Photographing Silhouettes in Nature: Treasure Lurking in the Shadows

With the proliferation of digital photography and digital post-processing came a corresponding belief that shadows were to be avoided. Now that it was easy to capture shadow detail, shadows should be avoided at all costs. This nascent phase of digital photography also introduced us to the tone-mapped HDR photograph trend which is now history. Unfortunately, some of the biases against shadows still remain from that era.

Say it with me: shadows are OK!

"Sun Dance" - Joshua Trees and rolling fog in Death Valley National Park. Joshua Trees have a distinctive shape, which is highlighted via the silhouette.

Although it is now easy with digital camera sensors to capture the full dynamic range of a high contrast scene, does it mean you always should? Whether or not to show shadow detail in the resulting image is a creative decision. There is no rule in photography that says there needs to be detail everywhere, and certainly not just because it's easy to capture. In fact, I would often argue the opposite: that too much detail can take an otherwise dynamic scene and turn it into a flat muddled mess.

Silhouettes take this philosophy to the extreme, and often render their subjects with no detail at all - shadow areas can be nearly or even completely black! Why would anyone want to throw away all that precious detail?

"Smokies Silhouette" - Silhouettes do not need to be completely black, in this case, each subsequent ridge is slightly brighter leading to the sun in the background.

Why Photograph Silhouettes?

• Silhouettes can be used to reduce complex subjects to their essence, namely their shape. For many trees and plants, this shape is distinctive and enough to identify the subject without providing so much information as to detract from the rest of the scene.

• The shadow areas might not be that interesting. By making them black (or nearly so), you eliminate distracting elements and highlight the more interesting portion of your photograph, such as the light shining through. The uninteresting shadow areas can merge together into one tonal range rather than compete with each other and distract the viewer.

Mojave Yucca. This distinctive plant's shape is highlighted using a silhouette, and the bright sun shining through serves as a focal point.

How to Photograph Silhouettes

Silhouettes often work best with strongly backlit scenes, so face into the light source (most usually the sun). This can often result in undesirable lens flare, so you may need to shield your lens with a lens hood and/or your hand. If your hand gets in the frame you can zoom out a little bit, and then crop your hand out of the resulting photograph so that there is no lens flare at all and you retain your original desired composition.

From an exposure perspective, silhouettes are actually easier to photograph than scenes where you want to show a full range of detail. If you do not care about shadow detail, you do not have to expose for it, and instead can just concentrate on making sure that the brighter parts of the scene are properly exposed. Most metering modes will try and "average" the light through the scene, which usually works great but not so much for silhouettes where such an exposure would render the shadows too bright. So use manual exposure, or dial back the exposure compensation a few stops so that the shadows are properly dark.

That being said, you may wish to capture all or most of the detail in the field (exposure bracketing if necessary) and then later decide how much of it to keep or throw away during post-processing. This approach is more flexible, though usually if I know I want a silhouette I keep it simple and do a single exposure.

Mossorama - A silhouette emphasizes the moss on these trees in the Pacific Northwest.

How to Post Process Silhouettes

Silhouettes are usually easier to process compared to photographs that show a full range of detail. A silhouette photograph can usually be divided into two parts: the silhouetted areas and the highlights/mid-tones. For the highlights and mid-tones, use your normal processing strategies for adding contrast, saturation, etc.

For the shadows, there are a few specific techniques you can use:

1. In your RAW editor (such as Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom) bring down the shadows, blacks, or exposure sliders. These are all different adjustments and have different effects, so experiment to see what works best for your image. By default these adjustments are global, meaning they affect the entire image. Often this is exactly what you want, but if you need finer control, you will need to use Photoshop to use masks to fine tune your adjustments.

2. In Photoshop, you can selectively burn (darken) areas of the photo that might still be too bright or otherwise distracting. To do this, I create a dodge/burn adjustment layer, and paint black through a darks luminosity selection (more information on this "luminosity painting" technique can be found in Sarah's Ebook/Video on processing in black and white, or on Tony Kuyper's website). I generally find this to be the most controlled way to selectively darken portions of an image (regardless of if it is a silhouette or not).

3. Also in Photoshop, you can use a levels adjustment layer and move the black point and/or midpoint to the right to darken the shadows, or you can use a curves adjustment layer and drag the shadow areas down. This technique works best if most of the shadow areas are in the same tonal range. If they aren't, you will need to fine tune with layer masks.

"Inverted" Silhouettes

You can also change it up and do what I call inverted silhouettes, where the majority of the photo is in shadow but there is only a small portion of light, as in this photograph looking up from a slot canyon:

Canyon Crack - An example of an "inverted" silhouette.

