iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

david @fringe.com · 06/09/2026

Forest Waterfall Our national forests tell stories and provide peace. Let’s leave them for others to enjoy, too. #photography #landscape #waterfall #forest

A close up view from the bottom of a ravine in a rainforest with a small waterfall.

This is a rainforest, so everything is wet and green. Moss covers most every surface. So, bear that in mind for the rest of the description. We’re at the base of a small stream, but we could walk across it without noticing. It’s that small. In the middle left of the photograph a waterfall is tumbling down before a fallen log and some small trees. It forms a cascade, just a foot high, as it flows into the stream.

The fallen log starts in the lower let and goes to the middle left of the photograph. There is a very large tree anchoring the entire left side and the right is the afore-mentioned moss covering the ravine wall. Finally, the lower right is more stream, but really, it’s just wet and soggy ground more than a stream.

Overall, it is a peaceful and tranquil close-up scene of a rainforest, and you can feel the peace in it.

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david @fringe.com · 30/08/2026

Orion Complex The universe is vast. So are our possibilities #photography #astrophotography #orion #horsehead

This is panoramic 70-light-year-wide portrait of the Orion molecular cloud complex. It encompasses M78, the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae, and the Orion and Running Man Nebulae. it is photographed in a mixture of visible light and Hydrogen Alpha (Ha). The Ha gives a pinkish glow to that gas, letting us see structures that the naked eye alone cannot.

Let’s start in the lower, far left corner. Here is M78, a reflection nebula. It’s small in this photograph, mostly because of how much sky the photograph contains. But you can see it and make out some details.

Moving up and to the right we come to NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula. It is bright, in has some yellow, gold and brown colors. You can see it’s structure nicely. To right over NGC 2024 is IC 434, the Horsehead Nebula.

This is one of the centerpieces of this image. The nebula looks like a chess piece of a horse’s head, hence the moniker. Above that, in Ha, is a vast expanse of pinkish/reddish gas, with large jets and sheets. The nearby stars, such as Alnitak, provide the light.

Moving to the right side we next come to Running Man Nebula (NGC 1973/1975/1977), appearing quite blue here.

And finally, in center right side is M42, the Orio Nebula, in blues, pinks and purples.

Scattered around the image are tons more nebula and clouds of gas, as well as more stars than we can count. This photograph lets us see the nebulas in context, as it were, and lets us see the gas and connecting structures between the nebula.

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david @fringe.com · 16/08/2026

Everglade Calm Kindness, like the ocean, goes a long way #photography #ocean #florida

A panoramic view of the ocean. At the horizon, cumulus clouds begin to build up for an afternoon thunderstorm, against a blue sky.

This photograph was created while I was on a boat, so the perspective is truly endless water and sky. The ocean is completely calm. There are no waves at all. The water is as flat as can be with only gentle ripples. The water is a deep blue, and the cloud reflections, which you can see only as smears of white, are the only thing of interest in the water.

The sky is a deep, crisp blue. Tall clouds are building toward a summer storm. There are several complexes of towers building, and the center tower is quite tall. But, for the moment, all is calm and peaceful.

The photograph projects the vastness of the ocean, and yet, somehow, also, projects peace and calmness.

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david @fringe.com · 09/08/2026

Pier Intensity Strong foundations endure through the ages. #photography #landscape #ocean

An old concrete pier extends into a choppy ocean under cloudy skies.

The old pier, which has brownish tones, has been around for a long while. It is concrete and about 10 feet wide, extending from the bottom of the photograph to the middle. From there, it seems to turn to the right. There is a curb on the left and right sides and rocks piled up along the sides.

There are puddles here and there along the pier.

The ocean is choppy today, and you can see some larger plumes where it is hitting the pier in the distance, or maybe some rocks. It’s nothing too extreme, but it does provide some interest to the photograph.
 The skies are mostly cloudy and dark, threatening rain. There’s a few thin strips of blue in the upper left, but it is clear a storm is slowly rolling in. And, an hour or so after this photograph was made, it settled into flat, grey, and rainy skies.

