Field Notes
Journal
90 dispatches written between 2015 and 2018 — most of them from the road during Galactic50, a cross-country chase for dark skies. The prints came out of these trips.
- Travel Photography 89
- Galactic50 41
- Events 1
- Uncategorized 1
Latest · February 17, 2018
G50: Another year same galaxy!
The Journey Continues..... Hello everyone! I know it has been a long time since I have posted here but last year was a tough one. The last time I posted I was wrapping 2016 and an…
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September 9, 2016
Galactic50: the Update!
Before I give you an update on Galactic50: A photography project, I would like to say thank you to everyone who followed me this past summer. It was a long trip and your support…
August 25, 2016
Dark Skies: Rocky Mountain National Park!
A Rocky Mountain Night Experience! My initial thought for Colorado was to simply see more of it and not worry about the Milky Way. And because of that I had planned on being there…
August 24, 2016
Galactic50: Day 55-56 Back to the Badlands!
Badlands, South Dakota With my time in Colorado all finished up, I started my way back east today. As I make my way back home, I will be stopping at all the places where I was…
August 23, 2016
Galactic50: Day 47-54 Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park My final week in Colorado, began with a short but much needed visit from my Mother. The moon was full and there wasn't much night shooting to be done.…
August 18, 2016
Galactic50: Day 46 Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak: America's MountainSitting at just over 14,ooo feet, Pikes Peak is a true Colorado beauty. It is no wonder to me why its called America's Mountain. With a paved road…
August 17, 2016
Galactic50: Day 45 Garden of the Gods
Sunset among the Gods After a long night at the dunes, we woke up early and headed out. Our next stop was a place I have been longing to see. Garden of the Gods in Colorado…
August 15, 2016
Galactic50: Day 44 Great Sand Dunes, NP
After a nice refreshing stay in Durango, my buddy and I headed east to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Our excitement level was very high, since this weekend would be the…
August 11, 2016
Galactic50: Day 38-43 Durango, Colorado
After an amazing weekend in Idaho, I took off on another long drive. This time my destination was a place I know all too well. Back to the place where my night photography all…
August 10, 2016
Galactic50: Day 35-37 Idaho!
Antelope Island was originally a two day stop. However, with the soaring temperatures and bad campsite, I decided to start my trip to Idaho a day early…
August 9, 2016
Galactic 50: Day 34 Antelope Island, Utah
I am feeling refreshed, leaving Zion. I'm also very much looking forward to the weeks ahead. My next stop is Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. With it being so close…
August 8, 2016
Galactic50: Day 27-33 Zion National Park!
After finding the best camping site of the trip so far, I settled into Zion and hoped for the best. Zion is a desert oasis! Unmatched by any of the landscape I have ever seen in…
August 4, 2016
Galactic50: Halfway Report
When I started my journey to photograph the Milky Way in all 50 states, I knew it was going to be hard. The drives have been long and the pace I set for myself has been brutal,…
August 3, 2016
Dark Skies of Iowa!
Iowa was another state that I wasn't too concerned with in regards to dark skies. Most of the state sits in a Bortle Class 4 or less, obviously except for the cities. For the sake…
August 2, 2016
Dark Skies of North Dakota
I found a campsite about 45 minutes south of Bismark, North Dakota. I was in a good area for minimal light pollution and was excited by my surroundings. The area was a very rural…
August 1, 2016
Galactic50: Day 27 Zion National Park
I am coming close to the half way point of my trip, and as we depart Las Vegas and head for our next spot, I can't help but be excited. The next spot on our trip is Zion National…
July 29, 2016
Galactic50: Day 26 Las Vegas, Nevada
Coming up on almost a month straight on the road, and its beginning to take its toll on me. The heat in Lone Pine took a lot out of me and my buddy so we decided to take a night…
July 28, 2016
Galactic50: Day 25 Lone Pine, California
We had a great night with some great friends, but today we are on to a place I have been worried about since I started planning this trip. Death Valley, with a very appropriate…
July 27, 2016
Galactic50: Day 23-24 Reno Nights!
