2022 Highlight Reel
Welcome to my annual time capsule project! This collection of photos represents my favorite selection of photos from the year. This was a hefty one for travel and a lot of photos as a result. I hope you enjoy!
JANUARY
Where: Fredericksburg, VA
At the start of 2023, the East Cost was hammered with a massive snowstorm, closing highways and even the road to the Capitol. As a west coast kid, getting snow is still such an exciting prospect, so I threw on some boots and a jacket and went to go shoot the freshly fallen snow. As I was walking around I caught the wind blowing fresh powdery snow off the trees. This moment still reminds me of how quiet and serene it was that winter day. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: O’Hare International Airport, IL
Returning home from Virginia after the New Year we had a layover in Chicago just as the sun was rising. After living in Chicago, I don’t exactly miss the Chicago winters, but the streaks of color on the horizon and the warm light reflected in the windows, got me about as close to feeling nostalgic for my old city as it could. (Find it here on my shop.)
Where: Cerro Grande Trail in Bandelier NM, NM
We decided on a whim one weekend that we would head up to Jemez Springs and Bandelier National Monument and attempt the Cerro Grande Trail. The Cerro Grande Trail is a difficult 4.5 mile out and back hike with about 1500ft elevation gain — not to mention when it’s covered in knee high snow and ice. Needless to say us with our summer boots and lack of traction spikes were not prepared for how cold and wet our feet would be. All that said, the view from the top was stunning. (Find it here on my shop)
FEBRUARY
Where: Sandia Foothills, NM
This is definitely one of my favorite shots of 2022, and one of the 7 framed shots featured in my first in person gallery. On one snowy February day in Albuquerque, the clouds were lined up perfectly for a colorful sunset — just grazing the top of the Sandia Mountains. We couldn’t resist. We grabbed our cameras and dashed out to catch the beautiful Alpenglow as it kissed the tops of the Sandias. I call this Cotton Candy Sandias. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Sandia Foothills, NM
I can’t resist a good black and white shot, especially with clouds like this. This was taken on the same day as the previous shot but before the sun cast a sweet pink glow. The white capped peaks and cotton like clouds against the dark foreground make for quite the majestic sight. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: San Diego, CA
A walk around my hometown in Balboa Park, we came across a desert botanical garden full of a bunch of cool plants. This was a shot shooting straight up at a towering and twisting Joshua Tree. The writhing branches almost looked like dragon heads. I liked the visual and thought a perfect square crop felt the most suitable. (Find it here on my shop)
MARCH
Where: Chinatown Los Angeles, CA
When visiting a friend in Los Angeles, we decided to take a late night walk around Chinatown. while most of the shops were already closed and the lights were mostly shut off, the lanterns and neons on this one building remained lit. In the low light, I captured a fun handheld long exposure of the bus passing through. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: June Lake, CA
Despite living in California for most of my life, I never made it up to the Mammoth Lakes area, and what a miss that was. On a group ski trip with a bunch of friends, I took the opportunity to wander a bit. On the second day I and a few others, drove out to June Lake. And while it was late seasons and actually somewhat warm, there was a large chunk of ice perfectly stacked to create a peephole to the mountain range. Crawling into the hole and hoping I don’t slide straight into the freezing water, I caught this fun framed triangle shot. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: June Lake, CA
Turns out, daytime shooting isn’t enough. On our last night, a group of friends and I returned to the lake to get some shots of the mountains under the stars. Even though the light from the resort was still bright enough to see reflected in the lake, I thought it made for a nice effect.
APRIL
Where: White Sands National Park, NM
I love a good abstract shot, especially if it’s at White Sands — you’ll see a lot of them in this 2022 series. I never seem to leave White Sands without a shot I don’t like and this trip was no exception. Clean lines? Pastel Blues? Contrast? Sign me up.
Where: White Sands National Park, NM
Here the sand dunes remind me of waves. I love the layers of the contrasted waves of sand against the mountains in the background. Something about this just feels so soft and comforting.
MAY
Where: Great Basin National Park, NV
Every year for Memorial Day weekend, we choose a place. This year it was Great Basin National Park and it was a winner. A quiet park tucked away in a part of Nevada that no one thinks to look, this place has an incredible mountain ridge with an incredible climb — though be prepared for wind.
