The eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California are my backyard playground as many of you know. With an amazing variety of rugged peaks, alpine meadows and gorgeous light, they offer endless opportunity for photography and those with an adventurous spirit.
Here, my wife Maureen, is enjoying the view of the pristine lakes below Bishop Pass on our way to Dusy Basin. It’s honestly hard to say which side of the pass is more spectacular! In case you missed it – check out my recent profile piece in OP here.
Louvre Palace and Pyramid at night, Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Paris is known the world over as The City of Light and rightfully so. When the sun goes down on La Ville-Lumière, the classic monuments and cobblestone boulevards of this vibrant city take on an entirely new appearance.
Many may not realize that its name first referred to its fame as a centre of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, and later to its early adoption of street lighting. During the second half of the 19th century Emperor Napoleon III transformed Paris into a modern city, tearing down entire sections dating back to the Middle Ages, and opening large avenues which let light into the former mediaeval city.
The Louvre Museum is a showpiece not only of some of the world’s finest art, but of Paris after dark. With more than 8 million visitors each year it is the world’s most visited museum, and houses nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century.
Built in the 12th century, the Louvre has been transformed through the ages from a fortress, to a royal palace, an artist’s residence, and finally to its present role as a bastion of the art world. It’s modern glass pyramid, created in 1989 by architect I. M. Pei, is a fascinating design that bridges the gap from the old world to the new. And the golden glow from its reflecting pools is enough to make the Mona Lisa smile.
Morning light on volcanic boulders under The Castle, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah USA
Utah is a geologic wonderland and exploring its myriad canyons and plateaus is journey through time. With one of the highest concentrations of parks in the country from iconic Bryce, Zion and Arches to the seemingly endless expanse of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, one could spend their entire lifetime on the Colorado Plateau and still not see it all. Yet there are still grand vistas worthy of protection in this vast landscape making the prospect of seeing it and preserving it a lifelong pursuit.
One park that often gets overlooked is Capitol Reef. West of the Henry Mountains and east of the town of Torrey, it straddles the most prominent landform in the area – the Waterpocket Fold. This massive upheaval in the earth’s surface (a monocline in technical terms) is over 100 miles long and exposes some 70 million years of our planet’s evolution.
The town of Fruita along Highway 24 on the Fremont River corridor is rich in Mormon pioneer and Native American history. Surrounded by orchards under the towering sandstone cliffs, it’s a beautiful spot to spend a day or a week exploring the natural wonders of this special park.
Capitol Reef National Park contains nearly a quarter million acres in the slickrock country of central Utah. And with only one paved road bisecting it, it’s not hard to find your own space to photograph, hike, or simply contemplate the incredible light and form along the great expanse of the Waterpocket Fold.
