Travel Photography

There are certain places that stop you in your tracks.  Locations where light, structure, and history align in a way that feels almost inevitable. DUMBO is one of those places.  Framed by the Manhattan Bridge, with the Empire State Building standing quietly in the distance, it’s a view that has been photographed countless times.  And yet, every time I stand there, it feels new.  This image was created with the intention of honoring New York’s soul.  Its grit, its scale, and its timeless presence. I wanted the photograph to feel grounded and monumental, as if the city itself were holding its breath for a brief moment in time.  Manhattan Bridge with the Empire State Building Recently, this photograph advanced into the Top 32 at the International Photographic Competition (IPC) and ultimately earned a Bronze award.  While bronze does not indicate a third-place finish, it does represent a strong score within an exceptionally competitive field, judged among ...

  2025 in Review: A Year of Travel, Light, and Lessons on the Road Some years are about distance. Others are about depth. 2025 was both. This wasn’t simply a collection of trips or a highlight reel of destinations. It was a year shaped by persistence, recalibration, and growth by missed flights and missed shots, long drives that replaced short ones, physical limits tested at altitude, and plans that unraveled without warning. In one case, an airline folded just weeks before departure, forcing a complete rework of an international trip. And woven through all of it were quiet affirmations: an image published in a magazine, work hanging in a gallery exhibit, and an image placing in the top 32 at the International Photographic Competition (IPC). Those milestones mattered, not as endpoints, but as reassurance that the early mornings, difficult conditions, and long stretches of uncertainty were shaping something real. Travel in 2025 became less about chasing icons and more about respondi...

 Nestled deep in the rugged mountains outside Marble, Colorado, sits one of the most photographed spots in the state — Crystal Mill . Built in 1892, this historic wooden powerhouse clings dramatically to a rocky ledge above the Crystal River, looking like something out of a wild west fairytale. Getting there, however, is every bit as memorable as the mill itself. Crystal Mill in Colorado Find this picture in my Etsy shop . The Road to Crystal Mill We had the luxury of a 4x4 vehicle, which is an absolute necessity for the journey. Even so, the drive was incredibly bumpy, narrow, and rocky , with tight turns and steep drop-offs reminding us at every bend that this was true Colorado backcountry. The road isn’t just a path — it’s part of the adventure, demanding patience and a steady hand on the wheel. Despite the rough ride, the beauty of the surroundings more than made up for it. Towering pines, rugged rock faces, and glimpses of the Crystal River kept us captivated the entire way...

The afternoon sun hung high over Zion Canyon when I stepped into the Virgin River, ready to hike The Narrows . It was September 2020 — the year everything felt uncertain, when travel was quieter, slower, and somehow more meaningful. National parks had only recently reopened, and there was a stillness to Zion I hadn’t felt before. The morning crowds were gone, leaving only the echo of the river and the rustle of wind through cottonwoods. Golden light poured into the canyon, and I felt a strange mix of gratitude and restlessness — the need to move, to breathe, to find beauty again after months of confinement. Print available on Etsy Stepping into the River The paved Riverside Walk ended, and there it was — the mouth of the Narrows. The sound of the river filled the air like a heartbeat echoing off the stone. I tightened the straps on my pack, gripped my wooden walking stick, and stepped in. The first shock of cool water around my ankles jolted me fully awake. Within moments, I was kne...

 In March 2020, before the world seemed to pause, I had the chance to photograph one of the most unique scenes I’ve ever witnessed along the North Carolina coast—a shipwrecked boat known as the Ocean Pursuit . Ocean Pursuit at sunrise Starting at Bodie Island Lighthouse Our morning began in the quiet darkness before dawn. The air was cool, the kind of crisp early spring chill that lingers along the Outer Banks in March. We stopped first at Bodie Island Lighthouse , its black-and-white stripes standing tall against the dim sky. Even though the lighthouse wasn’t our main destination, it felt like the perfect starting point for the morning—a reminder of the Outer Banks’ deep history with seafaring and shipwrecks. The Hike to the Wreck From there, we hiked down the beach, headlamps guiding our way through the sand. The ocean was restless, its waves breaking against the shore with that constant, steady rhythm that makes the Outer Banks both beautiful and unpredictable. Ahead of us, ...

 A few years back, I took a fall trip to Asheville, North Carolina, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable getaways I’ve ever had. The Blue Ridge Mountains in October are pure magic — fiery colors sweeping across the ridges, cool mountain air, and waterfalls framed by golden leaves. Catawba Falls Find Catawba Falls on Etsy The Blue Ridge Parkway was my first introduction to just how stunning the season could be. I probably pulled over at every overlook, convinced each time that this one was the best view yet. The mountains stacked in layers of blue with bursts of red and orange in the foreground — I don’t think I’ve ever stopped so many times on a single drive. One of the first hikes I did was to Crabtree Falls . The trail wound through a forest that looked like it had been painted in autumn colors, and when I reached the falls, I just stood there for a while listening to the water. The cascade dropped in a wide sheet over mossy rocks, framed perfectly by trees that ...

 I’m used to life at sea level in Virginia Beach, so when I traveled to Colorado and found myself at nearly 10,000 feet, my body wasn’t exactly prepared. The scenery was stunning—towering peaks, crisp mountain air, endless blue skies—but behind the beauty was a very real challenge: altitude sickness. By the second day, I was feeling it. The dull headache set in first, followed by waves of exhaustion and shortness of breath. Climbing a set of stairs felt like running a marathon, and even a short walk left me winded. It wasn’t the kind of tiredness you can shake off with coffee or a nap—it was a deep, heavy fatigue that made every activity more difficult than expected. Crystal Mill My Attempt at Oxygen Therapy In some Colorado towns, oxygen therapy is a common service, and I decided to give it a try. Hooked up to a tank, I breathed in the concentrated oxygen for about 20 minutes. The results were almost immediate—my headache lifted, I felt more alert, and even walking felt easier....

  There’s a salty breeze that still brings me right back to my childhood—when every summer meant a week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My parents and their friends would rent a big beach house, and for seven sun-drenched days, we would live barefoot, chasing waves, flying kites, and eating seafood fresh off the docks. It was more than just a vacation—it was a tradition, a memory-etched rhythm of summer that I still carry with me. These days, I prefer visiting the OBX during the off-season , when the crowds thin, the beaches are quiet, and the golden light stretches long across the dunes. Whether you're a couple looking for a romantic getaway or a family in search of wholesome adventure, the Outer Banks offers something timeless and magical. And there’s no better way to experience it than by driving the iconic Highway 12 . The Highway That Hugs the Sea NC Highway 12 is more than just a road—it’s a ribbon of pavement that threads together the barrier islands, running from...

 Photographing fireworks can be one of the most rewarding forms of night photography. But it's not as simple as pointing your camera at the sky and hoping for the best. With the right planning, gear, and techniques, you can capture stunning firework photos that explode with detail, color, and creativity. Fireworks over Downtown Norfolk 📍 Scouting Your Location: Foreground Is Everything Fireworks against a black sky might look beautiful in person—but in a photo, they can feel flat or repetitive. When you arrive at your location: Look for foreground elements : trees, buildings, bridges, hills, or monuments give your image a sense of place. Use reference points to provide depth and scale in the frame. If you're planning to layer your fireworks into other images later , you do want a clean black background, so skip the foreground and focus only on capturing the light bursts. 📸 Gear Checklist: The Tools for the Job You don’t need a bag full of gear, but the righ...