I have mixed feelings as I write this post. The image is a favorite location in the Sierras and a fond memory of a special trip with my kids to the wilderness. But it also holds a deeper meaning for me, a realization that future generations may not see the value in protecting such areas especially if they have little opportunity to experience them and ultimately appreciate and preserve them. Many children today are losing the basic understanding that nature exists even in their own backyards and neighborhoods, which further disconnects them from their knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. It’s important to realize that enjoying a city park can be just as valuable as visiting a wilderness area in terms of instilling a life-long connection with nature.

Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, explores research linking the absence of nature in children’s lives to rising rates of obesity, attention disorders, and depression.  His findings point to an overload of electronic media combined with an understandable concern for safety from parents unwilling to just let their kids roam free. Fortunately Ken Burns recent series America’s Best Idea spurred new interest in our national parks, bringing families together in the outdoors and reversing a trend in recent years refered to as “nature deficit disorder”.

I am a member of several conservation organizations whose common goal is to preserve the natural world and to remind us of the less obvious ways that nature enhances our lives. It can improve our physical health and mental outlook, and most importantly it nurtures our souls.  ”In wildness is the preservation of the world” -  today Thoreau’s words are as meaningful as ever and if embraced by the next generation will ring true long into the future.

Here’s an image of Mount Rainier from our new Forces of Nature gallery, which illustrates the power mother nature can unleash in a moment or over a millennium in the form of wind, water, ice, lightning, or magma. The cloud formed just moments before sunset and the glowing mass made the dormant volcano appear to come alive - a fascinating contrast of fire and ice.

Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona is arguably the finest slot canyon in the American southwest and certainly one of the most photographed. Although beautiful to witness with the naked eye, these jewels of the desert really shine when a long exposure reveals the view our retinas can’t perceive – the subtle shades and hues of the sunlight as it plays on the wind and water sculpted sandstone.

Unlike most landscape photography, which benefits from the warm light of dawn or dusk, slot canyons are best photographed mid-day when the greatest amount of light penetrates the steep and narrow canyon walls.  This image was made with a 24mm wide angle lens and a 30 second exposure - no artificial lighting was used.

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on the Washington-Oregon border east of Portland is a paradise for water-sport enthusiasts, history buffs, and photographers alike.  This magical corridor, which provided Lewis and Clark safe passage through the Cascades during their journey to the Pacific,  today plays host to world-class windsurfing, fine wine making, and includes some of the most beautiful waterfalls in North America.

Latourell Falls pictured here is an icon of the area and one of numerous waterfalls that dot the historic Columbia River Highway. As America’s first scenic roadway, this national historic landmark is an engineering marvel from the last century and as much a destination as the lush grottos, cascades and temperate forests that surround it.

The sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) is one of the most fascinating creatures of the open ocean. These jelly fish, as they are commonly known, are invertebrates with tentacles up to 15 feet long and a bell of up to 3 feet in diameter. Their deadly sting paralyzes their prey which includes pollock, plankton, and other jellies, and they can travel as much as 3,600 feet up and down in the water daily in search of food.

This image was made at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is a wonderful place to experience the undersea world without getting wet! The graceful movement of the jellies is mesmerizing to watch and the large displays offer unlimited possibilities for creative photography.