Postcards

Postcard from Yosemite

2012-02-01T15:56:00.001-08:00

This is Mirror Lake, although its closer to being a pond these days. It is located at the lower end of Tenaya Canyon, just below the famous Half Dome. I’ve been coming to this spot since I was a little boy. Although I have taken its picture many times, this photo was shot in May of 2011 on my most recent trip. The mountain reflection you see is Mt. Watkins.

In the old days, you could drive right to it. Today, you have to take one of the shuttle buses that drops you off at the trail head to the lake. From there is a mile walk to this spot. Actually, it is not a trail…it is the old paved road my family used to take back in the 50’s. I am not sure when they shut the road down for regular traffic. No matter. It’s a lovely, easy walk along Tenaya Creek directly below the face of Half Dome.

If you would like to see it, I recommend you do it sooner rather than later. You see, Mirror Lake is disappearing.

Mirror Lake is about the last remnant of the Old Yosemite Lake that once filled the entire Yosemite Valley. The lake was created by the melting of the last glacier that helped carved out this magnificent landscape. The original lake was anywhere from 300 to 600 feet deep, but was eventually filled in by the process of sedimentation. But a few remnants of it can be found throughout the National Park.

Today, Mirror Lake is fed by Tenaya Creek, which flows out of Tenaya Lake up in the high country. Over time, the creek deposits sediments from the lake and from its long journey down the canyon, thereby eventually displacing the water. For years, the National Park Service went in to remove the debris in order to keep Mirror Lake in a more pristine state for the tourists.

Eventually that policy was changed so Mirror Lake will one day disappear. A sad ending for me personally as this place is one my sacred icons. But our planet is always changing. The old expression, “Let nature take its course,” is perfectly suited for Mirror Lake.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Virgin

2012-01-30T15:42:00.001-08:00

Yes, my friends, there really is a town called Virgin, and its in Utah (of course). This small town, located near Zion National Park, has less than a thousand people, and is known for two things…first and foremost, the town passed a law that requires every homeowner to keep and maintain a firearm, which includes ammo for it. There is a $500 fine for not complying with this law. The town council passed the ordinance in the year 2000 after residents expressed fear that their Second Amendment right to bear arms was under fire (no pun intended).

Exceptions have been made for the mentally ill, convicted felons, conscientious objectors and people who cannot afford to own a gun. I for one am happy about those exclusions as I passed through Virgin several times in November when driving to and from my hotel to Zion Park.

The second thing that makes the town interesting is this old west village just outside of town. I think it is a museum of sorts. What you see here is just part of it…these rather strange-shaped buildings that make you think you are in the Twilight Zone. There is very little info about it on the Internet…even the town’s official Website doesn’t even mention it.

In some shared photos, tourists have incorrectly identified it as a ghost town. I don’t think there ever was a town in the old west that looked like this! Some of the buildings have signs on them like,”Undertaker,” the “OK Corral,” “The Wild Ass Saloon,” and, of course, “The Virgin Jail.”

Sadly, I never went in to explore the place…the only time I stopped was to take a few pictures. It looked like a tourist trap to me.

As a side note, I hope someone someday will explain the obsession that Utah folks have with the term, “Virgins.” There is the town Virgin, located on the Virgin River, which runs by the Towers of the Virgins mountain formation inside Zion Park. With no disrespect meant to any religious faith, its just a little eerie…that’s all. But each to their own.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Glacier

2012-01-25T18:00:00.001-08:00

This is Avalanche Creek, a lovely, normal creek that flows out of beautiful Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park. It’s normal, that is until it hits this rocky narrow canyon, then it becomes what is commonly called “rapids” as it rips through these narrows on the final part of its journey to Lake McDonald.

To get to this lovely view spot, just take the trail to Avalanche Lake. Shortly after leaving the parking area, you will see a bridge off to the left of the main trail. Just walk over to it and enjoy the beauty you see here.

But, if I were you, after viewing this lovely scene, I would rejoin the trail and keep going until you come to Avalanche Lake. It’s only about 3 miles round trip and well worth it. I showed photos of it here some time ago…it is a beautiful lake surrounded by steep high mountains with several waterfalls pouring into the lake. It is spectacular! And the scenery along the trail (and the more quieter parts of the creek) are also very enjoyable. Take your time and breathe it all in. Its well worth the journey if you are ever in Glacier National Park.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Lassen

2012-01-23T18:21:00.001-08:00

This is Mt. Lassen as seen from Kings Creek Meadow. The creek meandering through the picture is (surprise!) Kings Creek. This meadow is at 7,400 feet elevation and about 4,000 feet below the Lassen Summit.

