Radiant Rays

Fushimi Inari | Kyoto, Japan Exploring the endless orange torii gates is what attracted me to Fushimi Inari Taisha. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the mountain the shrine sits on was much bigger and quite the challenge to hike. It had been overcast most of the day. I luckily managed to reach the Yotsutsuji intersection just as the sun was beaming through over the city.

Memories

Okunoin Temple | Koyasan, Japan Happy New Year all! Hope everyone's year is starting off on the right foot. Shots from a new trip are always prime candidates to work on, but this year I'm digging through my catalog to find some hidden gems I missed the first round. Japan is easily one of my most favorite places. Make time to get to Koyasan. It offers you the opportunity to stay amongst the Buddhist monks and visit Japan's largest cemetery. This place isn't about the destination, it's a journey.

Fork

Lago Nordenskjold | Torres del Paine, Chile The park is filled with lush trees as well as some great exposed ones like this guy. It was a perfect foreground subject while watching the winds dance across the beautiful lake waters.

Stranded

Kai Bae Beach | Koh Chang, Thailand The small AirBnb we stayed at was right on the beach which was incredible. However, the weather was not ideal and pretty much cloudy the entire time. Luckily it cleared up one day to get a proper sunset. I overlooked this the first time as I really under exposed it even with leaving it open. Turns out there was some good stuff hidden beneath!

Italian Escape

Piz Boe | Rifugio Capanna Fassa, Italy My multi-day hike through the Dolomites has to be one of the most challenging treks I've ever done. It also has to be one of the most rewarding as the views looking out across the network of mountains are a sight to behold.

Slush

NY got some good snow so decided to take advantage of it and hit up Hunter Mountain for some snowboarding. On the way back as night began to settle in, I stopped off at the base of the Kaaterskill Falls hike. If you've never been, go! The hike is great and there's a sweet, huge two-tier waterfall waiting as reward. The nice thing too is right off the highway are the Bastion Falls pictured here at the start of the hike to get you warmed up.

Jungle Rush

Mae Ya Waterfall | Chiang Mai, Thailand This waterfall definitely has to be one of my favorites I'm visited thus far. The hike to it is short and easy. As you come around the corner, it comes into view through the trees. From this angle, the trees make for a really interesting natural frame. I've been working more on my long exposure shooting. I think this captures the beauty of the waterfall nestled in the jungle.

Glaciers & Green

Thorsmork | Iceland This valley is so unique with a mix of white glaciers, bright green mountains and red, black volcanic rock. I even got the opportunity to hike atop the volcano Eyjafjallajokull which erupted in 2010.

Solitary

Lonely Beach | Koh Chang, Thailand Koh Chang is filled with sandy beaches and beautiful waters. Lonely Beach is a lovely, quiet beach sprinkled with bungalows. This tree out on its own looking out to the tiny islands off in the distance was serene.

Mothership

Refugio Paine Grande | Torres del Paine, Chile The variety of clouds in Torres del Paine is expansive. I happened to capture this one during a sunset. The way it absorbed the sunlight and it's massive stature, I was expecting an alien spaceship to come out!

Hiding in the Mountains

Rifugio Pisciadu | Corvara, Italy Nestled in fortress-like Sella Massif, this little mountain inn was a great pit stop after a steep start to my hiking excursion.

Cascade

High Falls Conservation Area | Hudson, NY High Falls is a great little short hike in Hudson Valley. The Conservation Area is big but you’ll be at these beautiful falls before you know it. The town of Hudson is also a great spot with restaurants, antique stores and other little shops that embodies that upstate NY town feel.

Ripple

Valle de la Luna | Atacama Desert, Chile Back from a long trip in Chile and boy was it a good one. So many pics to work on and showcase! This one is from Valle de la Luna in the Atacama Desert. The landscape in the Atacama Desert is other wordly. So many various terrains and textures. You'll see as more pics come! I like this in particular because it has a great mix of the silky smoothness of the sand dunes along with the grains and waves. Hope you like!

Veins

Refugio Paine Grande | Torres del Paine, Chile Sunsets in Torres del Paine were incredible. The sky is always filled with all sorts of clouds and they get painted with brilliant pinks and purples. That backdrop against the towering mountain range is such a great spectacle. I thought the the exposed branches out of this bush was very interesting.

Soufflé

Scarlet

Fork Too

Blade

Valle de la Luna | Atacama Desert, Chile The Great Dune in Valle de la Luna is quite impressive. Calling it great is an understatement. The massive collection of untouched sand admist Mars-like rock surface is smooth and sharp like a sword's edge. It's mesmerizing staring into blanket of sand! Enjoy!

Spike

Prickle

Mist

Hanakapi'ai Trail | Kauai, HI This is a great hike near near the Napali Coast which takes you to the famed Kalalau Trail. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do the Kalalau Trail this go around but it is definitely on my to do list. Anytime attempting this should at least extend this hike to the Hanakapi'ai Falls. A challenging hike all-in-all but worth the challenge. It was raining the day I did this hike and it's still this beautiful!