With our day in Napa behind us, we moved on to the Lake Tahoe area. With it being the weekend and Lake Tahoe being a truly remarkable place it was impossible for us to find a…
July 26, 2016
Galactic50 Day 22: Napa Valley
After our trip up the coast, we headed back south through center California to wine country U.S.A., Napa Valley. Driving into Napa Valley, you instantly get in the mood for wine.…
July 25, 2016
Galactic50: Day 20-21 Redwoods National Forest
After a brief one night stop over in a very cool campground "on the beach," we may our way to something both my friend and I were looking forward to, Redwoods National Forest! We…
July 22, 2016
Galactic50: Day 19 MacKerricher SP
The fog has rolled in and pretty much looks like it is hear to stay. As we make our way up the coast to Mackerricher State Park, we are amazed at not only the fog but how cold it…
July 21, 2016
Galactic50: Day 18- Shark Fin Cove, Davenport California
On our second day of our Rt. 1 journey, we headed north to a place I have been before and wanted to head back to and get some photos. The last time I was in California, a friend…
July 20, 2016
Galactic50: Day 17, Rt. 1 Begins in Big Sur!
As we make our way out of Yosemite I am amazed of how much forest we drove through. When I think of California, its beaches and palm trees that come to mind, not towering…
July 19, 2016
Galactic50: Day 16-18 Yosemite
With a crazy good night behind me, I was off on another long ride but this time would be different. The moon is nearly full and the Milky Way unseeable, I planned to meet up with…
July 18, 2016
Galactic50: Day 15 Crater Lake, Oregon
I had about an 6 hour drive ahead of me, leaving Washington but my excitement level was high. Clear skies is the forecast for Crater Lake in Oregon and I can't wait to get there.…
July 15, 2016
Galactic50: Day 14 Washington State
Leaving Montana and Glacier National Park was one of the hardest things I have had to do this entire trip. I have missed the mountains more than I thought I would, since leaving…
July 14, 2016
Galactic50: Day 11- South Dakota
With a great night out shooting the Milky Way, I woke tired but happy and eager to get to my next spot, South Dakota. My original plan for photographing South Dakota was to go to…
July 14, 2016
Galactic50: Day 12-13 Glacier National Park Montana
On day 12 I had one of my longest drives of the trip ahead of me, and the cloudy night before had me in a somber mood. But I was on my way to Glacier National Park so my spirits…
July 12, 2016
Galactic50: Day 10- North Dakota
Another Milky Way-less night, I awoke cold and disappointed and quickly packed up to move on to my next stop, North Dakota. I had another short drive today to and though I have…
July 11, 2016
Galactic50: Day Nine- Minnesota
With the weather playing a much bigger role in my trip than I would have liked, I set off to the land of a thousand lakes, Minnesota, hoping once again for a clear night. My drive…
July 8, 2016
Galactic50: Day Eight
With a Iowa a complete success, I was hoping to be rid of this storm and on with my trip. I again booked a campsite online, plugged in the address and went on my way to Wisconsin.…
July 7, 2016
Galactic50: Bucket List
Every photographer has a bucket list of shots they want to get or achieve in their life. I am no different, and for this project I have a list that I keep adding to everyday as I…
July 7, 2016
Galactic50: Day Seven
I was getting very tired of the bad weather and the cloudy skies just needed to go away, but thankfully my wishes came true as I arrived in Iowa, nice and early but again google…
July 6, 2016
Galactic50: Day Six
With this storm hanging over my current area, I have been feeling a little discouraged. I was however expecting this since I saw the weather report on my way out here talking…
July 5, 2016
Dark Skies of Hoosier National Forest
After a difficult trip, I was anxious to see what the night skies held for me here in Indiana. I found a great location to shoot that I felt safe in and had some great foreground…
July 5, 2016
Galactic50: Day Five
Rain, Rain, and More Rain. My excitement for location the previous night came to a screeching halt about an hour before sunset when a bunch of thick low clouds moved in, clouds…
July 4, 2016
Galactic50: Day Four
After a disappointing night of cloudy skies, I packed up and headed to my next stop, Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. Again this was supposed to be a short trip that thanks…
July 4, 2016
Galactic50: Day Three
After two nights in our beautiful national forests, I was starting to get in my groove. My first two nights were successful, but I was not very optimistic for the days coming up.…
July 3, 2016
The Dark Skies of Wayne National Forest, Ohio.