Where: Wheeler Peak 13,065 ft, NV
Further along the trail of where the previous photo was taken, at the summit of Wheeler Peak, was this incredible view. While the wind was trying desperately to throw us off the mountain, I snagged a quick shot before the vertigo kicked in. Still amazed that I ever got to see something like this in person.
Where: Lehman Caves - Great Basin National Park, NV
Great Basin National Park has some of the more diverse sets of things you can see. From glorious alpine summits to glassy lakes to caves? Unexpected, but yes, caves. Lehman Caves were honestly my favorite set of caves I’ve visited after seeing both Mammoth Caves and Carlsbad Caverns. An underrated part of the park for sure.
Where: Stella Lake - Great Basin National Park, NV
On our last day in the park, despite threats of thunderstorms, we attempted a trip out to a set of 3 different lakes. And while it may not look like it in the photo, within 1 hour of when this was shot, it hailed, rained, thunderstormed, and even snowed. Gotta love mountain weather. But as we sat at the lake watching the clouds blow across the peaks at rapid pace, we caught this beautiful moment of stillness. Though I lacked a tripod, I found a trusty rock and captured one of my favorite shots of 2022. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Baker, NV
Texture on old buildings is such a fun subject. I love searching for details in the windows and getting hints at what these old buildings used to be.
JUNE
Where: Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire, NM
Driving north from Albuquerque on our way to Grand Tetons we passed by the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire — the largest fire in New Mexico history, burning over 341,000 acres of land. It was a tragic fire, and to know it was caused by a runaway prescribed burn during the windy season in New Mexico makes it all the more infuriating. And as the climate changes, fires like these will become all the more common.
Where: Grand Tetons National Park, WY
Grand Tetons National Park had been on my bucket list of places to visit since I first saw that iconic spiky skyline. So on our drive into the park, the first thing I wanted to do was see that skyline. We arrived as the sun was beginning to set so we scrambled to find a place to set up, and as we drove to the overlook, I caught this out my window. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Mormon Row - Grand Tetons National Park, WY
The classic shot of sunrise at Mormon Row, a must-get for any maiden trip to the Teton range. But what they don’t tell you is how hard it is to wake up for sunrise and drive out to the spot when all you wanna do is stay snug in your sleeping bag. But we did it, still in our pajamas, just as the sun was peaking over the horizon, and boy was it worth it. Standing out in the cold watching the Tetons slowly turn a golden yellow and the park start to come alive. It really was magical. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Mormon Row - Grand Tetons National Park, WY
Here is Mormon Row at sunset. I love the softness of this photo and how soothing it looks. It feels quiet. I think as my photography evolves, the more and more I try and evoke a certain emotion from my images. I want to feel something from the photo aside from just the memory I have attached to it. And this photo succeeds in that for me. Seeing this makes me feel at peace, and that brings me joy.
Where: Mormon Row - Grand Tetons National Park, WY
This photo always struck me as very Wes Anderson. I love how balanced it feels both in the geometry and in the colors. In another life, I think I'm a photographer that specializes in taking photos of quirky colorful houses. I think I would enjoy that. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Mt. Moran - Grand Tetons National Park, WY
Mt. Moran, the less recognizable but no less majestic neighbor of the Grand Teton itself. In the foreground of this image you can see two specks of people walking at the lake front with Mt. Moran towering in the background. That juxtaposition of size is something I love about going out into wild places like these. You feel small against everything else, and somehow that is a comforting thought.
Where: Grand Tetons National Park, WY
The first feature of Adit in this years’ portfolio! The colors in this photo bring me joy and I love how much his puffer stands out from the background. This was a great night, just sitting here sipping coffee and watching the sun go down.
Where: Just Outside Grand Tetons National Park, WY
Is there anything better than spotting not only horses, but a baby horse on your drive? No, I don’t think so. Not to mention the little bird sitting on the back of one of the horses!! Felt like straight out of a Disney movie and I’m so glad I captured it.
Where: Road Home After Tetons
Puffy clouds, bright green grass fields, and a little cabin. As much as I hate the return journey of coming home after being somewhere incredible, the simple beauty that whizzes past you can be just as special sometimes.
