Hawaii: Farming in Paradise

Fields of Hawaii's widespread crop, Taro. Its root is harvested and made into all sorts of foods including Taro burgers that can be purchased here at McDonalds. (click images for larger view).

Hawaii: by Moonlight

Just one moon ago, we were at the bottom of the Grand Canyon along the CO River.

Last night, I was out on the beaches of Kauai, HI as the full moon rose again. I really can't say enough about my newfound passion for this natural light source. Before these last two moons, I had never even studied this possibility. The opportunities are endless, but last night I chose to observe and photograph a freshwater creek flowing into the Pacific beneath the moon's light. The intricate sand patterns and slivers of light were gorgeous. (exposures: approx... 30 sec @ f/8, ISO 160)

Hawaii: Surfin' USA

The morning commute...

Hawaii: Kauai Sunsets

Hawaii: Crashing Waves and Secret Caves

Woke before sunrise to sit before these thunderous waves of the remote Napali Coast (exposure: 1/6 sec @ f/32).

Tonight, a local led us into a secret cave with a wade-through-the-water-only entrance. Here's who we found napping inside. Sacred. Speechless. Unforgettable. (exposure: 15 sec @ f/22, two ext 580ex II flashes and a personal headlamp for lightly painting the interior of the cave).

Hawaii: ALOHA!

Just after landing in Kauai tonight, the sky basically caught fire over Hanalei Bay.

I'm extremely thankful to be here for the first time. It's going to be a fabulous adventure.

I'll be shooting portraits Wednesday and a wedding Friday here on Kauai. Then, I'll be off to the Big Island to shoot the volcanoes. Hoping for some lava flow into the sea. Stay tuned.

California: Big Sur - dream comes true!

I've literally dreamed of this night happening someday. It just happened.

As sunset approached along the Cali coast tonight, a sea of clouds moved in across the surface of the deep. Major Genesis Chapter 1 action was underway.

It was like we were in an airplane looking down over the cloud layer. Though invisible to the eye, the violent surf crashed on and on beneath the clouds. As the ocean sang its unending song and the sun set to a florescent band of amber and orange, I was an emotional reck. Light like this changes me from the inside.

I consider it the highest honor to share this experience with you.

California: Big Sur

This morning two dolphins played in the surf just down the steep cliff from us.

California: Giant Sequoias

Pre-dawn light painting in the forest of giants.

California: High Sierra

14,000 ft mountains feathered in the distance. Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48, is just beyond view.

California: El Capitan

Made a fantastic memory today free climbing the finest rock I've ever touched--the infamous El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Perhaps we'll return one day with gear and climb the whole wall. Hmmm.

California: Yosemite - Half Dome summit hike

California: Yosemite Valley

Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome at sunset.

California: Lake Tahoe

Southwest: Grand Canyon by Moonlight

Easily the most exciting images I've ever made. We hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on a full moon night. Here are a sample of the images I made by moonlight. I painted in the foreground subjects such as the cactus with my flashlight. More to come!

Southwest: North Rim of Grand Canyon

This morning, just 4 hours before making this image at Point Imperial, I saw a mountain lion dart from the road into the woods. It was at 2am near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I keep asking my three friends who also saw it if it was all a dream. I'll not forget that moment the rest of my life--the way it glided into the woods in a flash with its gorgeous tail trailing behind in perfect balance, the way my heart pounded, the way my eyes tear up even now as I think upon it.