We hiked the Lakes Trail up to Pear Lake in Sequoia National Park on a whim one weekend. I wouldn’t say its the kind of trail you hike on a whim- well, if you’re carrying loads of camera gear and your prepared for a short hike, not the trail I would pick! To our surprise, we made it to the top while a storm gathered on the horizon. You walk through beautiful forests, meadows, past many lakes, and then arrive at the stark rocky landscape that surrounds Pear Lake. As the afternoon light filtered through the red dust we kicked up and the storm passed in the distance, we made it back down… 12 miles later, up 2,250 feet to an elevation of 9500 feet, then down 2,250 feet again. Do it right, like Backpacker says in their January article and enjoy it on an over-nighter!! Pick up the January issue to see our photo. Cheers!
Lakes Trail, Sequoia National Park
Outside Magazine picked up James’s shot for their 2010 Wall Calendar. Pick one up and in June of next year, a curious sea lion will be staring you in the face! Happy Holidays to all!
Outside Magazine's 2010 Wall Calendar
We recently shot an assignment for Bicycling Magazine highlighting Santa Barbara and where to go to for a ‘Perfect Day.’ We shot restaurants, food, drinks, and of course bicycling the mountain and beach roads. To get the scoop, pick up the December issue all you bicycling enthusiasts!
The 'Perfect Day' in Santa Barbara, California
Check out the latest Organic Gardening Magazine to see an assignment we shot for them. We went to a Montecito home to shoot this beautifully landscaped yard. One part of the article talks about how the design and plant choice shows seasonal color that compliments the modern lines and architecture of the home. Being gardeners ourselves (or we try to be!) and inspired by modern design, this was a fun shoot!
Organic Gardening Assignment
Here’s a peak at some of the photos made on a recent rafting trip to the Salmon River in Idaho. We had about the same range in weather as we did in rapids- from sunshine to storms and from smooth calm water to adrenaline pumping rapids. It was an adventurous experience navigating the turns of the river in both a raft and an inflatable kayak. Sam Castaldo was a great guide and I’d ride with him any day! Enjoy the photos!
Kayak roll
Riding the Rapids
Splashing through rapids
Sunset at camp
River guide navigates the Salmon River
Kayaker heads downstream
Lightning strikes the Salmon River Valley
Paddling the calm currents
Waterproof snacks
Rocky river bottom landscape
The rapids are coming!
Hold on! Sammy navigates the white water.
Big Horn Sheep eating grass
Sunset over our sandy beach campground
Ahhh... this is Idaho!
Pick up the current October issue of Outside Magazine and see some of our photos. On page 10, you’ll find James’s amazing shot of Mobula Rays underwater. This shot was taken in the middle of the day so it should be really bright, but instead the rays have blocked out all the light. With this dense cloud of rays swimming overhead, James says it was like an eclipse!
Mobula Rays Eclipse
In a way different part of the world, here are a couple shots from Marfa, Texas. If you ever find yourself on the lone highways of West Texas, this artsy and eclectic town is a must!
Marfa, Texas
While on my way to Idaho last month for a river rafting trip I had a chance to stop at Lava Beds National Monument. The NPS.gov site describes it best:
Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience await you!
visitor emerges from Skull cave at Lava Beds National Monument
head lamps and flashlights are used to illuminate your path and the caves. Skull Cave
stairways have been put in place in some caves to ease your entry, Skull cave.
a family looking around in the bottom Skull Cave.
ice forms in the back of some caves where water is.
Sam expores the inside of Valentine cave which had these cool formations in the ceiling
painting with light in the cave became a routine, Valentine cave
this lava tube Valentine cave is completed illuminated by my lantern with a little help
another lava tube illuminated by lantern, Valentine cave
Here are some recent photos from a trip up to Bishop Creek Canyon in the Eastern Sierras. Even on a busy weekend, we were able to find an incredible campsite right next to Bishop Creek. We relaxed by the campfire and even caught some trout 10 feet from our site. We fished at Intake II and North Lake while making a kayak excursion on South Lake. We had incredible cool mountain weather and could see hints of fall colors. Enjoy!
Campground at night
Fishing for trout on South Lake
What are the trout biting?
Picking out a fly on South Lake
Kayaks on South Lake, Biship Creek Canyon
Kayaking on South Lake
Exploring South Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon
Fly-fishing North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon
Fly-fishing a trout stream
Bishop Creek Campground at night (painting with light)
We had a bunch of assignments this spring that took us all over Santa Barbara County for the annual Visitors Guide. We shot everything from food to chefs and wineries. It’s always fun to explore Santa Barbara and all it has to offer, even learning about new gems. Here are some of the tearsheets to check out!
Sip & Savor Culinary Magazine
Paradise Burger
C'est Cheese
Full of Life Flatbread
Budi Kazali and Pilar Sanchez
Market Forays
Chopping Parsley for Market Forays
Tonic Nightclub
Foxen Winery
Bill Wathen and Dick Dore, "The Foxen Boys"
Alberto Morello & Brian Parks
Paddleboarder at sunset
Channel Islands Kayaking
Our stock library is constantly growing. It’s always fun to come across images and rework them. After processing this one and looking at it more, the sky is amazing. The dock leading out to the huge storm cell can be interpreted in so many ways… This huge storm supercell grew quickly on the horizon of the Laguna Madre when we were fishing for redfish a year or two back on the Texas Gulf Coast. As the storm approached rapidly, James kept telling the guide, “one more, one more shot” and within minutes the storm blanketed the skies and turned day into what felt like night. Our guide, Freddie Lynch (the best guide down there) jetted to the nearest fishing camp and we ran for cover while the storm passed. Not the photos we were thinking we would get, but definitely keepers!
Walking into Storm Cell, Laguna Madre, Texas