JULY
Where: Albuquerque, NM
This collection would not be complete without a tribute to the New Mexico Monsoon season. During El Niña seasons, the storms tend to cross over the Sandia Mountains creating this epic silhouette of the range with the lightning. This shot in particular was a standout to me for its arc shape, almost mimicking the mountains it’s striking. (Find it here on my shop)
AUGUST
Where: San Juan Mountains, CO
One weekend in the midst of August — and the midst of monsoon season — we decided we wanted to go up to Colorado and hike the Island Lake/Ice Lake Trail. On the day of our departure we checked the weather and saw a forecast of thunderstorms Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. In response, we decided to modify our plans of a day trip, and instead turn it into a backpacking adventure where we camped at the top overnight to avoid the storms — without taking into account the potential inaccuracy of the weather forecast. This was our view from the summit…. featuring some nice big poofy clouds… cont’d
Where: Island Lake, CO
This shot shows the view from our tent… the morning after. Despite a clear forecast for that night, shortly after setting up camp we started to see flashes of lightning and hear thunder. Too high above treeline and too far from shelter to pack up for the night, we hunkered down in our tents and hoped the surrounding ridge-line would protect us from the storm. Thankfully it did, but it was a sleepless night and a stunning sunrise — which we all witnessed since none of us actually slept.
Where: Sunrise in the San Juan Mountains, CO
This is one of my favorite photos. Maybe it was the near death experience? Maybe it’s the soft golden light of the sun that feels so comforting after a sleepless night. Or maybe it’s just that I spent this trip with my partner and a close friend. Regardless, this photo always evokes emotion for me, and is a popular one once people hear the story of what it took to catch this shot. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Island Lake in the San Juans, CO
It was too difficult to leave these off the list when the view was so beautiful. I love the clouds and the shadows and the deep contrasts of these photos. Makes me feel like I’m back there, breathing that crisp mountain air.
SEPTEMBER
Where: White Sands National Park, NM
Remember what I said about abstract shots of White Sands. Well, we’re back at it. This set of four texture shots scratch my brain in just the right way and make for great wallpaper images. Something about the softness, and texture is so incredibly soothing. These will be available as a set on my shop soon as “White Sands Rotation.”
Where: Sunset in White Sands National Park, NM
White Sands sunsets are unbeatable. I don’t think much else has to be said here. The photo speaks for itself :)
Where: Monsoon Season in White Sands National Park, NM
This shot. Oh man. Probably in my top 10 photos of all time. It’s not immediately noticeable, but this shot was taken at around 9pm at night and is lit only by the light of the moon. Every full moon, White Sands National Park extends their hours — staying open past sunset for visitors to see the full moon illuminate the dunes. It’s an otherworldly experience and one that I would highly recommend. On this fateful night, we also caught a distant lightning storm which just amplified the mood so much. (Find it here on my shop)
OCTOBER
Where: Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque, NM
October is the best month in New Mexico. Beautiful weather, cooler temperatures, and the Balloon Fiesta — a New Mexico highlight. But, it’s also a good time to travel. Oftentimes I find myself elsewhere during this beautiful time of year, and in 2022 I took an epic roadtrip up the west coast of the US — starting on the next photo — but thankfully, I was in town to catch this glorious shot of my home state.
Where: Sunset Capistrano Beach, CA
Over 5000 miles driven, across 7 states, 5 National Parks, and 70 miles of hiking done. Our October 2022 Pacific Coast Highway roadtrip was one for the history books. Spread across 2.5 weeks, we drove from Albuquerque to San Diego to Seattle to Park City to Albuquerque in one epic journey. This was one of our first stops along the way. It was a chilly night, but we set up some chairs and watched the sun set behind the thick layer of clouds.
Where: Channel Islands National Park, CA
I had never seen a whale in the wild prior to this trip. So to get on a boat heading to an island off the coast of California — only a few hours from where I grew up — and see hundreds upon hundreds of dolphins and one particularly curious humpback whale, it was mind-blowing. This whole trip was one to remember, but this moment especially is one I will never forget. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Santa Barbara, CA
After an incredible outing to Channel Islands, we continued our trip North, passing through Ventura and Santa Barbara on our way to Morro Bay State Park. As we drove through Santa Barbara, I loved the way the palm trees were silhouetted against the setting sun. This photo poses as a little waypoint on our journey along the coast.
