The hike from Corniglia to Vernazza is filled with sights like this photo. The 90 minute hike presents many beautiful photos but this was probably the most rewarding.
I’ve witnessed hundreds of sunrises while photographing the world but there are few that have been as beautiful as watching the sun come up from behind Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Getting up at 5 am to make the trek to Glacier Point was exciting because I knew the possibilities for this shot. The morning definitely was worth the effort as I got to witness this amazing sunrise!
This photo was taken in Napa Valley on a crisp fall morning. I drove past this beautiful field before sunrise and was able to capture the sun breaching over the mountains, reaching towards the sunlit vineyards.
The Flatiron building is one of my favorite New York landmarks. I've never seen a building quite like it. This shot was taken around 3 pm on a cloudy March day. Just as I was about to leave the area something told me to wait a few more minutes. As I looked back through the viewfinder, the sun popped out just next to the building and I snapped this shot.
This photo was taken in Lincoln Park's nature board walk that I stumbled upon one day while exploring the city. This "Honeycomb" structure has a unique style of architecture with a straight view into downtown Chicago.
The light from above Antelope Canyon pours through the slits in the rocks and creates an indescribable atmosphere.
While heading to this location we passed a group of photographers on a bridge shooting another angle of this shot. While it was a good shot it pales in comparison to the reflections we got from this location. We headed just another couple hundred yards down a "secret" path and arrived at this location. We hung out for around 2 hours as the sun lowered into the horizon. Just a few minutes before the sunset Half Dome was lit with this amazing orange color.
Sometimes the clouds and storms of Chicago are more beautiful than the sunrises. On this morning on North Avenue beach I was hoping for a sunrise but after a few minutes I realized that the fast paced clouds would make an equally interesting photo. The blurring of the clouds paired with the reflection pool of Lake Michigan make for a very interesting contrast.
This beautiful door was an amazing find while walking the neighborhood of Ile Saint Louis in Paris. Buildings in this neighborhood had some of the most picturesque entrances I have ever seen.
While photographing the town of Riomaggiore, I took a moment to enjoy the sunset. I quickly realized that the sunset was as interesting as the town itself! This was the view from up on the hill overlooking the small bay of Riomaggiore.
The "El" in Chicago is the base of transportation throughout the city. Many of us Chicagoans view the "El" from the platform everyday but it's interesting to see it from above as a few of the many trains pass one another.
This photo was taken in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn. The photo is of the Manhattan Bridge and if you look closely, in the arch of the bridge is the Empire State Building.
My first day in Yosemite I decided to take an adventure and hike from the valley up to Glacier point via the Four Mile Trail. This is roughly a 3 hour hike both ways and it was vertical pretty much the entire way up. During the hike I stumbled upon many vistas overlooking the valley and Half Dome. I believe that the best way to see any location is by foot and I'm always amazed at the views you can find by accident. This was one of those magical views that you won't see by hitting the highlights of Yosemite.
El Capitan is a magnet for the varying weather that rolls through Yosemite National Park. The heat from the sun is absorbed into the rock and it creates this micro climate when the weather cools down. The weather earlier in the week was warm and sunny and on this particular day a cold front rolled in. This photo was taken moments before the clouds formed on El Cap and swallowed it up. It was amazing to watch how the weather changed in just a couple of hours.
When the shuttle drops you off at the trailhead before sunrise you know it’s going to be a good day. This photo was taken on the Angel’s Landing hike in Zion National Park. This is a view looking back toward the trailhead after the first set of switchbacks.
30 Rockfeller is an amazing building by itself but there is a little spot on the roof that may be the best view of New York City. On my last trip to New York I had the opportunity to observe a fantastic sunset over Manhattan.
While touring my hotel in Florence I noticed that they had a restaurant on the top floor. One early afternoon I decided to see what the view looked like. I was astonished to find that I was above all the surrounding buildings with a direct view of the Duomo and the surrounding city.
