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Horseshoe Lake 1 peeking through the trees toward Horseshoe Lake mostly covered with lily-pads and blooms Proxy Falls following a simple trail through an Oregon woods, i enjoyed the surrounding environment of wildflowers, boulder outcrops, and thick forest. About a half-an-hour in, i came across Proxy Falls in early afternoon light peeking through the trees and in a few minutes found a good location to begin the camera setup process. While immersed in the constantly changing light readings, i heard another hiker nearby, but was only moments away from capturing this shot so i didn't break my concentration. After i captured the event, i was greatly surprised to notice a small crowd of 8 other hikers with cameras and tripods all encircled behind me shooting over my shoulders. I learned they were on a guided photo tour group and this was a good stop. Hillside Trail cliff-edge walkway through the mountains and trees in Pennsylvania Multnomah Falls the extremely popular Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge happens to be the second tallest in the states, and is very easily accessible - just off the highway. This convenience allowed me to return many times to study how the moving sun dramatically changed the whole area's appearance. Most of the time, part of the falls are very brightly lit with direct sunlight and other parts are in significant shade, which makes for a terribly unbalanced exposure. Persistence paid off one day, when i arrived and the trees had a lovely pattern of light shining through and the entire upper & lower falls were evenly illuminated. Green 2 Maui rainforest Autumn Hill Typically when I shoot autumn images, I am biased toward early autumn so that there is more green with only some yellows and orange. I so much appreciate the lush greens that nature produces and it looks so full of life. Although fall colours are quite beautiful, I still preferr to maintain a fair amount of green in the photo as this makes the other autumn colours more pronounced and appreciatable. Cypress Trees 1 Cypress trees growing in the shallow waters at lake's edge. Locust Leaves I'm walking along a bridge in northern Kauai and notice the tree tops are at eye-level for easy shooting. I pan around for the best cluster of Locust branches and then patiently wait for the slightest of breezes to pause long enough to capture this shot. Tree Hill tree covered hill in western Germany Meditation Spot in the Rocky Mountains Autumn's Up I was roaming about in southern Indiana during early autumn in search for some not so typical fall shots. I looked high and low trying to frame an image when I came across this smaller maple tree. From the side, it had an obvious vignette of colour going from the lower green branches, through a yellow middle, then orange, and finally a red top. It was quite a work of art and after trying many angles to satisfy my creative shot, I ended up laying under the tree and set the tripod just above me to shoot straight up. Poplar Bloom Also known as a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), this unique and showy flower was among many on a nearby poplar tree. The tree was very large and mature and I've been keeping my eye on it for when the blooms would be in their prime. The closest flowers were a minimum of fifteen feet high and I really didn't want a shot of them from below. I began a lengthy process of attempting numerous angles by standing on a park bench turned on end, but none were satisfying. Finally, I decided to climb the tree and see what could be gained there. After crawling out on the larger branches, I loved the way the sunlight came through the leaves and petals and knew this was the proper way to reproduce these blooms. Tree Rain i was lucky to have an ash tree growing right outside the studio. On one rainy day, i stepped out on the 3rd floor balcony and could look straight across into the branches holding countless drops of rain. It's a gentle misty-rain, so the drips grow, drop, and start again every few minutes. This gave me little time to set up before the scene would change and i'd have to recompose for a different shot. Woods Path 2 northern California woods Banyan Trees 1 Banyan forest growing in swampland Autumn Above On my way back to the studio, after a routine walk with the camera, I stopped to rest a moment halfway up a steep hill. It was early autumn and the leaves had begun their colour cycle. Like most of us, sometimes I forget to look up to see what's directly above. In my moment of fatigue (too much gear), I arched my back to stretch and WOW! I was standing right under a perfect shot. A lower branch spread across my view with bright red leaves and a little higher up was a maple that turned yellow and just past that, a couple different greens from the oaks. Topped off with patches of deep blue sky, it was truly a colourful moment. Rainbow Shower Tree close-up shot of the plentiful blooms on a Rainbow Shower tree in Hawaii Mount TianZi 2 layers and layers of spire-shaped mountains in ZhangJiaJie Vignette of Trees I was hiking through the Huan Valley and noticed just how quickly the temperature can change within a couple hundred meters of elevation. Less than an hour ago, I was hiking in snow and now I barely require a jacket. As I look at the surrounding mountain slopes, I notice a unique vignette of tree types and colours as the elevation changes. It was too interesting of a pattern to not capture on film. Trees & Islands Alder Lake in Washington state Grandfather Tree With camera gear strapped to my back, I was wandering about the countryside on my trusty bike when I came across a rather nice woods. This area was new to me and the moment was begging for me to explore. It was a perfect section of woods, with a variety of trees and plant life. Just hilly enough for interest and just sunny enough to get good colour saturation on film. I discovered this one tree; a tree of all trees. Its upper branches were the size of most other mature trees. Truly enormous. The times this tree must have