Immersed in Green

The vegetation of Kings Canyon National Park forms a captivating and varied tapestry that blankets its landscapes. Towering pines, including lodgepole and Jeffrey pines, dominate the forests, their sturdy trunks reaching towards the sky. Manzanita shrubs, with their twisted branches and smooth reddish bark, add a touch of uniqueness to the surroundings. As I explored the park, I encountered towering sequoia trees, their massive trunks standing as living testaments to time's enduring power. It is a truly spectacular sight both from the ground and from the air.

Stars, Geology, and Joshua Trees

Last year I had the fantastic opportunity to visit a number of National Parks throughout the US, and this year I will be sharing images from all my visits here on my blog! We have loved them all so far and hope to one day make it to all 63 of them. I’ll be sharing images of the parks we have visited in order, so let’s start in sunny California, where it all began…

Joshua Tree National Park is known for its unique rock formations, minimal light pollution,and unique desert environment. At night, it also provides a stunning canvas for astrophotography. We were lucky enough to get almost completely clear skies, so I was able to capture some incredible images of the Milky Way arching - and spinning! - over Heart Rock, Arch Rock, and the park’s emblematic joshua trees.

Magical Rio

Today my blog features Rio de Janeiro, my hometown (home-megacity?). Although it suffers from many political and societal problems, Rio is undeniably a beautiful, colourful, and vibrant place. The real magic of the city comes alive at night, as the sun comes down and lights the sky up with a deep orange that perfectly matches the bright city lights. Here are some of my best images of this magical time…

Rain on the Salt Flats

Luckily, I experienced the best of both worlds at the Uyuni Salt Flats. Not only did I capture images of the crisp white landscape on a sunny day (see them here), but shortly after it began to rain. These salt flats are known around the world for their beauty in the rain - the water creates a thin layer over the salts, resulting in an endless mirror all the way to the horizon. Here are some of my favourite photographs as the grey clouds rolled in and covered the landscape in a fantastic mirror glaze.

To learn more about when to visit Uyuni for such images, head over to the complete travel guide for photographers at Two Dusty Lenses.