http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/ Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:35:21 -0700 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:35:21 -0700 http://www.flickr.com/ http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/buddyicons/28326774@N06.jpg?1364694832#28326774@N06 http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8695367583/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8695367583/" title="Sunset, Bandon Bluffs"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8695367583_df956270ef_m.jpg" width="240" height="71" alt="Sunset, Bandon Bluffs" /></a></p> <p>Bandon, Oregon<br /> _RP15233_4_5_607<br /> <br /> A cold evening in May found me on the bluffs overlooking the Bandon Beach strand. The sea stacks stand testament to what must have been quite a headland that projected out to sea, but time and weather have isolated them from the mainland, safe havens for the thousands of terns, gulls and comorants that nest there. The cacophany of cries gathers with the progression of the evening roost, rising and falling between the waves washing in from the Pacific. There's so many places in Bandon to find images that it's tough to stay still in one spot; a good sunset makes you want to wander to find angles and perspectives on the bluffs and the beach. But I hadn't been here in 2 or 3 years, and this night I was content to just drink in the beauty of the broad view, and hope for details in sunsets to come.</p> Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:35:21 -0700 2011-05-16T23:41:25-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8695367583 Sunset, Bandon Bluffs <p>Bandon, Oregon<br /> _RP15233_4_5_607<br /> <br /> A cold evening in May found me on the bluffs overlooking the Bandon Beach strand. The sea stacks stand testament to what must have been quite a headland that projected out to sea, but time and weather have isolated them from the mainland, safe havens for the thousands of terns, gulls and comorants that nest there. The cacophany of cries gathers with the progression of the evening roost, rising and falling between the waves washing in from the Pacific. There's so many places in Bandon to find images that it's tough to stay still in one spot; a good sunset makes you want to wander to find angles and perspectives on the bluffs and the beach. But I hadn't been here in 2 or 3 years, and this night I was content to just drink in the beauty of the broad view, and hope for details in sunsets to come.</p> Ray Palmer Photography sunset sea seascape oregon landscapes pacific or oregoncoast bandon seacoast seastacks landscapephotography bandonbeach http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8681627597/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8681627597/" title="3D"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8681627597_a448664118_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="3D" /></a></p> <p>Trillium, Northerm California<br /> _RP1638511<br /> <br /> Though I was visiting the Del Norte Redwoods for the Rhododendrons, it was the trillium adorning the forest. This specimen was purpling with age, but not yet turning translucent. I'm guessing this is Trillium grandiflora. I wasn't intending an angle to produce a three dimensional effect, but it struck me that way in processing, so I named the image befitting the plant.<br /> For those interested in the processing, I ran it through Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and selectively blurred the background, using Glamor Glow and Soft Focus.</p> Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:24:12 -0700 2011-05-22T07:53:10-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8681627597 3D <p>Trillium, Northerm California<br /> _RP1638511<br /> <br /> Though I was visiting the Del Norte Redwoods for the Rhododendrons, it was the trillium adorning the forest. This specimen was purpling with age, but not yet turning translucent. I'm guessing this is Trillium grandiflora. I wasn't intending an angle to produce a three dimensional effect, but it struck me that way in processing, so I named the image befitting the plant.<br /> For those interested in the processing, I ran it through Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and selectively blurred the background, using Glamor Glow and Soft Focus.</p> Ray Palmer Photography california plant flower macro trillium flora redwoods http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8653463950/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8653463950/" title="Flourish"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8653463950_ff2f5cf9f1_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Flourish" /></a></p> <p>Peacock (Pavo cristatus)<br /> _RP1558411<br /> <br /> Immediately upon entrance to the West Coast Game Park near Bandon, Oregon, a peacock displayed full plumage, the feather shafts clacking and clattering on the way up while he strutted about, showing off.</p> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:40:18 -0700 2011-05-18T09:47:12-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8653463950 Flourish <p>Peacock (Pavo cristatus)<br /> _RP1558411<br /> <br /> Immediately upon entrance to the West Coast Game Park near Bandon, Oregon, a peacock displayed full plumage, the feather shafts clacking and clattering on the way up while he strutted about, showing off.