Yosemite's Picture-Perfect Spot

Nestled within the breathtaking expanse of Yosemite National Park, Valley View stands as a celebrated spot for photography enthusiasts. This viewpoint, situated along the serene Merced River, offers an unobstructed view of Yosemite's legendary landscape. The towering granite cliffs, led by the majestic El Capitan, form a rugged backdrop against the gentle flow of the river, providing an ideal setting for capturing the park's natural splendor.

Photographing Valley View is an authentic experience. From the soft, golden light of sunrise to the warm, soothing hues of sunset, the changing colors and textures of the landscape offer endless possibilities for composition. Here, you can frame the pristine waters, the imposing cliffs, and the surrounding wilderness in your shots, creating images that reflect the raw beauty of Yosemite.

This was undoubtedly one of my favourite spots in the park - I came back again and again to see it in different lights and at different times of the day. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do!

End of Day at Moro Rock

Another visit to Moro Rock at Sequoia National Park this weekend, this time in the late afternoon as the haze and the falling sun transformed the skies into a beautiful mixture of oranges and yellows. There was a beautiful lateral light there as well which left half of the valley in light and the other half in shadow. Here, I made full use of my whole photography kit - from wide lenses to capture the expansive valley below, to a telephoto lens aimed at the few trees hugging the mountain ridges. The most incredible thing is that this wasn’t even quite sunset: we still made it down the valley and caught sunset at a different location afterwards.

Scaling New Heights

Moro Rock offers a very different perspective on Sequoia National Park. This towering granite dome offers panoramic views over the whole park - finally placing you above the gigantic trees and changing the whole perspective of the landscape. As you ascend the winding staircase, the world below transforms into a tapestry of lush forests and rugged peaks, and the sprawling landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. It was really mind-boggling to go from feeling like a tiny ant standing at the feet of the forest giants to seeing them from above, surrounded by the local ravens gliding in the skies.

Art in the Forest

Now, now, this is a special one! Join me and step into the world of captivating contrasts as we explore the majestic Sequoia National Park through my lens. In these photographs, I sought to highlight the striking contrast between light and dark, big and small, and the many textures of the forest. The towering sequoia trees, with their lofty branches and intricate textures, serve as the perfect subjects for this exploration. I truly believe some of these images belong on a canvas on the wall - so please sit back, relax, and enjoy this walk through the woods. I think these really are stunning images.

The Legendary General Sherman

The General Sherman Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park is an easy loop walk through the towering sequoias, culminating in an awe-inspiring encounter with the world's largest living tree, the General Sherman. Standing at over 275 feet (84 meters) tall, with a diameter of more than 36 feet (11 meters) at its base, this ancient giant is a true marvel of nature. General Sherman is believed to be around 2,200 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms on the planet, standing as a testament to the endurance and resilience of the sequoia species. For a bit of scale, the very last image in this blog post features my (tall!) husband completely dwarfed by this extraordinary giant.

In the Presence of Giants

This weekend I am switching gears to the second national park I am featuring in my blog: the incredible Sequoia National Park. These giants are some of the largest living organisms on Earth, and are extremely long lived, with some estimated to be over 3,000 years old. Their bark is thick, spongy, and fire-resistant, which helps protect them from wildfires that are common in the area. They also have other unique adaptations, such as shallow roots that spread wide to anchor themselves in the soil.

I had the privilege of witnessing the park's majestic beauty at the crack of dawn and it was a sight to behold! The rising sun cast a golden glow over the towering sequoia trees and cast an incredible glow deep into the forest. This national park surprised me in that I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and I think it’s thoroughly underrated! I hope to be able to prove that over my next series of blog posts that will feature this incredible trees.

Cholla Cactus Golden Hour

As promised, this week I am featuring my second set of Cholla Cactus Garden images - and dare I say, these are even better! Every morning at Joshua Tree National Park, a warm golden light illuminates the spiny cacti, casting an incredible glow over the desert landscape. The scene is nothing short of mesmerizing, especially on a cold and perfectly clear day. I hope the images I have shared here succeed in capturing the magic of the desert in these early hours, and that you love them as much as I do!

Sunrise Over the Cholla Cacti

Nestled in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park lies the stunning Cholla Cactus Garden. This location is home to thousands of cholla cacti, which light up in brilliant shades of orange and gold during the sunrise hours. When I visited this desert oasis at dawn, and I was blown away by the natural beauty of this unique landscape.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, the sky filled with vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and purple. The surrounding desert landscape was cast in an ethereal glow, and the cholla cacti seemed to come alive in the early morning light. The result was a series of stunning images that perfectly capture the otherworldly beauty of the desert at sunrise. In fact, I loved my images from this spot so much, I’ve split them into two posts - this is just the first half. Enjoy!

Sunrise at Barker Dam

Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park is a historic site that was built in the early 1900s to provide water for cattle and mining operations in the area. The dam was constructed using local materials, including boulders and concrete, and was designed to capture and store rainwater. It is named after William Barker, one of the early ranchers in the area who was instrumental in its construction.

