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Rime ice on pine tree, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Dawn light on Mount Whitney from the Alabama Hills, Sequoia National Park, California

Crescent moon and dawn light over the Big Sur coast, California

Fall color and fresh snow at Lake Sabrina, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Sunset at Soberanes Point, Garrapata State Park, Big Sur, California

Barrel cactus in bloom, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

 Backcountry skier in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Rime ice on pine cones and branches, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Point Lobos State Reserve on the Big Sur Coast south of Carmel is the quintessential California seaside location. Once the haunt of nearby residents Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, it’s rocky cliffs, cypress groves, pebbled beaches, and blue lagoons provide an enless variety of photographic opportunities.

As part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary its waters are home to abundant sea life including the endangered sea otter. And extensive trails wander through the rare groves of Monterey Cypress, which only occur here and in the nearby town of Monterey, and are the classic wind-swept symbol of the central California coast.

The City of Refuge (or Pu’uhonua o Honaunau) is one of my favorite spots on the Big Island of Hawaii. This tranquil national historic park is tucked away on the Kona coast not far from the spot where Captain Cook became the first European to land on the Islands and later met his fate.

Today it is a quiet palm lined beach and lagoon perfect for snorkeling or photography, but in ancient Hawaii it was both a favorite residence of the high chiefs and a safe haven for defeated warriors and those who had broken the kapu (ancient laws). It is also a sanctuary for the endangered green sea turtles that feed in the shallow cove and frequent the sandy beach to rest.

June 8th is World Oceans Day – a chance to celebrate the bodies of water that make up 70% of our planet and provide us with food, recreation and place to rejuvenate the spirit. As home to an estimated 230,000 marine species, our oceans are a vast wilderness with ecosystems critically linked with our own. Unfortunately many of the earth’s inhabitants never see or experience our oceans, yet our impact through pollution and over-fishing has taken its toll.

Organizations such as the The Ocean Project provide a great opportunity to get directly involved in protecting the future of our oceans through personal and community involvement. Working with zoos, aquariums, and conservation groups, they sponsor beach cleanups, educational programs, art contests, film festivals, sustainable seafood events, and other activities which help to raise consciousness of how our lives depend on the oceans and what we can do to keep them healthy long into the future.

Madame Pele has re-awakened on the the Big Island of Hawaii this week. The floor of the Pu‘u ‘O‘o crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park collapsed and a fissure opened up on the flanks of Kilauea sending lava high into the air. For more than a quarter century the goddess of fire has let her temperament be known on this island creating one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and once again she is feeling uneasy.

This image taken a few years ago of the lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean at night shows the raw force of fire and water combining to form new land. It is an incredible spectacle to witness and one of the most challenging subjects I have ever photographed. Walking across miles of a’a lava fields (the sharp brittle variety) in the dark and carefully setting up a tripod on a newly formed shelf above the sea is a stark contrast to shooting the lush forests and beautiful beaches on the opposite side of this same island. But the experience is intoxicating and Madame Pele’s pull will keep me coming back again and again.

Jack Johnson’s well known line sums it up nicely when it comes to many things and especially outdoor photography. It’s wonderful to visit and photograph beautiful locations, to have a permanent (or so we hope) record of our experience long after the trip is over, but an added plus is always being able to savor those moments with someone else.

A recent exchange online got me thinking about all the benefits of sharing your photographic adventures with a friend or partner. Beyond the obvious pleasure of simply enjoying a tropical sunset together or wandering down a forest trail and savoring the smell of wet pines after a storm, there’s another big perk – perspective. Having someone in your landscape images can often add a unique visual element that gives the viewer a sense of place, and with action shots the benefit of being able to give direction (although utmost care is needed here) can make for much more compelling imagery.

In this image, my wife Maureen and I are just starting off on a 16 mile journey down the Na Pali coast of Kauai. Shooting this close to the water is always risky business, but I managed to keep my equipment dry with the careful use of a drybag while my partner helped line up the perfect shots. So the next time you’re heading out to shoot bring a friend, and don’t forget to let them get in on the action.

Giant Sequoia in winter, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California

Winter dawn on Carson Peak, June Lake, California 

California Poppy detail, Antelope Valley, California 

Wildflower abstract, Tehachapi Mountains, Angeles National Forest, California 

The Old North Church and gas street lamp on the Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts 

Professional cyclists at the Amgen Tour of California, Santa Monica Mountains, California 

Salt pan under Telescope Peak at dawn, Death Valley National Park. California

Eroded hills below Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park. California 

Spanish fountain at the Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara, California

Sea nettles at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California

Low tide and sunset over Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California

As a landscape photographer I spend a fair amount of time on the road each year often traveling hundreds of miles to remote locations. So it struck a chord when it was recently suggested within the online community of photographers to showcase images of those great scenes that are close to home – essentially in our backyard.

I’m fortunate to have a national park in my backyard and, although it’s 12 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean and I don’t make it out there as often as I’d like, I do get to see it most every day. Channel Islands National Park is made up of five of the eight Channel Islands with Santa Cruz shown here being the largest. The islands are rich in Native American culture and wildlife and are a divers paradise, but even from afar they make a wonderful setting for a classic Southern California sunset.

The Road to Hana along Maui’s east shore is as much a spiritual journey as a travel destination. The endless sea of lush vegetation blending into the azure waters of the Pacific along this legendary highway is quintessential Hawaii. And it’s also a typical scenario for the outdoor photographer – it’s almost too much to take it all in. But that’s where less often becomes more.

Once the grand landscapes have been preserved, it’s time to replace the wide angle lens with a tele or macro and take a closer look. Sweeping vistas captivate our attention and are the cornerstone of outdoor photography, but visual storytelling is about filling in the details that give a sense of place. Often times these elements are right at our feet, and the challenge is simply to not overlook them.

I consider this more of a public service announcement than anything (insert wink here).

On the mainland the season is finally in full swing with brightly colored leaves, a crisp change in the air, and perhaps even a touch of snow at the higher elevations. But things in our 50th state haven’t changed much at all since last season, or the season before – in fact, they haven’t changed much in years. The temperature is still a constant 82 degrees, with light trade winds gently blowing the coconut palms. Dolphin frolic close to shore and the golden sun sets into the azure sea most every evening.

So while we’re all excited about the new look in the rest of the country, let’s not forget some things (and places) never change. And in the case of Hawaii, that’s just fine!