The U.S. National Parks system preserves and protects some of the country’s most breathtaking natural landscapes, from towering mountains to vast deserts and lush forests. With over 400 sites, including 63 designated national parks, it offers opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and cultural exploration. I've been fortunate to have visited half of them (and still adding!), plus several National Monuments and Navajo Nation Parks.
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
2019
Arches National Park in Moab Utah is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, showcasing stunning red rock landscapes shaped by millennia of erosion. Its most iconic feature, Delicate Arch, stands alone as a graceful sandstone curve and symbol of the American Southwest. Visitors flock to the park for hiking, photography, and breathtaking desert vistas.
Canon 5D Mark IV Canon 16-35 f4L @16mm
Bryce Canyon Hoodoos
2019
Sunlit hoodoos rise sharply against a flawless blue sky, their warm orange stone glowing like embers in the late-day light. The intricate textures and eroded curves show how wind, water, and time carved these formations into their striking shapes. A balanced rock crowns one of the spires, adding a sense of delicate tension to the scene. The whole composition captures Bryce Canyon’s trademark mix of rugged geology and surreal beauty.
Apple iPhone12
Footprints, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
2022
At sundown, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley glow with warm, golden tones as the fading light casts long, dramatic shadows across the rippled sand. The cooling desert air and soft hues create a tranquil, almost otherworldly atmosphere. It's a magical time for quiet reflection, photography, and watching the day gently fade into night
Canon R Canon 24-70 f2.8L at 70mm
Sunrise at Yaki Point
2019
At sunrise from Yaki Point, the Grand Canyon awakens in layers of glowing color. Soft light spills over the rim, igniting the cliffs in shades of gold, rose, and crimson. The vast expanse below fills with mist and shadow, capturing the canyon’s immense depth and quiet majesty.
Canon 5D Mark IV Canon 16-35 f4L at 28mm
Sand Dunes in Late Afternoon
2025
In the late afternoon light, Great Sand Dunes National Park transforms into a landscape of shifting gold and deep shadow. The low sun casts long, sculpted patterns across the ridges, revealing every curve and contour. The interplay of light and darkness gives the dunes a sense of motion and timeless beauty while the tiny figures on the left show the immense scale of the dunes.
Canon R5 Canon 24-70L at 50mm
Sunrise - East Mitten Butte
2019
As the first light breaks over Monument Valley, the sun rises behind East Mitten Butte, casting long shadows across the red desert floor. The sandstone monolith silhouettes in front of the deep oranges and golds, revealing the timeless beauty of Navajo Tribal Park. It’s a moment of quiet power, where earth and sky meet in perfect balance.
Canon 5D Mark IV Canon 70-200 f4L at 200mm
Saguaro Sunset
2014
A towering saguaro cactus stands silhouetted against a vibrant desert sunset in Saguaro National Park. The sky glows with warm hues of orange, pink and blue, casting a golden light across the rugged landscape. The cactus, with its iconic arms reaching skyward, creates a striking contrast against the colorful horizon of the Sonoran desert.
Nikon f Nikkor 50mm on Kodak film
Sunrise in Yosemite Valley
2022
This valley view is one of the most iconic in Yosemite.
Majestic El Capitan on the left oversees the Merced River
flowing in the foreground. At sunrise the colors are a spectacular
display of gold and orange that drape the valley in warmth.
Canon EOS R Canon 24-70 f2.8L 50mm
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