For some reason, my the database on the portfolio / gallery section of the website has stopped working. I’m going to get to this as soon as I can, and also post a long overdue blog update.
*update*
Everything has been restored.
Yesterday I was supposed to spend the night on Anacapa Island, which is one of the islands making up Channel Islands National Park. This was very exciting since it was a new National Park that I had not yet visited and it was also my first time on any of the islands off the west coast. However, due to a series of unfortunate events we were unable to stay. Because we spent time setting up camp and were expecting to stay much longer, our time shooting photographs was tragically short during our stay on the island. Nevertheless I was able to bring back some keepers for sure, and our return to the mainland also provided some local opportunities for some fantastic images that will be in the next blog update.
Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island
This is probably the most famous spot on the island, and a shot is pretty much obligatory. Despite my haste I’m really happy with this one. It’s a beautiful spot and I hope to come back and explore it further. I could literally spend all day looking at this view.
Anacapa Island Lighthouse
The lighthouse on Anacapa as seen from our approaching boat. The coloring of the cliffs with bird droppings, plants and rock was very interesting.
Arch Rock and Pelicans
Just prior to leaving we took the boat around to the famous Arch Rock and around the corner to visit some sea lions. While we were there I spotted this string of pelicans approaching and managed to capture them right over Arch Rock.
Pacific Gull
The only permanent residents of this island are Pacific Gulls. There are thousands of them. They are really everywhere on the island, and they make nest there in the spring. We were a little early for that but we did see some Gulls paired up here and there. Their sounds are inescapable on every part of the island. Normally I don’t think to shoot pictures of gulls but here they just ham it up for the camera.
Along one of the trails was this set of wings. It was as if they were interchangeable parts and these spares were left on the ground. Oddly the rest of the bird was nowhere to be found. I wonder what befell the poor bird to have this happen.
Takeoff
Perched on the 100 foot cliff edge, this gull leans forward to take off and escape the approaching photographer.
Bow Wave
On our voyage to the island we went around this huge cargo ship. It had this huge bow wave on the front, though it’s bulbous bow left little wake.
Pelican
Finally, here is a Pelican that glided past our boat. I’m always fascinated the ability of these huge birds to glide just a few feet above the sea.
April 12, 2010 - 6:59 am
Fantastic photos! Thanks so much for sharing!
April 16, 2010 - 8:04 am
Hi Kurt,
Your pictures are truly amazing. I love your blog and enjoy reading of your experience. You’re an inspiration!
Many Blessing,
Nancy
April 16, 2010 - 9:15 am
Thanks Nancy!
April 16, 2010 - 9:57 am
Breathtaking photos. Your mother is so proud. She so lovingly shares your talents with me. I enjoy the beauty of your work.
Heidi
April 19, 2010 - 2:30 pm
Kurt…your pictures are amazing! You are able to capture that split moment that we all try for; thank you for sharing these treasures! Love you, S
As part of my experience with the excellent and highly recommended Wilderness Travel Course from the Sierra Club I was able to experience snow shoe travel and snow camping. I had never really thought to participate in either of these activities before, but in my quest to expand my photographic horizons it has been really eye opening to learn how to safely travel in the wilderness and in wintertime and I look forward to using these skills to take photos in new and interesting locations all year round. Theo following series of photographs were taken on the snow travel and snow camp trips with the WTC. First up is snow shoeing on Mt. Pinos.
A momentary break in the clouds
Our journey began with overcast conditions and snow, but on our way to the summit we experienced a very brief clearing in the clouds, snow and fog to reveal a beautiful blue sky from 8400 feet.
Winter wonderland
Ski, hiking and now show tracks abound on this popular peak. I have visited this mountain numerous times in the summer and to see it like this was really a profound transformation. It was absolutely beautiful.
Whiteout and a tree
A lone tree became silhouetted against a sea of white as the snow picked up and the clouds skirted across the top of the mountain. We flirted with whiteout conditions on and off for the whole trip.
Tree in heavy show
Here the snow was coming down pretty hard.
Snow shoe travel
And finally a shot of our crew traveling single file with snowshoes and trekking poles.
Mount Whitney as seen from Lone Pine
On our way to our snow camp destination, we stopped at Lone Pine. I snapped a quick shot of Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. Whitney is about dead center of this picture and due to its distance from camera appears smaller than the closer Lone Pine Peak on the left. Perhaps with a little luck this summer I will have some pictures of Mt Whitney from far closer.
Late afternoon sun at Rock Creek Lake
A view from the southern end of our campground reveals a beautiful scene. The rest of these photos are from the area around our campground at Rock Creek Lake. The afternoon the weather would bring us on and off snow showers with constantly changing light patterns. It was a really beautiful winter landscape.
Looking towards the shrouded peak of Mount Morgan
Looking towards Mount Starr
Wind blown snow and rock
Colorful lichens
Rock Creek Lake panorama
April 5, 2010 - 6:15 am
Wonderful photos! Thanks for posting them!
April 6, 2010 - 8:37 am
Kurt, these pictures are beautiful. I especially love the ones with the snow and rocks together. You are so talented.
During my time in southern California, I have often wanted to go to Joshua Tree National Park. Often I have been deterred by the summer heat, but just somehow never managed to go out there. Finally, thanks to the WTC I was able to visit this park for the first time and brought back a few pics. With a huge storm hitting Los Angeles, I knew the weather would be interesting and it did allow for some dramatic skies. Here are a few from the trip.
Moody skies and a rocky peak
The dramatic skies continue to change
Sunlight shining like a spotlight
A beautiful red cactus
Rain falling in the rocky mountains
Half a rainbow
The end of the rainbow
The last few images I have from Death Valley this January are some pictures by full moonlight. The first few were taken in Panamint Valley where I stopped on my way to check out the large amount of water that had gathered there from recent rains. Here at about 10:30 or so at night there was not a single sound to be heard except for the occasional car. When a car did come by, either via route 178 or 190 I could hear it approaching from miles and miles away. In fact the sound of a car here at this spot sounded strange as it echoed in the desolate valley around me. When no cars were around I relished the silence as not even a plane could be heard or seen overhead.
The road to Death Valley by moonlight
Here we see the view from the middle of 190 looking towards Towne Pass.
The west side of Telescope Peak via moonlight
Argus Range peaks - probably Maturango Peak and Parkinson Peak via moonlight
I picked up a similar view of these peaks on my way out of the park in the afternoon light.
Argus Range peaks - probably Maturango Peak and Parkinson Peak via daylight
Looking north towards Panamint Dunes and beyond
These next few pictures were taken at Badwater Basin from the road. Badwater is the lowest place in North America at 282 feet below sea level. I was scouting to see if I could see water for a return trip in the morning. I was quite tired and did not want to hike out a mile into the basin to see so I took a few captures from the side of the road to see what could be seen. I concluded that there wasn’t much of any water if any (contrary to expectations). Upon looking at the full 21mp pictures however, I can see what might be water in one of the pictures, but alas we never hiked out there to be sure.
Badwater Basin via moonlight
Badwater Basin and the Panamints via moonlight
Finally, a recent trip back into the Death Valley archives yielded this picture, which I like quite a lot and somehow did not choose before. This is from the Mesquite Dunes. The thick haze was from a sandstorm that was raging on the western end of the dunes. Fortunately where we were the wind was much more calm.
Sunset in a sandstorm
by Kurt