Mike Lee Photographic Art

[tpeakphotos]

Who am I?

I'm Mike Lee.  I've appreciated fine photography of all types for as long as I remember. I suspect it is at least partially hereditary as my parents met while each was involved in photographic pursuits for the US Navy (mom in the darkroom and dad in the field). Since my first instant film camera as an adolescent, I've always had a passion for photography and a real appreciation for what goes in to making a truly fine image.  In 2018 I was able to retire from a professional career that provided a good livelihood for my family but, if I'm honest, left much to be desired as far as fueling the creative fire. I've heard it said that one should retire TO something rather than just FROM something to stay healthy, both physically and emotionally. Therefore, since my retirement I've chosen photographic art as that all too crucial next chapter.  The majority of my work is landscape images as I truly love getting out into the wonderful solitude that only nature can provide. Whether a great image comes from it or not, I feel truly blessed any time I'm able to observe a majestic scene unfold before me. Most of what I do is in Lassen and Plumas Counties of northern California, near my home, but I like to travel when I can and look forward to seeing, and hopefully capturing, nature's beauty far and wide.Thanks again for stopping by! I truly hope you found something to enjoy in my work! Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or want to discuss anything relative to my work and, of course I'd love it if you'd give my little page a like and a follow.  It would be a great help for getting my work a bit more exposure! https://www.tpeakphotos.com

[tpeakphotos]

I captured this image of Angels 5 and 6 doing the “mirror” maneuver at the 2022 Aviation Roundup in Minden Nevada in October 2022. The precision maneuvers they perform are an amazing spectacle to behold! This maneuver is performed slow and “dirty” (gear extended creating additional drag on the aircraft).

In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/49BAlp5 In my FAA/Pixels shop: https://buff.ly/49ry53z

[tpeakphotos]

On an April afternoon drive in the Smoke Creek Desert (Lassen County California), I saw a fair number of pronghorns. This is in no way unusual. It would be unusual to not see at least a few. What was quite unusual indeed is that they were somewhat cooperative for picture taking. Normally, when driving on those dirt roads the first look I get of them is when they’re moving across the rugged terrain faster than I can safely drive on the road. They came by their “speed goat” moniker honestly (although they’re more closely related to giraffes than to goats). Their skittishness is quite often in direct conflict with their curiosity. The latter evidently won out that evening. I saw several different groups while I was out there including a couple small groups of does. The highlight was this little group of bucks including one pretty good sized boy who was clearly quite proud of himself. These guys actually walked TOWARD my pickup for a bit when I stopped in the road. Add to that the nice warm late afternoon light, and I got a rare photo of these critters that I actually like, somewhat offsetting the plethora of bad frames I’ve gotten while trying.

In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/4cfzag3

Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/4aSWYpE

[the-wolf-and-moon]

NGC 7293, Helix Nebula

[seabeck]

Foggy forest

[tpeakphotos]

This image was captured in Lassen County, California, USA. It features an old cattle loading chute under the galactic core of our beautiful little galaxy, the Milky Way. I love old rustic beams and, upon seeing the angle of the upper beams on this chute, I knew I had to put it under that gorgeous cluster of stars!

Lassen County is home to a fair number of cattle ranches and the cattle must be moved to various locations seasonally as our winters can get pretty chilly at 4000 feet and more above sea level. These chutes play a vital role in efficiently getting the herd loaded when the time comes.

This image, like most of my nightscapes, was created by taking multiple exposures of the night sky and “stacking” them in post production to reduce digital “noise” thus creating a cleaner image. The sky image was then blended to several exposures of the chute that were “light painted” with a handheld flashlight to produce the final image.

Prints available:

Chuting Stars by Mike Lee

Chuting Stars Photograph by Mike Lee

[tpeakphotos]

Small pines fighting for a foothold in some rough shale rocks along the hiking trail to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in Sierra County California. I captured this image in late day golden hour light as I descended the trail on this amazing hike last summer.

As the top is at 8500 feet, it's a later season hike. I tried it two years ago in mid-June and didn't make it, lost the trail in the snow on the way down (still don't know how that happened), and ended up trekking much longer than I planned on trekking, for a short time wondering if I'd taken an unplanned camping trip. Prints and merch available: https://buff.ly/3GXUFnQ

[tpeakphotos]

On an April afternoon drive in the Smoke Creek Desert (Lassen County California), I saw a fair number of pronghorns. This is in no way unusual. It would be unusual to not see at least a few. What was quite unusual indeed is that they were somewhat cooperative for picture taking. Normally, when driving on those dirt roads the first look I get of them is when they’re moving across the rugged terrain faster than I can safely drive on the road. They came by their “speed goat” moniker honestly (although they’re more closely related to giraffes than to goats). Their skittishness is quite often in direct conflict with their curiosity. The latter evidently won out that evening. I saw several different groups while I was out there including a couple small groups of does. The highlight was this little group of bucks including one pretty good sized boy who was clearly quite proud of himself. These guys actually walked TOWARD my pickup for a bit when I stopped in the road. Add to that the nice warm late afternoon light, and I got a rare photo of these critters that I actually like, somewhat offsetting the plethora of bad frames I’ve gotten while trying. On an April afternoon drive in the Smoke Creek Desert (Lassen County California), I saw a fair number of pronghorns. This is in no way unusual. It would be unusual to not see at least a few. What was quite unusual indeed is that they were somewhat cooperative for picture taking. Normally, when driving on those dirt roads the first look I get of them is when they’re moving across the rugged terrain faster than I can safely drive on the road. They came by their “speed goat” moniker honestly (although they’re more closely related to giraffes than to goats). Their skittishness is quite often in direct conflict with their curiosity. The latter evidently won out that evening. I saw several different groups while I was out there including a couple small groups of does. The highlight was this little group of bucks including one pretty good sized boy who was clearly quite proud of himself. These guys actually walked TOWARD my pickup for a bit when I stopped in the road. Add to that the nice warm late afternoon light, and I got a rare photo of these critters that I actually like, somewhat offsetting the plethora of bad frames I’ve gotten while trying.