Lover's Sunset

Kekaha Beach | Kauai, HI I had already seen a few sunsets in Kauai by now but I got settled in and waited for it to slowly make its way down. This couple crept their way into the shot, but as I looked around more and more people had gathered arm in arm and hand in hand. It was a very romantic setting to enjoy.

Sacred Shoreline

Napali Coast | Kauai, HI Any travel site is bound to insist you explore Kauai's Napali Coast and for good reason. The razor-sharp mountain cliffs against the beautiful, clear blue ocean is one of nature's greatest gifts. There are only a few ways to actually get to the coast but a helicopter tour is truly breathtaking.

Cathedral

Awa'awapuhi Trail | Kauai, HI The new year has brought frigid temps to NY. Like most snowbirds, I'm dreaming of somewhere warm and thinking back to my trip to beautiful Kauai. This trail is moderately difficult, but the pay-off makes it must do. The Napali Coast is just an amazing display of nature's wonder. The intricate, deep mountain rigids against clear blue waters is one of my favorite places in the world.

Alien

Thorsmork | Iceland Named after the Norse god Thor, this mountain ridge truly looks like you're on another planet. The black volcanic rock really accentuates the bright green of the mountain that is a must see in person.

Sprite

Reach

Rifugio Franz Kostner | Corvara, Italy I was chatting with one of my clients yesterday and they mentioned leaving soon to vacation in the Austrian Alps. It made me think back to my time in the Dolomites in Northern Italy. My time, however, was spent hiking instead of skiing. There are a ton of trails to traverse mountains in any range of difficulty. I can image these slopes are loads of fun for snowboarding so I see a return trip in my future.

Tranquil Coast

Tunnels Beach | Kauai, HI Taking a helicopter tour of the island is a fantastic way to experience Kauai's beauty. Tunnels Beach is known for its reef and some of the best snorkeling on the island. You really get to see the waves wash over it from up above.

Arctic

Lago di Fedaia | Canazei, Italy Took a nice weekend away to snowboard and boy was it cold. I thought back to my time in the Dolomites where while a little chilly I didn't hike the glaciers. Marmolada is supposed to have some amazing skiing so might be worth braving the cold. I got the chance to stay near the base by Lake Fedaia and it is lovely up close as well.

Sunrise Dreaming

Pisciadu Valley | Corvara, Italy Waking up early to start the day's hike, the sky is still deeply blue but the sun is fighting its way to begin a new day. It was such a dream-like sight to see the clouds floating through the mountain pass.

Filter

Rifugio Franz Kostner | Corvara, Italy Trekking through the Dolomites, I had to wake up fairly early each day to get a start on the day's long, challenging hike. The sunrises however made it all worth while. Mountains as far as the eye can see. When the sun shines just over the mountain tops, it filters out into the valleys like this. Not a bad way to start the day.

Wrench

Carretera de Sa Calobra | Mallorca, Spain The twisting, winding roads of Sa Calobra are both terrifying and amazing at the same time. The roads are very narrow and steep, but the views of the mountainside are tough to take your eyes off.

Envelope

Rifugio Pisciadu | Corvara, Italy I love clouds. The countless shapes they came in, and how they can it can blanket a mountain side like this. You get a peek of the towns sprinkled between the high cliffs. It's worth staying a night in the Rifugios and being able to wake up and watch something like this unfold as the sun rises.

Piz Boe

Relax

Rifugio Franz Kostner | Corvara, Italy If you find yourself traveling to the Dolomites, definitely make it a point to stay in the rifugios along the way. They're great for a pit stop as you traverse the mountainsides or a great experience for an overnight stay. After a long day's hike enjoy a few pints, have a hearty meal and sit back with friends and loved ones.

Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji | Kyoto, Japan Kyoto has so many great sites and this temple is certainly one you must visit. The grounds surrounding the temple are lovely and the temple itself it all its golden glory is quite impressive.

Falls over the Edge

Kaaterskill Falls | Hunter, NY A popular huge, two-tier waterfall with a hike from the base that is steep but short. The waterfall itself is refreshing and the views looking out from the top are marvelous.

Watery Heaven

Mae Ya Waterfall | Chiang Mai, Thailand The Doi Inthanon National Park is a real treat and home to its fair share of waterfalls. This one is not only the largest in the park but regarded as one of the most beautiful in Thailand and I can certainly see why. The surrounding rocks really showcase the beauty of these falls. It was the first waterfall of the trip and really set the bar high. This is a must-see if you’re in Chiang Mai.

Peek

High Falls Conservation | Hudson, NY These falls are incredibly easy to get to. It's more of a stroll than a hike, but who doesn't love getting to see a waterfall like this. I managed to find a great opening where the trees create a great natural frame. If you're in upstate New York, definitely stop by.