Colosseum
I usually espouse the benefits of sunrise shots to get empty scenes void of tourists, but there are times when your shooting schedule is so busy that a sunset/blue hour is the only time you have to shoot such an amazing piece of architecture.
I won't try and make you believe that I was given exclusive access to shoot the scene empty, or that I "got lucky" with no tourists in the shot. This image took about 2hrs of on-site shooting, and about 5hrs of editing to get the final shot before you...tourist-free.
Sometimes you work with what you're given, and I can't wait to return to this city to explore and capture more of its beauty!
Rome, ITFrom City & Architecture
The Law Library of the University of Michigan
I had the opportunity to take a course at U-Mich this summer, and with nights free to roam the campus, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Law Library. While getting access after dark wasn't particularly easy, patience prevailed and I was able to get in and photograph the architecture just before closing, and after nearly all the students had left.
Ann Arbor, MIFrom City & Architecture
Piazza Bra
On the recommendation of a friend, we added a quick stop in Verona during out 2016 trip to Italy. Not sure of what to expect, it quickly became one of our favourite cities on the trip; immediately regretting our decision to spend only one night.
Here sits the town centre of Piazza Bra, where the cobblestone streets wrap around the Arena di Verona just before sunrise. A stark contrast from the bustling and music filled scene we experienced at dinner here the night before.
Verona, ITFrom City & Architecture
Piazzale degli Uffizi
The Uffizi art gallery courtyard just before sunrise. The gallery holds collections from several famous artists including Botticelli, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Early mornings are a little tough on the body, but having places like this void of any tourists or people totally make it worth it!
Firenze, ITFrom City & Architecture
Riomaggiore
We had the pleasure of visiting 3 of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre, while staying here on the waterfront in Riomaggiore (just to the right of the yellow building). Sunrise is by far the best time to photograph a place like this, because no one else is crazy enough to get up this early to shoot! Hearing the waves slowly crash on the rocks in front of me while the clouds whizzed by overhead was yet another amazing experience on this whirlwind of a trip!
Cinque Terre, ITFrom Seascapes
Sandstone Swells
My first real shot at abstract photography occurred while looking up in Antelope Canyon. The mesmerizing patterns and flows of texture etched into the sandstone walls, combined with the unique and ever-changing colours reminded me waves crashing in a pool. It also served as a good reminder that the best shots aren’t always in front of you, and widening your views on things can present some amazing opportunities.
Page, AZFrom Landscapes
Ponte Umberto
Linking the Palace of Justice with the areas around Piazza Navona, Ponte Umberto provides an amazing view of Ponte Sant'Angelo, the Tiber River, and St. Peter's Basilica.
Rome, ITFrom City & Architecture
Horseshoe Bend
The bend is an amazing geological feature located just South of Page, AZ where the Colorado River meanders around the horseshoe-shaped canyon. An easy hike in, and no ropes or barriers to prevent you from making the 1000+ ft descent, gave me an excellent opportunity to set up multiple cameras on the very edge, resulting in this panoramic image.
Page, AZFrom Landscapes
Vernazza
The fishing village of Vernazza sits within the Cinque Terre region of Northern Italy. We came across this popular vantage point during the hike from Corniglia earlier in the day, and with the sun setting in the West, it proved the obvious choice for our sunset location later that evening.
Cinque Terre, ITFrom Seascapes
Hourglass
Moving through the canyons in Antelope were like running sprints. The crowds and number of tours moving through the narrow passageways only presents you with a limited amount of time to capture some of the more unique features. The sand falling over the ledge highlighted the need to slow down and appreciate exactly where you are standing, and reflect on how our time on this earth is running out, one grain at a time.
Page, AZFrom Landscapes
The Modern Bramante Staircase
The Momo staircase at the exit of the Vatican Museums is the modern equivalent of Bramante's original staircase from 1505. Built in 1932, architect Giuseppe Momo drew on the original double-helix design of a ramped staircase to allow livestock (or tourists) to move both up and down without ever intersecting. While the original staircase is off-limits to regular visitors, this staircase was definitely a suitable consolation prize!
State of Vatican CityFrom City & Architecture
Spirit
I was lucky enough to experience two light ray events while in Upper Antelope Canyon that day. The first was a thin pencil-like beam that barely illuminated the small area we were in, and then this one on our way out in this epic cathedral. Our guide threw sand into the air to help pronounce the light, with my shutter capturing this ghost-like pattern rising up through the canyon. It is hard to put into words how amazing this area is, and to be able to capture the light, colour, and texture of these canyons was definitely something I won’t forget.
Page, AZFrom Landscapes
The Watchman
After touring the Antelope Canyon that morning, I drove east to Zion National Park for a few days of hiking. I had picked this location while scouting Google Earth prior to my trip, and had planned to shoot the sunset that night. With monsoon season upon us, I decided to setup early to secure my spot, but also hope to get some amazing storm shots in contrast to the usual sunset shots from that location. Over 2hrs, and a nasty thunderstorm later, I stood there soaked and ready to capture the post-storm light. As I was about to give up, the clouds broke slightly, casting an amazing light over the Virgin River and The Watchman Mountain.
Zion National Park, UTFrom Landscapes
A Ray of Light in the Darkness
“…A single ray of light from a distant star falling upon the eye of a tyrant in bygone times may have altered the course of his life, may have changed the destiny of nations, may have transformed the surface of the globe, so intricate, so inconceivably complex are the processes in Nature. In no way can we get such an overwhelming idea of the grandeur of Nature than when we consider…throughout the Infinite, the forces are in a perfect balance, and hence the energy of a single thought may determine the motion of a universe.” - Nikola Tesla
Page, AZFrom Landscapes
