Natures lighting

It was cloudy and Teresa was driving the rental car. We were in Nevada and at places, the clouds allows rays of sun to create some interesting shadows across the mountains. This shot captured that well. I love the highlights on the top of the mountain, as well as across the valley floor . 

Some of the best photos are simply a matter of using nature’s lighting (and shadows) to create awesome effects on the landscape. 

~ Rick

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

A big rock with a view

El Capitan ... over 3000 vertical feet of solid rock. Most of the photos you see of El Cap do not include this road, the cars, or the people. I love this photo because of the road, cars and the people. They brings context to the image. I normally don’t like to include ‘man-made stuff’ in my nature landscape photos, but in this case, I think it makes for a better photo. 

What you don’t see is the view behind me. Bridalveil Falls is a short hike away, and not far from here you can see Half Dome, another amazing ‘rock’.

These three natural monuments are most frequently mentioned when someone talks about Yosemite National Park, and perhaps are the most photographed. It’s an amazing place. 

~ Rick

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Eastern Phoebe, maybe?

Identifying birds is difficult. Some species look like others, and lighting can make it more confusing. This photo is an example. I believe this is a Eastern Phoebe. It has a green tent to it’s belly, and all the right colors. That said, it’s feathers don’t look right, and maybe it’s a too big. When I first saw her, I thought it was a sparrow .. until I got home and looked at the photos. For now, it’s a Phoebe.  

~ Rick

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 Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Deep snow

Teresa took this photo in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. So much snow ... 

On March 19, my son sent me this weather advisory. ‘200 inches of snow in 18 days’ in the path of our trip. Yes,  I was concerned since our plan was to drive from Salt Lake City to the Yosemite Valley. 

We were nervous, but the improving weather looked like we would be safe. Sure enough, the snow was there, but the weather was improved.

We still saw the leftover snow. I made a stop to take the following photo at about 8000 feet on Rt 88 south of Lake Tahoe. Needless to say, not too long ago, these roads were impassable. 

That was some serious snow.  

~ Rick

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Turkey for dinner?

I have been waiting to share this photo for a few days now. This is a wild turkey and it comes with a great story.

We had gone out for a drive, and were headed back to the lodge. I really can’t describe the road .. remember, we were in the mountains of Yosemite, and the roads wind through the mountain like a noodle in a pile of spaghetti. Winding roads for miles, trees, and not much margin for error. There are spots where the edge of the road end, and then there is just a clift .. a large drop off. I was just focused on my lane so as not to hit an oncoming car, or drop over the edge. My fear of heights didn’t work with me.  

As we come around a curve in the road, I see this very large bird in the road. Right in the middle of the road. My 1st reaction was, “Pheasant”. I really knew better .. it didn’t look like a pheasant. It turned toward us and started this turkey trot, trying to get out of the way. I stopped in the middle of the road as we both scrambled to get a camera. The funny thing is, I was holding my iPhone. But there we were were, two phones and still looking for a camera. Teresa snapped a couple of photos. This was the best one. 

The Turkey was so surprised: We were so surprised. I guess it was almost turkey for dinner.  

~ Rick

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright