McClusky Nature Photography Blogs

Runner Up: Golden Valley in the San Juans.

Runner Up: Golden Valley in the San Juans.

I compare two compositions of the same basic fall mountain scene.  Which do I think is the stronger image, and why?

Runner Up: Golden Valley in the San Juans.

I compare two compositions of the same basic fall mountain scene.  Which do I think is the stronger image, and why?

Variations: Horizontal flip in the image "Frostbitten"

Variations: Horizontal flip in the image "Frostbitten"

Diagonal lines bring powerful impact to an image's composition. Some time ago I was surprised to learn the huge impact the _direction_ of those lines have, at least in some images. 

Variations: Horizontal flip in the image "Frostbitten"

Diagonal lines bring powerful impact to an image's composition. Some time ago I was surprised to learn the huge impact the _direction_ of those lines have, at least in some...

Runner Up: Spring Flowers

Runner Up: Spring Flowers

Camera position is always important, and often small shifts can create large improvements in the photos.  In this blog I share my thinking behind the images leading to my fine art print Wildflowers.

Runner Up: Spring Flowers

Camera position is always important, and often small shifts can create large improvements in the photos.  In this blog I share my thinking behind the images leading to my fine...

Stars shine above Long's Peak and the surrounding forest, lit with Alpenglow from the first light on the horizon.

Image of the Week: Alpenglow on Long's Peak

The story behind Alpenglow on Long's Peak, one of my favorite Fine Art Landscape Prints from 2023. I was out very early for a sunrise shot at Rocky Mountain National Park, and arrived well over an hour before sunrise. After getting my camera ready for my planned shot, I had time to admire my surroundings .... and was blown away by this view of Long's Peak. It was still an hour before sunrise, and the earliest gentle glow in the East was lighting the peaks and trees, while still keeping the sky above dark enough for a myriad of stars to shine through.

Image of the Week: Alpenglow on Long's Peak

The story behind Alpenglow on Long's Peak, one of my favorite Fine Art Landscape Prints from 2023. I was out very early for a sunrise shot at Rocky Mountain National...

Raw Image to Fine Art Print: Milky Way from Chimney Rock Trail, Capitol Reef National Park

Raw Image to Fine Art Print: Milky Way from Chimney Rock Trail, Capitol Reef National Park

While some edits are pretty straight forward, others can involve multiple steps. Photography of the Night Sky can be among the most intense: even with the highly sensitive modern cameras, there is not a lot of light to work with.  Read how I created the image Milky Way from Chimney Rock Trail, in Capitol Reef National Park.

Raw Image to Fine Art Print: Milky Way from Chimney Rock Trail, Capitol Reef National Park

While some edits are pretty straight forward, others can involve multiple steps. Photography of the Night Sky can be among the most intense: even with the highly sensitive modern cameras,...

Runner-Up: Milky Way Images

Runner-Up: Milky Way Images

What makes for a great Milky Way photograph?  I used to think it was all about the sky, and all would be fine as long as the foreground had minimal interest.  I no longer think that: the foreground plays an important role setting the mood and feeling conveyed by a fine art photograph.

Runner-Up: Milky Way Images

What makes for a great Milky Way photograph?  I used to think it was all about the sky, and all would be fine as long as the foreground had minimal...