</p> Ray Palmer Photography bird display peacock flourish pavo plumage cristatus http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8629454712/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8629454712/" title="The West Branch"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8629454712_9cf5f648cf_m.jpg" width="167" height="240" alt="The West Branch" /></a></p> <p>Sacandaga River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> Several years ago, I walked the West Branch in spring, late in the afternoon, wondering just what I was going to be able to get with the sun so low on the western horizon, bouncing off the water into my face. The river was flowing nicely, bank to bank, teasing me with views as the trail wandered near then away from the banks. Rivers are not good subjects when it's bright (usually) and I was shooting film. I passed up a lot of waterside shots, knowing the contrast wouldn't hold. But at this spot, probably desparate to be able to get Something out of the excursion, I worked for a little while, hoping the exposure on the backlit pine canopy would hold the rest of the contrast in the scene. When I got the slides back, it pretty much worked, and the prints held decent detail (for those days) when I had it drum scanned. But, like all artists, I favor my latest work and wonder why I was impressed by techniques on a lot of my earlier work, and this went to the DNR pile. Recently a client wanted a print of this, so I rescanned it on my Nikon 5000, and threw it into Photoshop and brought out some of the contrast detail with Color Efex Pro 4 (Detail Extractor/Color Contrast Range/Pro Contrast). How technology has changed in 14 years--but I'm sure I'll shake my head again in a few years and wonder about 2013 techniques.<br /> Nikon F5, Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8 Lens, 1/2.5 seconds at f/22 Kodak Elite Chrome 100.</p> Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:00:48 -0700 2013-04-07T16:43:53-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8629454712 The West Branch <p>Sacandaga River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> Several years ago, I walked the West Branch in spring, late in the afternoon, wondering just what I was going to be able to get with the sun so low on the western horizon, bouncing off the water into my face. The river was flowing nicely, bank to bank, teasing me with views as the trail wandered near then away from the banks. Rivers are not good subjects when it's bright (usually) and I was shooting film. I passed up a lot of waterside shots, knowing the contrast wouldn't hold. But at this spot, probably desparate to be able to get Something out of the excursion, I worked for a little while, hoping the exposure on the backlit pine canopy would hold the rest of the contrast in the scene. When I got the slides back, it pretty much worked, and the prints held decent detail (for those days) when I had it drum scanned. But, like all artists, I favor my latest work and wonder why I was impressed by techniques on a lot of my earlier work, and this went to the DNR pile. Recently a client wanted a print of this, so I rescanned it on my Nikon 5000, and threw it into Photoshop and brought out some of the contrast detail with Color Efex Pro 4 (Detail Extractor/Color Contrast Range/Pro Contrast). How technology has changed in 14 years--but I'm sure I'll shake my head again in a few years and wonder about 2013 techniques.<br /> Nikon F5, Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8 Lens, 1/2.5 seconds at f/22 Kodak Elite Chrome 100.</p> Ray Palmer Photography ny newyork nature backlight forest river landscape spring adirondacks adk landscapephotography sacandaga adirondackpark verticallandscape westbranchsacandagariver http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8623803390/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8623803390/" title="Morning, Streamside"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8623803390_1a3695d37a_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Morning, Streamside" /></a></p> <p>West Branch Ausable River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> <br /> For those of you who live in proximity to upstate NY, or are familiar with it, Phil Brown wrote a great guidebook last year called Adiondack Paddling: 60 Great Flatwater Adventures. I was honored to be among a number of upstate photographers whose images adorned some of the trip descriptions. Yes, this is shameless self promotion, but in truth, this is a really good guide book, and an entertaining read. <br /> Unlike the previous picture in my photostream, taken down river in the Wilmington Notch in the dead of winter, this location is upstream in the meadows that wander for a few miles below the Lake Placid ski jumps. On a still, crisp spring morning, I found myself down in the dead grasses that were already being pushed out by new growth, tangled brush red with new life, and a forest waking with a new day. In the Adirondacks, a morning like this is a worship.</p> Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:04:53 -0700 2010-04-19T08:33:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8623803390 Morning, Streamside <p>West Branch Ausable River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> <br /> For those of you who live in proximity to upstate NY, or are familiar with it, Phil Brown wrote a great guidebook last year called Adiondack Paddling: 60 Great Flatwater Adventures. I was honored to be among a number of upstate photographers whose images adorned some of the trip descriptions. Yes, this is shameless self promotion, but in truth, this is a really good guide book, and an entertaining read. <br /> Unlike the previous picture in my photostream, taken down river in the Wilmington Notch in the dead of winter, this location is upstream in the meadows that wander for a few miles below the Lake Placid ski jumps. On a still, crisp spring morning, I found myself down in the dead grasses that were already being pushed out by new growth, tangled brush red with new life, and a forest waking with a new day. In the Adirondacks, a morning like this is a worship.