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

Summer in the La Plata Mountains just Northwest of Durango is an alpine-lovers playground. I made this photograph while hiking with my two sons, Landen and Kasen. There are few places I would rather be then with my children in a peaceful natural environment.

The Boulder

Chicago Basin, located roughly 30 miles NE of Durango, in the Weminuche Wilderness is a place rich in scenery and wildlife, such as these mountain goats.

The Goats of Chicago Basin

Groves of Aspens are the largest living organisms on the planet due to their interconnected and vast root network. The sounds of shimmering aspen leaves is one of those “must experience” moments I wish all people could have.

Autumn's Glory

This photograph of Mt. Moran was crafted in the cover of darkness. A very sturdy tripod was used to enable a sharp image during the long exposure. Notice the ghostly reflection of the mountain compliments of the illumination from the moon. This is an award-winning photograph from the 2006 Nature’s Best Photography Magazine Annual Contest.

Moonlit Mt. Moran

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

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

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

The form and color palette of the stones under the water was mesmerizing to me. This was one of those moments in time that I was compelled to make a photograph.

Revealed

This iconic location, in Canyonlands National Park, is best seen (and photographed) at sunrise often resulting in a spectacular glow of the underside of this impressive arch.

Morning's Luminosity

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

Oregon Dreams

This photograph of the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge train was made along a remote stretch of the Animas River. Backpackers can use the train to deliver themselves to the Needle Creek trailhead that leads to the stunningly beautiful region known as Chicago Basin.

Along the River

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

As One

Moments in time and place are what give me motivation to get out in nature over and over. The brief play of light on this scenic canyon provided one such moment that stirred my soul.

Canyon Solitude

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

Simply Cobbles

The always active Tuffed Puffin make great subjects for photographers.

Water Tricks

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

Merced Ice

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

Natural Habitat

Turbulent waters and large crashing waves in the distance added drama to this pleasant sunset.

Churning

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

Pending Storm

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 setting moon is captured at dusk next to the silhouette of a grand Sugar Pine (Pimus lambertiana).

Moonset over Lassen

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

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

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

The texture and color of this bed of sea urchins makes a perfect photographic subject. This photograph was made on one of Jeff's many photo tours led on the Oregon coast.

The Color Purple

The 14-thousand footer, Mt. Sneffels, dominates the landscape in this region of southwest Colorado. The aspens provide a nice foreground to this majestic mountain.

Valley of the Aspens

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

Aqua Fault

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

An important component of quality photography is timing! This was certainly true for this photograph where the setting moon over the beautiful Hermosa Cliffs crested with fall aspens trees all came together in one moment of time.

Moonset over Hermosa Cliffs

Viewing it upside-down as shown here emphasizes the beautiful reflection of this seldom-visited lake. Notice the underwater features!

Little Crater Lake

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

The Wall of Ice

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

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

When possible, I seek out the striking contrast found between the cool snow and the warmly lit rock formations of the Colorado plateau. Fisher Towers is one prime place where this contrast can often be observed.

Winter's Glow

Spring's palette of flowers at one of the most photogenic lighthouses on the Oregon coast.

Yaquina's Garden

One of the most striking geographic features of the Four Corner's area is Shiprock. On this evening I was delighted to find a sky that complimented this imposing rock.

The Cloud Factory

This photograph of the awe-inspiring Cliff Palace was crafted during a beautiful evening. Cliff Palace is the largest of the cliff dwellings found in Mesa Verde.

The Ancient Ones

This long exposure (about 3 hours), at the top of the La Plata Mountains, was made after an hour long drive on a four-wheeled drive road and an additional hour long hike, both in complete darkness.

The Midnight Dance

The surreal landscape of the Bisti Badlands in New Mexico is highlighted in this photograph. This image was made during a backpacking trip into this amazing wilderness area.

The Bisti Tower

This photograph was crafted in the wilds of the Bisti Badlands. The desolation and intense silence that can be found in this remote corner of our world always leaves me in awe!

The Land of Enchantment

A grove of aspens and a big mountain…what more could I ask for?

Aspens and North Twilight

An approaching storm to the San Luis Valley signals the beginning of a sand storm in the Great Sand Dunes

The Sand Storm

The strong bond between mother and child is ever present in nature. These harbor seals were photographed on the Oregon coast while Jeff was leading a photo tour.

Unconditional Love

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

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

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

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Some of Jeff's Favorite Photographs