Overall, for a simple scene, there is a good amount of tension in the photograph. It’s peaceful, yet not. It has motion, but also steadiness. There is the promise of clear skies, yet rain. It is, in the end, a photograph of balance.

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david @fringe.com · 02/08/2026

River Vista The view goes on forever. Let’s protect each and every vista. #photography #landscape #canyonlands

We’re standing at Green River overlook in Canyonlands National Park. We’ve explored the bluff and made our way to this vantage point. Here, standing one thousand feet over over the canyon floor, we can see the vastness.

It’s early spring, and far below us the canyon floor is showing some traces of green, but mostly, it’s more brownish tones. The Green River is barely visible, with a small section flowing from the right to the left. Its banks are very green. The irregular deeper canyon cuts the river made all have white lining the top, making a striking appearance.

In the distance are more buttes, and truly the landscape goes on forever.
 The sky is has tones of pinks and maybe some violet hues, and is dominated by one large cloud with indistinct edges. The sun appears to be high in the sky above the right side of the piece.

Overall, it is a deeply moody piece. Calm, but you can also feel the tension.

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david @fringe.com · 19/07/2026

Defiance Flight Choose your own path #photography #storm #nature

A lone raven flies away from a supercell.

There is a small, lone raven flying in front of and away from a supercell, which is sweeping in from the right and headed left. The bird is small and visible only in silhouette, but still, somehow, it is the focal point of the piece.

The supercell has dark, well-defined clouds that are almost but not quite in a swirl. You can’t see it in the inflow, but you can see the results of it. The clouds are dark and gray, thick and heavy, with bluish and maybe, just maybe, if you squint, some faint purple tones. There is a heavy rain band coming down in the right-middle.

Overall, the effect is that the clouds are sweeping in, right to left, and the bird is flying away from them.

The scrap of foreground visible is barren and golden-toned. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, of interest in the foreground for miles and miles, so we’re not missing anything.

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david @fringe.com · 05/07/2026

Crane Serenity Embrace the moments of serenity. More about this photograph here: www.fringe.com/photograph/c... #photography #newmexico #wildlife

This square photograph shows two silhouetted greater sandhill cranes standing in golden orange water. The two cranes stand motionless, generally facing each other. Their shadows reflect in the rippled water. There are a few weeds poking through the surface.

 The standout feature is the deep orange tones of the water. Photographed in the late afternoon, the rich, warm colors create a duotone photograph of orange and black, making a striking, yet also tranquil, scene.

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david @fringe.com · 21/06/2026

Storm Highway Eyes forward. Our course is clear. #photography #newmexico #storm

A paved two-lane road leads into the distance, where a storm-filled sky awaits.

This vertical photograph features a nice asphalt road running from the bottom to just below the center of the photograph. It has a striped yellow line right down the middle. This is a New Mexico photograph and the rural road is in remarkable shape. The road is flanked by green vegetation, leading into some low trees. The road is wet, but there are no puddles.

The top of the photograph is filled with dark storm clouds. A severe thunderstorm has just passed and it looks like it. The heavy clouds fill the sky, dark and forbidding.

The middle of the photograph is where the action is, though. Here, the sunset is breaking through the cloud deck, illuminating the sky with a deep, fiery orange. The road and sunset meet in the middle. Rain bands, especially a larger one to the left, punctuate the middle. The yellow glow of the setting sun is visible to the left of the road.

So the entire photograph converges in the middle, combining the road, storm and vibrant sunset into a narrow and dramatic section.

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david @fringe.com · 07/06/2026

Prairie Joy Happiness is a warm summer day #photography #nature #wildlife

A mom prairie dog and her two pups enjoy a warm summer day. This close-up photograph features a mother prairie dog standing in her den in a lush field. You can’t see the den as the foliage hides it. She is brightly lit on this warm day.

One of her pups is reaching up to her, its paws outstretched and surrounding her face. Its eyes are half-closed, and this is clearly an expression of joy and love. One of Mom’s paws rests on the pup. The other pup, with only its head visible, is beside the first one. It looks like it is ready to get in on the action, too.