Conclusion

Don't be afraid of the shadows! Silhouettes are one tool, among many, that every photographer should have in their photographic toolbox. While silhouettes are not necessarily appropriate for every scene, they are appropriate for many scenes and can often be used to make a more powerful image.

While this post concentrated on silhouettes (the elimination of shadow detail), the same process can be applied for high key images which often throw away highlight detail. Many photographers are increasingly fine with throwing away shadow detail but bristle at the thought of throwing away highlight detail. My philosophy, as always, is that it depends on the image. Do not unnecessarily box yourself in! If you are unsure capture the full range of detail in the field but be open to throwing parts of it away in post processing. The result may be a stronger and more impactful photograph.

Photographing Botanical Gardens - 5 Tips for Nature Photographers

Note: If you want to learn more about photographing plants and small scenes (like those featured in this post), please see our book Beyond the Grand Landscape: A Guide to Photographing Nature's Smaller Scenes. You may also view my full gallery of photos from the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Sarah and I currently find ourselves camped in the heart of the Mojave Desert, an hour from the nearest gas station and in the middle of a beautiful nowhere. After looking at the map, we realized that we are also within a four hour drive of one of the best botanical gardens in the United States: The Huntington Botanical Gardens near Pasadena, California.

We drove 8 hours round-trip and spent a night so that we could photograph the plants in the garden over the course of two days. That may sound extreme, but those of you who are familiar with the garden know that it is superlative in every way and worth the effort to get there.

Bold and Red

The good news is that most people do not need to go to extreme measures to find a local botanical garden worth photographing. While living in Denver, Sarah and I made it a point to visit our local garden, The Denver Botanic Gardens, as often as possible, and we try and visit as many botanical gardens as we can while we travel.

Here are a few ways that seeking out a local botanical garden can improve your photography and help you accumulate portfolio-quality photographs.

• Practice. The key to getting better at anything, including photography, is to do it again and again and again. Gardens offer a great place to practice and to experiment. Try different focal lengths, lenses (including macro lenses), different apertures, and different perspectives (near, far away, looking up, looking down on the ground). Photograph through plants. Photograph into the light (backlight) to highlight translucent foliage or flowers, or use front light on an overcast or wet day to show color. Do not be afraid to look ridiculous - your goal is not to avoid embarrassment. It is to get photographs! Harness your powers of observation, which is a key skill to develop as a photographer. Gardens offer many subjects that reveal themselves to a patient observer. These experiences in a botanical garden can enhance your photography skills for when you are out in more wild places.

Purple Rain

• Shoot Local. By having a local place that offers easy access, the risk of "coming home with nothing" is greatly reduced. If you made a mistake or want to revisit a subject, you can easily go back with minimal effort. If you stop limiting photography to when you are on vacation, traveling outside your local area, or are on an epic hike and instead fit photography into your normal daily life, you will not only improve much faster but you will come away with some great photographs.

Fallen Leaves

• Learn to Adapt. Gardens are constantly changing with the seasons. Different flowers are blooming, foliage transitions from spring greens to autumn colors, and some plants actually are at their best during winter. The weather can also change, from bright sunlight to overcast rain or even snow. Being able to adapt to the subject matter AND to make the most use of whatever light that is available are skills that will serve you well wherever you photograph. Creativity rarely happens when things go exactly as planned. Gardens give you a moving target where you are forced to experiment and try new things in order to be successful.

Sumptuous Succulent

• The Exotic, Close to Home. While it is not possible to move entire mountain ranges or coastlines from exotic locations to your hometown, it is (often) possible to do so with plants. Take the Spiral Aloe. The Spiral Aloe is a beautiful plant but most people are not going to be able to travel to Lesotho to see it in its natural habitat. You may live in a wet climate not suitable for desert plants like cactus, but they can be grown in a controlled indoor environment even in rainy climates and still be beautiful to photograph. It's not just exotic plants that look good in a botanical garden - native plants can also look great. For example, you may live in a desert climate and want to photograph desert flowers, but they might not bloom during a dry year. A controlled environment in a botanical garden can produce blooms every year.

Repetition

• Enjoyment. Gardens are enjoyable to visit - they have been around a lot longer than photography. Even in busy popular gardens, there are usually places to escape the crowds (and a garden's off-season can be less busy and offer different opportunities for photography). Strolling through a garden, learning about the plants, and seeing how they change through the seasons is enjoyable, even if you do not come back with any photographs. It may shock some of our readers, but Sarah and I often visit gardens without our photography gear. Gardens are often community institutions and showing your appreciation (financially or by your visitation) is a good way to support your local community.

