New Version for Jane Goodall Live with music by Justin R. Durban

I grew up in the city — a world constructed of steel, concrete and asphalt. My view of the night sky was the moon and the handful of stars bright enough to outshine the glow of city lights.

My understanding of nature was limited to what I could find at local gardens, parks and zoos.

As a kid I never saw the Milky Way with my own eyes. Just on sci-fi television and in books and magazines.

My encounters with wild animals were limited to squirrels and pigeons in the city (if those even count as wild).

Photographs of places like Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree seemed so otherworldly and unbelievable for a kid from Philadelphia. But as an adult, I have been lucky to rediscover the natural world that exists outside of cities. I have come to appreciate what nature has to offer. It’s an entirely different world from the one I grew up in: a place of beauty, a place to reflect, a place to learn and a place to connect with the heart and soul.

In 2009, I set out to film nature to share with urban dwellers who, like me, have never ventured outside the routines and comforts of cities.

It’s now been two years, many amazing trips, and countless incredible experiences. This film is a compilation of the many highlights captured during this time.

Please enjoy. I hope you can make your own journeys into the wildness and beauty of nature…

Music: Hans Zimmer – The Dark Knight Soundtrack

Scenes include (in order of appearance):
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Mono Lake
Joshua Tree National Park
Alabama Hills
Lunar Eclipse of December 2010
Monument Valley
Salton Sea
Tuscon, Arizona
Jeju Island, South Korea
Yosemite National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Death Valley National Park

Gear:
Canon 5D Mk II, 60D, 7D, T1i, T2i, Sx10is

Lenses: 14mm 2.8, 16-35mm 2.8, 24-70mm 2.8, 24mm 1.4

Celestron CPC 800 Telescope

Dolly moves were made with Kessler Crane Pocket Dolly, Cineslider, Turntable and Oracle controller.

I was here the night before when it was perfectly clear skies but I assumed the weather would be the same the next day. So I went to sleep and did not film. Now seeing the cloudy skies in front of me, I started kicking myself for not seizing the opportunity when it was there. Now it is gone.

But I continued to film, not knowing what to expect. Perhaps it’ll get worse and I won’t be able to see anything at all. Or perhaps it may clear up over the course of the night. Either way, I am here. And I came all this way, 300 miles from Los Angeles and dragging 60 lbs of gear across a road closed to snow to be right where I am. With all my equipment set up and the camera shooting away, I went to sleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night, around 2:30am, to a light drizzle. This was followed by a bright flash in the sky. I quickly jumped out of my sleeping bag, thinking that a thunder storm may be approaching. At over 11,000 ft on top of the White Mountains, it was not quite the safest place to be during an approaching storm. There was no shelter and my car was a 20 minute hike away. Luckily, as I saw several additional flashes of lightning, I could see that the storm was some distance away, in the Eastern Sierra Range.

Mother nature can be unpredictable as it was that night. But I have found that if you are patient and wait it out, oftentimes you get rewarded with something great, something beyond your expectations. That night I was just hoping that the sky would clear up. And I stayed knowing that I may come out with nothing. But in the end I captured something even better, an electrical storm brewing 40 miles away.

Like mother nature, the path my life has taken has been unpredictable, and at times very unpleasant. But in the midst of whatever challenges life threw my way, I knew it was important to continue to do what I love and strive to be the person I want to become. Had I run away or give up on myself when life got tough, I wouldn’t be where I am now nor be the person that I am.

So before running away or giving up, whether it is about love, work or something else, consider the silver lining of the challenge facing you. You never know what reward awaits you if you can stick it out.

Here’s to life and mother nature’s unpredictability.

Shot in Joshua Tree National Park, this is the view of the galactic core of our galaxy. It’s an amazing view best seen in late Spring, Summer and early fall in the northern hemisphere. Head away from the light pollution of urban areas to a place that has a clear view of the east and south. You’ll see the galactic core rise out of the east to the south. Best seen during a new moon when there is no light interference from moon light.

This photo is available for sale as a digital download or as a print. See our products page for more info.

Called Hazdistazí, or “spiral rock arches” by the Navajo, Lower Antelope Canyon was formed through erosion by flash floods. Above is a view of the inside of the slot canyon. The water carves into the sandstone walls smoothing the rocks into beautiful flowing shapes and lines.