Florence has incredible public art, especially in the Piazza della Signoria. I spent a good amount of time walking the piazza taking photos of the sculptures from various angles. At one point I found myself behind the sculpture of Heracles and the detail of the sculpture struck me. Shooting from below makes the sculpture feel larger than life. I also love how the clouds on the left seem to form a face in the sky.
After a long day of travel I arrived at Arches National Park. The forecast for the week was bleak but tonight looked like it might be special. I forgot how dark the night gets without the city lights. As I pulled up to the turnoff, I looked up and could see the Milky Way as clear as day. As the Milky Way made it’s way through the cold night it passed straight through the arch. I was blown away by the beauty as I felt so small in this universe.
Diamond beach is one of the many black sand beaches in Iceland. This beach is special as it is one of the few beaches where the chunks of icebergs wash up onto the black sand and look like diamonds.
The Chrysler Building is one of New York's most recognized buildings. It was completed in 1930 and the Art Deco style continues to add character to the New York skyline. This shot was taken from the Empire State building just after sunset.
There are a few "El" subway stations in Chicago that connect both platforms with bridges over the tracks instead of below. This station runs straight through downtown towards Trump Tower. Using tracks as leading lines towards the impressive tower introduces a new perspective of "The Second City" architecture.
While waiting in line to enter the Colosseum in Rome I attached my wide angle lens to my camera. The weather was threatening all morning but the unique clouds added to the drama of the scene. I decided to shoot almost straight up which gave the Colosseum an even larger feel.
This photo was taken at sunset on a quiet Napa Valley road overlooking the valley behind Domaine Carneros Winery. The road is surrounded by young, lush vineyards and seems to disappear into the inviting, sunlit fields.
This location was another secret gem from my tour guide. We were shooting reflections from the river bank when he suggested that I head into the river. After shooting a few images from the river my guide mentioned that the view from a few hundred yards away was also an incredible view. I headed back down the river and shot this image. What I love about this image is how the trees and river frame Half Dome. The compression of the foreground and background really makes this image work.
El Capitan is a magnet for the varying weather that rolls through Yosemite National Park. The heat from the sun is absorbed into the rock and it creates this micro climate when the weather cools down. The weather earlier in the week was warm and sunny and on this particular day a cold front rolled in and caused these clouds to swirl around and on El Cap. It was amazing to sit and watch as the clouds continued to morph over the 2 hours we were there.
Taken at Park Güell in Barcelona, this photo highlights the unique, detailed architecture of a building designed by Spanish artist Gaudi. The beautifully colored tiles and glass are warmed by a vibrant sunset sky.
I found this location while walking around the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. It was early on a Saturday afternoon and the fountain was crowded with people. I managed to fire off a few shots looking up the stairs of the arcade without catching anyone in the shot. The detail of the tiles and floor are what makes this shot special.
The colors of the rocks inside Antelope Canyon are carved from years of wind and water. Folk lore says that if you look close enough you can see the spirits of the Navajo.
My trip to Zion National Park was far too short. There is so much to see and so much to experience. This is just one example of the beauty of this place. The Watchman is one of the many famous rock formations that litter Zion.
Paris is full of amazing sights and places to explore, and the architecture is stunning on every street. This photo was taken during a walk through the city when a local Brasserie sign caught my eye.
This location was another secret gem from my tour guide. We were shooting reflections from the river bank when he suggested that I head into the river. The fall foliage, clear water and the backdrop of Half Dome made me laugh out loud in amazement.
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of America's most recognized landmarks. I was lucky enough to walk the bridge on a trip to Manhattan. The symmetry of the bridge and its cables provide interesting angles with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
This is a photo of Neuschwanstein Castle, famously known as Ludwig's castle, in Bavaria Germany. I explored a path around the castle and discovered an old, wooden bridge suspended above a 100+ foot waterfall. While intimidating to cross, the bridge offered a picturesque sunset view of both the valley and mountains behind, which frame the historic palace.
Zion National Park has moved way up on my list of favorite places on earth. This was the last hike I took on my trip and it was by far the easiest. The payoff of the short hike is this incredible view straight down one of Zion’s canyons.