As far as dark skies go, Ohio was one of the states I was pretty worried about. According to the Bortle Scale, was rated right in the middle in its darkest place, The Wayne…
July 3, 2016
Galactic50: Day Two
With an early rise to my day and a long night behind me I started off on what was supposed to be a nice easy 5 hour drive to Indiana. Hoosier National Forest was next on the list…
June 30, 2016
Galactic50: Day One
Day One:Galactic50 is officially underway and the first place on the list is Ohio. With one of the longest drives ahead of me I wanted to try and get an early start, but we all…
May 11, 2016
Galactic 50! A photography project
When I started in photography my one driving force was to get out and see the world. 3 years ago I moved to Colorado to keep that dream going and this summer, I take on my biggest…
March 31, 2016
What's in an Adventure?
"“Every experience is a form of exploration.”― Ansel Adams http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12115.Ansel_Adams Take time and reflect on your experience's and ask yourself how…
March 29, 2016
Are you a Renegade?
I have for a long time now been in love with the Jeep Brand. One of the first things I did when moving out to Colorado, was look to buy a Jeep Wrangler so I can access the…
March 24, 2016
A starry night: The Milky Way Comes Back!
Last year I discovered a new obsession. Well it isn't so new to me, as the stars and the night sky always have fascinated me, but photographing the Milky Way was new to me last…
March 22, 2016
San Francisco: The Final Day and Part II of Shark Fin Cove
Our final full day in San Francisco was going to be a busy one. The group had plans to shoot the sunset at Treasure Island as well as go back to Shark Fin Cove, but before we…
March 17, 2016
San Francisco: The Photowalk!
My trip to the west coast was made specifically to partake in a photowalk with one of today's hottest photographers, Trey Ratcliff. As you may or may not know I am an apprentice…
March 15, 2016
San Francisco, A Friendly Gathering: Shark Fin Cove Part I
After a very early morning of shooting we headed out of Tomales Bay and back into San Francisco. After recharging a bit, my friend suggested a place to go shoot sunset and…
March 10, 2016
San Francisco, A Friendly Gathering: Day 1
Last year, I joined an amazing online community known as the Arcanum. An online community for photographers to learn and grow with help from established, professional…
March 8, 2016
Tribeca Grain: A day at the shop!
Recently, while back home on the east coast, I took some time to visit my brothers shop where he runs, Tribeca Grain. Tribeca Grain takes what was old and makes it new again.…
March 3, 2016
Ouray, Colorado: Ice Adventures!
Ouray, Colorado, pronounced /ˈjʊəreɪ/, is another amazing small Colorado mountain town. Sitting at over 7,000 feet in elevation, Ouray is a place for fun. Known as the Switzerland…
March 1, 2016
Arches NP: Dreams come true!
After witnessing the might sunset of Canyonlands /truevision-photography/2016/02/23/canyonlands-a-might-sunset , I was a happy a photographer with very little expectations for…
February 26, 2016
Mesa Arch: What do you mean you haven't photographed it!
Every time I go out to photograph any place, my first and foremost goal is to try and create something different, something not seen before, and something well just original. I'm…
February 24, 2016
Canyonlands: A Mighty Sunset
Ever since I have discovered Moab, Utah I have wanted to photograph it in the Winter. The snow against the red rocks, arches, and Moab's amazing landscape's have been calling my…
February 9, 2016
Do you have PhotoMojo?