Nothing tricky about getting here as this scene was shot from alongside the road that traverses Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. But it will involve a substantial drive, elevation wise. It is not far from the road’s highest point. But it is worth the drive as there are many rewards along the road including some lakes, meadows, rivers, steam vents, and of course, some tremendous views of this magnificent mountain.

It was pretty evident when I shot this photo that I would render it in black and white. The scene was perfect for it as it rendered the visual elements far more persuasively than if I had left it in color. Being so high in altitude, the light was crisp and clear of any negative elements like haze.

For your information, Lassen Park is in Northern California and is part of the Cascade Range, not the Sierras. The Cascades run from just north of Redding, California into Oregon, Washington, then on into Canada. It is a range of volcanoes, many of them considered active. Besides Lassen, the mountains include Shasta, Hood, St. Helens, Adams, and, of course Rainier… to name a few.

Of all the volcanoes in the Cascades, several of them are classified as active. We all know about St. Helens, but did you know that Lassen erupted during the years 1914-17? In all, 11 of the 13 volcanoes in the U.S. portion of the Cascade Range have erupted at least once in the past 4,000 years, and 7 have done so in just the past 200 years.

It would be a major catastrophe if a Rainier or Hood blew their tops as they are so close to major cities like Seattle and Portland. Vancouver, BC would be devastated if Mt. Garibaldi blew. In all, over 10 million people live around these three volcanoes.

But, after eruptions, over many years, and long after they quiet down, Mother Nature heals the damage, leaving behind some spectacular scenery…such as Kings Creek Meadow.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Quartzite, AZ

2012-01-18T19:21:00.001-08:00

Colors Colors Colors

Colors colors colors
Give them to me
Full sky and spaces
My longing to see
Fill every dream way
Of its inside food
Let harp strings play
Their songs hued

Colors colors colors
Come here to be
Vast as the ocean
Tinctures explosions
The rivers of dreams
Inside their reams
Calling out the fire
Of spring come desire

Colors colors colors
Never be empty
With shading in places
Their tone so free
With nature in bright
And greenery lay
And in summer's night
With coming of May

Peter S Quinn

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

2012-01-16T17:01:00.001-08:00

I’ve talked about the “El”, aka the Elevated Railway that runs throughout the great Chicago area, but I don’t believe I‘ve ever shown a photo of it. To be more precise, this section of the El is known as “The Loop” in downtown Chicago.

The El is Chicago’s Rapid Transit System, the second longest system in the US, smaller only to New York’s subway system. It began operations in 1892 and now consists of 8 separate lines, each designated by a color. It is run by the Chicago Transit Authority. All the lines, except the Red Line converge into the Loop, make a giant circle, then head out again on their various routes. The Loop is circular, but is actually shaped in the form a giant rectangle in the downtown area. This, of course, lets people from all over greater Chicago enter and exit into and out of the downtown area.

For instance, the Green Line starts way down on the Southside, comes into the loop, then heads due west to places like Oak Park. The Blue Line takes you out to O’Hare Airport while the Orange Line runs from the Loop out to Midway Airport.

This photo, looking north, shows the Loop as it runs on top of Wabash Street, near Adams. To get to a train, you would climb one level up from the street. The second level you see is just a bridge above the tracks to take you to the other side, if your train comes in there.

I mentioned that the Red Line does not go into the loop. When I took this photo, I was standing on top of the Red Line as it comes into the downtown area underground. However, most of the Red Line is elevated above the city. FYI, the Red Line runs north and south and goes by both baseball stadiums…US Cellular Field on the Southside, and Wrigley Field to the North.

In my trips to Chicago I rode on several of the lines and always found it to be an enjoyable experience. The El got me where I was going as fast as it could. I will never forget my first view of Wrigley Field was from the car of a Red Line train coming into the Addison Street Station. WOW! Chicago is definitely a very special place.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tucson

2012-01-11T18:07:00.001-08:00

This is one of those images that started out as one thing and turned into something entirely different. Let me explain.