</p> Ray Palmer Photography ny newyork nature forest landscape spring stream meadow adirondacks adk ausable adirondackmountains ausableriver adirondackstatepark westbranchausableriver http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8599726352/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8599726352/" title="Wilmington Notch"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8599726352_6d89e6cf4c_m.jpg" width="240" height="102" alt="Wilmington Notch" /></a></p> <p>Adirondacks, NY<br /> <br /> After a few miles of winding through meadows near Lake Placid, the West Branch of the Ausable begins a series of runs and drops through a gorge that runs between Whiteface Mountain and the Sentinel Range. The Wilmington Notch is a jumble of fallen rock and dangerous rapids, although winter has tamed it to a narrow channel.</p> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:41:49 -0700 2012-02-26T14:32:53-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8599726352 Wilmington Notch <p>Adirondacks, NY<br /> <br /> After a few miles of winding through meadows near Lake Placid, the West Branch of the Ausable begins a series of runs and drops through a gorge that runs between Whiteface Mountain and the Sentinel Range. The Wilmington Notch is a jumble of fallen rock and dangerous rapids, although winter has tamed it to a narrow channel.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter river landscapes adirondacks wilmington ausable adirondackmountains landscapephotography ausableriver http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8571199052/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8571199052/" title="Lemon Ice"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8571199052_aa644509a9_m.jpg" width="240" height="185" alt="Lemon Ice" /></a></p> <p>Owl Creek Pass, Colorado<br /> Aspen leaves, in their autumn colors, littered the forest floor, knocked down by a fast moving snow storm.</p> Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:32:36 -0700 2008-10-06T14:55:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8571199052 Lemon Ice <p>Owl Creek Pass, Colorado<br /> Aspen leaves, in their autumn colors, littered the forest floor, knocked down by a fast moving snow storm.</p> Ray Palmer Photography snow cold macro colorado aspens rockymountains snowscape http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8556419815/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8556419815/" title="Mono Lake"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8556419815_f4972aa5ce_m.jpg" width="240" height="158" alt="Mono Lake" /></a></p> <p>Sunrise, The Great Basin, California<br /> _RP1848012<br /> We dropped off the Sierra from Yosemite, a good four thousand feet down the canyon to the town of Lee Vining. The eastern portal town sits at the base of the mountains to the west and on the rim of the basin to the east, holding the alkaline waters of Mono Lake. We needed a shower and supplies, but not the civilization, and we were packed and going as the sky smudged red. A few miles south of town a road goes into the desert, skirting volcanic craters along the southern edge of the basin to drop down to the lake. Water wars in California diverted so much inflow to Mono Lake that levels dropped drastically to expose alkaline salt sediments in the form of towers, called tufa. The formations draw photographers and birds alike-- the birds to the trillions of flies that blacken the shoreline with their larvae (and you thought it was all glamorous?). Towards this background, we headed down the trail to the water. Whether it was the last moments before sunrise or the realization that there were other formations right at my feet, I risked the lakeside sunrise and walked into the scrub. Here, an exploding sea of rabbit brush stretched to the water pan, bright with impending daylight. Hence a tufa-less sunrise at Mono Lake (although a few are peeking in along the near left shore).</p> Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:29:30 -0700 2012-09-08T06:17:54-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8556419815 Mono Lake <p>Sunrise, The Great Basin, California<br /> _RP1848012<br /> We dropped off the Sierra from Yosemite, a good four thousand feet down the canyon to the town of Lee Vining. The eastern portal town sits at the base of the mountains to the west and on the rim of the basin to the east, holding the alkaline waters of Mono Lake. We needed a shower and supplies, but not the civilization, and we were packed and going as the sky smudged red. A few miles south of town a road goes into the desert, skirting volcanic craters along the southern edge of the basin to drop down to the lake. Water wars in California diverted so much inflow to Mono Lake that levels dropped drastically to expose alkaline salt sediments in the form of towers, called tufa. The formations draw photographers and birds alike-- the birds to the trillions of flies that blacken the shoreline with their larvae (and you thought it was all glamorous?). Towards this background, we headed down the trail to the water. Whether it was the last moments before sunrise or the realization that there were other formations right at my feet, I risked the lakeside sunrise and walked into the scrub. Here, an exploding sea of rabbit brush stretched to the water pan, bright with impending daylight. Hence a tufa-less sunrise at Mono Lake (although a few are peeking in along the near left shore).