The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches from San Francisco to Cambria California, is the largest preserve in the nation and one of the richest marine environments in the world. Migrating grey whales, sea otters and elephant seals are just some of the protected wildlife that can be experienced along this magnificent stretch of coastline.

This image was made at Sand Dollar Beach on the Big Sur coast in Los Padres National Forest. It is one of the most rugged and scenic areas on the Pacific and a favorite location for photographers, surfers and beach combers alike.  A 17mm wide angle lens was used to frame the half-mile cove and Santa Lucia Mountains beyond, and a split neutral density filter balanced the exposure between the sunset and flowers.

The cliff dwellings of the American southwest are the most spectacular ruins north of Mexico. The Anasazi Indians (or ”ancient ones” as the modern Navajo call them) were the prehistoric pueblo culture that thrived in the Four Corners region between 900 and 1200 A.D. then mysteriously disappeared.

Many of their elaborate structures are well-preserved in national parks such as Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. From three story citadels perched precariously on canyon ledges like Square Tower House above, to the 500 room Great Houses of Chaco Canyon, these skilled masons left a legacy to rival the ruins of ancient Greece.

Archaeologists and scholars still debate what caused their sudden demise toward the end of the 12th century, but the stone handywork of the Anasazi remains a fascinating testament to the vision and tenacity of these ancient people.

One of the more curious natural phenomena is the occasional tendency for nature to mimic human form. Anthropomorphic images (meaning human characteristics in inanimate objects) can appear in rocks, plants and animals. Typically they appear only for a fleeting moment or from a unique perspective, but like finding an Easter egg they are a photographic treat.

This image of Lady in a Bathtub Butte in Valley of the Gods, Utah was taken late in the day to create a strong silhouette and emphasize the outline of the rock against the blue sky. The back-lit clouds added a nice balance to the whimsical scene.

Shooting water in all its endless variety is one of the creative pleasures of nature photography. From drops of dew reflecting a crisp autumn morning to the power of cascading falls frozen in time, the camera allows many unique perspectives of our most abundant resource that are seldom seen in a passing glance.

This image of Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was made on an overcast day with a long exposure of 20 seconds. The cloudy sky diffused the harsh mid-day light and saturated the colors of the mossy rock, while the slow shutter speed gave the falls a silky look.