Thinking about Photography

Travels, tips, and thoughts about photography, Dan Holmes, Dan Holmes Photo http://danholmesphoto.com

[danholmesphoto]

Solitary Spruce, There is something about solitary trees that speaks to me - whether it's a "miti moya" African Thorn Acacia or this Alaskan Black Spruce - maybe it's the openness of the scene or the ability of that tree to grow where none else do - it's compelling in a powerful way. This spruce stands alone in a vast tundra plane leading into the south side of the Alaskan Range. #alaska #fallcolors #tundra #blackspruce #landscapephotography #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #denalihighway #landscape #tundra #alaskarange #travel (at Delta Junction, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjOWnwlvO6o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

In the Shade, Not all in Alaska is huge - growing in thick moss in the deep shade of a spruce forest were hundreds of mushrooms - all different shapes, colors and sizes. I was spread out on the ground in the moss and at least one car stopped to make sure that all was OK. #Alaska, #closeup, #focussstack, #fungi, #macro, #Mushrooms, #nature, #danholmesphoto #plants #green #orange (at Skagway, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBKJ2oJPgn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Moonrise over the Basin, While I was busy setting up camp, April said "Look at the moon" - & I turned just in time to see the full moon crest over this range of hills on the eastern edge of the Mono Basin. This area of burnt out brushland wasn't our most spectacular campsite, but the moonrise made up for it! #monolake #ourpubliclands #moonrise #fullmoon #danholmesphoto #california #californialove #landscapephotography #eveninglight #desert (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chf1cwjv2v2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

Reflection, The first stormy skies of the summer monsoon light up the evening sky over Mt Ralston and Echo Lake. The Caldor Fire ravaged the backside of the ridge to the left, and crept down the slope towards the Lake and the cabins. Thanks to great efforts by Cal Fire, the USFS, and a whole lot of other good folks, the Lake and the cabins were saved. #danholmesphoto #ourpubliclandsstory #california #sierranevada #mountainlakes #mountains #mountainscenery #landscapephotography #sunset #monsoon #reflection (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChXflNopXEv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

The California Gobi, Well the real Gobi (Waterless Place) has a lot of gravel and rock and so does this one. This is a bit higher - 11,000 vs. 5,000 feet, colder - at least in the summer, has no dunes, snow leopard, or camels, but for us Californians is a whole lot closer. This is one of my favorite spots in the world - high in the White Mountains. #california #whitemountainnationalforest #leavenotrace #Bishop #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto The California Gobi, Well the real Gobi (Waterless Place) has a lot of gravel and rock and so does this one. This is a bit higher - 11,000 vs. 5,000 feet, colder - at least in the summer, has no dunes, snow leopard, or camels, but for us Californians is a whole lot closer. This is one of my favorite spots in the world - high in the White Mountains. #california #whitemountainnationalforest #leavenotrace #Bishop #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #mountains #landscape #desert #scenic #travel #explore (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfHWHsjlFC1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

Pothole Juniper, A hollowed out pothole on the slope of this sandstone formation holds enough soil and water for this juniper to grow and pretty much thrive. There is a reason that the desert's open spaces continue to call me back. Photo geek stuff: 6 handheld exposure focus stack, blended in Photoshop. #utah #closetobearsears #ourpubliclands #desert #danholmesphoto #juniper #tree #cactus #desertplants #geology #travel #landscape #nature #eveninglight (at Utah, USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeB8-uVJPEx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

Stone Loaves, As she waited for the boy, Watching Woman made bread. She formed the meal into round loaves, baked them over a fire, and left them on pedestals of soil. The wait was long, the boy never came, and over time the loaves turned to stone. #blackandwhite #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #utah #Hoodoo #geology #coloradoplateau #formation #storytelling #blackandwhitephotography (at Utah, USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd_SDxWJCCQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

The Deepest Valley, A winter storm fills the sky over the Owens Valley - Inyos on the left, Sierra on the right, The Deepest Valley down the middle. Today's Archive dive is from January 2010, as I recall it was a tad brisk that morning. Converted to digital infrared in Photoshop. #california #owensvalley #easternsierra #blackandwhite #danholmesphoto #clouds #infraredphotography (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdq7vgGvW97/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[danholmesphoto]