</p> Ray Palmer Photography california ca lake nature landscape monolake sierranevada tufa easternsierra leevining tufatowers sierrarange http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8528608423/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8528608423/" title="ICE CYCLES"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8528608423_850ee26fe3_m.jpg" width="159" height="240" alt="ICE CYCLES" /></a></p> <p>Ice Cycles<br /> Chapel Pond, Adirondacks, NY<br /> _RP861502<br /> <br /> At this time of year, sunlight has a hard time penetrating into all the crevices and inset ledges along the lower cliff face of Round Mountain. Those areas that get longer radiation liquefy and and gravitate ever downward, overflowing along the ridge rock and lengthening the ice flows that hang above the birches on the shoreline, reaching and bent in a ballet all their own between the ices.<br /> <br /> Nikon F5, Nikkor 50-300 f/4, 1/8 sec @ f/16, Fujichrome Velvia 50.</p> Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:46:39 -0800 2012-01-15T17:24:40-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8528608423 ICE CYCLES <p>Ice Cycles<br /> Chapel Pond, Adirondacks, NY<br /> _RP861502<br /> <br /> At this time of year, sunlight has a hard time penetrating into all the crevices and inset ledges along the lower cliff face of Round Mountain. Those areas that get longer radiation liquefy and and gravitate ever downward, overflowing along the ridge rock and lengthening the ice flows that hang above the birches on the shoreline, reaching and bent in a ballet all their own between the ices.<br /> <br /> Nikon F5, Nikkor 50-300 f/4, 1/8 sec @ f/16, Fujichrome Velvia 50.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter ice nature landscape adirondacks adk adirondackmountains landscapephotography chapelpond http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8490423095/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8490423095/" title="After Sundown,Joshua Tree"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8490423095_aa9636fd8c_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="After Sundown,Joshua Tree" /></a></p> <p>Joshua Tree National Park, California<br /> _RP1316611<br /> A layer of blue--the earth's shadow-- rose along the skyline, just below the clouds that were beginning to take definition as sunlight scattered color high into the atmosphere. This is no special place in Joshua Tree, just a piece of desert where it felt right to set up my gear and await the sunset. Remembering to look behind me, the show was here in the eastern sky, gathering the last of the light while the landscape gave up its collected warmth in a subtle glow.</p> Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:10:33 -0800 2011-01-12T21:09:59-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8490423095 After Sundown,Joshua Tree <p>Joshua Tree National Park, California<br /> _RP1316611<br /> A layer of blue--the earth's shadow-- rose along the skyline, just below the clouds that were beginning to take definition as sunlight scattered color high into the atmosphere. This is no special place in Joshua Tree, just a piece of desert where it felt right to set up my gear and await the sunset. Remembering to look behind me, the show was here in the eastern sky, gathering the last of the light while the landscape gave up its collected warmth in a subtle glow.</p> Ray Palmer Photography sunset nationalpark desert joshuatree landcape landscapephotography joshuatreenp http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8474629408/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8474629408/" title="Wilcox Forest"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8474629408_673a5638eb_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Wilcox Forest" /></a></p> <p>Adirondacks, NY<br /> RP12208_9_1012<br /> <br /> The snowfalls of the last couple of the last couple of days coated everything, here in the forest along Stony Creek. Damnably cold, the forecast was to get colder with high winds. But late into the morning, the snowshoe effort held off the temperatures and the forest was still and muffled under the great pine canopy. The blow started on the way back, high above in the treetops, though here at ground level I felt none of it. As the gusts grew stronger, the branches gave up their snow cover, and it showered down through the canopy in fine sheets. The falling snow mist, in turn, defined the sunlight, splintered by branches high above me and piercing the snow fog like the beam of a searchlight. It was at this place that my companion stopped to add a layer, and here the light was coming straight through the woods instead of ahead of us on the trail. I set up with a jagged, lightning-hit tree blocking out most of the orb of the sun,and started shooting series everytime the gusts sent the snow flying. He quickly got moving, but God Rays are not to be taken lightly, and I stayed as long as I could stand it, fingers reaching pain level and remote cord threatening to snap in half. Though I've experienced these type of scenes in the fog (in appreciably warmer seasons), I counted my blessings of witnessing a similar phenomenon with snow.