Prints available:

Smoke Creek Bachelors by Mike Lee

Smoke Creek Bachelors Photograph by Mike Lee

[tpeakphotos]

I captured this bald eagle in flight a couple miles from my home in Janesville California, USA. I’d seen the wonderful symbolic raptor several times over the preceding weeks, always atop power poles, clearly less than photogenic perches. On this occasion, however, the big majestic bird was not only airborne but airborne low across the high desert in some beautiful warm late day December light. In this frame the unusually cooperative raptor was flying almost directly into the beautiful “golden hour” sun with a high desert mountain backdrop. In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/3SxXRfn

Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/41j55Yv

[tpeakphotos]

On this misty day on the northern coast of California I spotted this harbor seal in the surf from a road side turnout. It then spotted ME as I stood on the beach looking at it through my camera lens. A brief game of peek-a-boo then ensued between the waves.

In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/3SEGGZz

Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/4bHuyPY

[seabeck]

Honey mushrooms

[tpeakphotos]

This image was captured on Squaw Valley Creek in Siskiyou County, California, USA. I captured the image on a somewhat overcast afternoon and really liked the soft ethereal light as the sun was filtered through the clouds. This part of the creek, just below the confluence of a small stream known as Cabin Creek, is especially beautiful. The famed Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses just a short distance downstream from where this was captured. The small town of McCloud is just a few miles away and the whole area sits at the base of the majestic Mount Shasta, the fifth highest peak in the state of California.

In my Etsy Shop: https://buff.ly/3V69dKf Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/47bZ7tT

[tpeakphotos]

This is one of several images I have from a very chilly and moody morning at Antelope Lake in Plumas County, California. The annual “Junuary” cold front we always seem to get after Memorial Day was on its way out but the clouds were still battling with the sun for dominance. The warming lake surface meeting the cold air made conditions foggy, adding more to the mood. As this scene was fairly “monochromatic” already, I felt a black and white treatment was in order. I also added just a bit of deliberate blur in post production to enhance the overall dreamy and moody feel I had while observing the scene.

In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/48JjJuI Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/3GP7PDD

[tpeakphotos]

A popular spot in Death Valley National Park is a high prominence known as Dante’s View. It is named for Dante Alighieri, author of Divina Commedia (The Devine Comedy). This seems rather fitting as, while it is beautiful, you can probably find plenty of the circles of Hell in Death Valley, especially in summer. On this evening standing at the edge of the 5600 foot elevation and looking over Badwater Basin which is nearly 300 feet below sea level I wasn’t hot, I was darn near hypothermic as I wasn’t really dressed to be there. My car thermometer said it was just over 40 degrees Fahrenheit but that does no justice to the insane winds that are created in such a radical elevation change. I had no way to measure but I guarantee some of the gusts were over 30mph and felt like they blew right through the thin hiking pants I was wearing – just an hour earlier I was sweating in those pants and only a tee shirt on the valley floor.

At least my suffering was rewarded with some beautiful color in the moody sky as the sun dropped over the Panamint Range to the west (camera left)

[haciaelmar]

the truth is out there | Leica M6 | Rollei IR 400 | 2018

[tpeakphotos]

Abies magnifica, more commonly known as Red Fir or Silver Tip Fir is a beautiful conifer that grows at fairly high elevation, generally between 5 and 9 thousand feet. Smaller trees are definitely favored as Christmas trees and when they get larger their bark takes on a reddish brown hue, hence their common name. Wherever they grow large, it’s a sure bet they’ll be the tallest trees in the area with large specimens reaching as high as 250 feet with trunk diameters occasionally exceeding 6 feet.

On this late August day I took a walk through the aptly named Red Fir Nature Trail near Mills Peak in Plumas County California. It was mid-day so some bright sun was making its way through the dense canopy; perfect conditions for near infrared photography. This image was captured using a full spectrum modified camera fitted with an 830 nanometer filter so no visible light was used in its creation. In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/43TLjUV Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/43TLjUV

[tpeakphotos]

From the beginning of my journey into capturing images with invisible (near infrared) light, I theorized that quaking aspens would make a great subject with all the contrasting tones from light to dark in their trunks. On this June day in the South Warner Wilderness area of Modoc County California, I found a nice grove on which to put that theory to the test. I believe the theory was a sound one, at least to my eyes.

Captured with a full spectrum modified camera fitted with an 830 nanometer filter.

Prints and merch available: https://buff.ly/3xho5vB