For those that have visited Monument Valley.  You are aware that the Valley Loop is closed to the general public  until after sunrise.    So unless you take one of the special guided tours you have to find other ways to get your mittens in the rising sun.

My one day visit to the valley, sort of a scouting trip as I had never been there before, was how I made this image.    Arrival was just at sunset, a 3rd floor room was booked at The View hotel.  This was the view from the rooms balcony.   Shot the sunset,  then a few shots during the night and was set up in the morning to get this wonderful sunrise.  The rest of the day was spent driving around the Valley Loop road marking places for photography on a return trip.

On the night of December 10th, 2011.  Parts of the world enjoyed a total lunar eclipse.  Here in Manitoba we raced the rising sun to try and see the moment of totality, but we lost out to the daylight and clouds.  The next total lunar eclipse will be April 15,th.  2014.
I was able to pull out several cloudless images during to period from full moon to just before it went into totality.    This composite photographs shows my results.

This was taken on the Masai Mara in western Kenya in August 2011. This young lioness seemed to be annoyed at something but I couldn’t tell what it was.  Then when  I put my 70-200mm at 200mm up to my eye.

Well you can see what the problem was. Up till that I thought we had problems with mosquitoes. Thank goodness those flies like the smell of carrion better than our pit sticks.

2011 Masai Mara, Great Migration, Kenya Africa

2011 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico, USA

2011 Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

Looks like the dry spell for Auroras around Manitoba is coming to an end.   So far in April we have had 3 shows.     This morning was my first chance to head out on the Aurora road.    At first all I could find was the Aurora dome in the sky.   Then around 1:30 am over at Oak Hammock Marsh I found some spikes.      It was not a spectacular show by heck it was lights after a 2 year dry spell.    The extremely bright half moon was a hindrance but at the same time a help.

Hope this is the beginning of more all night drive.

Take Care and Be Safe

Kaua’i Hawaii – The Garden Isle,  for a photographer it should be one of your must go, must capture places on your photographic bucket list.  A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending noted photographer Moose Peterson’s  Farewell to Hawaii DLWS in Kaua’i.   As all good things must come to an end.  This was one of the last DLWS Moose et al will be putting on.  DLWS was a leading force in bringing the art of digital photography to landscape work.   Thanks for all you have done.

Kaua’i is a landscape photographers dream.   Be prepared to spend at least 10 days with your gear strapped to your back or side.   A relatively small island, you still can’t drive around the island, because no roads go around.  Spend your first couple of days going to all the places you want to photograph.  This way you know what to expect at each place.   The weather can constantly change.  However there really is no bad weather when photographing Kaua’i.

My 2011 Kaua’i Journey will be added to the site shortly.

Take Care and Be Safe