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50 images Created 18 Jun 2016

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  • Death Valley is unlike any other national park  in the country. It is incredibly vast, stunningly varied, frighteningly inhospitable and breathtakingly beautiful all at the same time ! How else do you explain a national park that is the largest in the contiguous US, has the lowest point in North America, has recorded the highest temperature ever in the country but still attracts millions of visitors each year ?!<br />
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This image was made as a winter storm cleared over Death Valley. A pre-dawn start in the dark allowed me to get far enough and have the soaring dunes all to myself. Here, I was able to gaze in awe at gigantic wave-like dunes that seemed to be reaching up to the skies !!
    Waves of Sand
  • I was excited about the prospect of a promising photograph as soon as I came upon this bare tree growing out of Derwentwater.  <br />
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Even though stormy conditions had enveloped the region, the lake was calm that morning. As I reflected upon my composition, it became apparent that a monochrome rendition would accentuate the submerged tree’s bare form and I used the lake’s placid water as a blank canvas for the photograph. <br />
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Once I started working on the image, it was gratifying to find the photograph conveyed the deep sense of calm and reflection I experienced that morning.
    Moment of Reflection
  • Yosemite is an awe inspiring national park and this is particularly true during a storm. These storms allow nature's raw elements to fuse together thereby creating a rich canvas for photography. <br />
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This image was made during one such storm last year. The swirling mist from the oncoming storm hugged the top of giant granite cliffs and the ridges between them lending mystery and depth to an already dramatic scene.
    Approaching Storm and The Rostrum
  • I tend to be quite flexible about both what I choose to photograph as well as the color schematic to render it in. It is quite common for me to make a series of images in color and then switch to a monochrome rendition for some others. It is often the quality of light and the subject matter I intend to accentuate that dictate my decisions both in the field and in post processing.<br />
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After making a few abstract photographs in color, I came upon this scene of highly polished coastal rocks that looked like a sculpture. I wished to highlight the sharp contrast between the sculpted surface of these rocks and the texture of pebbles surrounding it, both created as a result of waves repeatedly lashing the coastline. A monochromatic rendition helped accentuate the shape and contrast.
    Sculpted Rocks and Pebbles
  • The Expanse
  • Ferns Spring Mosaic
  • The effects of climate change are evident in Yosemite National Park too as forest fires have burnt through large parts of this area, often threatening nearby mountain communities. <br />
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This photograph was made in one such section of the park that had been previously burnt. I had tucked away this section of the park to visit when conditions were more conducive for photography. <br />
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That opportunity presented itself when a huge storm rolled in. As the storm intensified, thick fog enveloped this section of the park creating a soft, mysterious contrast to the burnt tree barks and stumps.
    Burnt Trees in Fog
  • I distinctly remember my first trip down to the southern tip of Australia! It was smack in the middle of winter and the bitter cold winds blowing across the Southern Ocean seemed to be carrying the chill all the way from Antarctica !! My fingers turned numb that evening as I waited for the right light. While that experience still stays fresh in my memory, I was not particularly happy with the images I came home with! <br />
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It was another 5 years before I was able to go back to this area and witness the fascinating spectacle of nature carving sea stacks from the rugged, yet brittle coastline! That day, the angular late afternoon light accentuated the shapes and textures of these sea stacks and the mist rising up the cliffs added depth and drama to the photograph!
    The Apostles
  • A few years ago, snow melt and a heavy dose of spring rain had caused the Merced river to crest to dangerous levels. This had forced much of Yosemite National Park to be closed. As I was looking to make images in these conditions, a young tree seemed to be just about holding on against the force of this raging river.
    Young Tree, Merced
  • The Pacific Northwest region is a photographer’s dream as it is home to many of the country’s most spectacular mountains and temperate rainforests. This region also boasts an array of lesser known but equally breathtaking places for photography.<br />
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The ice cave where I made this image is one such gem that is off the beaten track in the Three Sisters Wilderness in Oregon. I was fortunate to be hiking here with a group as the trail is completely unmarked. Once we got to the ice cave, the opportunities for photography seemed endless. It was eerily wonderful to be making photographs inside the ice-cave even as the bright light of day seemed to be slowly melting away the ice. I wanted to showcase the light illuminating the ice cave walls and the water trickling from the roof of the cave.
    Deep Within
  • Te Anau Jetty
  • Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee
    Spring Melodies
  • The excitement was palpable as I made my way out in the dark to photograph Niagara Falls. I could hear the falls well before I had even seen it. It started as a distant rumble and then turned into a thunderous roar as I drove down the Niagara Scenic Parkway !! The first sight of the falls was more magical than I can put into words - the horseshoe shape, water cascading to begin with and then tumbling into a seemingly bottomless abyss and mist rising from the river bed - all made for a very special memory. I wanted to capture the thrill that went through my flesh and soul while making this photograph.
    Thundering Wonder
  • Readying for a sunrise photo shoot can be an exhilarating experience. One is unsure if the weather gods are going to be kind for photography, not to mention the sheer difficulty of making meaningful compositions in the dark ! <br />
The morning when I set out to photograph Sparks Lake was no different. I was captivated by the mist rising from the placid lake floor and the mountains provided an idyllic backdrop. As the first light of day illuminated the lake, I looked to highlight the sense of calm that I felt while making the photograph.