While enjoying breakfast at Cafe Varenne in Paris, I looked through the window across the street and spotted this scene. I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a few frames. There isn't anything more European than a scooter parked next to an old, ornate European building.
This shot was taken from the top of Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The building in the center is the Empire state building and off in the distance is One World Trade Center. If you look closely you can see a beacon of light coming from the spire of One World Trade.
The Iceland coastline is a juxtaposition between the sea and magnificent mountains. This photo was taken just off the southeastern coast of the island.
After walking through the Piazzale Michelangelo I decided to explore the area further. I walked another 5 minutes and I stumbled on the church of San Miniato al Monte. From the plaza in front of the church I was able to capture an elevated image of the entire city of Florence.
The south side of Chicago offers arguably the most breathtaking views of the skyline and 18th street is no exception. This photo was taken at sunset above Ping Tom Park on the 18th Street Bridge.
We struck gold one late afternoon in Iceland when we pulled over the car and got the drones in the air. I was able to capture the last light on the mountain range.
I chartered a helicopter at sunrise for this shoot to capture the Chicago skyline from a unique angle. We flew over the lake shore from the south. I snapped this as we crossed over Northerly Island.
The Four Mile Trail in Yosemite is full with surprises around each turn. It's amazing what you can find on a 3 hour hike straight up a mountain. While the hike was far from easy, the views made up for any of the sweat and fatigue I felt during the trip. This particular spot was caught my eye because of the leading lines of the mountain and the trees while providing a breathtaking view of Half Dome.
The Eiffel Tower is a defining landmark of Paris. It is impressive in photos but even more beautiful in person. I walked around every angle of the tower until I took this photo. The wide angle lens accentuates the height and grandeur of the tower.
This vintage style photo of the historic Allerton Hotel on Michigan Avenue was taken from the John Hancock Observatory. From this high angle I was able to capture a view of the famous Tip-Top-Tap ballroom against a seemingly scaled down Magnificent Mile street below.
I decided to wake up early and capture Vernazza during one of the days of my trip. The best views of the town are on the hikes to and from Vernazza. The hike from Vernazza to Monterrosso is the most difficult and the longest. This image was captured early in the hike before the trail got narrow and steep.
This classic view of Manhattan was taken with a shutter speed of 3 minutes, which smoothed out the movement in the water and clouds. The resulting photo contrasts the commanding Manhattan skyline with a glassy river and wispy clouds.
During an early morning walk on the beach of Singer Island in West Palm Beach, I came across a very interesting large rock formation. I knelt down and took this shot just before the sun broke above the water.
The waterfalls of Yosemite are all around the valley. This particular location is right off the road and just in front of the trees is a healthy river. I decided to frame this shot in close to compress the trees with the waterfall and the rock formation. I love the mood of this photo and the colors of the trees in comparison to the rock.
I knew I wanted to take this photo the first day I arrived at Riomaggiore. The location shows the ocean, the shoreline, and the town in a magical way. Luckily the weather cooperated for me and I was able to capture this image during one of the sunsets in Riomaggiore.
This photo captures the Chicago skyline from the top of the John Hancock Tower Observatory, looking south along Michigan Avenue. "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood" - Daniel Burnham
All it took was a couple of cups of coffee to convince my friends to let me into their condo to capture a beautiful Chicago sunrise. The morning of the shoot there were some ominous clouds in the sky but the sun poked through on it's ascension into the sky.
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of America's most recognized landmarks. I was lucky enough to walk the bridge on a trip to Manhattan. The symmetry of the bridge and its cables provide interesting angles with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
The Rookery Building in downtown Chicago is one of America's first skyscrapers and was home to the office of famous Chicago architects Burnham & Root. The building's original staircase is still intact and this photo is looking up from the bottom of the stairwell.
