Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015 – IV by MarselvanOosten

Four days ago I won the overall title Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015 with two black and white portfolios – a landscape portfolio and a wildlife portfolio. Here’s the last image from the landscape portfolio.

All four images were shot from a kayak or while standing in the water, on a scouting trip last year in the swamps of Louisiana – off the beaten tracks, and far away from all the usual photographic hot spots. This is surely one of the most magical places on this planet.

You can read more about this series on my blog: http://ow.ly/3yzTBj

In short: two years ago we decided to check out the swamps in Louisiana and Texas to see if we could set up the world’s first Cypress Swamp photo tour there. Last month we returned from our second scouting trip to this amazing place, where we searched for additional locations, finalized the accommodation, and fine tuned the logistics.

We will officially announce the new trip somewhere next week. As usual, we will first contact our most frequent flyers to give them first choice, but after that we’ll open the tours for the rest of you as well.

Special thanks to Daniella for her help setting up these shots.

Marsel

– – –

If you would like to join us on one of our photo tours, please have a look on our website. Only a few trips still have some openings left: www.squiver.com

©2015 Marsel van Oosten, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

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Travel Photographer Of The Year – III by MarselvanOosten

Three days ago I won the overall title Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015 with two black and white portfolios – a landscape portfolio and a wildlife portfolio. Yesterday I posted the second of four images from the landscape portfolio, today the third one.

All four images were shot on a scouting trip last year in the swamps of Louisiana – off the beaten tracks, and far away from all the usual photographic hot spots. This is surely one of the most magical places on this planet.

If you don’t want to wait for the rest of the series, you can also check out the entire story behind the images on my blog: http://ow.ly/3yzTBj

Two years ago we decided to check out the swamps in Louisiana and Texas to see if we could set up the world’s first Cypress Swamp photo tour there. Last month we returned from our second scouting trip to this amazing place, where we searched for additional locations, finalized the accommodation, and fine tuned the logistics.

Somewhere next week we will officially announce the new trip. As usual, we will first contact our most frequent flyers to give them first choice, but after that we’ll open the tours for the rest of you as well.

Special thanks to Daniella for her help setting up these shots.

Marsel

– – –

If you would like to join us on one of our photo tours, please have a look on our website. Only a few trips still have some openings left: www.squiver.com

©2015 Marsel van Oosten, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

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Travel Photographer Of The Year – II by MarselvanOosten

Two days ago I won the overall title Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015, a great honour. Two of my portfolios were selected by the jury – a landscape portfolio and a wildlife portfolio. Yesterday I posted the first of four images from the landscape portfolio, today the second one.

If you don’t want to wait for the rest of the series, you can also check out the entire story behind the images on my blog: http://ow.ly/3yzTBj

All four images were shot on a scouting trip last year in the swamps of Louisiana – off the beaten tracks, and far away from all the usual photographic hot spots. This is surely one of the most magical places on this planet.

Two years ago we decided to check out the swamps in Louisiana and Texas to see if we could set up the world’s first Cypress Swamp photo tour there. Last month we returned from our second scouting trip to this amazing place, where we searched for additional locations, finalised the accommodation, and fine tuned the logistics. Somewhere next week we will officially announce the new trip. As usual, we will first contact our most frequent flyers to give them first choice, but after that we’ll open the tours for the rest of you as well.

Special thanks to Daniella for her help setting up these shots.

Marsel

– – –

If you would like to join us on one of our photo tours, please have a look on our website. Only a few trips still have some openings left: www.squiver.com

©2015 Marsel van Oosten, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

via 500px http://ift.tt/1Pd8H4T

Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015 by MarselvanOosten

I am very excited to share with you that I won the overall title Travel Photographer Of The Year 2015.

The jury selected two of my portfolio’s – one landscape/travel portfolio, and one wildlife portfolio. This makes it even more special for me, because I’m always trying to do both genres equally well, which is why I call myself a nature photographer and not a landscape or a wildlife photographer.

Over the next few days I will post all the winning images here, but if you don’t have the patience for that, you can also check out the entire story behind the images on my blog: http://ow.ly/3yzTBj

I will start with the images from the winning landscape series. They were all shot last year in the swamps of Louisiana and Texas on a scouting trip for the world’s first Cypress Swamp photo tour – more info on that somewhere next week.

All shots were taken on a misty morning just after sunrise, either from a kayak or standing in the cold water. It’s one of the most magical places on this planet.

Special thanks to Daniella for her help setting up these shots.

