Amazing textures of salt flats located in Death Valley National Park. This was shot during a workshop with a group in late 2020. A special moment shared with a group is one that lives on forever. The salt flats come to life when the reflected light of the sunset colors the ground.

Sunset on Cathedral Rock in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado. An early snow brought cold the forest floor and made the shorter foliage turn much faster than the aspens. The reds and oranges of the floor contrasted nicely to the green and yellow aspens.

The aptly named, “Dancing Aspens” in Colorado. I had wanted to visit this location as it holds a small area of these interesting curved tree trunks. I took many pictures of this grove, but this intimate take caught my eye more than the rest.

Morning light filters through the trees at this powerful waterfall in Northern California. Spring is a brilliant time in the higher altitudes. Spring snowmelt fills the rivers and fills the forest with vibrant greens.

Long Exposure on the shores of Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. A Summer afternoon filled with clouds helped to light and frame the beautiful mountain backdrop behind the lake.

Morning fog filters the early morning light while rhododendron begin to bloom. The lushness of the Redwood forests is remarkable and breathtaking. The vibrant greens surround your as does the silence of the tall giants above.

Spring lupine wildflowers glow in the last light of the day. Taken 2020 in Los Angeles, CA

Sunset over the Trona Pinnacles near Trona, California. These ancient Tufas, once submerged in a lake, now stand tall over the desert floor and create a martian like landscape.

A group of aspens guard a grove of fall colors in the afternoon light. Eastern Sierra Nevada, California 2019

A magnificent sunrise from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park, California. One of the most brilliant sunrises I have ever witnessed with perfect winter conditions in the park.

Beautiful light at sunset helps highlight the sand textures on the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California

Abstract shot of light, lines, layers and textures of the sand dunes of Death Valley National Park, California. As the the sun approaches the horizon the textures of the dunes come alive in a dazzling show.

A look back after a beautiful sunset on the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California

A magical grove of aspens in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California. Long grass covered the ground and leaves dotted the grove, making a magical scene that left me spinning in amazement. Alone with the quiet sound of the aspens blowing in the wind I was on an Island of bliss.

Sunset with one of the more famous Ancient Bristlecones in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Near Big Pine, California. While many of these trees live to be 1,000’s of years old, this tree is no longer living, but still 1,000’s of years old.

Mono Lake is almost 1 million years old and sits in a basin that was formed by geologic activity millions of years ago. It is a terminal lake, water flows in but not out, making it high in salinity. While it is home to no fish because of this, it is home to trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies which support bird migrations through the year. The tufas, which the lake is known for, are limestone concentrates formed at the bottom of the lake which are revealed as the lake level has dropped. On the shoreline you can see vegetation which has turned white from the salinity of the water as it has risen in the past years. In the past, water levels have dropped because of water being diverted for other purposes such as drinking water and agriculture. The lowering of the water put migratory birds in danger of losing a vital source, but thanks to activist the water has been re-diverted and lake levels have been rising.

Morning light shines on the badlands of Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park, California, USA. The spine pictured is one of the prominent features seen from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley. The morning light is not to be missed, and you won’t be alone. Many flock to see the morning light shine in the badlands.

Morning light shines on the badlands of Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park, California, USA. The swirls of colors are a sight to see. The first light is the best time of day as the warm light is received by the many peaks, valleys, and rolls of the badlands.

Fall colors surround a creek flowing out of the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Dappled afternoon light from the surrounding trees shines on the cool waters of the sierra nevada mountains. Shot outside of Mammoth Lakes, California 2019

Fall colors surround a man-made lake in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. The calm chill of dusk enveloped the scene and the ripples of wind showed on the water. Shot in October 2019.

Snow covered rocks frame the classic view, “Valley View”, in Yosemite National Park, California.

Textures in the sand glow during a beautiful sunset on the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California

It is pretty amazing to see the displays of color that nature can make at specific times of the year. We see them during the spring time and the flowers blooming, the summertime and the lush greens, or the fall with the bright colors of the foliage. When I see displays at these times of the year it reminds me of nature acting as a symphony or choir, and blasting out music for us all to hear or in this case see. This Lone Pine Tree amongst a Grove of Aspens reminded me of these times and it seemed as though the pine was a great conductor to nature’s symphony.

Just a ripple in time, that's all a photo is. Just a glimpse into a small fraction of a second of existence. The ripples in the sand are here today and gone tomorrow. The clouds will move along with the wind. Your picture is a memory of what you saw, but also what you felt and experienced. This was a great day with Brandt Ryder on the dunes of Death Valley National Park. The winds were blowing fierce, but we were having a great time, even though every hole of our body was filled with sand.

Late afternoon light spills into Yosemite Valley in late fall. Yosemite National Park, California