Leaf Layers

If you have not visited a botanical garden for photography, we encourage you to give it a try as a means of expanding both your photographic skills and your portfolio. If you already enjoy botanic gardens and have a favorite one, please let us know in the comments. We are always on the lookout for new gardens to visit and photograph.

Pastel Yucca

Some of our favorite gardens

Here's a list of some of our favorite gardens across the US to photograph. Note that different gardens have different photography policies (not allowing tripods, or charging a fee for their use), please check the specific garden's website or call them to confirm. For some gardens it may be cheaper to purchase an annual membership if you plan on visiting more than 2-3 times a year, and some gardens have reciprocal memberships (for example, our Denver Botanic Gardens membership also allows us membership to the Desert Botanical Garden).

• The Butchart Gardens (Vancouver Island, BC)
• Bellevue Botanical Garden (Bellevue, WA)
• Washington Park Arboretum (Seattle, WA)
• Portland Japanese Garden (Portland, OR)
• Hoyt Arboretum (Portland, OR)
• Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, CO)
• UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
• San Francisco Botanical Garden (San Francisco, CA)
• The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino, CA)
• Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ)
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior, AZ)
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, AZ)
• Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens (Tucson, AZ)
• Atlanta Botanical Garden (Atlanta, GA)
• National Tropical Botanical Gardens (various locations in Kauai, Hawaii)

Using Your Voice & Photographs to Help Protect Public Lands: Tips for Nature Photographers

Please share! If you find all or parts of this post to be helpful, please share this information with your fellow photographers and others in your networks. As I mention below, amplifying your voice and views is one of the most important parts of advocacy.

Mud cracks filled with ice at the Alvord Playa, below the snow-capped Steens Mountains, in the remote southeastern corner of Oregon near the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Public land around the Steens Mountains is being considered for transfer or sale under HR 621, as discussed in this post. 

I will start this post by acknowledging that some of our readers will probably be unhappy to see politically-oriented content on this blog. While both Ron and I have strong views about a lot of the political issues happening in the United States right now, we have generally stayed away from engaging in political discussions on our social media pages and our website. We know that most people follow us for our photography and educational resources, both of which will continue to be our primary focus.

We are making an exception for the topic of this post - protecting public lands - because this issue is directly relevant to nature and landscape photography. Most nature photographers feel a special connection to wild and scenic places and we have a unique way of communicating about their protection through our photography. With many threats to our special places emerging from the federal government and some western state governments, we think we need to speak up and encourage other photographers to do the same.

The foresight to preserve some of the most special places in the United States is frequently referred to as “America’s Best Idea." As nature photographers, this legacy of protecting public lands and offering access to wild and scenic locations is essential to our pursuits. Public lands offer photographers the opportunity to explore diverse and inspiring scenery, experience the rejuvenating power of nature, pursue personal expression, and create our photographs.

For nature photographers who earn income through their photography, access to public lands is essential for creating photographs that can inspire and motivate others, that can be sold or licensed, and serve as the basis for other income earning pursuits (for example, providing the settings for educational workshops). For all of these reasons, nature photographers can serve as one of the most powerful voices for the protection and preservation of public lands. We can use our photographs to help convey our ideas with more impact than we might be able to do with words alone.

Pending legislation could have very real negative impacts on special places that you care about and photograph. For example, all of the photos in this post are from places that are threatened in some way by current policy proposals being considered at the federal level. In talking with photographers about the issues discussed in this post, like the move to overturn or curtail the designation for Grand-Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) in Utah (a popular spot for landscape photography), a common response has been “that will never happen!”

Now, it seems like this could actually happen to GSENM and on a large scale across the American West. When considering newly introduced legislative proposals and the current unpredictability of governing at the federal level, the assumption that protected lands will be preserved and accessible in perpetuity is now highly flawed. So, if you care about protecting public lands, now is the time to get involved or increase your advocacy activities. Now, as in RIGHT NOW. TODAY.

This is one of the many remote canyons in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This canyon is one of the first non-commercialized slot canyons I visited and based on my experience here (and in a lot of other places in GSENM), I believe that the wilderness quality of this area should be protected in perpetuity.

A Few Examples of Current Threats to Public Lands

Support for protecting and preserving public land has strong bipartisan support. For example, Colorado College just released its findings from its long-running Conservation in the West Poll of voters in seven western states, which is conducted by a bi-partisan team of public polling firms to help increase its credibility. Their findings indicate strong support for public lands and their protection from voters across the political spectrum. Despite the broad-based support for public lands, some members of Congress are seeking to implement significant changes to how public lands are managed and protected in the US.

