Landscapes

"From days on end.."

Epic sunset skies over the grand Cuyamaca Range as seen from Mount Laguna, CA - 4.2.18 With a massive bank of moisture pushing up over the high peaks leading to the Cuyamaca range, I set out under grey skies with dwindling optimism for tonights shot.. As I made my way down an old familiar road, I knew this wasn't going to come together, at least in this part of the county. Historically on nights like this the skies to the south often open up so we turned the truck south only to be faced with more of the same. Blue skies to the east caught our eye and we headed further into the highlands and found epic high level clouds circling above the lower level fog that was overrunning the valleys below. Driving north into the Laguna range, the thought of an old view came to mind.. One set high above the clouds and with one of the finest views to the west I've seen while roaming these high meadows and ridges. With the last hour of light fading fast we made our way down the trail to greet this old view once again.. Taking a few moment to find a new composition, I was struck by this monstrous granite boulder.. my adventurous side took hold and had me scrambling to the top looking for a unique view.. Perched precariously on the fin like prominence, I set up shop as the scene before me began to glow in the late sunset light. Grateful for these moments high above the clouds, far away from the crowds and immersed in the sound of the wind, we took pause to pay our respects to the beautiful moment that we had all to ourselves.. Single exposure | Mount Laguna Landscape Photography | frankcolosiphotography.com

"The Mara Moon.."

The full Blue Worm Moon rising over the remaining palms of the Oasis of Mara, Joshua Tree National Park - Recently assaulted by an arsonist, these are the only remaining palms that did not burn in the horrible fire..

"As the winds flow with the tides.."

One can never anticipate a sunset like this.. Blanketed in grey skies, the sun emerged for a brief but fiery show right as the last moments of the daylight faded away..

"From distant visions.."

Early morning snowfall blanketing the Rock House - Mount Laguna, CA - 3.18.18 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• As the fall came to a close, we began to prepare for the impending winter season.. With distant visions of last years epic snowfalls on the high peaks, one couldn't help feel the anticipation of what might unfold under this seasons winter skies. With a few notable storms passing through the heart of winter, I was able to capture some images of these amazing and rare moments in the San Diego backcountry.. I can't help but chuckle a little at that statement. One typically doesn't relate San Deigo and ample snowfall in the same thought. Coming to live out in these mountains and experiencing the weather that unfolds out here, I was thrown right back into my days of living in the mountains of the north east. As the season progressed, I had a number of images come to my mind and visions of what they might look like.. One stood on the top of my list and only became a stronger desire to capture this scene with each passing storm. The timing of light, weather and life hadn't aligned and till this morning, I had figured this shot would have been left to the archives of possibilities for the next winter season.. As I woke up this morning, I heard the last of the rainfall and figured this morning would be another socked in scene of the past number of days. Gathering my things felt harder than usual, waking up on a cold rainy morning and finding the motivation to head out into the frigid air was daunting at best. Somehow I managed my way out and began heading up the mountain to catch a stormy sunrise shot.. As I approached the route up the mountain, it took me a moment to realize what these flashing lights were for.. Chains required. Quickly shifting my intended target for this morning with the first few snow squalls to engulf the truck, I came back to that one unfinished vision.. As I entered the track of cabins at the highest point of the mountain road, I pulled off to turn back and was struck by this amazing cabin hidden off the side of the road. As the last of the snow fell, I took this image with frozen hands and a frozen smile.. Single Exposure - 1.0 seconds at f/11, ISO 250 @35mm (further cropped) | Mount Laguna Landscape Photography | frankcolosiphotography.com

"As the waters begin to rise.."

Beautiful sunset skies over the endless green meadows of Descanso, CA - 3.25.18 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• As another weekend comes to a close and a new week begins, I can't help but to reflect on the past few days.. Today I had the opportunity to look the destruction of an amazing species of animal, right in the eye.. Our human nature to dominate and define as ours, all that is great and powerful in this world comes with great consequences. Staring into the eyes of the near extinct great Mexican Grey Wolf made me realize that my work in terms of conservation of land must include the animals that hold together these fragile ecosystems that we quite literally take for granted day after day.. After taking in this experience, I had another experience- one that whisked me away into a dream of what this place looked like before modern mankind took hold and any road ever was cut or home built. When the lands had teemed with roaming animal species long past in harmony with the Native people living in these mountains and valleys.. From a time past to the time present and with a new season of life and revitalization before us, I took a moment to pause and reflect as the sun began to set over the glowing green fields before me in one of my favorite places to take pause.. With only a few minutes to capture this incredible sky, this was the final moment of my day and the last capture of a remarkable day of shooting both things wild and of times past.. Single exposure | Cleveland National Forest Landscape Photography | frankcolosiphotography.com