</p> Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:42:31 -0800 2013-01-22T12:14:25-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8474629408 Wilcox Forest <p>Adirondacks, NY<br /> RP12208_9_1012<br /> <br /> The snowfalls of the last couple of the last couple of days coated everything, here in the forest along Stony Creek. Damnably cold, the forecast was to get colder with high winds. But late into the morning, the snowshoe effort held off the temperatures and the forest was still and muffled under the great pine canopy. The blow started on the way back, high above in the treetops, though here at ground level I felt none of it. As the gusts grew stronger, the branches gave up their snow cover, and it showered down through the canopy in fine sheets. The falling snow mist, in turn, defined the sunlight, splintered by branches high above me and piercing the snow fog like the beam of a searchlight. It was at this place that my companion stopped to add a layer, and here the light was coming straight through the woods instead of ahead of us on the trail. I set up with a jagged, lightning-hit tree blocking out most of the orb of the sun,and started shooting series everytime the gusts sent the snow flying. He quickly got moving, but God Rays are not to be taken lightly, and I stayed as long as I could stand it, fingers reaching pain level and remote cord threatening to snap in half. Though I've experienced these type of scenes in the fog (in appreciably warmer seasons), I counted my blessings of witnessing a similar phenomenon with snow.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter wild lake ny newyork forest snowshoe adirondacks wilcox wilderness adk stonycreek crepuscular adirondackmountains http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8459468603/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8459468603/" title="Zion Narrows"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8459468603_bde803b789_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Zion Narrows" /></a></p> <p>Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah<br /> <br /> Zion is steeped in Biblical nomenclature. The word itself is Hebrew for sanctuary or refuge. Spanish explorers named the river for the Virgin Mary. The Temples, the Patriarchs, Cathedral, Angel's Landing...all testify to the inspired faithful who got to name this place. The road ends at the Temple of Sinwava, but one of the premier hikes anywhere begins here. The trail ended when the river spread cliff to cliff, and after a shriveling slog through cold water up to my armpits, with my gear in my daypack, gripped over my head, I hoped the desert air would dry me fast as I followed the canyon upriver. The thin blue vault above is surrounded by impossibly high cliffs, selectively sunlit, lighting surrounding cliffs in turn with bounced wavelengths. The colors were brilliant and subtle at once, changing as the sun tracked across the outside world. This is the heart of Zion, the river the life blood in an artery feeding the desert. It is primal and stays that way, the frequent floods scouring out the imprint of man. Here between these narrowing walls, it is hard not to be humbled. The Narrows may not be so-named, but they deserve biblical respect. <br /> <br /> This is a vertical stitch of three images, processed in Photoshop and cropped to format.</p> Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:01:10 -0800 2011-09-22T15:16:03-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8459468603 Zion Narrows <p>Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah<br /> <br /> Zion is steeped in Biblical nomenclature. The word itself is Hebrew for sanctuary or refuge. Spanish explorers named the river for the Virgin Mary. The Temples, the Patriarchs, Cathedral, Angel's Landing...all testify to the inspired faithful who got to name this place. The road ends at the Temple of Sinwava, but one of the premier hikes anywhere begins here. The trail ended when the river spread cliff to cliff, and after a shriveling slog through cold water up to my armpits, with my gear in my daypack, gripped over my head, I hoped the desert air would dry me fast as I followed the canyon upriver. The thin blue vault above is surrounded by impossibly high cliffs, selectively sunlit, lighting surrounding cliffs in turn with bounced wavelengths. The colors were brilliant and subtle at once, changing as the sun tracked across the outside world. This is the heart of Zion, the river the life blood in an artery feeding the desert. It is primal and stays that way, the frequent floods scouring out the imprint of man. Here between these narrowing walls, it is hard not to be humbled. The Narrows may not be so-named, but they deserve biblical respect. <br /> <br /> This is a vertical stitch of three images, processed in Photoshop and cropped to format.</p> Ray Palmer Photography southwest nature river landscape utah nationalpark ut hiking canyon zion zionnationalpark slot slotcanyon virginriver canyoneering virginrivernarrows http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8436316461/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8436316461/" title="Farm, Seward Township"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8436316461_1224139a0c_m.jpg" width="240" height="159" alt="Farm, Seward Township" /></a></p> <p>Schoharie County, New York<br /> _RP11657_8_9_HDR_NOV<br /> <br /> The Leatherstocking region of New York is a landscape of hardwood forests and wetlands, giving way to acres and acres of rolling hills and farmland, cleared centuries ago for crops and cattle. There are big operations, but mostly it's family farms, in various states of repair. In November, the harvest is in and the fields turned over. But pleasant weather often wears late into the month--gentle autumn days of diffuse light. I like to lose myself on the backroads out here, although it's hard to really get lost if you have an inner compass and know a few landmarks. So often, the light flees before you can find a good place with a suitable subject, but this evening I was blessed--a few minutes before sundown as I crested a rise, the fields and barns were raked by the last wavelengths of the day. I'll find it again, but I'll only be lucky enough to find it this way once.