Water

Glacier Fragment

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. This piece of ice from the Hooker Glacier floated in the glacier's proglacial lake, among 75 other icebergs. The bright afternoon sun reflected in the ice while the clear blue sky lit the water's surface.

Water and Ice

On a bright early spring day, floating pieces of the Hooker Glacier reflect the sky and surrounding hills.

Wild Display of Power

Bombo Headland Quarry, New South Wales, Australia. In the early morning just before sunrise, the South Pacific batters at the basalt columns of the old quarry.

Bombo Headland Quarry, New South Wales, Australia. Great swells from the South Pacific come ashore here and demonstrate their power when they hit the basalt columns of the former quarry. This huge wave produced patterns like a fireworks display. The booming sound and rhythmic movement were fascinating.

Surface and Depth

The South Pacific Ocean comes crashing into the rocky coast here at Bombo Headland. The place is named after an aboriginal warrior.

Surface and Depth #2

Bombo Headland, New South Wales, Australia

The Eloquence of Water

Tasman Glacial Lake, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

The River Rejoices

Merced River Canyon, Yosemite National Park During a week when 10 trillion gallons of water will fall on California, the Merced River sings its song as it rushes through the canyon just west of Yosemite Valley.

Patterns of Moss and Water

Nelson Falls, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmanian Wilderness Wild Heritage Site A misty day created perfect light for these falls, located in a wild area that is home to plants and animals unique in the world

Pastel Morning

Wanaka Lake, New Zealand It wasn't an awesome high mountain landscape (that was off to the left). And it wasn't a briliantly red sunset. But I felt the gentle colors were perfect for this early morning scene.

The Practice of Deep Looking

Tasman Lake, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand To paraphrase John Muir, it's a big world and I want to get as close to the heart of it as I can

Spiritual Animation

Tasman Sea at Okarito Beach, New Zealand The waves of the Tasman Sea paint fleeting designs on the rocks and black sand of the beach at Okarito, New Zealand. I was grateful for the pastel sky, rather than a more vivid sunset; I didn't want distractions from the design work going on around me. A perfect place to plant your feet in the cold water and watch a master "painter" at work.

Power Within The Flow

The Kings River running swiftly through Cedar Grove. The song of the river filled the air throughout Kings Canyon.

Micro Moment

Upper Rae Lake, Kings Canyon National Park On our way to 80 Lakes Basin, we stopped to appreciate the brilliant colors and sun patterns near the shore.

Water Stars

Middle Paradise Valley, Kings Canyon National Park n the High Sierra, with a boring sky above, the sunlight reflected in the gently flowing South Fork of the Kings River. This shot was taken near where Ansel Adams photographed Paradise Valley as part of the mural project for the park service in 1936. Those photos were instrumental in getting Kings Canyon named a national park in 1940.

Blue and Gold

Roaring River at Alluvial Fan, Rocky Mountain National Park Another abstract, from the flowing waters of this stream in the Rockies.

Force Majeure

Roaring River at Alluvial Fan, Rocky Mountain National Park On a day of heavy rain, the power of this river gave advance warning of the huge flood that was to come. The boulders played their role in forming the waves and currents that entertained me for hours.

Elegance of Random Design

Elwha River, Olympic National Park

Clear and Fresh

Fern Spring, Yosemite Valley A strong winter time flow of water enlivens the spring, as if it were a mini Niagara Falls.

Flow

Fern Spring, Yosemite National Park

Slick Rock

Above Mist Falls, Kings Canyon National Park

River Force

Muddy Fork Cowlitz River, at Box Canyon, Mount Rainier National Park Another high angle view of this glacier-fed river.

Tumult

Muddy Fork Cowlitz River, at Box Canyon, Mount Rainier National Park Looking straight down into the depths of the canyon, the glacier-fed water rushes southwards from Mount Rainier on its way to the Columbia.

Unconventional View

Christine Falls, Mount Rainier National Park This view of the pools and small falls is easily overlooked. Just stepping off the trail reveals a world of color more brilliant than what the larger falls provide.

Rhythm

Tenaya Creek, Yosemite National Park The creek drops into Mirror Lake, with a beauty of form and light that is spectacular in springtime.

Beneath A Radian Sky

Tenaya Creek, Yosemite National Park These waters flowing down from the canyon are on their way to meet the Merced and eventually reach the San Joaquin Valley. Here, they show off the reflected glory of the springtime sun, sky and leaves.

Streams That Dance And Sing

Tenaya Creek, Yosemite National Park In springtime, the high water flow creates patterns, reflections and sounds that can hold your attention for hours. This is one of our favorite spots in the valley at that time of year.

Geological Effects

Waterfall on McHugh Creek, Alaska The richness of the colors in this photo are real, enhanced by the warm color of the evening sun.

Waiting For Light

Enchantment Lakes, Washington This is the full scene of the waterfall in the previous photo. Downstream from here, Snow Creek flows into Sprite Lake and then into a series of tarns on its way to Leprechaun Lake.

Periodicity

Merced River, Yosemite Valley Just above Pohono Bridge, the spring runoff piles up in these crests, whose turbulence contrasts with the smooth reflections of the early morning sun in the troughs. On a clear day in Yosemite, when the skies lack dramatic clouds, there's plenty to appreciate if you look down.

Fusion of Waters

Paria Riffle, Colorado River, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area The Paria River flows into the Colorado, depositing debris on the riverbed that creates these riffles. I imagine the different colors of the two rivers creating these hues.

McGee Creek, Eastern Sierra

Aspen Glow

McGee Creek, Eastern Sierra The golden color of the rocks is enhanced by the overarching aspen in their full autumn color. I also liked the curve of the white highlights in the current.

Strings

McGee Creek Detail, Eastern Sierra A slow shutter speed made the highlights in the current look like little strings. Fallen aspen leaves on the right are caught on the rocks of the creek bottom.

Curvilinear

McGee Creek, Eastern Sierra

Gold and Silver

Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park A bright blue sky combined with the golden morning sun on the Valley walls created these two-toned reflections.

Touches of Gold

Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park

Bridalveil Gold

Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite The late afternoon sun refracted in the mist at the base of the falls created this golden glow. To me, it looked like fires were lit behind the trees.

Blue and Gold

Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park Golden sunlight reflected off the valley walls light the top portion of the photo, while the blue light of the shadows paints the lower portion.

Panoramic Reflections

Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park Composed of nine images blended together. That seemed the only way to express the feeling of the water arriving from the falls to the right and heading toward the Merced River to the left.

Fluid Dynamics

Cradle Mountain National Park, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area It was not an auspicious time for lovers of waterfalls. Tasmania had been going through a drought, and as we wandered across the grasslands toward this forest, it seemed unlikely that Crater Lake would be feeding this stream. But it was and the gentle fall of the water was perfection.

Waveform

Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park A second photo in the winter reflections series, taken just upstream from the photo above.