Some images from the recent Frans Lanting Spring Workshop. We had several locals participating and others from as far away as Germany. Our shooting locations included the UCSC Arboretum, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Elkhorn Slough, Point Lobos State Reserve, Garrapata State Beach, and Asilomar State Beach. We had an especially good morning on Captain Yohn Gideon’s pontoon boat in Moss Landing. The weather and light were perfect and Yohn maneuvered us into great position for photographing the abundance of birds, otters, sea lions, harbor seals, etc. Plans are already in the works for a fall workshop in late October.
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has been doing some great work protecting our local natural resources, and to date has protected close to 12,000 acres. They’ve recently acquired Star Creek Ranch, a 1,200 acre property in the heart of the Pajaro Hills. The Ranch provides crucial habitat for wildlife and fish including mountain lion, bobcat, endangered California Red-legged Frog, and steelhead. It also acts as an important link to other large habitats and with Pescadero Creek running right through it, drains an 8,000 acre watershed that flows into the Pajaro River.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the Ranch (which is considered extremely important as a climate change refuge in Santa Cruz county), and spend an afternoon photographing this gorgeous property. I was treated to lush spring grasses, gusty winds, wildflowers, oaks galore, and a sweet sunset. In the coming year(s) I hope to help the Land Trust document the seasonal changes and critical biodiversity found on the Ranch.
Lupine and Grasses, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Lodge among the Oaks, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Oak Canopy, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Pajaro Hills,, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Pines among the Pajaro Hills, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Grasses in the Wind, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Eastern View, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Blowing Grasses, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Blue-eyed Grass, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
California Buttercup, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Pajaro Hills, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Western View from Atherton Peak, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Wild Vetch at Sunset, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Eastern View, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
Wild Vetch at Sunset, Star Creek Ranch, Watsonville, CA
I had a great time in Joshua Tree with a group of photographers attending the Camera West workshop led by my good friend Jason Bradley. We were treated to the tail end of a very unusual bloom with Joshua Tree seed and flower production up about 40 percent as compared to the previous best season in the last 25 years. Some researchers believe that the stress from drought and climate change may have induced the “once in a lifetime” bloom. As a survival mechanism the trees go into high gear in an attempt to boost reproduction. Others believe the unique bloom can be attributed to last year’s late summer thunderstorms and/or cool winter weather.
We spent every evening during the workshop in the field playing with techniques for night photography including light painting, long exposures, time-lapse, and using ambient moonlight, all of which produced some fantastic results. During an afternoon exploring a cholla cactus garden I was fortunate enough to happen upon a unique wildlife encounter that a couple photographers from our group had discovered. A gopher snake had climbed up a cholla cactus and invaded a cactus wren’s nest. The wren parents were desperately trying to chase off the snake and protect 2 chicks inside the nest. Ultimately they were unsuccessful and the snake got it’s dinner. By the time I arrived, the snake had already done it’s thing and the wrens were still attempting to chase it off. I felt awful for the birds of course, and somewhat happy for the snake, but mostly I felt privileged to witness a day in the life of these creatures so well adapted to the harsh desert environment.
Boulder Field at White Tank, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Yuccas, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Moonlit Rock Formation,Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Yucca Detail, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Tree at Twilight, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Desert Garden, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Tree Shadow by Moonlight, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Trees at Night, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Cactus Wren Defending Nest, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Gopher Snake Invading Cactus Wren Nest, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Ocotillo in Bloom, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Ocotillo and Night Sky, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Our workshop group, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Ocotillo and Desert Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
This winter has been particularly dry with the months of January and February recording record low rainfall. Despite the lack of precipitation and a very sparse spring wildflower season, I was able to locate a few isolated fields of sky lupine during a recent project for the Elkhorn Slough Foundation to document some of the spectacular native oaks on their protected properties. I’ve included a couple of shots from Harkins Slough which is adjacent to Foundation property but actually owned by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. Some of the most abundant lupines were located on ranch properties and many a cow patty had to be dodged to acquire these images. The hillsides have already started their transition from vibrant green to golden brown and this year’s fire season is shaping up to be a particularly dangerous one.
Sky Lupine and Oak, Watsonville, CA
California Poppies, Watsonville, CA
Oak and Lupine, Watsonville, CA
Coast Live Oak in Morning Light, Watsonville, CA
Oak at Harkins Slough, Watsonville, CA
Sky Lupine and Oak, Watsonville, CA
Coast Live Oak Grove, Watsonville, CA
Sky Lupine, Watsonville, CA
Last Light on Oak, Harkins Slough, Watsonville, CA
I had a fantastic time photographing in Redwood National Park and along the North Coast last week. It was a little odd being there for 4 days and not taking a single shot of a redwood until the last day of the trip. It just goes to show the abundance of photo ops in the area. The first 3 days were spent photographing Roosevelt elk, incredible beaches, river otter, fern canyon, and driftwood galore. The final day brought ideal conditions for forest photography with overcast skies and a light drizzle to wet down the foliage and really make it glow. Good Times! Can’t wait to get back and explore some more.
Installing a very large 60 x 90″ Image Panel for a client. The image, Wild Radish in Springtime, is from Pogonip Open Space Preserve in Santa Cruz. Many thanks to my good friend Anders Olsen for lending his expertise with the installation. The image was printed by Bradley Photographic Print Services in Monterey.
For years my clients had wondered what to do with the giant blank wall above their doorway, and are happy to now have an image from one of their favorite places to hike and connect with nature.