</p> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:07:39 -0800 2012-11-16T17:22:03-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8436316461 Farm, Seward Township <p>Schoharie County, New York<br /> _RP11657_8_9_HDR_NOV<br /> <br /> The Leatherstocking region of New York is a landscape of hardwood forests and wetlands, giving way to acres and acres of rolling hills and farmland, cleared centuries ago for crops and cattle. There are big operations, but mostly it's family farms, in various states of repair. In November, the harvest is in and the fields turned over. But pleasant weather often wears late into the month--gentle autumn days of diffuse light. I like to lose myself on the backroads out here, although it's hard to really get lost if you have an inner compass and know a few landmarks. So often, the light flees before you can find a good place with a suitable subject, but this evening I was blessed--a few minutes before sundown as I crested a rise, the fields and barns were raked by the last wavelengths of the day. I'll find it again, but I'll only be lucky enough to find it this way once.</p> Ray Palmer Photography autumn sunset ny newyork landscape farm hdr landscapephotography leatherstocking schohariecounty http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8415035389/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8415035389/" title="Hearthstone Point"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8415035389_7367345822_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Hearthstone Point" /></a></p> <p>Lake George, NY<br /> _RP24524<br /> <br /> The state park was silent, the sites empty and barriers up for the winter. But with promising skies, I parked at the gates and made my way down the steep grade, through the woods to the only open area of the park, at the water's edge. Geysers of steam curled off the water, not yet frozen, pretending to be warm. For a brief window the sky lit up through a gap on the far horizon, but shortly after rising, the sun disappeared behind the overcast.</p> Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:35:33 -0800 2012-12-28T11:35:48-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8415035389 Hearthstone Point <p>Lake George, NY<br /> _RP24524<br /> <br /> The state park was silent, the sites empty and barriers up for the winter. But with promising skies, I parked at the gates and made my way down the steep grade, through the woods to the only open area of the park, at the water's edge. Geysers of steam curled off the water, not yet frozen, pretending to be warm. For a brief window the sky lit up through a gap on the far horizon, but shortly after rising, the sun disappeared behind the overcast.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter lake sunrise point landscape adirondacks lakegeorge adk adirondackmountains landscapephotography hearthstone http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8402802541/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8402802541/" title="Peaked Hill"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8402802541_296e7c4546_m.jpg" width="240" height="159" alt="Peaked Hill" /></a></p> <p>Paradox Lake, Adirondacks, NY<br /> _RP15858_910<br /> The walk across the black ice of Paradox Lake was creepy, even though it was plenty thick. The thud of giant bubbles vibrated through the sheet, as did occaisional cracks and sonar sounds as the ice expanded in the early morning. I comforted myself that if I could follow truck tracks, it must be safe. On the other side, in the woods, I followed the trail past Peaked Hill Pond, hooking westward towards the gentler west flank and then up to the summit. These were new views, for me; Peaked Hill is only accessible via the lake. Here, above the south facing cliffs, I looked out over Paradox Lake and Schroon Lake, farther in the distance, lying before Severance Hill and the foothills ranging below the Blue Ridge. The sense of wilderness is as strong or stronger here, a less-travelled area compared to the High Peaks lying to the northwest. Alone, with slim chance of anyone else even thinking about this destination, I enjoyed the silence, broken only by the slightest of breezes through the pines, and my footsteps over the rock and snow.</p> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:07:58 -0800 2010-02-21T11:57:07-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8402802541 Peaked Hill <p>Paradox Lake, Adirondacks, NY<br /> _RP15858_910<br /> The walk across the black ice of Paradox Lake was creepy, even though it was plenty thick. The thud of giant bubbles vibrated through the sheet, as did occaisional cracks and sonar sounds as the ice expanded in the early morning. I comforted myself that if I could follow truck tracks, it must be safe. On the other side, in the woods, I followed the trail past Peaked Hill Pond, hooking westward towards the gentler west flank and then up to the summit. These were new views, for me; Peaked Hill is only accessible via the lake. Here, above the south facing cliffs, I looked out over Paradox Lake and Schroon Lake, farther in the distance, lying before Severance Hill and the foothills ranging below the Blue Ridge. The sense of wilderness is as strong or stronger here, a less-travelled area compared to the High Peaks lying to the northwest. Alone, with slim chance of anyone else even thinking about this destination, I enjoyed the silence, broken only by the slightest of breezes through the pines, and my footsteps over the rock and snow.