As I collect my thoughts this rainy late afternoon, I’m surrounded by 700-foot red rock cliffs fully engulfed in storm clouds.  Ah yes, we’ve finally received a promising patch of much needed wet weather in the high desert!

For those who’ve followed my work over the last year, you can probably guess that I’m filled with anticipation as to what tomorrow will bring.  It’s a certainty that I’ll be out before first light somewhere in Zion National Park.  Temperatures will be in the low 30’s, the valleys and towering sandstone cliffs will be shrouded in low lying clouds and fog.  Inevitably the storm will begin to break around mid-morning, the highest elevations and peaks of Zion will have a fresh coat of snow, each revealing itself in countless iterations as the sun warms the earth and the clouds begin to break.  The stillness, sights and smells of the high desert in moments like these are among the very best.

Eye of the Beholder

In anticipation of tomorrow, I’m reminded of what has been and how fortunate I was in 2023.  Did everything go as I would have liked?  A resounding no! Did I recognize and take advantage of all of the opportunities that presented themselves? Unfortunately, I did not.  However, I was left with some amazing new experiences, new friendships, strengthened existing relationships, and opportunities to learn and grow both personally and as a landscape/nature photographer.

Photographically my images have become more thoughtfully composed, increasingly simpler with nuances and meaning that the casual observer is likely to completely overlook.  That’s ok however because they mean a great deal more to me personally now than what they ever did and that in itself is enough.  There were many moments standing behind my camera that left lasting memories.  Some of the most notable experiences of the year include first visits to Maui, White Sands National Park, and Canyon de Chelly.  A wonderfully wet winter in the high desert that left snow covered red rock canyons, valleys, and mountain tops.  In the aftermath, Spring brought an exceedingly rare showing of waterfalls and a profusion of high desert blooms of all sorts. Shorter periods of time in Teton National Park and Eastern Idaho provided fascinating views of the Teton Range.  I made my annual trip to central Montana, a swing up to the Beartooth Pass and invested a significant amount of time preparing for my solo exhibit in Bozeman.  July brought a special trip to see an Ansel Adams exhibit in San Francisco and shoot at Point Reyes National Seashore which was absolutely fantastic.  Autumn proved to be somewhat frustrating photographically, but the saving grace was a trip to Western Montana and up to Glacier National Park where I finally managed to witness the vibrant yellows of the Larch trees in Autumn.  Finally, the year was capped off with a series of Georgia O’Keeffe inspired images from the badlands of Southern Utah and a equally satisfying trip to Death Valley National Park to witness and capture its unique beauty and to have a look at the temporary Lake Manly created by the autumn floods.

Signs of Life In hindsight a wonderful year.  So, in the end what came of all of it?  Deeper more meaningful experiences and relationships with people and places that I love.  I learned a lot during my photography exhibit, created two new landscape photography books that I’m deeply satisfied with, secured new gallery representation in Southern Utah at Gallery 873 and an opportunity to carry all of it forward into 2024!

Best wishes to you in the new year!

Oasis