These are the nature photographs(except two) taken by me (Roy) during my vacations. Professional photographers despise panoramic format. Since I am not professional, I like it. And, here they are not in any particular order.
1) Blooming of Cherry blossom, Washington DC.
When: March last week or April 1st week depending on the weather.
What: Yoshino cherry trees paying tribute to the founding fathers.
When: March last week or April 1st week depending on the weather.
What: Yoshino cherry trees paying tribute to the founding fathers.
Where: Tidal Basin, Washington DC. For more details click here
Jefferson Memorial (Click on the image to zoom)
Washington Memorial
2) Put yourself in the lime light. Antelope Slot Canyon.
When: Any time but best is during noon time in Summer.
What: Navajo Sand stones lit up the slot canyon by the sun rays.
When: Any time but best is during noon time in Summer.
What: Navajo Sand stones lit up the slot canyon by the sun rays.
Where: Page, AZ. Near Lake Powel and Glen Canyon arch dam. For more details click here
Slot Canyon
3) Wrap yourself in the mist. Niagara Falls.
When: Any time, but Fall has it own charm as goat island becomes very colorful.
Where: Buffalo, NY. For more details click here
4) Where the History and River meets, Hiking Harpers Ferry.
When: First week of November during Fall and early spring.
What: Hiking in Maryland Highland to the ledge overlooking Harpers Ferry.
Where: Harpers Ferry, WV.
Harpers Ferry from Maryland Highlands
5) See the eruption of old faithful. Yellowstone National Park.
When: Early Summer
What: Although Old Faithful is more majestic Geyser, Grand Prismatic and Morning Glory are more beautiful.
Where: Yellowstone National Park, WY. For more details click here.
6) See the Sunset from Signal mountain, Grand Teton National Park.
When: Summer, considered the most beautiful place in lower 48
What: Some of Ansel Adam's best photographs are taken from here in the backdrops of Snake river and Mount Moran. If you are lucky, you can see the
setting sun reflected by Cumulus Lenticularis over the mount Moran.
Where: Grand Teton National Park, WY. For more details click here.
Mount Moran across Jackson Lake
Grand Tetons from Ox-bow lake
7) See the pebbles and stones through the bluest lake. Lake Tahoe.
When: Late spring or early summer when High Sierra still has lot of snow.
What: Eastern shore is a designated scenic All American road.
Where: Lake Tahoe, CA. For more details click here.
8) Walking on the banks of Merced river, Yosemite National Park.
When: Late spring or early summer(Approximately, middle of May to Middle of June). Once the snow on the High Sierra is melted off, the waterfalls are tapered off to a trickle. Make sure Tioga Pass and Glacier roads are opened.
What: Hike to Nevada falls.
Where: Yosemite National Park, CA. For more details click here.
Merced River
Glacier Point
Glacier Point
Yosemite Valley
9) Compare the seeds of the Sequoia corn and General Sherman, Sequoia National Park.
When: Late spring or early summer
What: And count the tree rings of fallen Sequoia to find age of the tree and drought and wet seasons of the past
Where: Sequoia National Park, CA. For more details click here.
General Sherman
10) Stand among the Giants, Redwood National Park, Crescent City.
When: Late spring or early summer when the Rhododendron blooms.
What: Hike in the early morning when the advection/radiation fog at its highest.
Where: Crescent City, CA. For more details click here.
Taking a stroll among the giants
11) See the deepest lake in North America, Crater Lake National Park
When: Early summer. Make sure at least few miles of the ring road is opened.
What: Look for Salmon run (Chinook King) in the nearby Rogue river
Where: Crater Lake National Park , OR. For more details click here.
12) Test your fear of height. Angles Landing, Zion National Park, UT
When: Early summer
What: Hike through the Narrows (Temple of Sinawawa) and to the Angles Landing.
Where: Zion National Park, UT For more details click here
Zions from Carmel road
13) See Colorado River through Angeles Window, Grand Canyon National Park
When: Early Summer. North Rim opens only on May 15th.
What: See the Colorado River through the Angeles Window.
Where: Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim), AZ. For more details click here
Angles Window (North Rim)
14) Stand among the Hoodoos. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
When: Early Summer at sun set or sun rise
What: Hiking down the Inspiration Point. For more details click here
Fairy Land loop trail
Sunset Point
15) Frame yourself in Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, UT
When: Visit only during early morning of late evening if hiking in summer as there are no shades on the way.
What: Hike to delicate arch. For more details click here
When: Any Time, but avoid during thunderstorms, it is too exposed.
What: This is better than the similar and more famous Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ. Here, San Juan river takes multiple U-turns. In Horseshoe bend, Colorado river takes only one U-turn.
Where: Goose Neck State Park, Mexican Hat, UT. For more details click here
Goose Necks
17) A Sun set/Sun rise among the Mittens, Monument Valley
When: Any season, but sunrise and sunset is the best time
What: Take a loop drive among the Mesa's
Where: Monument Valley, AZ. For more details click here
18) When the desert Blooms, Wild flowers of Death Valley NP and Antelope Valley
When: Spring after an El-Nino winter rains. During El-nino years, desert California gets copious rainfall. The desert blooms during subsequent Spring.