The start of the new year has been a little rough for me in the world of taking pictures. My first outing I drove around for a few hours only to return home with very few shots…
February 2, 2016
Fall into Telluride!
With winter bearing down on most of us, I thought I would take us back to a slightly warmer time, Fall! For our last camping trip this year my buddy and I decided to camp in…
January 29, 2016
Final Day with the Bald Eagle Family
This past summer, I had the most amazing privilege of hanging out with an amazing family of Bald Eagles. I watched the babies grow, learn to fly and then eventually leave the…
January 26, 2016
Training Day: A day with Durango Fire & Rescue
Durango, Colorado is as I have said multiple times, nothing but a big adult playground. Whether you are going hiking, mountain climbing, snow shoeing, ice climbing, skiing, or…
January 20, 2016
Have you seen an Angry Crab!
Today we take a little break from the landscape photos to discover a new NJ staple. When I was home, I had a great pleasure of spending the day with The Angry Crab. What is the…
January 15, 2016
Finger Lakes to Flowing Waters, a day back east!
Heading back home for the holidays is always a great time of year for me. Seeing friends and family always puts a great end to the year. This year I added a little extra spice to…
December 23, 2015
Thunder, Coyotes, and the Milky way: A Day in Sedona, Part II
After returning to our hotels for a bit of a recharge, Joe and I headed out to another popular place for sunset pictures. I highly recommend spending at least one sunset in Sedona…
December 21, 2015
Sun-up to Sun-Down and Beyond: A Day in Sedona!
One day is never truly enough to photograph a place like Sedona, AZ, but when a friend told me he was going to be down there for a visit I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Sedona…
December 16, 2015
What is The Arcanum?
When I started my journey into photography, more than 10 years ago, there was two new things going on in the industry. The first was the digital revolution that took us from film…
December 14, 2015
A Family Affair: A return Home!
After a few times going back to the Eagle's nest and not finding any one of family of five there, I started thinking they might have moved on or worse! In the middle of our summer…
December 9, 2015
One Sheep of a Day: A return to Porphyr Gulch
Two summers ago a friend and I discovered, Porphyr Gulch /truevision-photography/2015/06/30/jeep-trail-porphyry-gulch .Porphyr is a jeep trail that leads to an alpine lake and has…
December 7, 2015
Colorado Mountain Summers: Beauty at the top of the world
Being a transplant from NJ, I have seen and experienced so many new things being out in Colorado. Nothing has yet to compare to the scene I experienced at the trailhead for King…
November 29, 2015
A Look at the American Bald Eagle!
A Family Affair! A photographic journey through the lives of a family of Bald Eagle's. Growing up, I had a small fixation on the American Bald Eagle. So much so that I had one…
November 29, 2015
Day 2 with the American Bald Eagle's
A Family Affair! A photographic journey through the lives of a family of Bald Eagle’s. Day 2 A return to my new favorite family, was a big success. On Day 2, when I arrived, I saw…
November 29, 2015
Jeep Living: Still waiting on summer.
I will be sharing many jeep trails with you, but here in SW Colorado where most of the jeep trails reside over 9,000 ft in elevation, we are still waiting for the snow to melt.…
November 29, 2015
Silverton's Hidden Gem: Animas Forks
The Durango/Silverton area has a deep history in mining, a history you can still see today. Animas Forks is one of the largest remaining Ghost Towns of Colorado. It is located on…
November 11, 2015
Hello ELLO! What do you know about Ello?
What in the world is ELLO? In their own words,"Ello is a community of creators, thinkers, and dreamers sharing inspiration through images and stories." You can read the whole…
August 21, 2015
New Limited Edition Prints of the Milky Way Now Available at Discounted Rates!
