Photo of the Day: Kebler Colors

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The aspen grove at Kebler Pass is recognized as one of the largest living organisms in the world. Aspens do not produce seeds like other trees. Instead, they proliferate by vegetative regeneration, meaning the roots of one tree spread and sprout new trees. All of the trees of a given colony are clones of one another and the boundaries of a given colony become clear in autumn as the entire colony changes colors simultaneously.

Photo of the Day: Raptor Wings

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A Himalayan Griffin vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in flight. Perfection in design is exemplified in the wings of this large raptor. Mother Nature has a way of making man's designs look so simplistic and inefficient.

Photo of the Day: Chai! Chai!

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It's always a good time for a tea break in India. Masala Chai, or just chai (spiced tea), is indisputably the national beverage of India. Chai wallahs (tea vendors) are found on just about every street corner and alleyway in its cities. Good wallahs maintain a loyal following and some make a bit of a show out of the preparation of their product. Black tea is combined with spices, milk, and sugar to create the sweet concoction that satisfies the soul of a nation.

Photo of the Day: Shoreline Sunset

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It's hard to know which conditions will produce a spectacular sunset. Skies that seem promising often fizzle out to muted tones while others that look plain in daylight explode with super saturated colors.  I was lucky that the latter happened one winter evening as I was exploring the shoreline of Lake Cachuma with my camera.

Photo of the Day: Lotus Bloom

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The perfect blossom is as beautiful as it is transient.

Photo of the Day: Shiva On Wheels

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Holi, India's Festival of Colors, is a riotous celebration of the arrival of Spring. Enthusiastic revelers 'play Holi' with handfuls of colored powders that are thrown, rubbed, and smeared over everything and everyone. Holi is not a spectator sport, participation is mandatory. Rich, poor, tourist or local, no one is exempt. But it's all in the spirit of  celebration and good fun. In fact, another name for Holi is the Festival of Sharing Love.

Photo of the Day: Morning Devotions

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Chanting, meditation, and scripture reading are all part of the morning rituals at Tidrum nunnery in Tibet. "Oh, my Buddha!" I thought when this incredibly atmospheric scene presented itself after stepping through an innocuous door in the nunnery. I didn't want to be disrespectful and disturb their activities, but I knew this was a special moment, so I tried to make myself as small and quiet as possible. A few of the nuns noticed me but didn't seem to mind me making my pictures. I think I exposed about a dozen frames or so before quietly slipping out.

Photo of the Day: Follow Me

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Surefooted mountain sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) must learn from an early age how to navigate treacherous terrain. Stone sheep in Northern British Columbia are one of four species of bighorn sheep native to North America.

Photo of the Day: Baja Joshua Tree

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Dark clouds appear ominous, but hold the promise of much needed moisture in the arid environment of Baja California

Photo of the Day: Not What You Think

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Not what you think...this Lady lives in Las Vegas. I took a stroll down the 'Strip' one morning and found Lady Liberty perfectly paired with Old Glory in front of New York, New York casino. She's not the real thing and I know the scene is ironic on several levels, but one thing you can't deny is that Las Vegas Blvd is a target rich environment for photographers.

Photo of the Day: The Fabric of History

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Varanasi is the center of the silk weaving industry in India and much of the work is still done by hand in the surrounding villages. Most weavers are members of cooperatives that furnish the equipment and raw materials and guarantee a fixed price for the finished products. The looms are usually set up inside the weavers' homes and use a mid-nineteenth century punch card technology known as a Jacquard machine to reproduce complex designs.

Photo of the Day: Reservoir Raindance

It's been some time since Lake Cachuma in the Santa Ynez valley has looked this full and lush. The reservoir, one of the principal sources of drinking water for residents of Santa Barbara, has reached a critically low level  due to the ongoing drought in California. This late winter aerial view of Cachuma was made at sunrise  during the last year that the area received above average rainfall.

New Meetup Event: Seeing 101

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We all instantly recognize good pictures when we see them. Then why is it so hard to capture one with our cameras? Come find out the answer in Ken Lee’s presentation, Seeing 101, at the Santa Monica Public Library, Oct 15 at 1:30 pm. Admission is free, but space is limited, so please sign up if you’re coming and try to show up a little early. 

