Landscapes

Dead Tree in Capitol Reef

We had a one-day stop in Capitol Reef and is we were alone (nearly) there. Our car was the only one in the parking lot and we only saw one other group of people but saw marks of a puma. As we were alone on the track, we started thinking about the fact, what will happen if something happens. No one knows where we are. But the beautiful nature gave us that many impressions that we throw away those thoughts. On the way up the mountain, we found this dead tree which looks quite awesome.

Lonely Road

As I already posted some pictures from our trip to the USA in Winter 2019. It was a three-week trip through the western part of the USA. It was our honeymoon as we got married in summer 2018. The first thing we noticed was the open land and the empty and lonely roads, at least if you leave the cities. We enjoyed the freedom and loneliness. It was a wonderful trip, one of the best I did so far. If you like to know what we've visited just follow my account. I will post more pictures during the next weeks.

Bryce Canyon Sunrise

While my wife was still sleeping I was up very early to catch the sunrise in Bryce Canyon. I completely underestimated the temperature, which was -17 degrees and the car was frozen. So it took a while to get the car ready to drive the short way to the Canyon. As I arrived, the sun was crossing the horizon, and could start taking pictures right away. Luckily, I did the scouting the day before. To experience this Bryce Canyon Sunrise was awesome, but due to the low temperatures, I was happy to get back to the hotel into the warm bed.

Bryce Canyon Sunset

After we were back to the rim, after a long and hard way up, the sun was going down. The top of the rocks are still illuminated by the sun, but the valley is already in the dark. This and the snow, together with the outlook make this Bryce Canyon sunset one moment you will never forget.

Queens Garden Trail

Even if there was a lot of snow during our visit to Bryce Canyon and the way down was slippery, we took the chance and enjoyed and fantastic trail adventure on the Queens Garden Trail. We were almost alone and as we arrived late at the canyon, we needed to hurry later to get back before it got dark.

Bryce Canyon Overlook

After a one night stop in Vegas, we drove to Bryce Canyon. We started in the desert of Nevada with 10 degrees and came to Bryce during the late afternoon with -10 degrees. But with a blue sky and the snow the Bryce Canyon Overlook, our first impression of this National Park, was so awesome, I still get the heebie-jeebies. From my point of view, the best place to be during our trip.

Red Rock Canyon

On our way to Vegas, we stopped at the Red Rock Canyon. These red stones were amazing. They are really red. We did a short hike through the rocks and we were alone there. It was an amazing experience and an awesome start of the journey which will bring us to many different places during the next weeks which all of them are breathtaking as well.

Zabriskie Point

The next day, our goal was to drive to Vegas, but right after leaving Death Valley we passed Zabriskie Point and for sure we did a stop there. Not during sunrise but right after. And this area is amazing. It was freezing cold but the rocks and their colors are awesome. Unfortunately, we couldn't take a walk through the area as we had a long trip ahead of us.

Death Valley Road

After leaving the Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park to get back to our hotel within the park, we stopped some miles after leaving to take some pictures, and one of them shows this straight Death Valley Road in front of the Mountains surrounding the Death Valley. An awesome view and a great finish for the second day of our honeymoon trip.

Badwater Basin

We also visited the Badwater Basin during our stay in Death Valley National Park. It was breathtaking to see, what happened to nature for millions of years. It is the lowest point in North America, with 85,5m below sea level and the water from the mountains around flow to this point. Mostly below the surface, washing mineral from the land. After the water comes to light again at this place, the water condenses and the minerals stay. Those minerals create the white (sometimes grey) surface in the whole area.

Where to go

Where to go next, might be the question my wife is asking herself while I was going to the top of the dunes to take some pictures. It was our second day during our honeymoon trip through the western USA. It was the first time for both of us, staying in such a landscape like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley.

Dunes Overlook

Arriving at the top of one of the larger dunes in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley feels like arriving at the dunes overlook. It was hard to get there but the view is awesome. What a landscape? I really enjoyed the time there and I'm sure, I will come back.

Traces in the Sand

While climbing one the of the larger dunes in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley, a view back my path showed my traces in the sand. They look like in the good old Star Wars movies, when they walked in the desserts of Tatooine.

