All In by Pcoskun

All In- This was one of the better sunsets I could recall as of late. I was fortunate to even have photographed it. While most people line up on the bridge to photograph the iconic watchman and virgin river at sunset, my friend Scotty and I decided to try a different approach. We parked alongside the road and scrambled down to the river crossing one of the many foot bridges there. We both stopped at a spot where the river curved, but I found the water to be a little lackluster in terms of rapids and movement. So I began heading down river and of course just moments before the sky was about to explode. I would find a small opening and scramble down only to find there was no composition there. Finally, with the light just beginning to fire up in orange hues, I found myself climbing over fallen trees hoping not to break a leg or drop my camera. I had to think quick, and noticed a small sandy spot just a few feet from the rivers edge. I carefully made my way into the river and set up my camera. I felt like I was in the zone, I couldn’t move because of how awesome the light was getting. However, when I looked down to my feet I could see nothing but sand. I was slowly sinking into this sandy area in the river. At first I didn’t think much of it, and waited until the final tint of orange was out of the sky. Then when all was said and done, it was time to pry myself out of this sand trap. Carefully using my tripod as trekking pole (not something I like to do), I was able to get one foot out. I had to stretch my leg away from the sand to lodge it between a few river rocks so I could pry my other foot out of the sand. Trying hard not to fall into the water with my gear, I carfully navigated my way to the river bank without harm and without anyone taking video of how awkward I must have looked. At least, I don’t believe there is video… It was nice to have photographed this icon in solitude, away from the masses, and to see this incredible display of light.

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Transcendence by Pcoskun

Transcendence- The first image I am sharing from a week long trip through Zion and Bryce Canyon National parks. This image was taken in Zion on a day that looked to be nothing but unfortunate weather. A morning that started off with rain soon brought us high up where the rain turned into snow. If autumn in the southwest wasn’t already one of my favorite things, add a hint of winter and my mind almost exploded. A few friends and I wandered down to this wash were a row of beautiful golden trees stood against a canyon wall. The wash now flowing with water and rising rapidly giving us some unique conditions and compositions for this particular spot. As a photographer, I prefer “bad” conditions. Poor weather often produces some of the best photographic conditions, and obviously this day was no exception.

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Gumdrop Ridge by Pcoskun

Gumdrop Ridge- This is an image I photographed in south coyote buttes in Northern Arizona. It’s a spectacular place, one of my favorites as soon as I stepped foot onto the landscape here. There are so many interesting rock formations and patterns to admire here. I had seen images of this little rock commonly referred to as the “Gumdrop”. The split tones in the rock make for an excellent photo of itself, but when you look at the ridge behind it, you notice that the pattern continues up the slope. It makes you feel like you are in the game Candyland, and that each tile of rock is a space on the board. This was taken after sunset as the last remaining light was glowing on the rocks. The deep blues of twilight contrasted beautifully with the multicolored sandstone formations.

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Wild Forest by Pcoskun

While I have autumn colors on my mind, I also have the lush greens of Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge on my mind as well. This was one of the few non waterfall images I took while wandering around the gorge earlier this year. I loved how lush and vibrant this scene looked. The greens were as beautiful as I could have imagined and the mossy trees gave it a more wild feel. I didn’t have to hike a dozen miles off trail to find this spot, in fact, it was just a few steps off a short and scenic trail to a few gorgeous waterfalls.

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Explore Beyond by Pcoskun

This is an image I took earlier this year while scouting around for wildflowers. I had driven by this area countless times en route to other destinations that have hardly ever paid off. I was about to do the same again when I just decided why not. I pulled off the side of the road and began walking up a hill that dropped back down again. I always thought the views from the road were pretty nice, but when I got to the edge of this canyon I was pretty impressed. It’s a spot not many really photograph let alone visit despite it’s proximity to the road (and how far you feel like walking out). I noticed a few routes that went down to the bottom which I took note of and will check them out when the weather gets a little cooler here in the desert (it’s still 100+ degrees in the desert!). I didn’t think I would get much for sunset, but the light pushed through and just barely reached into my view. It’s a spot I will likely revisit, but I found it to be quite special for my first time checking it out. Sometimes it pays to go rogue…

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Golden Zebra by Pcoskun

This is a photograph I took while I visited the sand dunes in Death Valley earlier this year. I spent almost an entire day just wandering around what seemed like endless hills of sand. I found myself far away from everything, everyone. I literally felt like I was the only person for hundreds of miles. The only sounds were my footsteps across the soft sand and the occasional slight breeze. It was one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. When I decided to not go any further, I surveyed my surroundings and was overwhelmed by beautiful golden sand dunes in every direction. My wide angle never made it out of the camera bag, and I roamed around with my zoom lens seeing what types of scenes I could compress together. Just on the opposite side of the dune I was standing on, I noticed these beautiful ripples that were being highlighted by the low sun and their shadows. I started snapping away with a huge grin on my face. I was in my element, in the zone if you will. Shapes and patterns were popping out at me left and right and the clear sky couldn’t have worked any better for these types of shots. While I have always wanted to get the sand blowing in the golden light during heavy winds, I feel like I was somewhat lucky in that all the ripples and patterns were in tact the entire time I was on the dunes. It’s just one of those places that I know I will keep coming back to looking for new images and angles. Anyways, hope you enjoy!