While on the top of 30 Rockefeller, I captured the Empire State Building in the foreground and the newly built One World Trade Center in the background, illuminating both the old and new New York. The beacon of light at the top of One World Trade serves as a remembrance of the heroism and bravery of this great city and country.
The Chicago Air and Water show is one of my favorite annual summer events. The John Hancock Observatory offers a perfect "front row" experience of the show. This photo captured trick planes in formation creating impressive smoke designs above Lake Michigan.
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of America's most recognized landmarks. I was lucky enough to walk the bridge on a trip to Manhattan. The symmetry of the bridge and its cables provide interesting angles with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
We struck gold one late afternoon in Iceland when we pulled over the car and got the drones in the air. I was able to capture this shot just before the sun set for the day.
This flag happened to catch my eye during one of my walks through Paris. The contrast of the flag against the historic and ornate building seemed to capture the beauty of Paris. I kept the flag in color against a black and white background to draw the viewers attention to the flag.
Grand Central Station has a deep history and beautiful architecture. I took this photo with a slower shutter speed to capture the life of the crowds speeding through the terminal.
America's pride was on full display in downtown Chicago this Fourth of July holiday weekend. To capture the flag and bridge along the Chicago river I used a tilt-shift lens, which is designed to help correct distorted lines in images and can also be used for selective focusing. Using this lens I was able to blur parts of the image in camera to produce this unique effect.
Apparently I wasn't the only photographer and tourist with the idea of shooting Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo. After waiting for my spot on the railing and waiting over an hour for just the right light, I captured this image of the sun coming down over the tuscan hills.
Valley view is one of the iconic views of El Capitan in Yosemite. The best part of Valley View is that is looks so dramatically different depending on what time of year you visit the park. I was lucky this day with the cloud cover which provided such a serene view of the valley.
The iconic Cloud Gate sculpture ("The Bean") in Millennium Park is captured here using an exposure over 5 minutes to create a "ghosting" effect of nearby tourists.
Chicago is a magical city at sunset. This photo was taken west of the city just before the sun dipped below the horizon.
This photo was captured while standing in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at Muir Beach, California. The beach is smaller than I expected, but for what it lacked in size it made up for in beauty. The large boulders are a spectacular contrast against the cold, rocky beach. I used a neutral density filter to capture motion in the clouds and the water.
This photo was captured while standing in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at Muir Beach, California. The beach is smaller than I expected, but for what it lacked in size it made up for in beauty. The large boulders are a spectacular contrast against the cold, rocky beach. I used a neutral density filter to capture motion in the clouds and the water.
This photo was captured while standing in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at Muir Beach, California. The beach is smaller than I expected, but for what it lacked in size it made up for in beauty. The large boulders are a spectacular contrast against the cold, rocky beach. I used a neutral density filter to capture motion in the clouds and the water. From this angle the nearby cliffs frame the rocky coastline.
The waterfalls of Yosemite are all around the valley. This particular location is right off the road and just in front of the trees is a healthy river. I decided to frame this shot in close to compress the trees with the waterfall and the rock formation. I love the mood of this photo and the colors of the trees in comparison to the rock.
Just off of Navy Pier in Chicago is an old yet active lighthouse just east of Navy Pier. On this particular day the wind was blowing strongly off the lake, but I used a long exposure technique to produce a smoothing effect on the clouds and water.
The hike to Angel’s Landing is a relative short one but that doesn’t make it easy. After all the vertical switchbacks, you hit the chain section. Pulling yourself up the side of a mountain with a steep drop off gets you thinking about who trail blazed this hike. Once you make it up the first set of chains you are welcomed to Scout Lookout which is the the last stop before the scary part of the hike begins.
Olmsted Point is in the high country of Yosemite. It's about an hour drive from Yosemite Valley. When our tour guide said the sunset would be amazing from there I didn't realize how amazing it would be. It was a cold afternoon when we got there and the temp was falling quickly. Once we parked we had about a 15 minute hike to this location. As the sun started falling the colors exploded into the atmosphere. It is hard to explain what it is like to experience this in person but the images were almost as breathtaking as being there.
