Tag Archives: Landscape Photography

Mostly True Stories

Storm over Happy Valley

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I was teaching my sixteen-year-old daughter how to drive. The storm was gathering outside, and inside, our car. I wasn’t so much afraid for my life, as I was for hers. She didn’t seem to notice. It was all good.

“Pull over,” I said.

“Why?” It was her favorite question.

“Because I don’t want to die today.”

“Come on, Dad. Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Just pull over.”

She did.

My knuckles were white. My feet were pressed against the floor boards. I opened the door, got out of the car and took a deep breath. That’s when I could smell it, the rain, on a gentle breeze. I could see it coming. I knew it was going to be big, the storm. I breathed it in. I let it go. I felt a drop and grabbed my camera. The picture kept the storm from coming.

“You’re doing fine,” I said. “Let’s go home before the rain hits.”

She smiled and pull out.

“Don’t forget to signal,” I said, my feet pressing firmly on the invisible brakes.

Gathering Storm
All is quiet, just before the Heavens open over Utah Lake.
Mostly True Stories, Places

Hong Kong in HDR

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I don’t shoot everything in HDR. Honest, I don’t. However, Hong Kong is such a visual, visceral experience, quite beyond the ordinary sense, bordering on the overwhelming, that High Dynamic Range imagery seemed to be appropriate. Sometimes, I know, HDR–my HDR shots–skirt quite close to the edge of going over the top. I’m still trying to figure out where that edge is, what’s appropriate for the subject, what’s appropriate for the viewer. I certainly haven’t found that place–yet. I haven’t been doing this long enough. My wife sometimes tells me my HDR shots look like bad ’70s blacklight posters.

C’est la vie.

It’s fun and it looks cool. I can’t draw. I don’t use a brush. But, if I did, my impressionist paintings might also look like bad ’70s blacklight posters.

C’est la vie, again.

I would, at some point like to approach art, not just capture, although, I think I look at the world with a documentarian’s eye. I do enjoy the candid, the natural, the slice of life, the story in the moment.

I didn’t throw all my visual sensibilities out the window when I landed in Hong Kong. I did capture some of those images. Nevertheless, the striking structures of Hong Kong demanded that I shoot more than one image and compelled me to combine them in my favorite HDR tone mapping software. So, if that wasn’t enough of an apology, here is gallery of Hong Kong, HDR style.

And, by the way, I’d love to know if galleries work best for viewing these images, or, if posting them individually over several days is more enjoyable. Thanks, and I hope some of the fun I had in Hong Kong rubs off on you and brightens your day.

View of the downtown Hong Kong Financial district, Wan Chai.
It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of traffic, people, noise and smog; however, when in Hong Kong, don’t forget to look up. The sky is up there, somewhere.
In spite of the size of the city, the number of people and cars, Hong Kong boasts a remarkably effective public transportation system.
Soaring above the teeming masses, Hong Kong’s endless skyscrapers are home to the most densely packed populace in the world.
Many towering buildings in Hong Kong have been designed with rectangular openings to withstand high winds during violent storms.
Families live aboard Junks and make their living by fishing and transporting passengers across the water.
The Junk is a traditional Chinese sailing vessel. Junks are still part of the seafaring lifestyle for many Hong Kong.
Among the busiest natural harbors in the world, Victoria Harbor is also one of the most scenic.
While it may seem like it, all is not sweetness and light. While there are not many left in Hong Kong, there are still some poor areas.
Bold architecture accents Hong Kong’s optimistic position as a leading global city.
Changing light conditions and swirling storm clouds dance above the soaring buildings of Hong Kong.
A brewing storm lowers over Victoria Peak in the background and the massive skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
Every night for ten minutes, 45 buildings in Hong Kong on both sides of Victoria Harbor synchronize a light show to music.
Looking back toward the city from Tamar Park, Hong Kong.

Mostly True Stories, Places

Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud

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The traditional Maori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, or “Land of the Long White Cloud.”  Ocean currents, weather patterns and South Pacific moisture combine for spectacular cloud formations which brood above the mountains, valleys and fjords, of New Zealand and bear witness to the truth of the ancient Maori name.

With the brilliant clouds and sparkling waters, New Zealanders love to sail. Auckland, New Zealand is known as ‘the city of sails’. Some reports boast that there are more boats per capita in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world.  Check any international yachting crew and you’ll probably find a New Zealander.

From my perspective, I could feel pleasant breezes, blue water and plenty of sunshine. Now that I’ve been there, If I had to choose, I’d rather be sailing–in New Zealand.

Clouds, sunshine and rain and clear water.
Can you hear the sea calling to you?
Even if you could sail around the world, why would you ever leave New Zealand?
We’re calling everyone to ride along, to another shore.
At home in the harbor.
Nearly one in every three New Zealanders owns a boat.
With a population of approximately 1.5 million, Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand.
At 1,076 feet tall, or 328 meters, the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand is the highest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
The western coast of North Island from the air.
Places

Living Waters

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Lions, Leopards, Water Buffalo, Wart Hogs, Rhinos, Elephants and Zebras–they all drink from this river. The Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa was established in 1964 and is a protected wildlife sanctuary. Situated in the midst of a much larger protected area, Mala Mala is an unfenced reserve where wildlife roam free. In spite of the location, poachers still manage to kill a significant number of animals each year. Mala Mala Rangers are working tirelessly to prevent and eliminate the senseless killing of protected species such as the Rhinoceros as well as preserve an environment where wildlife may enjoy living waters. And, it really is this cool 🙂

Living Waters
On the Mala Mala Game Reserve, this river gives life to a myriad of species.