My camera and I were wandering around the University of Arizona campus looking for different architectural elements. You have seen some of these photos in past blogs. I saw these interesting steps that were wide at the bottom and nearly converged at the top. I tried photographing them at different angles and thought I might find something of interest.

Later, when looking at photos in Lightroom, they were all duds! And I mean really boring duds. I almost erased them when I started playing with one of them and narrowed down the point of view to just the end of the steps and the rail. And for some reason, I liked what I had.

As you can see, there are lines that are straight, then take off in right angles and a rail rising up at and angle that gave the image depth. A little more cropping and some more Photoshop magic and I had a special image. Of course it is in black and white as there is no color to distract your eye (there was not much color to begin with). So, you see the elements of the image as they are meant to be seen.

Unlike some of my photos, I never tire of seeing this one. I hope you enjoy it also. If nothing else, it is a good lesson on the value of cropping and never giving up on an image until you have explored all the possibilities.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Yosemite

2012-01-09T10:49:00.001-08:00

Back in May of last year, I showed you a photo very similar to this one. In fact it was taken on the same day and nearly at the same time. In going through my photos the other day, I found that I had a better composition of this same scene.

This one has much more emphasis on the reflections in the water. I must admit I am surprised I missed this image when reviewing the photos from my May trip to this great National Park. I am glad I went back and looked again.

Like the previous one, this can be classified as an HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo. I shot 5 successive photos instantaneously at different exposures, then combined them into one shot in post-processing…plus a little touch-up in Photoshop. I must say I love experimenting with HDR as it puts one’s photographic skills to the test like none other. But, in many cases, like this particular shot, it is the only way to go.

Here’s why:

This was photographed at the last waning moments of sunset where only Half Dome and the sky are lit up. The Merced River and the surrounding forest are in deep, deep shade. There is no way a single exposure with today’s camera could capture this scene…even using graduated neutral density filters (that is a topic for another day). I would love to thank the person or persons who came up with the concept of HDR…it adds new dimensions to what is capable with digital photography.

For your information, this was taken on the bridge that leads to Yosemite Village, just past the chapel. Trust me…you can’t miss it. It’s a good place to bring your camera (and tripod if shooting at sunset) to photograph this wonderful scene.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Ellensburg

2012-01-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

There is a special little section of Washington State where I used to go every October to photograph when I called that state home. It is located just south of Ellensburg and yielded some wonderful Autumn images over the years. It had country roads loaded with trees, small farms, a river, ponds, nature trails and more. A few images from there became best-selling paintings and one photo even showed up on the cover of a music CD.

As I approached the area early one October Sunday morning, I saw a ground fog had enveloped the area and I knew some special images might just come my way. What you see here is one of them. The newly risen sun was filtered by the fog enough that I didn’t get any lens flare and the filtered light let me capture everything in the photo. I have a few more images from that morning that I will share with you in the future. As you might guess, the fog burned off fairly quickly so I had to move pretty fast to capture what I could.

Living here in the deep Southwest, I don’t get to see very much of Autumn. In November, I had to travel up to Zion to see those colors again. So I hope that those of you who live where Autumn shows all its glory can appreciate how special you have it.

On a personal note, I enjoyed my time away from blogging during the Christmas holiday, but am happy to be back. My wonderful son surprised me on Christmas day with a brand new high speed computer system with a large 23” monitor. Now, I can do my post processing and painting work at vastly accelerated speeds and they look better than ever before. I am a lucky guy.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

2011-12-21T10:18:00.001-08:00

This image, from last month’s trip to Zion, shows the “Great White Throne” (left) and a large rock formation known as “The Organ.” Barely visible at the bottom of the image is the Virgin River. I am not sure of the significance of all the names used in Zion National Park. You would have to ask someone with knowledge of the Book of Mormon…and that is not me. Obviously, since it is in Utah, the names make sense.

All I know is that it is one of the most spectacular places on the planet and I love going there. By the way, the location of these two rock formations is nearly at the end of the canyon. I photographed this image in the later part of the afternoon at a place nicknamed “Photo Point.” It is located on a short trail, down below a small parking lot. There is a plaque on a rock that talks about photography…hence its name. Trust me, it is easy to find. Let your eyes be your guide.