This intimate moment lasted a while, and all the prairie dogs enjoyed the warmth of the day.

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david @fringe.com · 31/05/2026

Heceta's Watch Always keep the watch. #photography #landscape #oregon

A panoramic photograph of the Haceta Head lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The important bit, the lighthouse, is on the far-right side of this photograph. It sits on a promontory of land that juts out almost halfway across the photo. The short lighthouse is white with a red roof.

Support buildings are next to the lighthouse, also small, and also white with red roofs. A white fence (what, you expected a different color?) surrounds the structures. Dense pine trees lead from the structures up and to the right of the photograph.

The rest of the photograph is just the Pacific Ocean. Gentle waves crash against the shoreline.

The seas are calm today. The sky is blue with typical sea clouds. Overall, the entire vibe of the photograph is one of calmness.

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david @fringe.com · 24/05/2026

Forever Yellowstone Public lands are always for everyone www.fringe.com/photograph/f... #photography #wildlife #yellowstone

A photograph of Yellowstone National Park showing the vastness, a lone tree, and a few bison.

We’re standing on a snowy hillside, looking out into the distance. It has recently snowed a lot, so everything is snow-covered, but you can still see some brush sticking up through it. There are some hills with scattered pine trees in the middle distance, and beyond that, some low mountains. The sky is overcast with heavy clouds, and blue tones are predominant.

Just below us on the hill are six bison and a tall pine tree. The pine tree is massive, and remarkably, not snow-covered.

The bison form a line of sorts. The left two are slowly walking to the left and apparently headed out of frame. They are in no hurry. The middle bison, further to the right, is always walking left. The next bison is just standing there, looking right. The rightmost two bison are butting heads with each other and quite occupied with that. It is not a serious fight at all—they are just passing the day.

Despite the coldness of the scene, it showcases how big Yellowstone really is. You can see forever.

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david @fringe.com · 10/05/2026

Catching Auroras The lightness colors our world against the darkness. www.fringe.com/photograph/c... #photography #astrophotography #nature #landscape

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david @fringe.com · 03/05/2026

20’s Snowscape We can make it through anything. Read the story behind the scenes at www.fringe.com/photograph/2... #photography #train #colorado

Engine #20 from the Rio Grande Southern Railroad makes its way through the snowy San Juan Mountains, pulling a short consist. The Animas River is to the right of the train. It’s really snowy. Overall the tones of the scene are muted, darker greens, and the Animas River has a strong hint of turquoise in it.

The train, and train, are on the left side of the photograph, and the train is coming toward us from the center, heading out of frame on the left. The engine is billowing smoke, and the smoke from the stack trails off to the right. The consist is three freight cars, one of which is a flatbed, two passenger cars, and a caboose, all red. They’re small in this photograph, but because of the red, they really stand out.

The Animas River runs on the right side of the frame away from us and down the mountain. It is calm as the river goes. There’s a snow-covered pine tree on the right bank leaning over it. It’s one tree, but to me, it totally stands out.

There are rocks along the left bank built up to support the tracks. The right bank is a typical rocky bank. You can’t see any sky, and in the background is a steep mountainside with more snow-covered trees.

There’s an unexpected calmness to this scene, mostly because of the muted colors,

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david @fringe.com · 26/04/2026

Alstrom Point Nighttime is full of wonders on our national lands. More photographs and stories at www.fringe.com #photography #utah #desert #astrolandscape #milkyway

We’re at Alstrom Point, looking out over Lake Powell, with the Milky Way arching in the sky.

We’re standing at Alstrom Point, high over Lake Powell, looking east. This blended photograph lets us see both the foreground and the Milky Way.

For the foreground, tans and browns dominate. We’re peering between two rock outcroppings, one on the left and one on the right. There’s a sandstone rock formation to the center right. Beyond that, we see what remains of Lake Powell, but, on the other hand, we can also see Gunsight Butte, a very tall butte that, when viewed edge-on, would remind you of a gun sight. We’re looking at it from the side. Plenty of other, largely unnamed, buttes are easily visible, and in the far distance you can see shadowy Navajo Mountain. The water is very low and now resembles more of a struggling river than a lake. The water level is staggeringly low.