    Sparks Lake Sunrise
  • Tidal Caress
  • Visiting Yosemite National Park in early spring has become a bit of a ritual for me. In spring, the dogwoods are in full bloom and the Merced river dances its way through Yosemite Valley. I made this image one late evening as the wind stayed still !
    Blooming Dogwoods
  • I lived in Texas for the first few years of my life in the USA. During this time, I frequented California’s  Yosemite National Park and Big Sur coast. I was so enamored by these grand landscapes that I decided to move to California - with Camera, Lenses and Tripod in tow! I wanted to have unfettered access to these landscapes to make my own imprints photographing them. <br />
The 3 day road trip from Texas to California came with a minor detour to New Mexico’s White Sands National Park. As with all things photography, this image came with abundant luck and perseverance. I was completely sleep deprived after driving all night to make it to the park. Further, grey looming clouds threatened to put a dampener on any chance of photography. However, just before the light turned blue, the clouds parted and illuminated the desert. This was to be the first of many instances persevering for the right light to make my photographs.
    Desert Spotlight
  • The meandering Colorado river has created some of the most incredible landscapes - the Horseshoe Bend being one of them. Standing at the edge of a steep cliff at the Horseshoe Bend is a surreal experience, as one can hear the flow of the river 1000ft below. <br />
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While the Horseshoe Bend is easily accessible via a mile long round trip hike, doing this repeatedly in the quest for the right conditions can be a frustrating experience! After a few failed attempts, I visited this place one last time before making the long journey home. Much to my good fortune, the clouds parted for just a few minutes before sunset. This lasted just long enough for the kiss of light to reach the top of Horseshoe Bend before the clouds closed in.
    Clearing Storm, Horseshoe Bend
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    The Sentinels, Winter
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Melting Snow, Tenaya Lake
  • Tenaya Lake, Yosemite
    "Karesansui"
  • Caddo Lake State Park, Texas
    Reflections on the Bayou
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Pines & Oaks
  • As a winter storm approached the coast, dramatic anvil clouds seemed to be forming in the distance. The dramatic coastal bluffs helped anchor the image. The scene was rendered in to B&W to lay emphasis on the dramatic cloud formation.
    Storm Clouds and Seaside Cliffs
  • I rarely go to a photo location with a very specific composition in mind. I often let the scene speak to me and pick up the camera when if I find the light complementing it. <br />
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This occasion was no different at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses thousands of acres of wetlands that plays host to a variety of migratory birds in autumn and winter. <br />
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When I visited the refuge, what caught my eye were the tall reeds growing in the marshlands. They formed a variety of interesting shapes reflecting off the wetlands. I used a black and white rendering to draw attention to the wonderful geometry on offer.
    A Study In Shapes
  • Half Dome, Moon Rise
  • Floating Rock
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Horsetail Falls, Yosemite
  • Acadia National Park, Maine
    Lichens, Tree Bark
  • Yosemite National Park is an incredible classroom to learn photography. For a keen student, there is a never ending array of opportunities to hone your technical, artistic and compositional skills. Further, it is an “all-season” photo location. While making this image, I was drawn to the raw power of the waterfalls. In spring, they seemed to tower over even the hard granite rocks !
    Dominance
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Peeking Through
  • Visiting Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona’s distant north east is a very spiritual experience. The vastness  and beauty of this landscape truly boggles the mind. No wonder, the Navajo people have lived and managed the natural resources in these canyons for more than 5000 years. Shaking Rock will forever be tied to our memories of the Gregory Peck classic "Mackenna's Gold". It is the long shadow of this rock that leads the crew to the canyon of gold. I was so glad to have translated that memory into an image.
    Shaking Rock
  • Over millions of years, forces of erosion have worked on the soft sandstone bedrock in the American Southwest to create incredibly stunning mesas, buttes and canyons. Angular early morning light accentuates the textured surface of these dramatic landscapes.
    Primordial Lands
  • After a short hike on an unmarked path, I came upon this bare tree growing on a rocky outcrop. Despite the difficulty of growing over a raised rocky bed, this tree seemed to be reaching upto the skies.
    Reaching For The Skies
  • Fjordland National Park, New Zealand
    Stirring Sterling
  • Clearing Storm, El Capitan
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
    Fern Forest
  • Bridalveil In Mist
  • Mouna Kea Summit, Hawaii
    Shadow of a Volcano
  • Caddo Lake State Park, Texas
    Wings of Moss
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Deep Freeze
  • Flinders Chase National Park, Australia
    Remarkable Rocks, #01
  • Babbling Brook
  • Canyonlands National Park, Utah
    Mouth of the Canyon
  • Yosemite National Park, California
    Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite
  • Flinders Chase National Park, Australia
    Remarkable Rocks, #02
  • Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
    Crusted Earth
  • Pacific Coast near Monterey, California
    Foggy Coastline
  • Bean Hollow State Beach, CA
    Rock Fissures
  • Blooming Dogwoods #2
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Vidya Kane

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