My wife’s family spends every Thanksgiving together, somewhere new each year. The family has grown so much that we rented the entire Sky Forest Inn this year. It’s in Sky Forest, CA near Big Bear, about two hours outside of LA.
We had these clouds almost the entire time. This one is at sunset, the day before Thanksgiving.
My sister and I found this awesome little slot canyon among Joshua Tree’s numerous rock formations. It was so cool exploring this spot. This little canyon reminds me of the insanely beautiful ones found in Antelope Canyon, which is pretty high on my bucket list of places to go ASAP. We love exploring, and I feel like this photo encompasses that.
Desert in Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, United States
50 km from Big Bear City
Out in Yucca Valley, by Joshua Tree is one of my favorite outdoor art installations by Noah Purifoy. You get to wander around a pretty desolate area and explore this surreal and eerie site.
We found this cross on a field trip with our grandson at the top of Mount Rubidoux and thought it was so amazing… the way it was displayed for the entire City to see!
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” —Matthew 5:15
While hiking Mt. Ryan in Joshua Tree National Park we saw a curious group of figures in the distance. Looking closer, we were able to see a group of people taking turns walking a tight rope between a mountain slope and a huge boulder. It wasn’t until I looked at this photo on my computer that I realized there were so many people present.
Mountain range in Devil's Backbone Trail, United States
74 km from Big Bear City
A 16-mile round trip hike up to Mt. Baldy led us through forests, patches of snow, and ski lifts operating in May. As the highest peak in the region, the views made every mile worth it.
On a scouting gig, I found myself on this road from the desert floor near Palm Springs to the top of the mountains where it was quite cool and forested.
Desert in Joshua Tree National Park, United States
95 km from Big Bear City
The scapes we saw conveyed an otherworldly terrain. The entire park; though straight in the middle of the desert felt rather lifeless; it was when you stopped and started hiking you found there was much more than meets the eye.
Badlands in Joshua Tree National Park, United States
95 km from Big Bear City
After a day-long travel through the national park. The following image sums it all up. A breathtaking expanse of desert, a carnival of rocks, and a sunset that will make anyone take a second to sit and stare at its beauty.
It is truly amazing, how fast things change.
Just a few months ago, when I visited these hills up in Anaheim, they were filled with vibrant green grass and it was absolutely astonishing.
A few months later, the grass turned yellow. It neither a bad or good thing, it was just that, things change… fast.
At first when I heard that the wedding I’d be shooting was at a public swimming pool I was a bit skeptical. However, when I arrived at the the venue I was blown away by the beauty and simplicity of the spot.
Balance is everything. A life that is unbalanced will topple over in due time. Free yourself from the things that hold you back and grasp onto the things that will better yourself. Only you can make that decision. As I look from above, the ocean is a big place and we merely just small creatures, sharing the Earth among billions.
I love when the beaches are cold in winter. The seaweed covers the sand, the beaches are clear from footprints, and mother nature lets her hair down for some awesome photos.
I headed down to Inspiration Point to catch the sunset. It was cloudy, but with a chance of an incredible sunset with clouds lit up. Unfortunately it wasn’t and we could barely see the sunset. Anyways, flew the drone and got some nice pictures anyways. Sometimes, having no expectations is the best way. I’m always grateful for what I can take back home.
I was walking along Newport Beach looking to find a great spot to catch the sunset. When I stopped to shoot, a small kid stepped right in front of me – holding a balloon perfectly in front of the setting sun.
Sometimes the subject you set out to capture isn’t the one you end with, and in this scenario, that was just great.
I love California Sunsets. It’s where I’ve been born and bred. But, just below my love for California is my affinity toward Batman. Perhaps this is me projecting, but that sure looks like Batman’s cowl at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. If you dig it, check me out @Troynikolic for all my stuff.
I remember getting out of the car and looking out towards the pier to see how busy it was. There were lots of families and people taking photos near or under the pier. After 37 minutes of waiting, I fired off a series of 21 shots hoping that I didn’t get people in the frame. This shot was one of a few that didn’t have people. The photo makes me feel calm, mainly because it was so busy at the time I took this.
The best things in life are often accidental. This shot was. On a whale watching trip with my daughter off the coast of Southern California, I learned to appreciate any photographer that can capture sharp dolphin action. It takes incredible patience, certain awareness, and sharp skills. And I got a cool action blur. I'll take it.
One of the things that draw me back to Yosemite is the overwhelming scale of the granite walls. There are places on earth that in one moment humble your perspective and remind you of how small you really are. There is a special beauty in being among giants.