Mountains, Valleys, and High Plains Photography Gallery, Nature Revealed Photography - Tours Workshops and Fine Art by Jeff Jessing

This photograph was made while I was leading a workshop in North America’s gem of national parks, Glacier. This particular morning yielded incredible light upon the mountainous landscapes. This is a winning photograph in the prestigious 2009 North American Nature Photographers Association Annual Contest.

Window of Light

Nature delivered quite a light show on this particular morning! Despite being tired and sleep-deprived, I was thrilled to have awaken well before dawn so that I could make the trip from my hotel in Charleston to this location on the beautiful Atlantic coast.

Festival of Light

This photograph was crafted while leading a photo tour in the Oregon Cascades. I was drawn to the strong geometry of the foreground elements that stand out in the cloudless sky reflection on the surface of the cold water.

Oregon Dreams

The always active Tuffed Puffin make great subjects for photographers.

Water Tricks

At this moment, the spectacular light made an ordinary composition into a stunning image. I try to never underestimate the powerful effect quality light has on my photographs.

Odyssey

I wish everyone on our wonderful planet could experience the raw beauty of nature. This photograph was made while leading a photo tour along the Oregon coast.

Ethereal

This shot epitomizes the term "soft light". The wonderfully rich palette of colors are the compliment of the lighting conditions.

Soft Light

An approaching storm is stirring up the sea near Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Pending Storm

This unique region of the Oregon coastline has some surprising similarity with the canyon lands of the American Southwest, specifically the red glowing sandstone. This shot was made as the sun was setting on a beautiful clear evening.

Kiwanda Arch

Magical evening light illuminating the Painted Hills. This photograph was a first prize winner in the 2006 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Summit Contest.

Painted Hills in Golden Light

An unchallenging day at the zoo for a Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus). This photograph is a winner in the 2009 North American Nature Photographers Association annual contest.

Unchallenged

This photograph was crafted at midday on a sunny day. I took care in finding subjects that were in shadow, as this allowed me to control the contrast and make a pleasing exposure.

Life Force

The always stunning Fisher Towers are one of those locations that are difficult to leave.

Fisher Towers

This mountain goat is teaching her youngster how to thrive in their harsh habitat.

Natural Habitat

Rain, wind, and spray made this a particularly challenging photograph to make. Although it may not be evident, this shot was taking in fairly harsh conditions. I was drawn to the strong lines that lead the viewer into the image. This is one of many places within Glacier National Park that I take the people on my tours.

Glacial Forces

Late afternoon casts long shadows revealing the beautifully textured farm country in the Palouse region of Eastern Washington. This photograph was an award-winner at the 2007 North American Nature Photographers Association Annual Contest.

Fertile Land

This photograph was made during a “once in a decade” sunrise at a well-known overlook of Upper St. Mary Lake. From this overlook you can enjoy the magnificent landscape of one of the true gems of the USA, Glacier National Park.

Upper Saint Mary Lake

While waiting for the meadow to come out of the shadow of a nearby mountain, I enjoyed the unique aroma of the Bear Grass on a perfect morning in Glacier. Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) with Mt. Oberlin and Clements Mtn. in the background.

Glacier Bear Grass

From this high vantage point, the drama of this unique landscape is obvious. The hike to this location is well worth the effort and time.

The Painted Landscape

Glacier National Park provides the nature lover with bountiful opportunities to see (and photograph) many of North America’s large mammals, including the mighty moose seen here. This photograph was made while leading one of my Glacier tours.

Mixing it Up

It is hard to beat the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) aviary at the wonderful Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Eye of the Puffin

The Fresnel lens in this grand lighthouse focuses its light into an exceptionally bright beam that can be seen for miles out to sea.

The Sentinal of Light

This bio-mass of Brown Pelicans found near my home is one of many examples of why the Oregon coast is a treasure to humanity.

Pelicans

In anticipation of a colorful sunset my son, Kasen, and I went on a beach hike where he helped me capture a few nice shots of Yaquina Head and the surrounding landscape. The intensive hues of the sky this evening "set the stage" for the drama of both the sky and the reflection on the wet sand in the foreground. This was one of those countless special moments with my son in Nature, thanks Kasen!

Old Salt

A bull and cow Bison (Bison bison) in a field of golden grass. This is an award winning photograph in the 2006 North American Nature Photography Association’s Summit Contest.

Bison Pair

This is one of a few standing weathered barns on “Mormon Row” with the Teton Range in the background.

Teton Barn

I was fortunate to have this fisherman waiting so patiently (and motionless) during this long exposure. As you may imagine, the man was in a precarious location considering the large size of the surf on this morning.

Patiently at Risk

Red Alder (Alnus rubra) trees and foliage reflected off the surface of a small pond in late afternoon light. The water, which is reflecting the golden hue of the setting sun, is being rippled by the wind. This location is near Neskowin Beach on the Central Oregon Coast.

Neskowin Reflection

This was taken from within an old barn as an afternoon storm was brewing overhead. The high contrast in this scene provides a challenge to any photographer.