During my visit, I woke up early to catch the sunrise at Barker Dam, and boy, was it worth it! The sky turned into a beautiful canvas of vibrant purples, pinks, and oranges, and as the sun crept up the sky, the rest of the desert turned an intense shade of gold. Even though the dam was dry (and so we missed out on water reflections), the Joshua Trees and rock formations more than made up for it!

A Morning at Arch Rock

One of our first stops on our visit to Joshua Tree National Park was Arch Rock. This natural arch is made of granite and stands tall among the Mojave Desert's boulder-strewn landscape. Its unique texture - which to me resembles a goose’s neck and head - make it a popular destination for visitors to the park. During my visit, I was lucky enough to witness the sunrise sunrise at Arch Rock, where the first rays of sunlight illuminated the rock's surface, casting a warm glow over the surrounding desert. I hope you enjoy the photos I am sharing today!

A Walk in Nature

The Sweetwater River Trail is one of my favourite easy walks in San Diego. A great place for a quiet early morning walk, with beautiful vegetation and bird life all year round. Scientific studies suggest that walks in nature reduce stress and improve mood, and I can certainly vouch for that. As the year comes to an end, take a moment to go on a virtual walk through nature with me on a crisp still morning. Enjoy the golden light of the sun on the trees, bushes, and flowers, spot the birds hiding in the bushes, and perhaps make your resolutions for the new year along the way. Here’s to a peaceful, happy, healthy, and successful 2023!

A Morning with the Cypress Trees

I have shared quite a few images of this place throughout my last few blog posts. For those of you who are just itching to see something other than Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge: I promise this is the last one, and there will be a new location featured next week! But if you are enjoying seeing this stunning swamp through my lens, in all sorts of different lights, then you may enjoy this final post. Following a spectacular golden sunrise over the lake, we watched the sun climb a little higher in the horizon and peep through the cypress trees. I hope that these images of clear blue skies and early morning light will brighten up your day!

The Swamp Awakens

It was an early start to get to Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in time for sunrise. I loved this place so much the night before that we just had to come back for more. I certainly did not expect it to get even better than it was in the previous visit - and for several reptilian visitors to adorn the landscape. This was one of those incredible golden mornings that you don’t see very often. Sometimes nature puts on a real show.

Pelicans at La Jolla

There’s something so captivating about the highly contrasted golden light that follows a dramatic sunrise. Following on from my previous post, where I shared some images of the cormorant colonies at La Jolla Cove, this week I want to showcase this stunning light on the local California brown pelicans.

The birding enthusiasts among you will quickly note that these birds are not in breeding plumage. This visit was late in the summer, after the chicks were fully fledged and looking almost indistinguishable from the adults. However, I have plans to return in January next year to see them in all their breeding plumage splendour. Here’s to hoping that the stunning light makes up for their drab feathers this time!

Golden Light at La Jolla Cove

It has been a little while! Earlier this year, my husband and I (see our shared travel photography website here) moved from New Zealand to the United States, reducing all our belongings back down to two suitcases. In doing so, we sold off nearly all of our camera gear and took a bit of a gamble in switching to a mirrorless system. I’m happy to say it was a big upgrade - the Canon R3 is a huge step up from the 5DIII, and I have been having an absolutely fantastic time with this camera.

My time in San Diego, California, has allowed me to explore some incredible new places, brimming with new photo opportunities. Now I am back and ready to share many exciting new images here on the blog!

I will begin by sharing some sunrise images of La Jolla Cove, which has proven a fantastic place to spot seabirds, seals, and sea lions. Let’s start with some beautiful golden light over the cormorants and pelicans this week. As always, I will let the photos to speak for themselves…

A Morning Swamp Walk

The images featured in this week’s blog post are from a very early morning walk around the swamps of Tauparikākā Marine Reserve in the West Coast of New Zealand. The soft morning light really transformed this magical place and really brought out all the details in the landscapes…

Sunrise at a Marine Reserve

The Tauparikākā Marine Reserve lies in the West Coast of New Zealand, on the way between the cities of Wanaka and Queenstown and the Franz and Fox glaciers. Although I had been planning to visit for some time, I must admit this spot completely surpassed my expectations. In only a few short walks, it guides you through a stunning beach, a gloomy swamp, and surprising views over the wetlands. It’s almost like someone decided to take a selection of New Zealand’s stunning scenery and collapsed it into a single location. Well worth a visit!

A New Day in Rio

Sunrise is often the quietest time in any big city, and in Rio de Janeiro it feels a bit odd and wonderful to have the landscapes to yourself, before everyone else wakes up. The unusual serenity of the sunrise often brings with it some stunning light, especially on mornings with clear skies. Below is a collection of some sunrises I captured in Rio, from several locations. In a country like Brazil, I strongly recommend photographing at unsociable hours only if you can do so as part of a larger group - going alone can be dangerous depending on the locations you visit.

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…

Kaikoura Seascapes

This weekend, I’m sharing a few relaxing images of the mountains and ocean on Kaikoura's coast. I hope these serve as a welcome reminder of times with unrestricted travel and a more carefree existence. I can’t wait to explore the wider world outside of New Zealand in search of more spectacular landscapes, when it is possible to do so.