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Looking Up by Pcoskun

Now that summer is winding down, my mind is fully set on the colors of autumn in the coming months. The best thing about living in the southwest is that you get to enjoy autumn colors for months instead of weeks unlike many areas of the country. This image was photographed last October in Flagstaff. The aspens were at peak in this section and I wanted to get this cliche shot of the aspens rising into the sky. I had tried the same shot a week before under clear skies, but with the clouds it allowed the pockets of blue to pop and contrast with the golden foliage. I can’t wait to get my first glimpse of fall color in a couple of weeks!

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Morning Moo’s by Pcoskun

I found myself perched up above these unique spires that are somewhat hidden in the maze of cinder cones in Northern Arizona this morning. After getting skunked for a sunset that looked to be promising, I managed to wake up this morning in hopes for a little bit of redemption. Halfway up the hill in the near dark and I was beginning to reconsider this idea. I huffed and puffed while taking a few quick breaks to catch my breath. I could see the faint glow in the clouds to the east and when I finally arrived to where I wanted to be I just felt like laying down and going back to bed. I set up my gear regardless and ate a quick breakfast (if you can even call it that), and waited for the sky to do something. As I was waiting I couldn’t help but hear the many cows down on the prairie that kept mooing and making all sorts of noises. They happened to be making noises all night long as I was trying to get some sleep. The clouds to the east began to turn that beautiful orange crimson color while the clouds above and to the west were barely catching any color. I thought maybe I would be skunked again and that my efforts would not have paid off. Luckily, the light eventually caught some of the clouds above me and above the peak I was starring at. I managed a few dozen photos trying to figure out the best way to capture the whole scene and get those wonderful clouds above. When the light finally crested the horizon, it began to flood the prairie floor and Kendrick peak (the mountain on the horizon) began to catch it’s first light. It was nice to be up in the high country again, and to visit a place I have never been. I am sure I will be back in this area again in a few weeks when fall colors begin (hoping for a good year!).

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Colorful Morning by Pcoskun

Earlier this year I had a chance to join a friend and visit one of my favorite locations in the southwest. After a beautiful sunset and a chilly evening. I awoke before sunrise to get out onto the rock formations and find a few compositions. I typically like to find complex compositions with more unique angles, but when I saw this pool and this formation reflecting in it I figured I would go for something a little more straight forward. The few clouds in the sky just happened to be right above this spot and began to light up from the first rays of the sun. The scene transformed to beautiful blues, pinks, oranges, and purples. It truly reminded me of why these landscapes have inspired me for so long. Before I ever began photography, I always thought of the desert as bland and lifeless. However, after exploring a little bit I was obviously wrong. Most people who have never been in the desert would imagine miles of desolate sand and tumbleweed and shades of brown and tan. The desert indeed can come to life in extraoridnary fashion such as in this scene here. The seasonal pool of water and the reflection of the sandstone is probably the last thing people who have never been to the desert would think of. Add to that the amazing display of color that isn’t different shades of brown. Sometimes, I cannot believe I get to live in such an incredible landscape!

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Payoff by Pcoskun

While exploring the vast expanses of wildflower covered hills in Northern Arizona, I came to find myself atop a hill with one of the most stunning views I could recall seeing. After shooting a pretty vibrant sunset, I kept pushing myself to get to the top of this hill hoping to time it right with the moonrise. I thought the top would never come into view, but sure enough, I could see the cinder hills in the distance and the glow of the moon creeping above the horizon. I searched for a composition quickly and fired off two shots for depth of field and then switched my lens to capture the moon. This made the moon appear more natural to how I saw this scene in person. The last colors of sunset still lingering in the clouds added to the wonderful display of color found within these hills. The very next morning, I forced myself back atop the hill to catch another beautiful sunrise and carpets of vibrant wildflowers blooming. I find it interesting that I have such a connection with this specific image. One of my very first places I had taken photographs was around sunset crater, which is the mountain you see in the background. Back then, I didn’t come back with any photos I enjoyed. To photograph this scene and see how far I have come in my own work in the short amount of time I have been taking photos was pretty special to me. It inspired me just like the first time I went to make photographs in this area. Anyways, I recently put up a handful of images on my website from this summer. Not quite as dramatic of a series I was hoping for, but I think the diversity of the images and the somewhat subtlety of them make them unique. You can view them on my website here http://ift.tt/1NWXGnV

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