I would love to go back in late spring or summer and capture this scene in sunlight. In November, the sun is lower in the sky and circles around the back of these two monoliths. Of course, I would not be able to capture the Autumn colors then. Stayed tuned for more photographs of Zion and other great places I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card using this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Winterhaven

2011-12-19T16:58:00.001-08:00

Free!!! Here is another photo for you to use to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. Another Christmas gift for you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

Just like my last blog, this photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. This home may not be as spectacular as the last one I showed you, but its hard to pass up a good reflection. See…it does rain in Tucson!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Winterhaven

2011-12-17T11:31:00.001-08:00

Free!!! Use this photo to send out free e-greeting cards to friends and relatives. Just click on the “Free E-Card” button below the photo and follow the simple instructions. If you want to be remembered to someone and did not send out Christmas cards this year, here is your easy solution. My gift to you!

(Note: If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. )

If you have a good memory and read this blog on a regular basis, you know I used this photo last year at Christmas time. A year ago I didn’t have a free e-card solution…which is why I published it again…so please make use of it.

This photo was taken in Winterhaven, a special neighborhood in Tucson that goes all out at Christmas. It is a tradition here to walk the neighborhood at night to see the spectacular displays set up by homeowners here. I hope to go back again this year before Christmas and do it again.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Kolob Canyon

2011-12-14T18:19:00.001-08:00

This photo is of the Kolob Canyon in Utah. Never heard of it? Actually it is in Zion National Park. If you have spent any time in Zion, you are probably scratching your head wondering why you have never seen these mountains.

Well, they are not in the back country on some long arduous trail. No, no. I took this photo from the road. Actually, Kolob Canyon are in the northwest section of Zion National Park. To get there, you must leave the main section of the park, head west about 30 miles to Interstate 15, then go north for about 17 miles to the Kolob Canyon exit. You will also gain in elevation from about 3,500 to approximately 6 ,000 feet (hence the presence of snow).

There is a visitor center right at the exit where you will pay your fees if you haven’t already done so at the main entrances to Zion. From there it is a short drive up and along the canyon viewpoint road where you can see views like the one here. It is a beautiful section of the park with some interesting trails to explore.

This is not one of my artsier photos, rather much more of a postcard. It was an overcast day, so the light was not good…and while Autumn was flourishing in the main part of Zion, it had long since passed here. I hope someday to go back and see it in sunlight with clouds. But, I went anyway this day as I had never been here. I am glad I did.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

If you subscribe to this blog by e-mail and wish to purchase a print or send a free e-mail greeting card of this image, click this link to the main Postcard Blog Site. Don’t forget, e-mail greeting cards are free.

Postcard from Zion

2011-12-12T16:57:00.001-08:00

Travel Haiku - Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
my eyes rolling round
and round autumn

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
the colours of fall loosen
my frazzled nerves

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
my pressure drops and
trails the leaves

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
i am a mirror to
nature's allure

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
I help nature
admire itself

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
i feel as colourful as
the leaves

by: john tiong chunghoo

Postcard from Bryce Canyon

2011-12-05T15:21:00.001-08:00

This is Inspiration Point, or should I say the trail leading up to Inspiration Point. Its an easy walk from the parking lot to this point, then a fairly steep climb to the top. Well, maybe not so easy as it sits at 8,000 feet. You will do a fair amount of huffing and puffing when you take this walk.

But as you can see, on this cold November day, it was snowed and iced over. There was absolutely no way I was doing this trek this day, especially as it was somewhere between 12 and 15 degrees. Still it made for a fine photograph, which was my goal on this frozen day.

Inspiration Point is close by Sunset Point where I photographed the “first light of day” image I shared with you a couple of weeks ago. Although the parking lot sign says “Inspiration Point,” it really isn’t. The point itself is at the end of a long climb up this trail. Look close (click on the image to see an enlargement) and you will see a railing where you can stop, catch your breath and take a photo or two. But that is not Inspiration Point either! It’s only about halfway there. If you look real, real close, you can see a second rail way above this rail. That is Inspiration Point. Not today, thank you very much.

Even if I had made it to the top, I would have to come down again…and I could just see myself slipping on the ice and sliding all the way down…to the bottom of the canyon. It’s OK as I have already been up there and managed to get some wonderful photos on another trip in friendlier weather.