The Milky Way showcases the entire arch. The core is to the right, and the dusk clouds are very visible. It arches from right to left, and at the top, center left, you can see some hydrogen alpha areas, which add some nice pop and contrast.

The overall tones are warm and rich, full of browns, tans, and yellows. There’s a slight greenish tint to the sky, but it all blends harmoniously.

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david @fringe.com · 12/04/2026

Elk’s Paradise Don’t forget to enjoy the moments you can. #photography #nature #landscape #elk

An elk pauses beneath a pine tree, with a picture-perfect day, including snow-capped mountains, behind her.

We’re in the shadows, not very far from the elk. We’d been carefully, oh so carefully, watching her and waiting to see what she would do. She knew we were there, of course, but stayed calm and relaxed. We posed no threat and barely even drew a breath.

Eventually, she stepped away from the shadows and stood motionless below a pine tree. The tree, with its branches starting high on the trunk, is still in shadow, and so, really, is the elk, but there is enough light to make this photograph work. In front of us, to our right, is a large boulder. It doesn’t block the view at all.

Behind the elk is a blue sky with clouds. The perfect kind of clouds, too! Not pure white and not heavy, but a wonderful mixture of the two. And in the far background are a few more trees and low mountains, still with some snowy patches on them.

All together, the scene comes together beautifully. It’s almost as if the elk stopped and waited for us, and to this day I believe she did. She moved on, and we did too, but not before Elk’s Paradise came together.

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david @fringe.com · 05/04/2026

Aspen Sun Our national forests are breathtaking treasures for everyone. #photography #nature #forests #landscape

A view into an aspen forest, with the sun flaring at the top.

We’re looking into a reasonably dense, endless stand of aspens in the early morning. The forest floor is rich and lush; it rained recently, and the vegetation looks wonderful because of that. There is a slight opening ahead of us, leading us deeper into the forest, and the trees on the left and right draw us in.. We couldn’t do that, really, because there’s no path, and there is a lot of brush and stuff we would need to wade through. There is an occasional pine tree intruding here and there, and you can see a couple of fallen aspen trees almost lost in the brush. But overall the scene is vibrant, the forest healthy. The aspens are just beginning to turn, too, as this is at the beginning of fall, so there is a mix of green and gold tones in the scene.

The main feature, though, is the sun, which is in the upper middle of the frame, rising behind the trees. The photograph features a large sun flare, and it totally dominates the scene. It’s difficult to look away from the flare to take in the rest of the scene.

Behind the sun the forest continues, possibly forever. Let’s go explore, shall we?

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david @fringe.com · 29/03/2026

Bosque Birds Together we make a difference #photography #nature #wildlife #newmexico

A flock of birds takes to the air in New Mexico’s Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. These are, probably, red-winged blackbirds, and there are far too many birds to count. Seriously, they completely obscure the background, which is a tree with dead leaves on it, and the rest is not possible to see because of the birds.

They are flying in every direction, but all generally heading up. Did I mention that the only thing you can see, edge to edge, is birds flying?

The foreground is a field of dried grasses. That you can see plainly. But beyond that, it’s all just birds in the air.

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david @fringe.com · 22/03/2026

Artist’s Monuments Grand vistas and grand adventures await us. #photography #landscape #monumentvalley

This is a panoramic view of Monument Valley from Artist’s Point, and personally, I think this is one of the best views of the valley.

We can see the tall buttes and spires that make the valley what it is. We are on the valley floor, but not very close to any butte. The buttes are clearly tall, but also not overwhelming because of the distance. Instead, we can see them laid out before us, each impressive in their own right, but more so because we can see so many.

It is late afternoon, and the sunlight is scattered throughout the valley. Shadows are forming, laying out long streaks. There are a few lingering scraps of snow here and there, but those are few and far between.
 The sky has heavy but scattered clouds, making a picturesque mix of blue and clouds.

Overall, the photograph showcases the scale of Monument Valley without being overwhelming.