Hey Everybody,Last week, during the height of the years biggest Meteor Shower, The Perseods, I spent more time awake than I did sleeping. But, with the Milky Way also very…
August 20, 2015
Jeep Trails: Hurricane/California/Engineer Pass
In the Durango/Silverton Area of Colorado, one of best rewards is access. Access, to the great wide open or The Backcountry, as they refer to it here. Old mine trails weave and…
August 12, 2015
A Family Affair: In search of the Eagle Family
After my last visit, I couldn’t wait to get back to see the Eagles. I was hoping for the family to be reunited and to see all three babies flying around their home. However, when…
August 5, 2015
Area Spotlight: Monument Valley, Utah
Have you ever seen a Western movie? If you answered yes, chances are you have seen Monument Valley. Over 100 movies have been filmed there with one of the most recent being the…
July 31, 2015
Featured Friday: Stormy Mesa
Featured Friday Stormy MesaFind the path with the most resistance and you will find the end with the most reward!"Stormy Mesa" This weeks Featured photo is from a drive along the…
July 29, 2015
A Family Affair: Bald Eagles on the move!
Day 5 with the Bald Eagle Family in Durango, Colorado was a bit of a mixed bag of feelings for me. When I first showed up, I realized there was no Mom or Dad just hanging out like usual. So, I kept driving to the other side of the trees so I can see the nest. Nothing, no little guys hanging out on branches, no squawking coming from the trees, and it didn’t seem like there was any babies hanging out in the nest.
July 27, 2015
Area Spotlight: Sedona, Arizona
About 5 years ago, I came out west to visit Arizona for a short 3 day trip. My first day, I went down to Tucson but on my second day I found one of the most beautiful high desert…
July 13, 2015
Area Spotlight: Mesa Verde
Over 700 years ago, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in dwellings they made in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Mesa Verde, meaning Green Table, is the sight of over 600 cliff dwellings…
July 9, 2015
TBT: Lakota Wolf Preserve
It was 2010 and I had the privilege of doing a workshop with a local NJ Photography Retailer, Unique Photo, at the Lakota Wolf Preserve. The Lakota Wolf Preserve is four very…
July 8, 2015
A Family Affair: An Eagle of a Day
Today was a busy one at the home of Eagles. We saw a lot of flying from the adults, some attempts by one of the babies, and even one of the adults hunting on the ground. When I…
July 7, 2015
Jeep Trail: The Alpine Loop
High in the San Juan Mountains, you will find a jeep trail that will take your breath away and show you Colorado's rich mining history all at the same time. This trail starts at…
July 6, 2015
Area Spotlight: The Grand Canyon
About a 5 1/2 hour drive from Durango, Colorado, one of America's greatest natural spectacle's awaits you. Over 1 mile down and on average 10 miles across, The Grand Canyon is a…
July 2, 2015
TBT: NY! NY!
I am by all means more a country guy than I am a city guy, but as much as I love nature and being out in the wild, NY is a jungle all its own. Skyscrapers, theaters, restaurants,…
July 1, 2015
A Family Affair: Day Three, A Flying Lesson!
On my 3rd day out to see our local Bald Eagle Family, I showed up around the normal time, 2 hours before sunset, and was surprised to see only one of the adults at the nest. When…
June 30, 2015
Jeep Trail: Porphyry Gulch
My jeep has taken me to many great heights here in beautiful Colorado, but none as cool as Porphyry Gulch. Located 9 miles north of Silverton, Colorado Porphyry Gulch takes you to…
June 29, 2015
Area Spotlight: Silverton, Colorado
Sitting at over 9,000 feet the township of Silverton, Colorado boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor activity in the lower San Juan Mountain Range. What started…
June 26, 2015
Feature Friday: "The Path Home"
Every Friday I will be featuring one of my favorite photos. This week is "The Path Home" and it was taken north of Silverton, Colorado.After a long day 4 Wheelin, my buddy and I…
June 25, 2015
TBT: Eastern State Penitentiary
The home to many notorious criminals, Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the first major prisons built in America. It took a large step away from prisons of its day, and took…