experienced and weathered through were unimaginable. I paced around it many times as I stared up into its array of beauty; searching for just the right point of view to preserve this tree for even greater period of time. It remains today, and I make sure to visit it each summer. Motley Maple northern Indiana Branch The minerals in the lake water cause it to be abnormally blue and clear. I can see straight to the bottom where lie many fallen trees that seem not to decay or dirty the water. As I hiked around these lakes, I really enjoyed the wavy branches that overhung the water like this one. The colours and shapes complemented each other quite well. Seasons I returned to the exact same location several times throughout the year. I watched carefully for when significant seasonal changes took place so that the series of photographs were all distinctively different Apple Blossoms cluster of apple blossoms during mid-spring Yellow Bamboo I love bamboo. There is just something about its form and usefulness that appeals to me. It grows quite fast and is very strong yet flexible. While traveling through various bamboo forests in China, I've seen new bamboo sprouts that were at least 4-5 meters tall. Cypress Trees 2 Horseshoe Lake with Cypress trees Dogwood it's a beautiful mid-spring day and I walked in many circles, ducking and bobbing my head for some time, trying to find the angle that best complimented this tree's glory. The clusters of large white flowers are quite bright against the surrounding forestry and such contrast made for a great shot. Sycamore Leaves overlapping leaves on a young Sycamore Tree Fishing Spot this is another one of those "perfect summer day" shots where everything appears to be in good harmony... the water is clear and calm, the summer air warm and comfortable, and miles of tranquility all around (we might just need to relocate the studio ;-) Woods a walk in the woods during early autumn in Indiana Mineral Water JiuZhaiGou, China River & Trees Yosemite Valley Banyan Trees 2 the meter-deep water is covered with a perfect layer of duck weed appearing as a green carpet spreading through this banyan forest. Willows My appreciation goes out to the Chinese homeland for supplying the world with these most picturesque and unique trees. These two weeping willow trees (Salix babylonica) were growing near each other at the edge of a small lake. When I encountered the first one, I carefully examined each side for the ideal shape and interest and returned when the sun's light was positioned just right. As I continued around the lake, a second willow, just as enjoyable, soon captured my attention. Again, I searched out the best angle and waited for the proper time of day for the best light. Sequoia Bark I enjoy capturing what I call "texture shots" - natures version of abstract art made entirely of natural elements. This happens to be of a medium-sized sequoia tree as I felt it had more interesting bark than the giant trees. The subtle patterns and details within this bark are a pleasure to study. Morning Rays early morning at the top of Bryce Canyon Young Bamboo fresh young bamboo stalks growing in eastern Chinese forest Yucca Tree Yucca tree (Yucca brevifolia) in Mojave desert. Cones the seed cones of a Douglas Fir tree Tree Tops At the top of one of the many pinnacles on Mount TianZi, I am leaning over the edge with one foot on the ground and the other leg wrapped around a trusty tree. I have an awesome view as I look down sheer vertical cliffs that are over 1000 feet straight down. While I am enjoying such a great perspective, I decide to capture the various layers of trees growing on the lower spires on down to the valley floor. Tropical Foliage I am a personal fan of lots of foliage. I maintain several quite large house plants but they just don't compare to standing amongst a rain forest. This was captured along the way to Hanna, a remote southern town on Maui. Tree Bud 2 very close-up shot of a young tree bud Encirclement I was spending some time in one of my favorite woods, and this time decided to strictly look upwards. For hours, I wandered about with a kink in my neck and tripping over fallen branches, until I came across this amazing view. I was in a pine woods and this one lone black cherry tree had made its stand. It certainly stood out amongst the group which I had never noticed by just looking horizontally. The surrounding pines appeared to be curious about the unique shape and colour of this tree and gave it just a little extra space all around. My neck was relieved to have found something of such interest; I setup my camera and laid on my back beneath the tripod and shot straight up. Japanese Garden Bushes extremely well manicured shrubbery in Japanese garden Camouflage Tree Having a certain fondness for trees, when I saw these rainbow Eucalyptus trees in the rainforest, I thought they were quite fascinating. I like to call it a camouflage tree since it appears to have a perfect military-styled camouflage pattern as its bark peeled naturally over time. Pinnacle 1 Walking along on a cliff in southern Utah, I couldn't pass by this shot. A single monument of sandstone spires standing tall in the middle of a pine forest made a great pair of complementary patterns. Through the Woods northern Kauai Woods Cliff a pleasant combination of rocky cliffs and thick forest in southern Illinois. i was lucky to find a very large fallen boulder to climb up on to get above the brush and capture this view. Fruits of the Palm an up-shot of the large clusters of dates on this Phoenix dactylifera in Kauai Pine Woods There are many woodsy areas within biking distance of the studio and they make wonderful places to explore and capture images. This particular one is nearly all pine trees and has a wonderful air about it. The ground is very soft with years of accumulated pine needles and while the sun is high, light dances through the trees and makes for very interesting patterns for as far as the eye can see. I chose to capture this as a wider shot to enhance the field of view so the viewer becomes more