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david @fringe.com · 15/02/2026

Pacific Sunset Incredible moments always surround us. Be sure to celebrate when you encounter one. #photography #ocean #sunset

A red sunset behind heavy clouds over the ocean.

The setup, first. This is a panoramic photograph showing nothing except the ocean. I was on the beach when I made it, but you can’t tell that from the photograph. There are some rollers coming toward us and breaking just before the shore. They’re reasonably gentle, maybe a couple of feet high, and are curling over, then breaking. It was a really peaceful evening, and this is one of those times I wish we could hear a photograph. Just imagine the gentle sound of the tide coming in, and you’re there.

Next, the sun is setting, so it is low on the horizon. But we can’t see the sun because the clouds were covering it.
 What we can see, however, is the color! It’s red tonight. I mean, red everywhere. Absolutely everywhere! There’s a faint scrap of yellow-orange where the sun is, but the rest of the sky is a deep, deep red. The water is reflecting the deep reds, except the white of the rollers as they break. It’s just… red.

So the photograph is red sky, red water. And that makes it a very unusual one. Not everyone likes this much red, and I get that; yet, it is an interesting photograph because of that.

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david @fringe.com · 08/02/2026

Gypsum Skies Let’s create our own path and leave our own tracks #photography #newmexico #whitesands

This panoramic photograph showcases white gypsum dunes and a cloudy sky. The dunes, which everyone incorrectly calls “sand dunes,” are almost pure white. Here, they are ever-so-gently sloping and occupy the lower third of the photograph, and you can see some ripples here and there. They are trackless. To be sure, they are not projecting very much, and this is more of a close-up of the dunes.

The sky is behind them is cloudy and complex. The clouds are a mix of white and what looks to be storm clouds, but it won’t rain today. The clouds are going every which direction. Some are white, and some are thick. Generally, it appears they are heading toward us, but the winds that day were all over the place, and so were the clouds. Behind them, the sky is a blueish, tending more to azure or even teal in places.

So, the photograph is a wonderful mixture of colors, from white below to blue/teal at the top, with the clouds providing the main point of interest.

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david @fringe.com · 01/02/2026

Palouse Fields Peaceful times are always worth the effort and struggle. #photography #washington #palouse

Early morning streams across Washington State’s Palouse area.

The Palouse is noted for its idyllic setting, and this photograph totally leans into that. We’re standing on Steptoe Butte, which not only is the tallest place for mies upon miles, but also offers an excellent vantage point. Below and around us, extending for miles upon miles, are farm fields and gently rolling hills. This is the Palouse at is best!

The hills are as gentle as can be, but the low, rising sun casts plenty of shadows, scenting and defining each little hill. Most of the fields are deep, verdant green and the crop looks healthy. A few are fallow and bare, adding bits of light brown contrast to the scene. Scattered here and there are the buildings of a few farms. You can see some silos and, of course, a classic red barn. The buildings are small, further accenting the scale of the scene.

The sky has some low clouds and pink tones that fade to blue toward the top. In far, far distance we can see a more significant mountain, but it is low and doesn’t have the typical mountain peaks.

All told, the scene projects peace and tranquility.

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david @fringe.com · 11/01/2026

Teton Afternoon The cold cuts through us all. Be warm and kind instead. #photography #landscape #tetons

The Snake River flows past the Tetons on a winter day.

This panoramic image features the Snake River, which stretches across the entire photograph. On the left side, the river cuts back and then runs toward the back. There’s a swath of unbroken snow on the right side just behind the river.

There is a line of frost and snow-covered pine trees throughout the middle of the photograph. They look cold. They are cold. It’s as cold as can be in this photograph.

Then there is the Teton Range rising behind the trees. From this vantage point, the mountains don’t look quite as tall and imposing as they do from a closer view, but make no mistake. They’re tall and imposing, all the same. They are, as you might expect, totally snow covered.

The sky is partly cloudy with streaks of clouds instead of puffy clouds. Plenty of blue peeks through. The sun is shining, so the entire scene is brightly lit.