Where: Morro Bay State Park, CA
Next stop: Morro Bay State Park. It was a moody, foggy morning and the tip of the rock was still in the clouds. With the birds and grayscale edit, it felt like something out of a noir film and I love it. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Morro Bay State Park, CA
Another shot from Morro Bay. That morning there were tons of little baby sand pipers on the beach, and as I was shooting photos of them running in the surf, I noticed a lone surfer out contemplating the waves. I sprinted back and lined them up against the rock just before they decided to wade into the water. I love the juxtaposition of the lone figure against the looming rock in the background. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Big Sur, CA
Big Sur was one of my most highly anticipated stops on this trip. This strip of coastline is one of the most beautiful parts of California l've ever seen and I truly wish I got to spend more time here before we had to continue on our way. It's definitely on the short list of places I want to return to soon. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Big Sur, CA
Here's another shot of Big Sur. The bright blues of the water contrasted with the oranges of the cliffs, such an incredible sight. I'm hoping one day I can camp on these cliffs so I can just stare at them all day long.
Where: Carmel By The Sea, CA
On the same day as Big Sur, we continued North to see Carmel By The Sea. And while I had heard such incredible things, part of me was disappointed I hadn't stayed longer in Big Sur. The coastline was undoubtedly beautiful, but a thick marine layer had washed in, filling the air with a gloomy sadness. This lone tree was probably the highlight of our little venture down 17 mile drive. Unfortunately, this foggy, gloominess would follow us for a large remainder of the trip.
Where: Pinnacles National Park, CA
This is another favorite photo of mine. Our day trip to Pinnacles National Park was a hot one. We were hit with some hotter temps since we were further inland - but we did get clear skies. Our objective for this park was to find and climb a short little pinnacle called Photographers Delight at sunset, and capture Adit rappelling off the top. However, as he was flaking his rope to prepare his descent, I found I loved the way the rope flicked out more than anything else. I ended up selecting this photo as the one to highlight from this adventure, and found it reminiscent of one of my favorite Jimmy Chin photos of Alex Honnold rappelling on Mount Kinabalu (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Bodega Bay, CA
Next stop: Bodega Bay. The gloominess returns as we headed into the northern coast of California. Despite the gloom, the coast had its own allure. The second photo here is of Adit, he really chose his outfit colors well that day.
Where: Redwood National and State Parks, CA
Next stop: Redwoods National Park. Redwoods is an interesting National Park for the fact that it’s actually three state parks in a trench coat: Jedidiah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek. This shot was taken from the side of the road driving between the different state parks. Find it on my shop here.
Where: Sue Meg State Park, CA
Redwoods National Park was one of the most surprising stops on our trip. I expected towering trees and dense old growth forests, and that was definitely there, but I did not expect a beautiful and rocky coastal park frequented by whale watchers. Sue Meg State Park is about 20 miles south of Redwoods National Park. And is 1000% worth a visit for the true NorCal experience.
Where: Roseburg, OR
On our drive out to Crater Lake National Park, we drove through Roseburg, Oregon and I caught this cute little red bug outside the window. I remember this drive fondly. Shortly after this photo, we ran across an enormous herd of elk on the side of the road. Truly a marvelous experience.
Where: Crater Lake National Park, OR
Much like Big Sur, I wish I could’ve spent days in Crater Lake, a one day outing was simply not enough. This park was just otherworldly and beautiful. And based on the pictures I’ve seen, absolutely marvelous in the wintertime. I hope I have the chance to go back soon, but in the meantime I will relish the memories I have. We hiked up to the little watchtower for sunset and caught some incredible sunbeams filtering down onto the lake. While it was smoky at the time due to wildfires in Oregon and Washington,it was still a beautiful sight. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Hoh Rainforest - Olympic National Park, WA
Olympic National Park was my most anticipated stop of the trip. A place I had ogled from afar for years and was ecstatic to finally visit. Our first stop within the park was the Hoh Rainforest — an incredible and mystical place. I’ve been in many a forest before but nothing quite so magical as this. Everything looked like something out of a fairytale. But photographing it was an entirely other beast. The harsh highlights from the sky and darkness within the forest made composition and handheld shooting impossibly difficult, and after our little hike, I was heartbroken. I thought I was going to leave with nothing I was satisfied with. And yet… upon importing the photos once I was back at my computer, I was thrilled to see what I still managed to capture. This first one is likely one of my favorite shots to date. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Rialto Beach - Olympic National Park, WA
Next stop within Olympic National Park was Rialto Beach. After years of seeing photos online, one of my go-to spots was “hole in the wall” on Rialto Beach. And while we made it and it was fantastic. My favorite part of this spot, were the reflections on the sand of the rocks as the sun was setting. This shot — with the golden sunbeams and rock reflection — is a photo I cherish from this trip. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Rialto Beach - Olympic National Park, WA
Another Rialto shot, this time a long exposure! It took me a few tries to get it right because the tide kept moving my camera — which honestly turned out kinda cool sometimes — but this was the shot I was intending. Got a little seagull on the rock as bonus. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Seattle, WA
Seattle! One of the last big cities in the US I had yet to explore. While the air quality was the worst in the world while I was there, I still managed to grab a few geometric architecture shots. The Seattle Public Library is truly a feast for anyone who love architecture photography.