Here are a few examples, some of which might have already passed or been defeated by the time you read this post (since legislation is moving fast, this blog post from Modern Hiker can help you stay on top of pending legislation).

Land Transfer Movement: Some members of Congress are actively advancing legislation to sell or transfer large swaths of federal land (land that currently belongs to the American people) to state governments or private interests for commercial development, especially oil, natural gas, and coal production. This post from Greg Russell offers a good overview of the land transfer movement if you want to learn more.

As explained in this article, selling even small pieces of public land can eliminate access to much larger parcels. And, few states have the resources for things like fighting wildfires, making the idea of state management untenable in many cases. In Congress, HR 621 has been introduced and if successful, could result in the sale of 3.3 million acres of federal land. This land, which again belongs to the American people, includes many places that are popular with hikers, anglers, photographers, and other outdoor recreation groups. (Update: Right after I published this post, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the sponsor of HR 621, announced that he is withdrawing the bill due to the outcry from the public --> advocacy works, at least for now. We can expect similar bills to be introduced in the future).

National Monument Designations: The President of the United States has the authority to designate national monuments, generally without the input of Congress, through the Antiquities Act. President Obama used this power liberally, creating 29 new monuments during his presidency.

Some of these designations have been controversial for reasons that are quite interesting but beyond the scope of this post (examples: Bears Ears, Maine Woods). In response, legislation to eliminate or significantly scale back some monument designations is being introduced in Congress, with a focus on the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante designations in Utah. While monument boundaries have been adjusted in some cases, a presidential monument designation has never been reversed, so such a course of legislation is unprecedented.

According to the recent Conservation in the West poll, strong majorities in all seven states included in the poll favor keeping President Obama’s national monument designations in place, including the voters polled in both Utah (Bears Ears National Monument) and Nevada (the newly created Gold Butte National Monument). Some important locations for landscape photography are located in these locations.

Energy Production in National Parks and on Other Protected Lands: For 40 national parks, the federal government owns the surface land but not all of the mineral rights for the energy resources below ground. Current administrative rules require those holding the mineral rights to follow a certain set of rules to help preserve the surrounding public lands. These rules seem reasonable when considering the spectacular and one-of-a-kind locations where these mineral rights exist. Some in Congress want to eliminate many of these rules which could significantly increase the impact of drilling and extraction in national parks (yes, really - national parks!). You can find out more about HJ Resolution 46 in this brief from the National Parks Conservation Association. 

The Bureau of Land Management is currently taking comments on drilling leases in the region near Zion National Park. If approved, drilling operations could flank Kolob Terrace Road, the road that leads to the trailhead for the Zion Subway hike - a wild and remote section of the national park. You can read more about this issue here and if so moved, you can send a comment to Dave Corry, St. George Field Office, 345 E Riverside Dr, St. George, UT 84790 or via email to ustgmail@blm.gov (by February 10, 2017).

Other Selected Examples:

• Law Enforcement Authority: Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz has introduced legislation (HR 622) to strip the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service of its law enforcement capabilities, instead leaving such responsibilities to under-resourced local law enforcement departments that may not see natural and cultural resource protection as a priority.

• Eliminating Stream Protections: Today, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at "dismantling the Stream Protection Rule, which safeguards streams from pollution created by mountaintop removal and surface coal mining." This legislation will affect streams on national park lands that are frequently used for recreation (coal mining debris in national park streams - no big deal?). You can read more about this issue in this brief from the National Parks Conservation Association.

• Activities Along the Mexican Border: Protected landscapes like Organ Pipe National Monument, which sit right along the Mexican border, will be dramatically impacted by building a wall. Additionally, border protection activities that include physical barriers interrupt wildlife corridors with damaging consequences (see this Washington Post story for more on this latter topic).

• Eliminating Resources for Managing Public Lands: Proposals to cut funding for the management of public lands are likely. The current federal hiring freeze is also preventing national parks from completing much needed annual maintenance and hiring seasonal rangers.

This remote viewpoint is near Canyonlands National Park in Utah. On our trip out to this spot a few years ago, the dirt access road was flanked by drilling camps and industrial equipment. Should energy development be allowed to take place so close to such special places? The answer is a resounding yes from some members of the United States Congress.

Ways to Advocate for Protecting Your Public Lands

All of the examples listed above are in progress and given the early days of the current administration, some of these things could actually become law. So, if these policy proposals are concerning to you, here are some ways you can respond.

1. Learn More About the Principles of Land Conservation & Pending Legislation

With social media, it is easy to keep up on legislative proposals related to protecting public land. For example, I follow many of the organizations listed below on both Facebook and Twitter. Since we have donated to some of these groups, we also receive their newsletters and legislative alerts which are helpful tools for staying informed. These groups do all of the difficult research, analysis, and policy tracking for you.

