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Spending Time With a Happy Bear

Grizzly bears are fearsome creatures. They are the apex predators in their environment and when we, as humans armed with nothing more than a camera and some bear spray, enter their environment we are at a distinct disadvantage. I am stating the obvious of course but that is something that I realize when I see one of these beautiful creatures coming from an Alaska forest to the river to fish. The…

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The Northern Lights over Mount Hood

The Aurora Over Mount Hood   The Northern Lights have always fascinated me. When I was a little boy, I was curious about Alaska. I enjoyed reading Jack London books. White Fang and Klondike Tales, To Build a Fire was my favorite story. The backdrop to many Alaska stories is the Northern Lights. It took me until I was 55 years old until I made it to Alaska where, on the first night, I was greeted…

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The Eye of The Tempest

This was the lodge that Darlene and I were privileged to have been able to stay in while we visited the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon, thanks to my friends Vicky and Charles Littleleaf. Charles is a master Native American Flute maker and musician that lives in Warm Springs, Oregon. We were invited as guests to attend a Pow Wow at Simnasho on the Warm Springs Reservation in…

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The Painted Hills in the snow

Winter finally made it to Oregon and 2024 came in like a lion weather-wise. We had high winds, ice, snow and temps near 0°F. Needless today there was a lot of storm damage and hardship with electricity, water and phone/Internet disruption many people were in survival mode for at least a week in the area that I live. We stayed at home for the first four days but eventually decided to travel from…

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The Next Chapter in My Story

A few days ago, I was sitting with my mom talking about life when she said to me, “You know that you can start taking full Social Security next January.” I looked at her with a blank stare and thought for a moment before saying, “Huh?”   My career choice and dismal attempts at financial planning coupled with failed personal relationships in my life, have left little in the form of retirement…

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My Favorite Photos From 2023

2023 was quite a year with several epic adventures. The Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast, the San Juans in Colorado for Autumn colors and then I returned to Caddo Lake for more Autumn bayou adventures. Of course I still found time to photograph my home here near Mount Hood as well as another love of mine, Central Oregon. Submerged Bald Cypress Trees at Caddo Lake, Uncertain Texas I made a lot…

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Oregon Forest Photography - From Planning to Printing

Oregon Forest Photography – From Planning to Printing – Two sessions available – April 18-21 or 25-28 I will be hosting four people in a world class mountain lodge for four days / three nights. We will be concentrating on creating forest photography in the most beautiful time of the year to be in a forest. In April the forests are green and lush. The creeks and waterfalls are prime and the moss…

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Photographing The Southern Oregon Coast and the California Redwoods

I love Oregon. I’ve lived here and have been exploring this state my whole life. One of my favorite places in Oregon is the Southern Oregon Coast, especially from the little coastal town of Yachats to the Oregon / California border. From the iconic Thor’s Well to the California Redwoods. That stretch of the coast is rugged with the forests meeting the crashing waves on the shoreline’s craggy…

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Dead Ox Ranch 2024

Dead ox Ranch 2024 – August 16-17-18 It’s time once again to prepare for our annual Dead Ox Ranch Photographers Campout August 16-17-18. This year we will be looking forward to the Moon setting at about 9:00 PM and some Perseid meteors and a hope for clear skies. This is an all weather event, but the chances of clear skies are very good in eastern Oregon in August. We have a lot of fun things to…

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I’ve been enjoying taking photos of the various birds that visit my yard. The most common have been the dark eyed junco, chestnut-backed chickadee, varied thrush, red-breasted nuthatch, and of course our crows and stellar jays, downy woodpeckers.

Well, it’s been one heck of a Winter here in Oregon. I’m starting to notice that the Oso berry is flowering and the trilliums are starting to bloom, despite being battered by rain and snow. The maples are starting to bud. As a landscape photographer I’m used to seeing greener forests, more wildflowers and a little more warmth on my Spring forays into the Columbia River Gorge, especially in May.…

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Dead Ox Ranch 2023

Dead ox Ranch 2023 – August 18-19-20 It’s time once again to prepare for our annual Dead Ox Ranch Photographers Campout August 18-19-20. This year we will be looking forward to a Waxing Crescent Moon and some Perseid meteors and a hope for clear skies. This is an all weather event, but the chances of clear skies are very good in eastern Oregon in August. We have a lot of fun things to photograph…

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Gary Randall Top Ten Photos from 2022

Gary Randall Top Ten Photos from 2022

Gary Randall Top Ten Photos from 2022 Happy New Year. I’m looking forward to another awesome year in 2023 but thought that it would be appropriate for me to share a few of my favorite photos from 2022. Sometimes a favorite photo may not be the best photo, but when it’s coupled to the experience the resulting photo means more. The photo becomes more personal. And so while you’re looking at these…

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Caddo Lake Texas and The Big Cypress Bayou

Caddo Lake Texas and The Big Cypress Bayou

I’m often asked, “Where are you off to next?” I have a reputation for seeking out beautiful places to take landscape photos. Many times, it’s to a place that folks recognize. Places such as Glacier National Park, The California Redwoods or Denali National Park in Alaska. But capturing the natural beauty of Nature isn’t relegated to places that we all recognize. Sometimes a place is on my radar…

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Lost Lake Autumn

Every Autumn in the hills around Mount Hood the vine maple (acer circinatum) always put on a colorful show. They will turn a beautiful yellow color in the darker forest floors but will turn a beautiful red in the higher elevations where they get more sunlight. These are growing in one of the most beautiful locations in Oregon, Lost Lake. Prints of this photo is available in either a horizontal…

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Alaska Adventure 2023

Alaska Adventure 2023 We’re proud to announce our annual Alaska adventure for 2023 our Alaska photography workshop. Darlene and Gary are looking forward to being your hosts in The Last Frontier. We have an action packed week of fun and photography including incredible wildlife and scenic landscape photo opportunities. We’re going to be flying out to the Katmai National Park to photograph bears…

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Oregon Summer Wildflowers

It’s Summertime in Oregon. We, and the beautiful Oregon Summer Wildflowers, have been fortunate to have had a prolonged Winter and a mild, wet Spring. The wildflowers here and in the hills around us are healthy and still fresh in many places. Because of the late snow there are areas in the higher elevations where the flowers are just starting to bloom. In my life I get excited about the photos…

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Develop Your Own Unique Artistic Style

Develop Your Own Unique Artistic Style

Develop your own unique artistic style  Being unique is the best way to stand out in a crowd. It applies to many things including art that we create. I remember the first time that I was told that my photos were immediately recognizable from the many other photos that are posted and viewed online in photography forums. I was flattered and it was a confidence builder. It has been in the back of…