You’ve heard of the photographer's eye. It’s the thing that lets some people find amazing photographs in scenes where others see nothing. And as much as technology can dress up mundane pictures, it’s creative vision that’s ultimately at the core of making images with impact. The question is whether you have to be born with this special talent or is it something you can acquire? Ken Lee knows from experience that the ability to fluently speak the visual language that we all innately understand is one that anyone can learn, practice, and develop. Ken calls it the Art of Seeing and he has dedicated himself to helping others learn to see artfully. Ken will share his own ‘aha moment’ story when he suddenly understood the key to making good photographs, the principles behind his Whole Brain approach to learning photography, and plenty of practical tips to help you expand your creative vision. The presentation will run about 45 - 60 mins and there will be a Q&A session afterward. We look forward to seeing you there.

Photo of the Day: Pilgrim Prostrations

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Devout pilgrims inch their way across incredible distances towards Lhasa. Pilgrimages to holy sites are essential expressions of faith in Tibetan Buddhism with the emphasis placed on the journey rather than the destination. Some choose to make these journeys, often lasting months and covering hundreds of miles, in an infinite series of prostrations interspersed by only three steps.

Photo of the Day: Caste Together

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Young Hindu priests in training of the Brahmin caste gather after a sunrise yoga session on  the banks of the sacred Ganges river in Varanasi, India. 

Photo of the Day: Freedom Cry

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The majestic bald eagle is once again thriving in the nation it symbolizes. When I lived in Colorado, just outside of Steamboat Springs, I had the most wonderful nature-filled commute. In the space of 10 miles or so, I saw an incredible variety of slam-on-the-brakes scenes with the passing of the seasons. Herds of elk in the hundreds in fall, Sandhill cranes with their chicks in spring and Redtail hawks hunting in fields of fresh cut summer hay. One winter morning, I noticed some activity in the branches of a dead tree that large birds often perched in. As I got closer, I saw that this time it was a pair of bald eagles. The fully fledged adult, which I assumed to be the mom, was standing on the topmost tree limb and seemed to be scolding her mostly brown offspring. I made up the content of the conversation in my head as I scrambled to set up my camera and tripod. "Time to move out and make your own way in this world, son," it seemed she was saying. I fired off dozens of frames as the lecture continued. This one is the best of the bunch. I opened the gallery a little late that day, but it was well worth it.

Photo of the Day: Light My Fire

A Hindu priest holds up an offering of fire to Mother Ganga, goddess of the holy Ganges, as part of a ritual known as Aarti. In Varanasi, Aarti is performed every night, rain or shine. As sunset approaches, pilgrims and toursits gather along the river bank in large numbers. Many send their own offerings in the form of diyas, small cups containing a flower and candle. floating down the river.

Photo of the Day: Inspiration Station

Part of the beautiful glass ceiling at the LA Metro's Union Station stop. Los Angeles is definitely not known for its public transportation system but it's come a long way in the last few years and it's a great way to explore LA for tourists and locals alike.

New Website, New Work, New Workshops!

Welcome to my new site! I'm very happy to announce the launch of www.artofseeing.com, the new home of my blog, contests, events and workshops. It took a while longer than I planned and there's still a bit of cleanup going on in the corners but I think it turned out nicely. There's a lot going on around here and more to come so I hope you will have a look around. If you want to skip to the good stuff, here are a few highlights: 

• My newest workshops: Immersive India, Wild Mustangs of the Adobe Valley, and High Sierra on Horseback. More workshop announcements coming soon so check back often or sign up for advance notification
• Name This Image contests. Who doesn't like free stuff? Well, if you can come up with the perfect title for one of my images, I'll send you a beautiful signed print! Nothing come to mind this time around? Don't worry, there will be many more contests and opportunities to win
• We just launched a new  MeetUp group in Los Angeles, Art of Seeing Adventures. We're all about learning more about photography and expanding our creative vision. Our first event, in conjunction with Worldwide Photowalk Day  is the Venice Beach Photowalk on Oct 1. We're planning lot's more photowalks, presentations, gallery tours and even some weekend excursions. So if you're in the LA area and passionate about photography, join us or sign up for my newsletter to be kept in the loop.

 Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you out there!

New Workshop! The Art of Seeing: India 2017

Looking for an immersive photography adventure? Join me on our India photography tour as we capture the colors of the Holi Festival. Learn more today.