Vertical Panning!

"Blue Forest"

On a casual hike with my brother and sister last week, I began to shoot some experimental images handheld. The technique is a kind of vertical panning that is done while standing stationary in the forest.

For all you nature photography "purists," don't get scared into thinking I've gone off the deep end, or that I'm going to go and get all artsy on you. But I do encourage my fellow nature photographers to begin using that digital camera (I use Nikon's D200) for shots you would otherwise never try with film. Essentially, don't forget how to "play around" with photography. It is this afternoon I spent playing that has ushered in a whole new way of conveying the mood of the forest that is not possible with a still reportage.

"Painted Forest"

"Forest Dream"

16 over 6K!

This image is from our excursion one day last week. This fall we created a goal of summitting all of the peaks over 6,000 ft in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are an estimated 16 peaks in all. This is an image of Andy Huddleston, Will Johnson, and me before heading up the mountain to "Old Black."

We intend to post regular updates and stories in the "Adventures" section of the website as this unfolds.

Land of the Black Bear

This is an image I have just posted from this past spring. Kneeling down low in the grass, it is these moments where I am overcome with awareness that this is his domain. Unlike me in my humanness, he is willing to share this domain with me. We sit and speak to each other in a nonverbal dialogue. This is the land of the bear.

Autumn Aglow

This image was made on October 29, 2006 in the Little River of the Great Smoky Mountains. At just the right angle, a glowing stand of trees on the far bank reflects its hues of gold in the rippling waters of the river. Fallen maple leaves feather the rocks.

I am so filled with wonder in these moments. The whole spirit of a season seems to congregate into the rectangular bounds of my canvas. I like to refer to my film as a canvas, because that's precisely what it is. Film is a blank canvas waiting to be painted by light.