Where: Seattle, WA
Another shot of the Seattle Public Library. I’m a sucker for cool lines and subverting perspective, and I feel this shot accomplishes both of those. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Park City, UT
After a couple days in Seattle, our next stop was supposed to be Mt Rainier National Park. However an early winter storm and questionable road conditions told us it was time to start the journey home. After stopping overnight in Boise, we made the long hard trek down to Park City, Utah, only to find that the winter storm had followed us here. We arrived at our campground late at night with low visibility because of the heavy snow. But woke up the next morning to THIS. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Park City, UT
On our drive out of Park City, we ran across this pull-off with the snow-capped mountains framed by golden orange trees. Upon walking up to the edge of the hill, I noticed this little cabin nestled in the trees. It was perfect solitude with an incredible view and I have to snag a photo. I call this shot “Autumnal Solitude.” (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Park City, UT
This shot shows the view we pulled off for. It was truly an incredible sight. I almost felt it was nature’s way of telling me to cheer up — I had been down the last 2 days of the trip because of the weather cancelling our plans for Rainier. Yet, had we stopped, I never would have caught this with the freshly fallen snow. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Park City, UT
After leaving the pullout, we decided to take a scenic mountain road home. While beautiful, we got caught in a bit of a snow storm on our way out with low visibility but cool abstract views like these.
NOVEMBER
Where: Organ Needles Trail - Las Cruces, NM
Oh man… Organ Needles. So proud of accomplishing a summit. Such a painful hike. As one AllTrails reviewer says “This is a hike that will make you rethink your life choices” and I can’t agree more. Brutal. Beautiful. But definitely a one and done type of experience. The going up is arduous and stunning — we caught this little trickle of a water fall with the fall leaves. But the going down, that was a whole other level of difficult. Scree and rock-scrambling, trail finding and cactus needles. You get to the parking lot and your knees just give out. I don’t think I walked without shaking for another 2 days.
Where: Organ Mountains Summit - Las Cruces, NM
Here’s the view from the summit. Standing at the tallest spot in all the surrounding area, you can see for miles. The layers of mountains and panoramic views were worth the herculean task of getting to the top. Along the way, we merged with another hiking group and learned that several of them had attempted to summit several times before but had to turn back for various reasons. It was so heart-warming to be able to celebrate with that them at the top — one of them had even brought shots — so I can now say I did a shot of bourbon at the summit of the Organ Mountains.
Where: Alstrom Point, AZ
A couple weeks after Organ Needles, we drove West to spend Thanksgiving under the stars at Alstrom Point in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Having had this recommended to us by a friend and hearing this was the best view of Lake Powell, we had to check it out. Only problem? You need a high clearance vehicle capable of driving in all terrain conditions. So in June of 2023 after this baby joined the family, we put this trip on the calendar. And of course, had to get some advertisement-like shots of the Subie making easy work of the road.
**Disclaimer — please check road conditions before attempting this trek. The parts photographed here are the easy bits and it turns to pretty intense rock crawling for the last 2-3 miles of the road. Youtube has some good videos of what to expect but definitely monitor weather and road conditions before making your way out.
Where: Alstrom Point, AZ
Gotta say, they weren’t lying about the best view of Lake Powell.
Where: Alstrom Point, AZ
But perhaps the best view of the day was at night. While dinner wasn’t anything glorious — I think we may have had some freeze dried food since we were both too cold to try and cook something — having THIS view of the stars all night was truly something else. What better way to spend Thanksgiving than with your best friend, drinking hot cocoa, and staring at a view like this.