immersed and can almost smell the pine air. Smoke Tree Although this can commonly grow into a tree it is officially classified as a shrub (cotinus coggygria) from Eurasia, and a really cool shrub at that. This was my first encounter with one of these and I was delightfully amazed with its colours. The leaves were a grape-purple on the top side with a more common greenish underside. When the sunlight shown through the leaves, they lit up a brilliant red, adding another odd colour to this unparalleled plant. I made sure to capture this wonder of colour on a bright sunny day with an equal amount of leaves showing their upper and lower hues. Banyan Sunset 1 Banyan tree silhouettes and reflections in Horseshoe Lake (southern Illinois) during sunset Trees small forest on Maui Green 1 beautiful rainforest trees and foliage in southern Maui Blue Bamboo variegated bamboo trees in China Banyan Trees 3 evening sun peeking through the sides of a Banyan tree forest immersed in a picturesque swampland Drip Raindrop suspended on small branch Waterfall Cove a secluded little waterfall along the road to Hana in Maui Woods Path 1 At the local gardens, they not only have a wonderful display of flora, but they also have many woodsy paths that are well maintained for easy walking. Winter Drive sunny day following a heavy snow in northern Indiana Meadow 1 northern Wyoming Meadow 2 northern Wyoming Canopy The source of this rather large canopy of shade is entirely from one tree in southern Kauai. Banyan Reflection I'm standing at lake's edge staring at the cluster of Banyan trees and their near perfect reflection stretching all the way back to my feet. I decided to try a panoramic-styled shot but turn it vertically, and was pleased to discover how well this concept captured the moment. After returning to the studio, we created a 12-foot tall poster to make us feel like we're still there. Double Waterfall In the Yosemite Valley there exists many beautiful waterfalls. Several with easy access and some a bit more distant; requiring some hiking. This spectacular double falls is in the main valley area but is challenging to capture its entire essence on film. If you stand near the lower falls where there's a clearing, you can't see the upper falls. If you back away to get some distance, the surrounding areas are thickly populated with tall trees. After spending some time roaming the area trying to find the perfect window, I finally captured this shot through the lush groves of pine. Green Bamboo Bamboo forest in China Japanese Garden Canopy huge canopy over Japanese garden creating a perfect balance of shade and sun for comfort. Tree Bud 1 close-up shot of a young tree bud Picnic Spot Looks like a perfect location for a long afternoon picnic. Bald Eagle I had not seen a Bald Eagle before and certainly did not expect to see one in Indiana. I was driving along a stretch of highway with forest on both sides and where hawks are a common site. I usually scan the sky to see what might be flying around and one day I see an absolutely huge silhouette swooping down. It was far bigger than any hawk I've seen, so I pulled off the road and began to explore. Not far away, I learn that it was a Bald Eagle and it was now calmly sitting in a tree. I reposition my car to make full use of a hill, then stood on top with my tripod and longest lens to grab this shot. Roots southern China Fringe Tree in Bloom My friend and master gardener was showing me the sites and we came across her favorite of all trees, the chionanthus virginicus, or fringe tree. In late spring it blooms with drooping clusters of white flowers. I now understand her passion for the tree as is had a very soft friendly appearance with a lovely scent from it's quantity of blooms. Grasshopper texture and pattern shot of a small grasshopper sitting on Gingko branches in southern China Bar Island northwest Wyoming Walls & Trees It is slow and tiresome hiking over these steep rows of sandstone walls speckled with small trees; it is a very hot day and most of my time is used climbing up & down (and winding to & fro) than actual forward progress. Spring Maples Although appearing to be an autumn scene, this was actually captured mid-spring. At the edge of a woods quite near the studio, was a young red maple and hovering over it like a parent, was a much larger green maple and then some oak trees. With a short tripod, I laid on the ground and shot up toward these colourful leaves. The backlighting from the sun created very strong colour and interesting patterns of light and shadow. Jungle Path Since childhood, I have had a passion for the jungle. Having never seen the environment, I enjoyed making up funny-shaped plants and drawing pictures for Mom. Once I became established in the photography field, I started taking extended trips into the South American rain forest. Just as my child eyes envisioned, there was enormous plant-life of all sorts in every direction (although none quite like my crayon drawings). Most parts of this region were so thick and covered that there was very little light for shooting and little distance that could be viewed ahead. When I came across some thinner areas, I certainly took the time to capture some of the essences of the deep jungle. This scene was captured in western Brazil nearby a village of 23 natives. A couple weeks I stayed with these wonderfully pleasant folk and they were very accommodating to me and my strange camera equipment. The area had just enough light to show off the complexity of plant-life surrounding the village path without disrupting the common density and form of the jungle. Redwoods path through California Redwoods Hillside Trees Normally, forest views like this are impossible, as you can't see much of the second row of trees due to the first row blocking the view. In the mountainous parts of eastern Pennsylvania, they have forests on tall steep hills, so if you're on a neighboring hill with an opening, you can easily get a great shot like this. Mushroom Tree northern Indiana woods Bamboo 2 Bamboo forest on Maui Fall Trail northern Indiana