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter mountain lake ny newyork nature hill adirondacks hike wilderness paradox landcape adirondackmountains landscapephotography peaked adirondackstatepark http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8402505379/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8402505379/" title="Wild Horse Butte, Moonset"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8402505379_e822d5e518_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Wild Horse Butte, Moonset" /></a></p> <p>San Rafael Prairie, Utah<br /> Pockets of hardened snow lay in dips and behind grassy mounds on the San Rafael prairie on this early morning. The map indicated this was Wild Horse Butte, a stately sandstone monument near Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. From a flat horizon east, the sun crested and lit everything instantly. The cold, dry air began to warm as well, and the rock layers soaked up light and belted out color like a heating coil. For awhile I watched the moon and sun in their cycle around these ruins and tried to imagine the original structure, but those heights are now strewn down the flanks and engulfing the bentonite ramparts below, leaving a jagged core of teeth on the desert's jawbone still waiting to be weathered away.</p> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:24:08 -0800 2009-01-17T12:06:24-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8402505379 Wild Horse Butte, Moonset <p>San Rafael Prairie, Utah<br /> Pockets of hardened snow lay in dips and behind grassy mounds on the San Rafael prairie on this early morning. The map indicated this was Wild Horse Butte, a stately sandstone monument near Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. From a flat horizon east, the sun crested and lit everything instantly. The cold, dry air began to warm as well, and the rock layers soaked up light and belted out color like a heating coil. For awhile I watched the moon and sun in their cycle around these ruins and tried to imagine the original structure, but those heights are now strewn down the flanks and engulfing the bentonite ramparts below, leaving a jagged core of teeth on the desert's jawbone still waiting to be weathered away.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter landscape utah ut butte desert sanrafaelreef wildhorsebutte http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8351941398/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8351941398/" title="Floodstage"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8351941398_4dff7bc048_m.jpg" width="240" height="159" alt="Floodstage" /></a></p> <p>Schroon River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> RP12691_210<br /> This photograph was taken in December of 2011, the start of an unusually mild winter in upstate New York. What should have been snow at that time of year, instead fell as rain, and swelled the rivers and streams over their normal haunts, drowning boulders that were my usual platforms along this stretch of the Schroon. The main channel was a bit frightening, a fury of water even though this is always a section of rapids. A fern in autumn color, that I had used earlier in October as a foreground, still remained, but was losing the battle to remain upright. It stood in the lee, now, of a large rock that waves threatened to submerge, drowned stalks pulling at the whole plant, shaking it as they whipped in the water plunging downstream. The flood, like gravity, pulled me toward it, an inner need to see how close to the noise and motion I could get wihout being sucked in. This was my safety spot, as close to the edge as I comfortably dared.</p> Sat, 05 Jan 2013 21:29:37 -0800 2010-12-03T14:44:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8351941398 Floodstage <p>Schroon River, Adirondacks, NY<br /> RP12691_210<br /> This photograph was taken in December of 2011, the start of an unusually mild winter in upstate New York. What should have been snow at that time of year, instead fell as rain, and swelled the rivers and streams over their normal haunts, drowning boulders that were my usual platforms along this stretch of the Schroon. The main channel was a bit frightening, a fury of water even though this is always a section of rapids. A fern in autumn color, that I had used earlier in October as a foreground, still remained, but was losing the battle to remain upright. It stood in the lee, now, of a large rock that waves threatened to submerge, drowned stalks pulling at the whole plant, shaking it as they whipped in the water plunging downstream. The flood, like gravity, pulled me toward it, an inner need to see how close to the noise and motion I could get wihout being sucked in. This was my safety spot, as close to the edge as I comfortably dared.