– – –

If you would like to join us on one of our photo tours, please have a look on our website. Only a few trips still have some openings left: www.squiver.com

Marsel

©2015 Marsel van Oosten, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

Marsel

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The Third Dimension by raygreenphotography

Sunrise at Second Beach, located along the coast of Washington State in Olympic National Park. Thank you for viewing, voting and/or any constructive comments!

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Garden of the Gods Sunset by raygreenphotography

Sunset view of some of the dramatically shaped ridges of red sandstone that make up the Garden of the Gods public park. This amazingly beautiful little park is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Thank you for viewing, voting and/or any constructuive comments!

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Valley Clouds by raygreenphotography

Winter sunset from classic Tunnel View (aka Discovery View), Yosemite National Park. We lucked out with some pretty interesting cloud and low hanging fog formations on this particular evening! Thank you for viewing, voting and/or any constructive comments!

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Curvy Textures of Antelope Canyon, Arizona by PatrickMarsonOng

Upon seeing tons of amazing photos of this place from fellow hobbyists, Antelope Canyon baecame one of my must see and visit place if I ever get my self to visit the US again.

Located on Navajo land, east of Page Arizona, Antelope has been a top-rated tourist destination for sightseers and photographers. It gets crazy crowded almost all the time. Good thing that the only access to the canyon is via Navajo Nation’s authorized private tour companies. Can’t even imagine the traffic of people visiting if its open to the public.

We had the pleasure of joining AACPT – Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours. Got their awesome two canyon deal, Rattlesnake + Upper Antelope. Four hours of non stop photography guided by Roman, an awesome Navajo local guide! You know that your getting the best possible way around the canyon with an “express vip pass” when you enter from the end of the canyon and hear these words coming from your guide:
“Give way for my photographers”,
“You have to move to the end of the canyon”,
“Make way sir, make way”,
“Sir, stop! My photographers are still shooting”,
“You have 3 minutes to shoot guys, i will hold back the crowd”

Oh and we were also greeted by an amazing 4 minute “hoop” dance by a local before starting the tour! Amazing!!!

If you ask me, I prefer the Rattlesnake canyon more than the Upper Antelope. Maybe because we had the place to ourselves, but the tight curves of the Rattlesnake, where you need to squeeze your self into is like an opening to a whole new world for me. Truly an amazing experience guys. These canyons are must see place before you die. I will definitely be back for those light beams on summer!

Cheers guys! Hope you’re havin a great weekend!

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Happy Thanksgiving by chrishpetersen

For all those in the USA, I hope that you had a chance to gather your “flock” to enjoy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish everyone in the US a Happy Thanksgiving … and send a special note of thanks to all for supporting my work.

No turkeys were harmed in making this photo, or used in my Thanksgiving dinner.
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Colored Hoodoos of Coal Mine Canyon, Arizona by PatrickMarsonOng

Coal Mine Canyon is a lesser known gem tucked in between the border of Hopi and Navajo Indian Reservations, Arizona. A place greatly inspired by jaw-dropping images of Paul Rojas, Guy Schmickle, Joseph Rossbach and Dave McEllistrum. This became one of my must see and visit place because of them and Paul was kind enough to give all the directions on how to reach this place plus a creepy ghost story too! hahaha! You rock man! Owe you one!

Driving down the dirt road, away from the highway made us wonder if it was the right turn-off. No sign of any canyon, just a plain flat and boring field. Then after a few more seconds, there it is!!!!! Mini canyon with multiple layered ravines, cliffs and pyramid-like formations imaginable. Mix of red, orange, grey, brown and black colors complimenting each other. What an awesome view!!

Without the presence of any guard-rails, you are free to roam around and explore the area. Finding a spot to shoot from was easy, well for a person who’s not afraid of heights. It’s always been an awkward feeling for me shooting in such terrain haha! With soft and crumbly edges all over the canyon, it was a crazy-scary experience. No luck with the clouds, went for that intense red-orange glow after sunset.

What intrigues me the most are the ghost stories told by both Native Americans and Anglos about this place. “They claim that on certain nights, when the moonlight dances across the hoodoos, a white mist rises from the bottom of the canyon and forms the shape of a beautiful young woman. The stories say the apparition is that of a young Navajo wife who once walked along the rim of the canyon with her husband and small child, who both fell to their deaths. The grief-stricken wife returned to the spot every night until she died, and now her ghost returns when the moon is full. Miners have also reported they hear “knocking sounds” after dark. Another bit of folklore deals with the Eagle Woman who fell into the canyon and was buried there, but climbed out of her grave and now appears occasionally to frolic in the moonlight. Others believe the ghost is Masaw, an omen of death.”

So……. Night shoot anyone?!? LOL!

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