Sheltered

I was drawn to this scene for the obvious reason that it draws the viewer directly into this stunningly beautiful sunrise over the Atlantic ocean.

Enchantment

A simple group of cobblestones with specular highlights of the sun give great texture and depth to this image.

Simply Cobbles

A magical sunset is reflected in a large tide pool below Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

A rare treat in the wild is to photograph a bobcat (Lynx rufus), so I was pleased to make acquaintances with this beautiful cat. This bobcat was watching my every move while resting in a small pocket of illumination.

Camouflaged

Clinging tenaciously to a rock, this is one of the countless starfish that can be found along the Oregon coastline.

As One

The golden hues of nearby canyon walls and a clear blue sky give this ice abstract the pleasing color palette.

Merced Ice

2009 was a particularly good year for Beargrass in many parts of Glacier National Park. This photograph was crafted under the majesty Garden Wall.

The Garden Wall

A dramatic sky compliments a rocky shoreline at one of Oregon’s scenic beaches.

Whaleshead Beach

This photograph was made in a thick swarm of mosquitoes, which is all too common during the late spring/early summer in the Cascades. Here Mt. Bachelor dominates the landscape in both actual and reflected form.

Nature's Way

Winter’s fierce storms typically wash away large quantities of sand revealing the underlying bedrock as was captured on this tranquil evening.

Tranquil

I really like the color palette and the geometric pattern of the stones that where found at Paradise Point on Two Medicine Lake.

Two Medicine Stones

I crafted this photograph to maximize the surreal and alien landscape of this wondrous location. This photograph is a winner in the 2009 North American Nature Photographer Association Annual Contest.

Of this World

The drama of the sea meets the drama of the sky in this photograph.

The Edge of the Sea

In the relatively tight quarters of this gorge, an extremely wide-angle lens was used to frame in the entire expanse of this beautiful location.

The Rift

After a nice afternoon hike to this iconic location, I made this photograph while waiting for the sun to set. I spent another 4 hours at this location doing creative nighttime photography with students.

Sandstone Majesty

The Newberry Volcanic National Monument is a treasure trove of photographic subjects. This shot was captured underneath Paulina Falls.

Cross Over

This location offers so much for photographers that it is overwhelming. I could literally spend the entire day at this one spot with endless opportunities from the wide-angle to intimate details.

Valley of the Waters

This image was crafted while leading a photography workshop in Arches National Park. The laser painting is one of several creative techniques that Jeff shares with his students.

Alien Landscape

This photograph was made on a stormy evening at the spectacular Grand View Overlook.

Canyon Thunder

Along with Mt. Bachelor, South Sisters, and Broken Top, many cinder cones are scattered within the murky foreground during a breathtakenly beautiful sunset.

Fields of Peaks

For a brief period, the last rays of light of the day broke through the thick clouds to illuminate the landscape.

The Last Ray

Being flexible while shooting is critical for successful photography. A case in point, awaking early for a morning shoot to get a reflection of Mt. Hood in Trillium Lake led to this intimate image. The cloudy conditions eliminated the view of Hood on this particular morning, hence I found other subjects to aim my camera at.

Reeds

Perched on the edge of the canyon below, I captured the edge of day over the Crooked River.

The Edge of Day

I am always on the hunt for beautiful details that nature provides. This was one such subject that I HAD to work with.

Natural Flow

This image was crafted at a location that required wading through intensely cold water. The payoff was a view of the blue water flowing through this beautiful gorge.

Oneonta Gorge

This photograph was made while teaching waterfall techniques to a group of students. One the lessons learned with this type of shot is how to avoid becoming drenched by the splash-pool spray!

Glacial Runoff

This photograph, made on a cold February day, shows the tremendous forces of the ocean in carving the basalt headlands of the Oregon coast. On this particular evening my father joined me as we hiked to this location.

Center of Mass

This is a prime example of careful observation. While leading a workshop in Glacier I found this very graphic puddle of water that at the right angle was reflecting the intensely blue sky.

Aquabolt

Cobblestones that can be found along the Oregon coast is one of my favorite subjects. This photograph was made using long exposure and a sturdy tripod.

Tumbled

Aquarium photography is one of the most challenging environments to make good images, specifically, the photographer has to deal with dark conditions, rapidly moving subjects, and distracting parasitic reflections.

Seahorse and Glass

Stormy skies and seas provide the peaceful intensity of this oceanscape.

Aqua Fault

Put simply, I love this falls and this region of Central Oregon. The unique aspect to this falls is that it's iocated within the caudron of an extinct volcano. The waters from nearby Lake Paulina form these stunningly beautiful falls.

Paulina Falls

A photographic treasure, the Palouse is dotted with countless barns and old farmsteads. This particular barn has seen better days and certainly appears to be on its last leg of live.

Last Leg

My vision was realized when I slowly moved into the right position for this shot. I love the concerned eyes of this harbor seal looking at me from behind the rock.

Mindful

Mountains, Valleys, and High Plains Photography Gallery, Nature Revealed Photography - Tours Workshops and Fine Art by Jeff Jessing

Personal Favorites by Jeff Jessing

Some of Jeff's Favorite Photographs