (3 x 30x30), 36x108 Triptych (3 x 36x36), 42x126 Triptych (3 x 42x42), 48x144 Triptych (3 x 48x48).
The Alabama Hills, which are part of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, lie just to the east of the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many TV shows and movies have been filmed or had portions filmed here, including The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Tremors, and Gladiator. It is also a popular camping spot, as made obvious by all the lights in the foreground of the photo. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40.
Fern Spring, in Yosemite National Park, is on the side of the road, and is a favorite with local photographers. This bubbling spring is so perfect, it is hard to believe it is natural. It really looks designed. The water is unbelievably clear. I took a long-exposure here to give the water the flowing look shown. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20, 30x24, 40x30, 50x40, 60x48.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine at Night
Ancient Bristlecone Pine trees, such as the one shown in this photo, are the longest-living (non-clonal) organisms on the planet. There is a tree in this forest that germinated in 3051 BC. They thrive in high alpine environments, and grow incredibly slowly. There's something magical about walking through a forest of trees that have been growing for literally thousands of years. I took this photo at night, and lit the tree using bounced light from a headlamp. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36, 30x45, 40x60.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine trees, such as the one shown in this photo, are the longest-living (non-clonal) organisms on the planet. There is a tree in this forest that germinated in 3051 BC. They thrive in high alpine environments, and grow incredibly slowly. There's something magical about walking through a forest of trees that have been growing for literally thousands of years. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36, 30x45, 40x60, 48x72.
Yosemite's famous “Tunnel View,” featuring, from left to right, El Capitan, Half Dome (partially obscured by clouds), and Bridalveil Falls. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.