With all that said, I still like this shot very much.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

2011-11-30T16:00:00.001-08:00

There is a bridge in Zion National Park where knowledgeable photographers gather toward sunset to hopefully capture a fantastic autumn photo of the Virgin River, some beautiful trees along its banks and a mountain known as “The Watchman”…and with some luck, some lovely pink-shaded clouds. Well, I was among the photographers for two nights waiting to capture the perfect image (The other nights the light and clouds were not good, so I did not stop).

One has to go early to get a good spot as the bridge fills up fast. Well, I was there for well over and hour both nights and did not get lucky. It looked especially good on one night, but the clouds disappeared just as the sun set. Anyway, I did capture a good image (but not great) that I will share with you soon.

But, while waiting for the sunset, I turned my camera around 180 degrees, set up on the other side of the bridge, and caught this image. It is looking north into Zion Canyon. The river is, of course, the Virgin River. The mountain on the right is called The East Temple, and the two mountains that look alike are called "The Twins.”

I just wish I could have moved those clouds behind me near the Watchman. Then I would have had a image to die for. But this one is not bad on its own. I am just glad the photo gods gave something good to shoot that night.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

2011-11-29T07:26:00.001-08:00

Here and there in Zion National Park, one finds these small groves of trees with phenomenal color. Obviously, this is one of them. It is located a short way up the Narrows Trail. To get to these groves, one has to go off trail to take the photo. Of course, this kind of color only lasts a few days, so one must plan an Autumn trip to Zion with great care. For your information and future planning, this photo was taken on 11/14/11.

In Zion, during the height of the Autumn season, yellow is by far the most predominate color. Believe it or not, it actually becomes boring to the senses. Yellow is everywhere, so it is easy to become jaded by so much of one color. So when one comes across a grove of orange and/or red trees, one immediately wants to photograph it.

In this case, I climbed a small hill to get to this grove. Once inside it, it was very difficult to find the correct location to make a photograph because there were some many possible locations…all within a few feet of each other. So, as you might imagine, I have several shots of this place. This was the first one I developed in the digital darkroom.

Next time, I promise to show you a photo of some of the sweeping vistas of Zion. Trust me, I have lots of them.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

2011-11-25T12:51:00.001-08:00

This photo shows the reason why my friend Dave and I chose to go to Zion National Park in November….color, color, color…Autumn colors mixed in with the range of colors of the Zion mountains.

This was one of the early photos I took along the Virgin River at a rock formation named “The Organ.” In a future photo you will see why it got its name. The other rock formation in the upper left part of the photo is the lower portion of “The Great White Throne.”

Here is something you can stick in your future file if you ever plan to visit Zion in Autumn: the best colors are located at the north end of the canyon where the road ends at the beginning of “The Narrows” trail. From the parking lot all the way up the narrows, the colors are absolutely amazing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, all of Zion Canyon is beautiful in November…and there are special places of intense color everywhere…some more hidden than others. But the highest concentration of red, orange, yellow and green are at the end of the canyon.

When we arrived on Zion on November 11, we came through Carmel Junction, which means we arrived in the high country of Zion, then descended into the canyon. By this date, most of the color in the high country was pretty well played out. So keep that in your file also.

Now, if you remember the last blog I did, the photo of Bryce Canyon in the snow, you may wonder why there is snow in Bryce, but not in Zion. The answer is simple: even though the two National Parks are less the 100 miles apart, Bryce is at 8,000 feet while Zion sits at 3,500 feet.

I took lots and lots of photos on this trip, so I will be showing more of them here as time goes by. When you see color as amazing as this, you can’t stop shooting. So, I have lots of work ahead of me in the digital darkroom. So stay tuned…

Postcard from Bryce Canyon

2011-11-22T13:21:00.001-08:00

I was not supposed to take this picture…but obviously I did. My friend and fellow professional photographer Dave Forster were on our way from Tucson to Escalante, Utah on an eight day photo road trip. To say it was a great trip would be an understatement. But, I digress.

We spent the first night in Flagstaff, AZ, as we had a late start from Phoenix (Dave flew in there from Seattle). In Flagstaff, there was a fair amount of snow on the ground from a storm that morning. It was clear when we arrived in the evening, but temps were down in the low teens. A weird event for a guy like me who was in shorts that morning in Tucson.