If you are just getting started in learning about these issues, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Wilderness Society are two good places to start. If you want to dive in to some issues more deeply, the Center for Western Priorities and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance both have good information briefs on their respective websites. Links for all of these organizations and their social media pages are at the end of this post.

You can also read the following blog posts and articles to become more familiar with some of the issues facing public lands today and see how a few photographers are using their voice to amplify these issues:

• Photography and Our Public Lands Part One and Part Two by Greg Russell

• America's Best Ideas: Parks, Preservation, and Public Lands by Jackson Frishman

• Republicans in Congress Move to Sell Off 3.3 Million Acres of National Land, Sparking Rallies from The Guardian. For more on this topic, including some specific examples of land parcels being considered for disposal, see this article from Men's Journal. This specific legislation has been withdrawn but similar legislation is likely to be re-introduced.

• Resolutions Advance to Erase Bears Ears, Grand Staircase Monuments from the Salt Lake Tribune

• An example of how a photographer can help advance the protection of public lands: Preserve the Desert National Wildlife Refuge by Jackson Frishman

• The Center for Western Priorities offers up a lot of helpful posts on Medium.com, which you can find here.

2. Contact Your Representatives

Your voice matters. While it is not always possible to sway the vote of your elected representative and state’s senators, hearing from many constituents can make a big difference in some cases - like yesterday's withdrawal of a proposal to sell 3.3 million acres of public lands. Many advocacy organizations, like those listed below, offer background papers and talking points to help make contacting your representatives easier. If you need help finding the contact information for your representative, you can find it here.

Advocacy guides usually say that calling has the most impact but some voters have been having a hard time getting through to congressional offices due to such heavy call volume. You should also be able to find an email address or constituent feedback form on the website for your representative or senator if that contact method is easier for you. A good old fashioned paper letter or in-person visit to your congressional office will work, as well.

My own immediate actions: I am contacting my representatives about the Stream Protection Rule (passed by the US House, pending in the US Senate), rules for energy extraction in national parks (HJ Resolution 46), and HR 622 (eliminating BLM and US Forest Service law enforcement authority). I am also emailing the BLM about the oil and gas leases near Zion National Park. These pieces of legislation are moving quickly, so if you care about these issues, ACT TODAY.

Such messages are easy to pull together. I usually follow this simple template: Remind the person if I am a constituent or why the issue is important to me if I am not. Ask the representative, senator, or federal agency to support or oppose the specific legislation or activity (like opening up land for an oil drilling lease), including the number associated with the legislation if applicable (example: HR 622). I also include one or two sentences explaining my reason. Be respectful and concise, and use issue briefs from advocacy organizations to help with talking points if necessary.

3. Donate Money or Photographs

Almost all of the advocacy organizations listed below are nonprofit organizations and depend on charitable donations to operate their programs. If you can, make a cash donation or join as a member to help these organizations advance their mission. These groups often have skilled lobbyists and communication teams that can help mobilize opposition or support for legislation and policies in a way that we as individuals cannot.

While I know some photographers will disagree with this advice, I have also reached out to some nonprofit conservation groups that I support to offer a donation of my photographs for use in social media, publications, and as silent auction items. While some larger nonprofit organizations have the budget to pay for photography, many smaller groups do not have the ability to afford top-quality photographs (I know this well since I worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 10 years). While I would never allow a for-profit corporation to use one of my photographs for free, I am happy to donate my work to help advance a nonprofit’s mission that supports my own personal goals and values.

You can also use your photography to raise funds for organizations you care about. For example, Floris van Breugel is offering a print sale to help raise donations for conservation organizations.

4. Use Your Photography to Share Your Support for Public Lands

Each time you share a photo taken on public lands, tell the story of that place. Remind your audience that such places are under a variety of pressures and need our protection and support. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of talking about politics online, this is probably the easiest way to share a message of support for public lands without engaging in direct advocacy.

5. Speak Up, Amplify Information, and Get Involved in Advocacy

Amplifying the message that public lands deserve to be protected is essential in helping create a sustainable movement and constituency to fight the kinds of proposals discussed above. You can help in these efforts by learning about the issues facing public lands and then asking those in your network to act. Share information and requests for action on social media, with your photography club, in your newsletter if you have one, and in the stories you tell about your photos. Share a blog post like this or encourage those in your network to donate to conservation organizations.

