Red Rock Sunset

Sedona was just one of many places that amazed me during my trip to Arizona and Utah. The red rock formations here dominate the landscape in every direction. Some are more impressive than others, but all are beautiful.

Perhaps the most famous of these formations is Cathedral Rock (on the right side of the photo). It was my first stop after arriving in Sedona and I spent hours wandering around the trails and parks on its Western side. As sunset approached, I was in a position where Courthouse Butte was also visible, several miles in the distance and to the left of Cathedral Rock. Sedona is famous for its colorful sunsets, so I decided to wait here and hope for some great light. Needless to say, this sunset did not disappoint.  

I always enjoy the experience of seeing the sun disappear below the horizon. In Sedona, however, the main performance is in the opposite direction...watching the formations transform into vibrant towers. The red rocks come alive with color and even begin to glow as they reflect the warm sunlight.

Unfortunately, the show only lasts for 10-15 minutes and leaves you wanting for more. Fortunately, the rocks regularly reprise their role the following evening.

Ring of Fire

I finally got a chance to catch my breath on my trip through the Southwest U.S. and wanted to share a recent image with you. 

This is Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona. It is probably one of the most photographed places in the Southwest United States…and for good reason. This bend in the Colorado River is truly a spectacle to see in person. If you have the nerve, you can walk right up to the edge and peer over the steep cliffs to view the river, 1,000 feet below. 

I came to this spot a few times during my trip. The first couple of times, the weather was poor…so I did not get the image I was hoping for. However, on the third attempt, I was rewarded with one of the most colorful sunsets I have ever experienced. As the sun disappeared, it lit up the clouds with an intense red glow that reflected down to everything below. 

There were probably a hundred or more people near me at this lookout point. Numerous audible “oohs” and “aahs” were heard as everyone watched this unfold. It seemed that every time I thought I had seen the best part of the sunset, it actually got better!

I took hundreds of photos…some before the color started, some with the signature “sun flare” as the sun descended below the land in the distance, and many more as the clouds caught fire. I hope to share some of those other images in future posts. 

Unfortunately, the show had to end, but wow, what a performance!

Ascend

One of the things I find myself doing a lot in NYC is looking up. It is hard for me to keep my eyes straight ahead, being surrounded by so many towering structures...I suppose this may be true for most people (at least for those who do not live there).

While I am always impressed at the engineering necessary to erect these buildings, I find it difficult to photograph them in interesting ways. Your perspective and composition at street level is rather limited. 

However, while walking through this semi-circular courtyard I loved the way this group of buildings complimented each other. Facing this direction, the one across the street closes the open-end of the horseshoe, while the taller building behind ascends at a different angle into the sky. The opposing lines, angles and curves work so much better together than as individual parts. 

As a side note, the most difficult part of getting this image was avoiding the numerous Town Cars that were picking-up and dropping-off people inside this courtyard. I had to wait my turn until there was a pause in the car traffic coming through. I thank those drivers who waited (somewhat) patiently, while I clogged up traffic for a few brief moments to capture this.

Low Country Sunrise - South Carolina

This was taken early one morning overlooking the Calibogue Sound in South Carolina. I was severely jet-lagged after flying here from Germany the night before, so I was up at 4:30 am, well before the dawn. Once I saw the colors starting to appear in the clouds, I quickly grabbed my camera and ventured outside to capture what was a most impressive sunrise. The colors were more intense than I had ever seen in this area with incredible purples and magentas stretching into the sky as well as reflecting in the incoming tide. The silhouetted branches, reeds & the dock in the foreground provided striking contrast to the light/color in the distance.

The color lasted only a short time, quickly fading as the sun made its way over the horizon. A great moment aided by my body not knowing what time zone it was in. Thank you jet-lag. :)

Apple of My Eye

This was taken at the Apple Store in NYC. I was looking up through the glass cube and thought the perspective was fantastic...so many shapes, lines and curves...all things I love in architectural photography. It was difficult to capture though, with all of the commotion that is typical in an Apple store. People were everywhere, but I was able to get into a position where I could get the symmetry that I wanted.

The Ribbon Staircase

This is actually a staircase in one of the stores on 5th Ave. in NYC. I believe it is called the Ribbon Staircase, as it weaves and flows in multiple directions as you ascend/descend. Every few steps you get a different perspective of steel, glass and concrete, offering a variety of compositions.

I am excited to announce that this image was awarded Honorable Mention in the Abstract category of the 2016 Monochrome Awards photo contest.