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter river landscape flood adirondacks hdr adk adirondackmountains landscapephotography adirondackstatepark schroonriver http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8326491768/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8326491768/" title="The Shark's Tooth"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8326491768_43284275cf_m.jpg" width="161" height="240" alt="The Shark's Tooth" /></a></p> <p>Bandon Beach, Oregon<br /> _RP0024407<br /> <br /> Wandering the beach, under the Bandon bluffs, I first noticed this jagged monolith from the water's edge. I came up and did a couple of wide circumnavigations, looking for angles, but the vision that struck me originally was what spoke to me now. It's not really called the Shark's Tooth, or at least I could find no evidence of this particular formation named. It may have been a sea stack, or a piece of one of the other stacks, huge towers of rock, separated from the mainland by sea and sand. Almost a pyramid, it seemed more fitting to anthromorphize it to that dark beast of the sea, a primordial force like the wind and water that shaped this sculpture. <br /> <br /> I used Silver Efex Pro to bring this into grayscale, which suited the mood better to me. I got lucky with cloud cover diffusing the sun a bit, and adding some subtle crepuscular rays that I brought out a little more by using a red filter in the program.</p> Sun, 30 Dec 2012 09:08:56 -0800 2007-09-08T20:54:08-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8326491768 The Shark's Tooth <p>Bandon Beach, Oregon<br /> _RP0024407<br /> <br /> Wandering the beach, under the Bandon bluffs, I first noticed this jagged monolith from the water's edge. I came up and did a couple of wide circumnavigations, looking for angles, but the vision that struck me originally was what spoke to me now. It's not really called the Shark's Tooth, or at least I could find no evidence of this particular formation named. It may have been a sea stack, or a piece of one of the other stacks, huge towers of rock, separated from the mainland by sea and sand. Almost a pyramid, it seemed more fitting to anthromorphize it to that dark beast of the sea, a primordial force like the wind and water that shaped this sculpture. <br /> <br /> I used Silver Efex Pro to bring this into grayscale, which suited the mood better to me. I got lucky with cloud cover diffusing the sun a bit, and adding some subtle crepuscular rays that I brought out a little more by using a red filter in the program.</p> Ray Palmer Photography seascape west oregon tooth coast blackwhite pacific or sharks oregoncoast bandon grayscale seacoast landcape seastacks landscapephotography bandonbeach http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8278026117/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8278026117/" title="Antelope Highway"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8278026117_93d7be1c6e_m.jpg" width="160" height="240" alt="Antelope Highway" /></a></p> <p>San Rafael Reef, Utah<br /> _RP592709<br /> The herd was on the move in the hour after sunrise.I drove back down the road a bit, and got out, walking a diagonal cross country and mostly out of site of them, thanks to a low rise in the prairie. When I saw them again on their game trail, I ducked behind a hummock of rabbit grass and sage and waited for an opportune moment to photograph this buck, framed against the backdrop of high desert and butte.</p> Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:02:01 -0800 2009-01-17T11:33:11-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8278026117 Antelope Highway <p>San Rafael Reef, Utah<br /> _RP592709<br /> The herd was on the move in the hour after sunrise.I drove back down the road a bit, and got out, walking a diagonal cross country and mostly out of site of them, thanks to a low rise in the prairie. When I saw them again on their game trail, I ducked behind a hummock of rabbit grass and sage and waited for an opportune moment to photograph this buck, framed against the backdrop of high desert and butte.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter southwest nature animals mammal utah desert antelope sanrafaelreef http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8256812684/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/28326774@N06/">Ray Palmer Photography</a> posted a photo:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28326774@N06/8256812684/" title="Frozen Tear (Lake Tear of the Clouds)"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8256812684_936eed7c3b_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="Frozen Tear (Lake Tear of the Clouds)" /></a></p> <p>Sitting in the col between Skylight Mountain and Gray Peak, Lake Tear of the Clouds lies dormant in the season. Not much more than a pond, a couple of acres in size, it is the headwaters of the Hudson River, starting a journey of some 300 miles, and ending in an environment that couldn't be more different than this. Afternoon shadows are already lengthening here, as I begin my journey back, nine miles paltry in comparison. In the distance, Mounts Colden, Wright, and Algonquin stand guard.</p> Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:10:49 -0800 2012-12-08T20:18:31-08:00 nobody@flickr.com (Ray Palmer Photography) tag:flickr.com,2004:/photo/8256812684 Frozen Tear (Lake Tear of the Clouds) <p>Sitting in the col between Skylight Mountain and Gray Peak, Lake Tear of the Clouds lies dormant in the season. Not much more than a pond, a couple of acres in size, it is the headwaters of the Hudson River, starting a journey of some 300 miles, and ending in an environment that couldn't be more different than this. Afternoon shadows are already lengthening here, as I begin my journey back, nine miles paltry in comparison. In the distance, Mounts Colden, Wright, and Algonquin stand guard.</p> Ray Palmer Photography winter ny newyork mountains nature adirondacks mount hudsonriver algonquin wilderness adk adirondackmountains highpeaks colden laketearoftheclouds adirondackstatepark highpeakswilderness