California, the Sunshine State

This multi-stage gallery features my collective works from my visits to the wonderful "sunshine state", of California. If you were to ask me about my favourite place in America, it would no doubt be California. The variety in the landscapes, coastal or alpine, desert or forest, this state truly has it all in one. I visited California in 2022, and 2023, for a collective of roughly 30 days. The intent of both trips was to visit, and spend considerable time in Yosemite National Park, and some stops along the way, to and from.

Gallery Selects

From the Stunning sunrises and sunsets of the San Francisco bay area to Pigeon Point, and Death Valley. Here I have showcased my SELECTS from throughout my two recent trips to California.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley provided excellent desert conditions for my visit, but I'd be lying if I didn't say the highlight was breakfast at the Stovepipe Wells Toll Road Restaurant, American hospitality at its finest.

I was lucky to receive a few recommendations for locations to visit, I landed on Artists Palette, as well as the Mesquite Sand Dunes, where I spent a good portion of an October evening.

However I found Death Valley didn't meet what I was looking for. I was happy to experiment with the desert landscape and learn about the area, but I know my work, and water is always nearby.

Maybe that's how I ended up in Death Valley after a record flooding season.

Sequoia National Park

My Trip to Sequoia is a one I hold quite near and dear to me.

My good friend that I had made in Yosemite had been keeping an eye on the weather camera in Sequoia National Park, and with blindingly clear conditions in Yosemite, after less than a week of some of the most dynamic conditions I'd seen, we set off to Sequoia.

It was a long drive, but we no doubt broke it down with some amazing American fast food. The winding road up to Sequoia and Kings Canyon felt treacherous, even after driving through the Sierras for a week already.

We arrived to a delightfully moody atmosphere, with mist blanketing the ancient forest. It felt and looked as if the sequoias were breathing the richest air they could, with a light blanket of snow covering the forest floor.

The evening was productive, and we wrapped it up by heading back to his and his fiancés place in Alameda. The next morning I hit the road back to Jasper, feeling like the trip had been a great success.

I dedicate this gallery to Tom.