Only Sand

Only sand and dust, as far as you can see. This is the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley. It is easy to get lost here, but it is also easy to see how awesome nature can be. I wasn't in a landscape like this before and I will always remember this place and hope we can visit it again.

Waves of Sand

Walking through the waves of sand and have a new awesome view every step. It is hard to climb those dunes, but the outlook is worth it. The problem, at least for me, was that there is a bigger one just behind the one I already climbed so we walked quite deep into the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes without seeing the way back. But in the end, we found back to the parking place. Fortunately, it was December 31st and it was quite cold in contrast to the heat during the summer times.

Mummified Tree

Finally, we arrived in Death Valley and our first stop was the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes where I found this mummified tree right at the parking place. It looked so surreal, a tree in this environment, at least in the past it should have looked better and fresher than today.

Panamint Valley

The next day we were going to Death Valley. Going by car is an amazing experience. Seeing the open country and desert. Just before arriving at Death Valley, we drive through Panamint Valley. While leaving the valley we stopped and did the view back over the valley, an amazing view.

Golden Leaves

What a wonderful time, autumn. The sun stays low and the golden leaves make wonderful scenes to capture. I like autumn, especially in the morning, when all is calm and nature awakes from the long nights with a cold morning. When the first fog comes but the sun still strikes back and brings an awesome sunrise.

Early Moments

The moment, when the sun comes over the horizon and you get the first sunbeams in the morning. When you are alone somewhere in nature and you can enjoy these early moments. Nowadays this is called social distancing to protect from Corona, but actually, this is not a bad idea during other times as well. You get to your own, you can get down and you have time to think about everything you care about and what is important for you. You even start to think about all that stuff from different perspectives and sometimes (OK most of the time) find a solution for something which bothers you for some time.

Autumn Vibes

One of those pictures, where you try something new and get overwhelmed by the result. We just did a small walk with the dog and as the sun was going down I took my camera with me. While crossing a street I found the light spectacular and tried some pictures from a very low angle. The result was awesome and captured the autumn vibes during this moment.

First Autumn Signs

A wonderful walk with our dog during early October two years ago. The sun was lightening the treetops which let them glow in wonderful autumn colors. These were the first autumn signs, an awesome time for landscape photographers.

Look Up

These days it is hard to have a clear understanding of what would come next. But enjoying the moment and place you are in now. Concentrate on what you can do now and never lose hope in the future is the only thing we can do. So look up for the future but be present in the moment. For yourself and the ones around you. Not only during the current crisis but every day.

Down at the Breakers

Sitting aline down at the breakers and watch this wonderful sunrise. This was an amazing time. While sitting at home, not allowed to go out it is wonderful to look at those pictures from the past and remember better times with a big portion of certainty, that those times will come back.

Early Reflections

In a small tide pool, I found wonderful reflections during an awesome sunrise on Crete. I was up very early and alone on the beach so I could fully enjoy the scene. It was a bit slippery on the wet rocks but going down to the tide pool and capture those early reflections was not the worst idea on that day.

First Light

Do you know, that the best and to the same time the worst thing with landscape photography is? You need to get up early in the morning to catch the first light. It is worse because you need to get up very early in the morning but you will be with your own, at least for most of the time. You can enjoy nature without the disruption of the crouds and get rewarded with the first light of the day and wonderful picture.

Cliff Line

After a very long day on Santorini, we arrived at the harbor of Santorini, where our journey started in the morning. And luckily, our ferry was more than 3 hours late, so we could see the sunset at Santorini and how the last sunlight lightened the cliff line around the harbor. It was a fantastic but very long day with a wonderful finish.

Late Summer Sunset

A wonderful late summer sunrise, capture during a session with my wonderful wife. We planned to take couple pictures but I couldn't resists to take at least some pictures without people on the picture to let the wonderful nature be the star.

Sunrise View

Something which looks always incredible is a sunrise pictures combined with a panorama picture. Sitting alone on the beach during a wonderful sunrise, I took the chance to combine this beautiful sunrise with a panorama picture. Here is the result. What do you think?

Sunrise Feeling

I love sunrise pictures. This one was taken in Ahus, in Sweden during a family party last year. I took the picture next to the pier in Ahus in the early morning. I was alone on the beach and it was amazing to see the sun, rising over the horizon.