Recently, I was fortunate to win two photo contests: My “Around the Bend” won in a contest with the theme Steam Trains and “Ladder to the Heavens” won in the contest Ladders. Both competitions were hosted by Photocrowd in the United Kingdom.
OFF AGAIN
Home from my A-i-R gig long enough to do laundry and pack for a tour of the NPS units in South & North Dakota.
A trip to the plains of the Dakota’s was not something I had thought about but I agreed to make the trip. Early on I realized there was more to see than we could in 10-days. Just overwhelming.
Stops included: Badlands NP, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Wind Cave NP, Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Devil’s Tower NM, Theodore Roosevelt NP and Custer State Park. Unfortunately, Jewel Cave NM was not open but visiting would have caused us to miss other locations. Quite the adventure and reviewing the images will take longer than the trip did.
ANOTHER CHANCE
Last October I was not able to stay in my “dream home” in Valles Caldera National Preserve due to the government shutdown. Since my youth in Bangor, Maine I have found memories of family vacations in an A-frame by a lake in the state.
So, I was quite surprised when the opportunity to be an artist-in-residence at the park was offered to me. The chance to spend a month in the caldera and be housed in one of the a-frames was a dream come true. If you are familiar with the television series, Longmire, then I was “next door” to Longmire’s cabin.
I have many, many images to review and will put them on the website as I select those worthy of posting. The most important thing for me to do is thank the park staff, especially Ranger Lauren, for making this happen.
SOMEWHERE NEW
When the government shutdown last October it disrupted several plans I had made. One of them was a stay in Valles Caldera National Preserve. So, I looked for a plan B.
I did some research and came across a guide who worked in a part of Utah which I was unfamiliar. So, I contacted her and arranged a trip for May 2026.
When I was contacted about an artist-in-residence opportunity for the month of May at Valles Caldera, I told the staff I had a short commitment I wanted to keep and received the OK.
What a surprise! The area is amazing! It will take me some time to review all of the images but I am more interested in returning as soon as I can.
ONE MORE OFF THE BUCKET LIST
Although I typically visit Monument Valley once or twice each year, I had not photographed the valley from Hunt’s Mesa. That’s no longer the case.
Hunt’s Mesa has been near the top of my photographic bucket list for years and I was determined to make it this year. I convinced two friends to join me for a private overnight tour to the mesa. We were fortunate to have Carl Phillips as our guide and the “exciting” drive up and camping was great. The only thing Carl could not provide was ideal weather for sunset and sunrise. Well…Mother Nature gave us a once-in-a-lifetime show! One of my friends commented “this is what landscape photography is all about.” I could not argue with that. It was so good I probably will not visit again because I doubt I could get better images no matter have my visits I made.
ALOHA!
It's been too long since I visited paradise but this trip was mainly for some much-needed R&R.
However, I did happen to bring a camera along. Given my favorite wildlife subjects are sea turtles, I was on a honu hunt. After a little research I was pleased to know my favorite locations were still among the best places for honu. And, I now have plenty of new images of them.
My photography bucket list included rainbow eucalyptus trees and I understood there were some on the island so that became my primary goal. It was not an easy task but I found a stand of the trees. Photographing them was the highlight of a two-week trip!
NOW THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER...
Happy New Year and I am back at it!
For Valentine’s Day I am leading a workshop for the National Park Service and in two weeks…back to the Big Island. Te first of several trips.
THIRD TIME WAS A CHARM
For the third time in four attempts I received a permit to hike to The Wave. And, the U.S. government didn’t shut down on me this time.
We had great fun and was surprised to find water to shoot reflections. What a treat!
My first reaction at the end of day was it would be my last visit. That lasted one day and we are looking forward to another visit. Thanks to Dreamland Safari Tours…especially our guide Ben. He made the trip for us. So much better than our prior trip with another tour company.
ALMOST MY SECOND A-i-R
This month I should be at Capulin Volcano National Monument serving the National Park Service as the Artist-in-Residence but the U.S. government shutdown ruined that. Oh well, my inconvenience and disappointment is nothing compared to what the federal employees endured.
FOILED BY 45-47 AGAIN
I was honored and excited to have the chance to be the Photographer-in-Residence at Valles Caldera National Preserve this month. Unfortunately, the U.S. government shutdown put an end to that. I really was looking forward to staying in one of the A-frames there and having 24-hour access to this incredible place. Perhaps another time.
Thanks to the National Park Service rangers; especially Ranger Lauren.
THE OLD CHURCH
My work has been juried into the 37th annual Old Church Fine Arts Show in Corrales. The show runs October 4 - 12. The address is 966 Old Church Road and admission is free.
TOP 10
I'm still unsure why I did it but in 2017 I entered my first photography contest. The theme was The Beauty of Stone.
Having visited lower Antelope Canyon a few times I had several images I liked and decided to enter the one titled Light from Above. It is a shot looking straight up with sunlight illuminating the top of the canyon.
I had forgotten about the contest and was absolutely stunned when I was notified it won first place.
Since that time I have entered it in other contests and today I learned it won first place in the contest Abstract Nature...the tenth time it earned a first place.
I'm still stunned!
MORE NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES
August 22 will be the last of the 2025 scheduled astrophotography workshops for the National Park Service at Valles Caldera National Preserve. However, during the preserve’s Fall Fiesta, I will be leading some additional workshops. Check the National Park Service website for more information or to register for the August 22 event.
FIRST THE ATOMIC BOMB AND NOW FOTOS BY FORD
My photographs are now available at the Los Alamos Arts Council store in the Fuller Lodge Art Center Gallery in Los Alamos, New Mexico. I hope my work does not bomb.
25TH ANNIVERSARY AND BEYOND
It was my honor to provide an image to the National Park Service (NPS) for a new sign being installed at the entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve.
I captured this from the spot where the sign will be and it shows visitors why the preserve is an International Dark Sky Park.
It's a magical place and everyone should take advantage of the night programs at the caldera so they can experience this for themselves.
Also, the 25th anniversary celebration of Valles Caldera NP becoming a unit of the NPS will be July 25 - 27 and there will be free night sky activities.
NOW IN OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE
I am pleased to announce my work is now represented by the Yucca Art Gallery in Old Town Albuquerque. Please stop in!
IT'S GOOD TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
In the past month I was surprised to learn two of my images won first place in contests. First, was an image of an old cowboy sitting inside a saloon. Second, was of a gathering of convergent ladybugs. My passion remains landscapes followed by wildlife but it’s good to try something new…occasionally.
ROAD SHOW
I was asked to contribute four pieces for a traveling show of images from Valles Caldera National Preserve. The exhibit opens at the Jemez Fine Art Gallery in Jemez Springs, NM on April 19 and then moves to the Ranger Station in the preserve. The show will hit the road after the summer. Check it out, if you can. Some nice work by several artists.
A MYSTERY THAT INCLUDES A PHOTOGRAPHER
My dear friend, Kathy Strong, recently published her first mystery novel - “The ‘57 Chevy: A Cam Donovan Mystery.” She previously authored seven popular travel guidebooks among her numerous other credits. I was surprised to learn I was the inspiration for “one of the most wonderful characters” in the book. To my knowledge its the first time this has happened.
It is possible I may be somewhat biased but I recommend Strongly (pun intended) you read the book - available at Amazon and fine book stores.
EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
I noticed the following headline in a photo magazine a few days ago:
"Instagram is dead for photographers" and TikTok's future is uncertain – so people are flocking back to an old faithful platform
Facebook certainly isn’t a place for photographers so it appears that leaves just Flickr. It’s been a few years but I will give it a try again.