What: This is a once in a life time event. If the Santa Ana winds (Chinook) starts after the bloom, the flowers will be burned in few hours. Unfortunately, that is what is happened to me. My 15 years of wait went in vain. So, the following photos are from internet, not taken by me.
Where: Death Valley National Park and Antelope Valley, CA
These two are not my photos
19) When the water fall meets ocean, McWay Falls, Big Sur
When: Early Spring any time when the waterfall is at it peak, but the sunset is the best.
What: Look for sea otters frolicking in the water.
Where: McWay Falls, Big Sur, CA
20) When the nature goes color crazy, Kancamagus highway
When: Columbus day weekend but depends on weather.
What: The best New England fall color can offer.
Where: The road runs between Conway, NH to Lincoln, VT along the Swift river, south of Mt. Washington, NH and VT. For more details click here
21) See the beauty of reflection. Lassen Volcanic peak national Park.
When: Park opens only in Summer. Choose early summer.
What: To see the reflection of Mt. Lassen on Manzanita Lake. Unfortunately lost the entire film roll due to a mistake in rewinding. So, showing a photo from internet, not taken by me.
Where: Lassen Volcanic peak national Park, Redding, CA
These two are not my photos
22) See the Mars on earth. Dead horse and Canyonlands National Park
When: Any time but Summer is too hot
What: To see Mars on earth
Where: Canyonlands National Park, UT. For more details click here
23) Falling Water where engineering meets the nature, Ohiopyle state park
When: Best time is during fall, 3rd weekend of October
What: To see Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece
Where: Ohiopyle state park, PA.For more details click here
24) White water rafting in New River Gorge
When: Best time is during fall on the Bridge day. Summer for whitewater rafting.
What: Grist mill in Babcock State park is one of the most photographed landmark in USA during Fall.
Where: New River Gorge, WV. For more details click here
25) Take a Misty drive, Blue Ridge Parkway/Smokey Mountain NP (My favorite)
When: Either last week of May or first week of June when Rhododendron blooms or 3rd week of October when leaf color peaks
What: Roll down the window and drive through the advection fog in the morning while listening to Country road take me home....
Where: Blue Ridge Parkway, VA & NC. For more details click here
Linville Viaduct
26) See the abstract beauty of rocks, Capitol Reef National Park.
When: Spring. Summer is too hot and no trees for shade
What: Trekking to the Castle
Where: Capitol Reef National Park, UT.
27) Visit a beautiful Cave
When: Any time
What: Enjoy Stalactite and Stalagmite
Where: Luray Caverns, VA or Ruby Falls cave, TN
28) Watkins Glen State Park, NY
When: During New England Fall
What: See 'Lord of the Rings Waterfalls'
Where: Finger Lakes area, NY
29) See the Tundra in the middle of US: Dolly Sods, Bear rock preserver,WV
When: During Fall
What: See the Canadian Tundara just outside Washington DC
Where: Just outside Washington DC
30) Picking up shells on Sanibel Island, FL
When: After a severe thunderstorm
What: Picking up shells with your kids
Where: Sanibel Island, FL
31.a) Visiting Beautiful state parks: Letchworth SP. NY
When: During Fall
What: Trekking along the river
Where: Letchworth State Park, NY
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Kept for the Future …….
32) When electrons hit Van Allen Belt. Alaska
When: Next sunspot cycle is expected in 2024 (I missed 2013) its 11 year cycle
What: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
Where: Outskirts of Fairbanks, AK
33) When All the flowers bloom, Skagit Valley
When: April depending on weather
What: Tulip fields bloom
Where: Outskirts of Seattle, WA
34) Aspens on fire, Maroon Bells
When: During fall depending on weather
What: Aspens change colors
Where: Elk mountains snow mass wilderness, Outskirts of Aspen, CO
35) Isolated fort in the midst of blue water, Dry Tortugas National Park
When: Any time, avoid Hurricane season
What: Fort Jefferson, Biggest fort in the western hemisphere in the middle of nowhere.
Where: 70 miles offshore of Key West, FL
36) Where whales frolic in Fjords, Kenai Fjords National Park
When: Summer of course. This is Alaska.
What: Kayaking or Boat tour to Exit Glacier
Where: Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, AK
37) Seeing Mt. McKinley on Reflection Lake, Denali National Park
When: Summer. But winter offers better chance of seeing Northern lights
What: Capture Mt. McKinley on the Reflection Lake
Where: McKinley Village, Denali National Park, AK
38) Columbia River Gorge
When: Any time.
What: See all the waterfalls especially, Multnomah Falls and Oneonta Gorge.
Where: Columbia River Gorge, OR
39) Driving through Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park
When: Summer of course. This is Montana.
What: Driving through Going to the Sun Road !
Where: Glacier National Park, MT
40) The Wave, Vermillion Cliffs
When: Spring of course. This is Arizona.
What: 'Surf' on the rocky waves
Where: Coyote Buttes in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, AZ
41) See Mt. Shuksan on Picture Lake
When: During Summer or early Fall
What: Seeing reflection of Mt. Shuksan on Picture lake
Where: North Cascades National Park,WA.
42) See Mt. Rainier among the wild flowers on Reflection Lake
When: Summer or early Fall
What: Seeing reflection of Mt. Rainier on Reflection lake
Where: Mt Rainier National Park.WA.