DECEMBER
Where: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - Death Valley National Park, CA
The first day in Death Valley National Park, we hit up the usual spots — Painted Hills and Badwater Basin — but we wanted to be in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes for sunset. We pulled into the parking lot as the sun was beginning to dip low, grabbed our bags and sprinted to a tall dune to photograph. The mountains in the background turned this beautiful pink-purple color as the sun was setting. And while it’s hard to see in this size of image, there’s a person standing on the furthest dune peak, that just gives scale to the grandiosity of the place.
Where: View from Dante’s Ridge - Death Valley National Park, CA
Day 2 we hiked along Dante’s Ridge, a fun 10 mile out and back with sweeping views of Badwater Basin and the neighboring mountains. I love this shot in Black and White for the contrast of the snow-capped peaks and stripes on the mountain-sides from the water run off.
Where: View From Dante’s Ridge - Death Valley National Park, CA
As we were approaching the trail head again, I noticed this cool little hole in one of the rocks that, if lined up correctly, showed a view of the ridgeline we had just traversed. It was like a window view as the mountains changed color with the setting sun.
Where: Zabriskie Point - Death Valley National Park, CA
On our last day in the park, we swung by Zabriskie Point on our way out. The little hills and valleys in the earth was truly magnificent to behold.
Where: Hanging Rock Point - Sequoia National Park, CA
Sequoia National Park — what an underrated majesty. I think part of me expected something akin to Redwoods, but noooooo — talk about a hidden little Yosemite with layers of mountains towering around you and probably my unexpected favorite stop of this whole trip. It was quiet in the winter with a lot of the park inaccessible by car, but a truly incredible place to be (with nice campgrounds too). Definitely a place I want to revisit in the warmer weather. This was shot at sunset with the low hanging fog catching the sunbeams and remains an all time favorite shot. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Hanging Rock Point - Sequoia National Park, CA
Here is Adit with Moro Rock in the background.
Where: Sequoia National Park, CA
This is also a view of Moro Rock with a twisty-lightning stuck tree in the foreground. Really gives a sense of scale for the surrounding mountain range. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Sequoia National Park, CA
This was a sunset shot as we hiked back to the car. The beautiful gradients of light silhouetting the trees in the foreground was a lovely cherry on top for a perfect day of hiking. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Davis, CA
On our drive to Yosemite National Park, we stopped through Davis. It was foggy and gloomy but a perfect setting to capture this run down auto repair shop with a neat matching truck out front.
Where: Tunnel View - Yosemite National Park, CA
Tunnel View is a quintessential Yosemite viewpoint and one of the first exposures you get to the legendary Yosemite Valley as you enter the park. Knowing there was an incoming storm, Adit and trekked back up to this spot in the middle of the night to catch some startrails on our last night of clear skies. Despite everyone coming in with their obnoxiously bright highbeams, we still managed to get an epic nighttime view of a classic scene. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Yosemite National Park, CA
This is likely one of my best shots of all time. And one that came as a complete surprise. As we headed out of the part after a night of freezing rain, the steam off the trees created this incredible effect highlighting the sunbeams as they filtered in. We scrambled to stop the car and capture some shots and after just 5-10 minutes, the effect was gone. (Find it here on my shop)
Where: Kings Canyon National Park, CA
Kings Canyon — much like Sequoia — is an incredibly underrated park, and one I didn’t get to experience in it’s entirety. Kings Canyon (even more than Sequoia) basically shuts down in the winter — especially after the winter storm that hit the park while we were in Yosemite. This limited us to a fraction of what the park has to offer. This was a view at sunset in one of the far corners of the park that remains open through the winter. Just the little taste of the park that I got had me bookmarking it to return to soon.
Where: Road to Joshua Tree National Park, CA
For the last stop on our California Parks Christmas Roadtrip, we landed in Joshua Tree. A park so close to where I grew up, and yet one I had never been to. This was the view of the epic clouds as we drove into the park.
Where: Joshua Tree National Park, CA
The night before this sunrise shot, we had looked at the weather and predicted there would be great conditions for sunrise. However, it feels much different to plan for a 6am wakeup than to actually do it. Anyway, 6am rolled around and I peaked out the window and noticed bright pinks beginning to streak the sky. I woke Adit and we scrambled — once again — to gather our belongings and sprint into the park to snatch this view of the Joshua Trees foregrounding a California sunrise.
The second shot here is of sunset that same day with hints of the incoming storm gathering in the mountains.
