Are you planning to visit Mount Rainier National Park this summer? As it has done with several other popular parks recently, the National Park Service recently implemented a reservation system for Rainier that requires a timed-entry permit. Here’s what you need to know. From May 24 to September 2, permits are required to enter the Paradise Corridor from either the Nisqually Entrance on the west side (Hwy 706) or the Stevens Canyon Entrance on the east side (Hwy 123).   From July 4 to September 2,  a permit are required to enter the Sunrise Corridor via the White River Entrance on Hw ..read more

Racoon in Asilomar State Park, California, USA. This photo was made with AI. No, I didn’t go online and prompt some wizard to produce an image of a raccoon in a forest, but I took advantage of some amazing technology to process this photo.  I made this photograph 20 years ago with my first pro-level digital camera, a Nikon D100. At that time, Lightroom hadn’t even been invented and Photoshop was in its infancy. The original was underexposed and the color was not good, which is probably why I passed it over previously.  So where does the AI come in? To begin with, my camera was set to ..read more

The Cat and Kittens sea stacks at Bandon Beach on the southern Oregon Coast. Penelope and I spent a few days at Bandon on the southern Oregon Coast this week. Bandon Beach has been one of our favorite places in Oregon since we moved to the Pacific Northwest over 30 years ago. It also just happens to be one of the best places on the entire west coast of North America (in my opinion) for photography. Just beyond the iconic sea stacks of Face Rock and Howling Dog, this group of smaller sea stacks is known as the Cat and Kittens. All are part of the Native American legend of Princess Ewauna. We kn ..read more

When Muench Workshops asked me if I would lead a photo workshop on the Isle of Lewis and Harris in Scotland, I said “Sure!” without having the vaguest idea about where it was or what was there. I soon found out that Lewis and Harris is the largest of the Outer Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland. I’m back home now after a thoroughly enjoyable ten days, with great memories and hundreds of photos to edit. Our local guides took us all over the island to photograph some fascinating and very photogenic locations. Here are some of the highlights of the trip. The Calanais Standing Stones ..read more

Three long days of driving brought me from Oregon to the city of Hermosillo, the capital of the state of Sonora, Mexico. When traveling, I usually prefer camping in Rusty, my Volkswagon Westfalia, but I opted for a hotel for the night. While by no means deluxe, Hotel San Alberto was clean, inexpensive, and conveniently located just three blocks from the main plaza in the historic city center. Like most cities in Mexico, Hermosillo has a large plaza in the historic central district. The gleaming white Palacio Gobierno fronts Plaza Zaragoza on the east side. On the west side is Catedral Metropo ..read more

Frost and snow-covered pine trees; West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park My best to you and yours at this special time, and hoping that 2024 brings you health, happiness, peace, love, and many excellent adventures. The post Happy Holidays! appeared first on Wanders & Wonders ..read more

If you are like most nature and landscape photographers I know, long about late summer you’re really looking forward to the changing of the seasons and hitting the trail for some fall color photography. Here are some tips for creating wall-worthy photos of colorful autumn scenes. 1. Timing is Critical: Research and plan your photography for the peak of fall foliage in your desired location. Different regions experience peak colors at different times. In mountainous regions, the peak will vary according to elevation. Peak color can also vary from year to year. Check this map for current and pr ..read more

Oregon oak trees with lichen; Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Willamette Valley, Oregon. The day started out, once again, cold and with a solid overcast sky. But I hadn’t been out photographing for days, needed some exercise, and very much wanted a break from computer work. I put on some layers, grabbed my photo backpack, and headed to Mount Pisgah Arboretum. I’m lucky to live just a few minutes away from this beautiful park and the surrounding Howard Buford Recreation Area, with miles of trails and varied natural habitats. My good buddy Tom Kirkendall says “There’s always something to photograph”, bu ..read more

It’s a new year and I’m making my way home from Mexico with a drive up the Baja Peninsula. Not rushing this trip and taking time to review the past year. I’m way behind on processing the photographs I made during numerous travels and workshops, but here are 10 of my favorites from 2022. Mesquite Flat sand dunes in Death Valley National Park, California.Young blacktail deer buck with velvet antlers at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, Washington.Outdoor dining at restaurants on Cava de San Miguel in Madrid, Spain.Sea stacks at Bandon Beach on the southern Oregon Coast.An adult Bald Eagl ..read more

Summer Lake Wildlife Area is one of the best places in Oregon to view and photograph migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds. Similar to a national wildlife refuge but managed by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), the area consists of a large marsh, multiple ponds, and associated uplands. Summer Lake is located in southern Oregon, in an area that is included in the Northern Great Basin geographical region of the United States. Summer Lake Wildlife Area was created in 1944, with the primary objective of protecting and improving waterfowl habitat and providing a ..read more