Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt Pisgah.
Moore Cove Falls (#1, Vertical), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields
Another photograph of the Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields, also made with a 10-stop ND filter. This time I decided to get closer to the bottom of the falls to try to capture the whole series of cascades in one (non-panoramic) image.
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (15″22.5″)
Panorama of Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields
After taking a brief hike up to Devil’s Courthouse, we drove to Graveyard Fields and walked to the Upper Falls- lovely scenery, and a beautiful set of falls at the end of the hike. With a 10-stop ND filter, I made a series of 5-second exposures of the falls as they cascade over the rocks and around the corner.
Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields (Panorama #1), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (18″x45″)
Spring Storm Clouds from Devil’s Courthouse
Rain clouds approaching us at Devil’s Courthouse. The dark cloud in the distance over the ridge on the right moved over us and delivered some nice spring rain and thunder as we were hiking near Graveyard Fields about an hour later.
Spring Clouds from Devil’s Courhouse (Single Frame #1), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (12″x21″)
Panoramic View from Devil’s Courthouse
Last weekend, I took a trip out to the Blue Ridge Parkway- I stopped by the Devil’s Courthouse as some dramatic spring storm clouds were rolling in. The trees at ~4,000-5,000 feet were just about to leaf out, but not quite, so it still looked a bit like late winter on the Parkway.
Spring Clouds from Devil’s Courhouse (Panorama #1), Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (17″x54″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves, Part 4
A few more long-exposure photographs of the rocks and waves at Bodega Bay, CA.
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#9, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (12″x21″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#10, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (12″x21″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves, Part 3
A few more long-exposure photographs of the rocks and waves at Bodega Bay, CA.
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#6, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (12″x21″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#7, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (12″x21″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves, Part 2
Another 6-second exposure photograph of the rocks and waves at Bodega Bay, CA.
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#5, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (12″x21″)
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves
On a recent trip to central California, I spent a morning hiking around the Bodega Head trails and photographing the rocks and waves. This was a 6-second exposure of the waves breaking around the rocks.
Bodega Head Rocks and Waves (#3, Color), Bodega Bay, CA (15″x22.5″)
Fields and Clouds at Bosque del Apache, Part 2
Grasses glow in a field under the setting sun and winter clouds at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
Fields and Winter Clouds (#2, Color), Bosque del Apache NWR, NM (12″x21″)
Fields and Clouds at Bosque del Apache
Fields and winter clouds at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
Fields and Winter Clouds, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM (12″x21″)
Mountains and Clouds at Bosque del Apache
I love to drive down to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in central/southern New Mexico and watch the cranes land around sunset. However, I’m not a wildlife photographer, so I like to arrive early to stroll around before sunset and look at the clouds, surrounding mountains, and open fields.
Bosque Mountains and Winter Clouds, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM (15″x22.5″)
Sandia Ridge in Clouds
A fin of rock along one of the ridge lines in the Sandia Mountain Range pokes up into the clouds.
Sandia Ridge in Clouds (Single Frame #1, 2021, B&W), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (22.5″x15″)
Sandia Mountain Winter Storm, Part 5
After shooting a several panoramas, I used my ND filter to make a few long-exposure photographs of the passing winter storm. I shot a series, ranging from 30 seconds to 6-7 minutes. There wasn’t enough blur in the clouds at <30-60 seconds, and at >3-4 minutes the clouds started losing most of their texture/blur, so I decided to share the 61s and 91s exposures.
Sandias and Winter Clouds (ND Single Frame 61s, 2021, Color), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (15″x22.5″)
Sandias and Winter Clouds (ND Single Frame 91s, 2021, Color), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (15″x22.5″)
Sandia Mountain Winter Storm, Part 4
After shooting a series of panoramas, I decided to make several single-frame photographs focused on the foothills and the patch of light on the mountains in the background. Here is one of my favorite single-frame photographs.
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Single Frame #1, 2021, Color), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (15″x22.5″)
Sandia Mountain Winter Storm, Part 3
Another panorama of the Sandia foothills as winter storm clouds lift over the Crest. This is one of my favorite sets of photographs from the evening because the brighter foothills and clouds seem to frame the dark mountains. I can’t decide if I like the color or black and white version of the panorama better, so I decided to post both; the clouds appear more dramatic in the black and white version, and the foreground pops out more in the color version. Note the splash of light in the far left mid/background on the foothills.
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Panorama #8, 2021, Color), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (21″x76″)
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Panorama #8, 2021, B&W), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (21″x76″)
Sandia Mountain Winter Storm, Part 2
Last week I posted a panorama that focused on the path in the foreground, but for the second round of panoramas, I decided to focus more on the dramatic clouds draped over the mountains.
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Panorama #4, 2021), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (21″x64″)
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Panorama #3, 2021), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (20″x52″)
Sandia Mountain Winter Storm, Part 1
Winter storm clouds obscure the top of the Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sandias and Winter Clouds (Panorama #1, 2021), Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (18″x67″)
Grayson Highlands Ridge Views
Several more views of the clouds and receding ridge lines from a summer trip to Grayson Highlands.
Cows Grazing and Receding Ridges under Clouds, Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (12″x21″)
Receding Ridges under Clouds, Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (12″x21″)
Grayson Highlands Panorama, Part 3
Panorama of the ponies under a tree on the ridge trail to Mount Rogers in Grayson Highlands.
Grayson Highlands Ridge and Ponies Panorama (#4, Color), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (16″x50″)
Grayson Highlands Panorama, Part 2
Panorama of the views along the trail to Mount Rogers in Grayson Highlands, this time looking back to the south down the ridge towards the trailhead.
Grayson Highlands Ridge Top Panorama (#7, Color), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (16″x66″)
Grayson Highlands Panorama, Part 1
I haven’t been as focused on panoramic photography recently- instead I’ve been making more single-frame photographs focused on time (long exposure). However, sometimes it is just too hard to capture the magnificent views of a rolling landscape with a single-frame photograph. Here is one of the panoramas I took from the ridge leading up to Mount Rogers from Rhododendron Trail in Grayson Highlands back in the July, 2021.
Grayson Highlands Ridge Top Panorama (#8, Color), Grayson Highlands State Park, VA (16″x52″)
Panorama of Crater Lake and Maroon Bells
Crater Lake, Maroon Bells, and Passing Clouds (B&W, 2021), White River National Forest, CO (16″x51″)
Crater Lake and Maroon Bells
Even at nearly 10,000 feet elevation, the trailhead at Maroon Lake was a bit warm. Fortunately, the relatively short (~1.8 mile) hike to Crater Lake only ascends about 600 feet and is partly shaded through evergreens and aspens. The views of the mountains and gathering clouds above Crater Lake were as beautiful as usual, so the walk, despite the warmth, was worth it. I was glad I had a 15-stop ND filter to make a 4-minute exposure of the lake and the movement in the clouds around noon. I shot the photo at f/16, so I could have even made an 8-minute photograph at f/22 (wish I would have now- the clouds could use a little more blur!).
Crater Lake, Maroon Bells, and Passing Clouds (B&W, 2021), White River National Forest, CO (13″x23″)
Luke Parsons Photography 