The Washer Woman and the Moon. Preparing for a Zoom presentation tonight, today's archive dive took me back to 2010 and a trip into Canyonlands National Park. In the land of Red Rock, spires, and a whole lot more, the Washerwoman works on cleaning up the moon. Washer Woman is a 500-foot tall sandstone arch and tower located along the cliffs of Island in the Sky. #canyonlandsnationalpark #danholmesphoto #ourpubliclands #utah #redrocks #geology #travel #moon #formations #nationalparks #landscape #landscapephotography #spires #washerwoman (at Canyonlands National Park - Islands in the Sky) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbLENfOJ2X5/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

A Confluence of Power, A powerful winter swell meets howling Santa Ana Winds. A day of epic conditions, surfed by very few & this guy worked really hard at it! From a winter storm on January 19, 2021. #surf #stormsurf #santaanawinds #ventura #danholmesphoto #ocean #pacific #wind #power #waves #jetty #sport (at Ventura, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVDtsBvTba/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

Hint of a Storm, After a day and night of clear blue sky and howling wind, a front moved over the Mojave & for a few brief moments after the sun had set, the sky went wild. #mojavedesert #sunset #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #california #desert #landscapephotography #colors #desertscape #nature #travel #mojave (at Mojave Desert) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZckBudvFox/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

The Stoneman Bridge, A Quiet moment with december snows covering Yosemite's Stoneman Bridge. It was built in 1933 and cost $72,000 - might be a bit more these days. #yosemite #nationalparks #winter #ourpubliclands #snow #danholmesphoto #blackandwhitephotography #bridge #mercedriver #landscapephotography #landscape #travel (at Yosemite National Park, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYhraRIPEEd/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

Ruth Hill Sunstar, A quick drive uphill from the ranch house led to this California Oak and hillside grass. Hoping that the sun might pop through that small slot in the clouds, I opened a beer, leaned against the car and watched. I turned away for just a minute, the sun snuck below the clouds, and for 2 minutes lit up the green grass. I almost missed it. #california #Sunstar #danholmesphoto #sunset Photo Geek stuff: the sunstar comes from using a very small aperture and getting just a part of the sun. (Or by using a star filter - which I don't have.) In this case, the clouds in front of the sun gave me a series of good stars. A Graduated Neutral Density filter let me even out the exposure between sky and foreground. #nature #travel #foothills #green #oak #singletree #colors #landscape #landscapephotography (at California) https://www.instagram.com/danholmesphoto/p/CYZhTgXP1MO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

Remnant and Regrowth, Something a bit different - Yosemite has many faces, some well known and some not. This area off the Big Oak Flat road has burned twice in the past 40 years - and yet the cycle continues. These remnant pines survived the fires, and are now mixed with new growth of oak, young pine, manzanita, and grass. #yosemite #forestfires #regrowth #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #fog #rain #mountains #forest #nature #california #landscapephotography #landscape #trees #travel (at Yosemite National Park, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYCVzOVvbKM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

And the Season Changes, It may be all white now in Yosemite, but a month ago it was different story! A California Black Oak in full autumn color, readies to drop its leaves on the bank of the Merced River. #ourpubliclands #yosemite #fallcolors #danholmesphoto #california #californiablackoak #oak #mercedriver #river #reflection #forest #travel #colors (at Yosemite National Park, California) https://www.instagram.com/danholmesphoto/p/CX_oe4EJrRM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

Patterns in Sand and Sky, Another Dune Dream Surrealscape: color, sand, with a black and white sky. #surrealscape #sanddunes #color #danholmesphoto #digitalart #desert #light #sunset #surreal #gold #leadinglines #sand (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXwTpXqvwGr/?utm_medium=tumblr

[danholmesphoto]

Dune Dream, Morning tones and a black and white sky in this digital dune dream. It's been a bit, but feels good to post again. #digitalart #surrealscape #dunes #danholmesphoto #desert #sanddunes #landscapephotography (at California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXT5zytvoAY/?utm_medium=tumblr