Anyway, we drove north on day 2, from Flagstaff to Page, AZ, then across Lake Powell into Utah. A bright sunny day, but still cold. From there we went west, then north on Highway 89, running into snow on the ground here and there. From 89, we took Utah’s most beautiful highway, 12 east heading to Escalante. By now it was sunset. We drove through Red Canyon then climbed up to the turnoff to Bryce Canyon. At this point, there was snow all over the ground.

Originally, we had made the decision to skip Bryce as we both had a ton of sunrise photos. But, with snow all over the ground, we changed our plans to come back to Bryce before dawn the next morning to see what we could capture with our cameras.

We spent the night in Cannonville, about a 25 minute drive from Bryce. Sure enough, we rose before sunset and headed back west to Bryce Canyon, which is at an elevation of 8,000 feet. It was cold of course, but we set up our cameras and waited for the sun to break the horizon. This was my first trip ever to see Bryce in the snow.

And obviously, I wasn’t disappointed. An as the sun broke the horizon, I took this photo. If you look on the far left, you will see a little lens flair from the first light of the sun. This was one of those five shot fast exposures, all taken a different apertures, then combined into one shot. I think it turned out rather well. I have more photos of Bryce in the snow that I will share with you over time.

From there we went a couple of miles down to Ruby’s Inn for breakfast, then headed east again for Escalante and the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Much more to come so stay tuned.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Zion

2011-11-04T16:07:00.001-07:00

This is the Virgin River at toward sunset…taken on my last trip to Zion National Park in southern Utah. I shot this four years ago in Autumn, just a few days before Thanksgiving. It was nearing the end of the Autumn season.

I show you this one today as I am about to leave for Zion again to photograph the the peak of the Autumn season (I hope). That is my way of saying that I am heading out for one of my photographic safaris and won’t be writing this blog for a couple of weeks. I hope you will forgive my absence…but I need to restock my images (so to speak) with all new photos from this magnificent national park. I believe I am a better photographer now than I was four years ago, so I am hoping for some spectacular images.

My friend and fellow professional photographer Dave Forster is flying in from the Northwest to join me once again. We do this about twice a year and I always look forward to our adventures. If luck and the weather hold, we also hope to head further north to the Escalante region of Utah. We need a little luck with this part of the trip as the roads we intend to travel for our photos are all dirt and if it rains, they close. So we are crossing our fingers.

We will probably make some other stops along the way so stay tuned for some unexpected surprises as I take photos along the way and post them when I can. Don’t forget, I also have a camera in my smart phone so can post those right away (if I have signal). So take care of yourselves while I venture into the wilds of southern Utah.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Somewhere in WA

2011-11-02T21:30:00.001-07:00

If you take Highway 25 north out of Davenport, WA, you will pass through some lonely farm country, small obscure towns and some of the best artistic photographic opportunities in the Northwest. Now, mind you, your mind must be prepared for all things old and rustic, and you must stop and look at places very carefully to find your best photo opportunities. It will also help to have a good post-processing software like Photoshop to make these images a little more interesting.

Highway 25 takes you by old wooden barns, both standing, half standing, or fallen down…by old abandoned vehicles (they are everywhere), a casino, and some beautiful scenery along the shores of Lake Roosevelt. And, if you stay on the road, you will eventually hit the Canadian Border. But it’s the rustic buildings and cars that captured most of my attention.

If you are a long-time reader of this blog, you’ve seen many many photos and digital painting of scenery along this road. And there are a few that you have not seen…yet.

This is an old barn that is much closer to Davenport than Canada, but darned if I can remember exactly where it is. A friend of mine, who has been on this road recently, said this barn is now gone, blown over by a major wind storm that hit northeastern Washington. I imagine some of the other barns along Highway 25 also suffered the same fate.

I took several images of this barn, trying to find the right one…and it was this one that had the most possibilities. By the way, I did very little to the window frame…like make it black and white. What you see is the real color.