Some conservation groups are also organizing protests at state capitols to help show the size and enthusiasm of the pro-public lands constituency (here is an example of a recent rally in Montana). Other groups, like the Sierra Club, frequently circulate petitions or develop letter/email-writing campaigns to help advance their policy objectives. If you want to be involved in this kind of collective action, become members of these organizations to receive alerts about their activities.

This is the kind of scenery you can find at Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona. This park's southern border is our border with Mexico.

Organizations Working on Protecting Public Lands

These are the organizations that I follow, learn from, and sometimes support with cash and my photography. This is not a comprehensive list, just a place to start if you are looking for a way to become more engaged in protecting public lands.

The Wilderness Society: "Our mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places."

• Website: www.wilderness.org

• Twitter: Wilderness

• Instagram: WildernessSociety

• Facebook: TheWildernessSociety

National Parks Conservation Association: "Since our founding in 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to strengthen and protect America's favorite places. With more than a million members and supporters beside us, we are the voice of America’s national parks, working to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for present and future generations."

• Website: www.npca.org

• Facebook: NationalParks

• Twitter: npca

• Instagram: npcapics

Center for Western Priorities: "The Center for Western Priorities is a nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization that serves as a source of accurate information, promotes responsible policies and practices, and ensures accountability at all levels to protect land, water, and communities in the American West." If you would like to learn about a wide range of issues facing public lands, the Center for Western Priorities offers a lot of excellent publications and research.

• Website: www.westernpriorities.org

• Twitter: WstrnPriorities

• Facebook: WesternPriorities

The Trust for Public Land: "Our mission is to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come." The Trust for Public Land has offices all over the US. Local land trusts also offer good opportunities to support local conservation projects.

• Website: www.tpl.org

• Facebook: tpl.org

• Twitter: TPL_org

• Instagram: trustforpublicland

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: "The sportsmen's voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife." I am not a hunter or angler, but some conservation-minded photographers have recommended this organization as a strong ally on many of the public lands issues relevant to photographers.

• Website: www.backcountryhunters.org/

• Facebook: backcountryhabitat

• Twitter: Backcountry_H_A

• Instagram: backcountryhunters

Sierra Club: "Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. Our successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act."

• Website: www.sierraclub.com

• Facebook: sierraclub

• Twitter: sierraclub

• Instagram: sierraclub

Selected Regionally-Focused Organizations

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance: "Since 1983, SUWA has been the only independent organization working full-time to defend America’s redrock wilderness from oil and gas development, unnecessary road construction, rampant off-road vehicle use, and other threats to Utah’s wilderness-quality lands." If you care about the preservation of Bears Ears National Monument or any of the many other issues facing Utah's public lands, be sure to learn more about SUWA.

• Website: www.suwa.org

• Twitter: southernUTwild

• Facebook: SouthernUtahWildernessAlliance

• Instagram: protectwildutah

Conservation Northwest: ""Keeping the Northwest wild since 1989, we protect old-growth forests and other wildlands, connect large landscapes and vital habitats, and restore native wildlife."

• Website: www.conservationnw.org

• Twitter: ConservationNW 

• Facebook: conservationnw

Basin & Range Watch: "Working to conserve the deserts of Nevada and California and to educate the public about the diversity of life, culture, and history of the ecosystems and wild lands of the desert."

• Website: www.basinandrangewatch.org

• Facebook: Basin-Range-Watch

• Twitter: BasinRange

• Instagram: basinrangewatch

Grand Canyon Trust: "The mission of the Grand Canyon Trust is to protect and restore the Colorado Plateau — its spectacular landscapes, flowing rivers, clean air, diversity of plants and animals, and areas of beauty and solitude."

• Website: www.grandcanyontrust.org

• Twitter: GrandCanynTrust

• Facebook: GrandCanyonTrustAZ

• Instagram: grandcanyontrust

Western Resource Advocates: "Founded in 1989, Western Resource Advocates is dedicated to protecting the West’s land, air, and water. We use law, science, and economics to craft innovative solutions to the most pressing conservation issues in the region."

• Website: www.westernresourceadvocates.org

• Twitter: wradv

• Facebook: westernresourceadvocates

• Instagram: westernresourceadvocates

Conservation Colorado: "Our mission is to protect Colorado’s environment and quality of life by mobilizing people and electing conservation-minded policymakers."

• Website: conservationco.org

• Facebook: ConservationColorado

• Twitter: ConservationCO

News/Information Sources:

• Outside Magazine, Twitter:@outsideonline

• High Country News, Twitter: @highcountrynews

• Center for Western Priorities - Westwise on Medium.com

• Colorado College's Conservation in the West project: data on public opinion regarding protecting public lands

Wrap-Up: Take One Action Today

If you support other organizations doing good work to protect public lands, please share more information in the comments so others can learn from your experience. Also, if you are using your voice or photography to advocate for these issues, please share what you are doing to help inspire others to get involved in these important efforts. And again, please share this information and your views on protecting public lands. Now is the time to act to help save America's wild places.