This photo is available for sale as a digital download or as a print. See our products page for more info.

Shot over the 2011 New Year weekend when a winter storm arrived in Yosemite. Overcast skies the first day, followed by heavy snow on the second day, partly cloudy the third day and sunny the fourth day. You’ll see a mixture of shots from the different weather conditions. Enjoy!

Soundtrack: Xibalba by Clint Mansell

Autumn is a great time to be in Yosemite National Park. The summer crowds are gone, the temperatures cool down, and the leaves change color.

It is also an unpredictable time of year. Last year, it was dry. No snow yet and the waterfalls were down to a trickle. This year early winter storms dropped a ton of snow on the Sierras. A warm spell followed, melting all the snow in the valley. Temperatures were in the 60s during the day and the waterfalls were flowing well due to snow melt. The warm temperatures also delayed the leaves changing color. Thanks to mother nature, I arrived just in time for the peak fall foliage.

This year I spent 3 days filming around Yosemite. Because of the snow, Tioga pass and Glacier point road were closed to cars. Determined to get up to Glacier point and Sentinel Dome, I hiked up the 4 Mile trail. 2700 foot elevation. It was still icy in some parts and at the top there was about 1-2 feet of snow. I forgot my winter boots so I was hiking in trail walkers. Luckily it was warm during the day and my wool socks kept my feet relatively dry and comfortable. Still, it was a crazy hike — about 13 miles round trip from the valley to Glacier point to Sentinel dome. If you ever go, please make sure you go prepared. Winters are no joke up there.

In the editing room, I decided to make this film deliberately subdued and slow to reflect the characteristics of this time of year. It’s more of a film for meditation and contemplation than one to get you pumped up for a 13 mile hike across ice and snow. Some of this footage will probably end up in my Best of 2010 film, to be released soon. In the meantime, enjoy!

Special thanks to Angela Chung for helping to make this film possible.

Shot with a Canon 5D Mk II with a 16-35mm 2.8 L and 24-70 2.8 L.

[View with PicLens]

Timelapse night photography of the Leonid Meteor shower over Joshua Tree National Park. Shot between 12:30am and 5:00am on the morning of November 18, 2010.

Due to the brightness of the moon, it was difficult to see the showers until after it set, which was around 3:30am.

You’ll see a few meteors in the video: 0:06, 0:13, 0:14, 0:17, 0:29, 0:30.

There’s 2 meteors in the same frame at 0:29.

You’ll also notice the planet Venus rising over the horizon.

Enjoy!

Music: Starálfur by Sigur Rós

Owens Valley is between the Eastern Sierras and the White Mountains in California. Photographers flock to this area around early October to capture the fall colors. I also love coming here to visit Mono Lake and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. There’s also the Alabama Hills, Mount Whitney — the tallest peak in the continental US, tons of hot springs, Mammoth Lakes, Manzanar — the concentration camp where Japanese Americans were detained during WWII, and a lot more. It is also a skip and a hop away from Yosemite National Park, Death Valley, Mojave Desert and the Bodie Ghost Town.

For people who live in Los Angeles, this is where we get all our water from. There is a long history of disputes about water rights in this area. If you don’t know much about it, I suggest reading about the California Water Wars on Wikipedia.

Below is a short film capturing some of the beauty of Owens Valley in Autumn. I was there Oct. 8-10, 2010. Please enjoy.

Can’t see the video above? Try this link: http://vimeo.com/15792698

To see the Milky Way, the ideal time is summer during or around a new moon so that the moon light doesn’t drown it out. Head to a place far away from the pollution of city lights. To photograph the galactic core, I suggest making sure you don’t have a city positioned to the south of your location. Your long exposure will pick up the light from the city.

Taken with a Canon 5D Mk II with the Canon EF 16-35mm 2.8 lens. Settings: f 2.8, 20 second exposure, 6400 iso.

In the video below, you’ll notice a meteor burning up and leaving a cloud of smoke at around the 00:32 second mark.

[View with PicLens]

Can’t see the video? Try this link: http://vimeo.com/14173983

Timelapse video tour of Yosemite National Park. You’ll see Tunnel view, Valley View, Cook’s Meadow, Bridalveil Falls, Nevada Falls, Mist Trail, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and much more. These were all taken during my recent trip to Yosemite in Mid-May 2010. Enjoy!