If there is any lesson to be learned here its just that you should not be afraid to take a photo of something old and broken down. I took this photo over four years ago and it was only very recently that I decided what I wanted to do with it. All it took was some cropping and some creative solutions inside Photoshop. But, that is true with most of my images. They almost never come out of the camera ready for display. But the majority are still well composed images that just need a little help to make them pop. Welcome to the digital photo age!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from the Oregon Coast

2011-10-31T15:15:00.001-07:00

Ocean is as one with the world

As I Stare out into the Sea,
I can feel the soft oceans breeze
the warmth from the sun
the grass dances with the whistling wind
the ocean is filled with thoughts
and mysteries,
I feel the cool water
the ocean is alive filled with lost souls
washing emotions up onto the shore
My feet sink in the softness of the sand
The ocean is made up of dreams
and achievements,
My mind lies in the heart of the ocean
The rocks are bones
Out in the open the waves settle and
wait for their attack,
I feel as one with the ocean
as the ocean feels like one
with the world.

Izabelle Sheridan

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

2011-10-26T16:35:00.001-07:00

Welcome back to downtown Chicago. This is one of the gargoyle statues that are perched on Chicago’s Harold Washington Library Center, the central library for Chicago’s extensive library system. The library was named for the first African-American mayor of Chicago. Gargantuan and almost goofy, this granite-and-brick edifice is a uniquely postmodern homage to Chicago's great architectural past.

There is a gargoyle at each of the four corners of the building, plus a large wide one over the front entrance on State Street. Some say that the huge, gargoyle-like sculptures atop the building are owls, a symbol of wisdom. And if you closely at this one, you can see that might be true. But, without that close examination, all I see is a gargoyle.

Whatever they are, the library is quite a special place, both inside and out. Of course it has an amazing repository of books on its 10 floors, but it also features art by many of Chicago’s most renown artists. Chicago's rich musical heritage comes alive in the eighth floor's Visual and Performing Arts Division, home of the Chicago Blues Archives and Jazz/Blues/Gospel Hall of Fame.

Put this on your list of things-to-do in Chicago.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Mt. Rainier

2011-10-24T15:49:00.001-07:00

I took this photo on my one and only trip to Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington. It was a beautiful day and I was trekking through a beautiful forest. It just seemed like a natural place to stop and take a photo.

I love this image as it reminds me of the hundreds of trails I‘ve been on throughout my life. I have a fascination with unexplored trails, ever since I was a little boy. I used to stand on them and wonder where they went…and what was over the next rise or around the bend.

I drove my poor parents crazy as a little boy. I would see a trailhead with a destination sign on it and just take off. Mostly I was up in the high country of Yosemite, near White Wolf Lodge. There was a trail sign there that had 8 destinations on it…and I wanted to go to them all. The trail began in a lovely meadow and disappeared into the forest. I took that trail several times to distant lakes and meadows…and oh yes, forgot to tell my parents I was doing it.

Boy, did I hear about it when I got back. I feel sorry for them having a son with an incurable wanderlust. On that sign, there was one destination I really wanted to see, a place called Ten Lakes. It was a 10 mile hike one-way, and I was told it was very difficult, mostly uphill with some severe switchbacks near the end. As a little boy, I never got to take that hike as no one would go with me.

But a few years later when I was in college, I did that hike and made it all the way up and back. And they were right…the trail was a bitch, especially those switchbacks! But I did it! When I got there I had a terrible blister on the back of my foot. Then it started to rain. It poured on me for 10 miles, all the way back to my car…barefoot. That may be one of the prouder moments of my life…setting a goal as a kid, then later making it come true, no matter what the hardships.

So a simple trail like the one you see here reminds me of all the trails I’ve been on and the many goals I’ve accomplished. And you know what? I am not done yet.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from the Cascades

2011-10-19T15:27:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Leaves Of Autumn

Lovely memories of the Autumn
Appears once again in life
With yellow, brown, red and green
Leaves of life that scattered and survived

When bitter sweet nostalgic story of life
With shadow and shine appears
And spreads its beauty and its grace
Under which the long path of life disappears

Disappears under the joyful burden
And loads of the beautiful fallen leaves
That dance all around and sing with smiles
The lovely song of Autumn brief

For God has made this lovely season
A source of love, peace and cheer
In which we get another chance
To shed the burden of pain's layer

And this is the magical and pretty season
In which we can joyously gather sunshine
And enjoy lovely breeze that blows all around
And call it the gift and bliss of divine

For the lovely dry leaves of Autumn bring
Beautiful colors like the blooming Spring
Where red, yellow, brown and green is seen
With God's grace and love and beauty's ring.

Seema Chowdhury

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.