This is an Ancestral Puebloan ruin that is now protected as part of the new Bears Ears National Monument. I took this photo in my early days of nature photography and the experience visiting this place and others like it helped form my love for Utah's wild places.

A Few Favorite Photos from 2016 (Sarah)

Every year, Jim Goldstein publishes an extensive collection of “best photos of the year” posts from photographers. I always enjoy looking through the entries and finding inspiration from photographers who are new to me. This year, I have been struggling a bit to pull together my own collection of photos to submit for Jim’s blog project. As is my tradition, I am nowhere near finished with processing my photos from this year, which makes it difficult to pull together a collection of favorites. Still, I felt motivated by Jim's submission deadline to pull together this post. 

This post includes only a small collection of the photos I took or processed in 2016. If you would like a see a more complete collection representing our year of travels and photography, you should view Ron’s photos here. He is much better about keeping up with his processing than I am, so his collection includes photos from all of the places we visited this year plus a little update about our travels. 

Since I spent a good portion of 2016 working on my new black and white photography ebook + video course, most of the photos I processed this year are in black and white. Thus, it seems appropriate to start this post with some of my recent black and white photos. You will also see Death Valley National Park well respresented in this collection. We both started and ended 2016 in this park, which is one of our favorite places to visit. 

Thank you for your continued support of our photography! Happy New Year and best wishes for 2017. 

An incoming storm over large mud tiles in Death Valley National Park.

Patterns in seaweed in a tidal flat on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Iceland.

The setting sun illuminates these cactus from behind, making them appear to be glowing. Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona, near the Mexican border.

The last light of the day illuminates a ridge on remote sand dunes in Death Valley National Park.

One of Death Valley National Park's many surreal landscapes.

I took most of these photos in 2015 but assembled them as a collection in 2016, so I am sharing them here. All of these photos were taken in Oregon.

A clearing storm allowed a bit of light to peek through and illuminate these colorful mountains in Iceland's remote Landmannalaugar region.

Pastel badlands at twilight in Death Valley National Park.

Iceland's characteristic green mountains reflect in a large lake in the Landmannalaugar region.

A colorful mix of fall foliage in Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

2016 Year In Review (Ron)

2016 was an eventful year for Sarah and I. We bought land in southwest Colorado in the heart of the San Juan Mountains and will shortly be building a house on it, sold our house in Denver, and moved full time into our Airstream trailer. During that time we went over 5 months (!) without taking a single photo, by far the longest stretch since we've been photographing.

Despite the "Lost Summer" we were able to get a decent amount of photography in during the rest of the year.  We started the year in Death Valley, moved to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, and then went up to Nevada and Utah during spring. After summer we spent 10 days in Iceland leading a workshop, a few weeks in the San Juan Mountains and south Utah photographing fall colors, and then spent some time along the Oregon Coast in November.

All photos I have processed from this year can be viewed on my 2016 Portfolio page, including:

• Death Valley Winter
• Southwest Spring
• Iceland Autumn
• Colorado Autumn
• Southwest Autumn
• Autumn Monochrome
• Pacific Northwest Winter

Finally, I have collected a few of my favorite photos of 2016, some of which I will include below with brief captions. You may also be interested in the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 versions of this post.

Desert Gold. One of the highlights this year was the wildflower bloom at Death Valley National Park. This photo fails to convey how wonderful it smelled out here!

So That Happened. The other major highlight at Death Valley National Park this year was all the rain which flooded Badwater. This particular sunrise came out of nowhere, it was completely clear about an hour before.

Wind Rain Sand. This photo was taken the sunrise after a day of almost constant rain (not that common in Death Valley), the winds were blowing 35-50mph - creating a unique mix of rain patterns and blowing sand.

Wavy Ibex. Ibex Dunes may be my favorite in Death Valley, we were treated to some stormy light at sunset.

Beach Bubbles! Photographing these foam bubbles on Cannon Beach was quite the challenge, they would move quickly and then burst and evaporate. I was lucky to get a few sharp photos highlighting the iridescent foam.

Stormy Cannon Beach. The Pacific Northwest coast in late fall and winter is beautiful - there are often breaking storms in between the relentless rain which we were lucky to catch on this particular sunset along with some washed up foam and a well timed gull.

Mossorama. Winter trees in the forests along the Pacific Northwest coast are beautiful, especially the mossy trees with a little backlight highlighting the shapes and forms of the trees.

Shuffleboard. Mud patterns in Death Valley (reminding me of a shuffleboard table) and an approaching storm that would dump about an inch of rain later that day.

Organ Pipe Frames. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has some of the most pristine Sonoran Desert scenery in the United States and is the only place in the US with the namesake Organ Pipe cactus.

Colorful Blurries. Multicolored aspen leaves photographed against a colorful blurred out background. Aspen leaves in fall can be all sorts of colors, not just the common yellow and gold.

Organ Pipe Fuzzies. Backlit Saguaro and red-fringed Organ Pipe cactus. The Sonoran Desert is called the green desert for a reason!

Ocean Motion. A nice sunset on the famous beach in Vik, Iceland

Classic Zion. The famous Watchman framed by colorful autumn Cottownwood trees and surrounded by lush desert vegetation. 

Last Leaves. Bare aspens in front of the last autumn foliage of the year.

Saguaro Forest. Saguaro, cholla, and green octotillo frame a hillside in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.

In Celebration of America’s Best Idea

"The national park idea has been nurtured by each succeeding generation of Americans. Today, across our land, the National Park System represents America at its best. Each park contributes to a deeper understanding of the history of the United States and our way of life; of the natural processes which have given form to our land, and to the enrichment of the environment in which we live." - George B. Hartzog, Jr., NPS Director, 1964-1972

In my early twenties, I took my first real hike – a backpacking trip on the Tonahutu Creek Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Before that experience, I had not spent much time outdoors and was completely unprepared for the trip. My hiking boots were too small. I wore cotton socks, which combined with the problematic boots, encouraged painful, bleeding blisters to form on both of my feet. I brought along a completely inadequate sleeping bag, with no sleeping pad. In the summer, this choice might have been fine but in mid-October, it meant spending two nights as cold as I have ever been. In all, it was kind of a miserable experience. 

Despite the misery, the magic of being deep in nature, miles away from the closest road, proved transformative. Experiences like seeing a moose and its baby in grassy meadow, standing on the brink of a thundering waterfall with no one else around, and sharing the company of good friends around a late-night campfire made up for all of my ill-preparation. On this trip, I experienced the healing and inspiring power of nature for the first time and thus started down the path that eventually lead me to landscape and nature photography.

For me, you, and millions of other people, the creation of the National Parks Service has made it possible to experience these moments of awe, wonder, inspiration, relaxation, contemplation, and healing and connect to our nation’s history in meaningful ways. Without the National Parks Service and the acts of preservation that came before it, the most special places in the United States could have been commercialized for private profit rather than protected for the enjoyment of generations of Americans. 

Today, August 25, 2016, is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Parks Service and we offer this sampling of photos from some of our favorite national parks in celebration of America’s best idea and the impact that this essential act of preservation and protection has had on our special places. 

Death Valley National Park, California. (c) Ron Coscorrosa.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. (c) Sarah Marino

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

Redwoods National and State Park, California. (c) Sarah Marino

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

Death Valley National Park, California. (c) Sarah Marino

Zion National Park, Utah. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

Badlands National Park, South Dakota. (c) Sarah Marino

Olympic National Park, Washington. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

Yosemite National Park, California. (c) Sarah Marino

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. (c) Ron Coscorrosa

An essential part of the National Park Service’s mission is protecting land with natural and cultural importance for future generations. Thus, we all have the responsibility to help protect and preserve this important legacy. Here are three things you can do to help protect these “crown jewels” of the United States and reduce your impact: 

• Follow the Rules. A new story about bad behavior in our national parks comes out almost every day. With people regularly doing things like walking on geothermal features, getting far too close to wildlife, illegally using drones, and vandalizing priceless natural and cultural treasures, NPS resources are stretched. Take these figures shared by The Denver Post: citations within the National Parks system were up 19% from 2014 to 2015 and search and rescue operations were up 67% - all in a single year. We can all help the NPS and protect important natural resources by following established rules. And, if you are a photography workshop leader, we encourage you to serve as a good role model and help educate your students about both this point and the next one.  

• Practice Leave No Trace principles. With visitation to NPS sites at an all-time high, it is even more important for all of us to be good stewards of the places we visit. A simple way to reduce your personal impact in learning about and practicing Leave No Trace principles. You can find a longer post on this topic here. 

• Vote. At least for us, the preservation, protection, and adequate funding of public lands is one of our biggest priorities when voting for local, state and federal officials. If these things are a priority for you as well, check in with your local and national conservation organizations to see how politicians in your community view the protection of public lands before you cast your votes this November.  

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