Overall, the image is bright, yet cold. Still, looking at it, you don’t feel as cold as it was, and the photograph is inviting, capturing a perfect moment in the Tetons.

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david @fringe.com · 04/01/2026

Hoodoo Sunrise Endure the cold and winter. #photography #landscape #utah #bryce

Snow-covered hoodoos stretch before us during a brilliant sunrise in a panoramic photograph.

Let’s discuss the sunrise first, because it sets up the rest of the photograph. It is dawn, and the sun is just breaking the horizon to our left, out of frame. The sky is partially cloudy, and the clouds are streaks. Deep yellows are to our left, transitioning to deep pinks to our right. There isn’t much of the sky, but it provides color and contrast. The yellow and red tones are predominant.

The rest of the photograph is filled with hoodoos and snow. It had snowed the night before, so the snow is bright and fresh. The hoodoos, red-orange to begin with, are an even deeper shade this morning because of the sunrise. There appears to be a small valley running right to left into the sunrise, but really, that just separates the hoodoos into two groups.

There are some pine trees scattered about here and there, and then heavily clustered at the end of the valley. They are small. That, in turn, provides the scale for the photograph, and we realize the hoodoos are extremely tall and large. Suddenly, the photograph is far vaster than we first thought.

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david @fringe.com · 28/12/2025

Zabriskie’s Night We go ever onward into 2026! Thank you for following along with me, and here’s to a prosperous 2026. Keep moving forward. #photography #landscape #deathvalley

The photograph is made at Zabriskie Point in the middle of the night. Overall, it has deep blue tones, and is monochromatic, except for the emission nebula, which we’ll talk about in a moment.

The foreground is whorls and swirls of rock, leading from our feet into the distance. The rock is striped, solid and has every pattern you can think of. It rises and falls. There’s a small wash on the left side, and a path oddly highlighted leading from the center into the distance. Sure wish we could be on that path right now.

In the distance you can see mountains in the shadow. There’s snow on the very tops, but you just have to know that detail, because you can’t really see it. Hey, it’s night.

The sky is the star of the show (get it?). You can make out the constellation Orion easily as it dominates the top of the photograph. There’s tons of other stars around, too. There are emission nebula, normally not visible to the human eye or camera. Barnard’s Loop, which is a really large crescent surrounding a center part is clearly visible, as are many others. These appear as faint red or maybe pink, making a wild contrast with the blue tones.

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david @fringe.com · 14/12/2025

Let the ocean provide tranquility today. #photography #landscape #alaska

The full moon rises over still waters.

The panoramic photograph showcases the moon, but the moon is small and just left of center. Still, despite the small size, it commands attention. It is golden and slightly above the horizon.

This contrasts well with the rest of the photograph, which is all blue, with hints of purple, tones. There are some low, and I do mean low, mountains rising to the right of the moon. How low? Maybe 100 feet high tops. Barely a mountain at all, but hey, they’re mountains.

The foreground is nothing but perfectly calm water, with just a ripple or two. The moon and the mountains reflect in the water, making a beautiful counterpoint. It almost looks as if I was on the water when I made this photograph, and in fact, I was! I was on a sailboat, giving me an incredible vantage point. The waters stretch from the bottom of the photograph to the middle, which is where the horizon is.
 The sky is clear blue with just a couple of insignificant clouds on the right side.

Overall, the photograph projects serenity, tranquility, and peace.

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david @fringe.com · 07/12/2025

Sunrise: Marlboro. The sun will rise tomorrow, and we will be OK. #photography #landscape #southwest

We’re at Marlboro Point just after the sun breaks the horizon. Our feet are standing at the edge of a cliff, and a valley floor is several hundred feet straight down below us. We’re looking at a butte that comes into the photograph from the middle right and leads the eye to the upper left. It isn’t a a large butte, and quickly comes to a narrow spire. Just before the butte is a smaller one with two spires that come to points. The sun is streaming in from the left, lighting up the left side of the buttes and leaving the right sides in shadows.

The buttes jut into a valley, and beyond that, more buttes rise, forming the valley. As far as the eye can see, and we can see very far away, there are more buttes fading into the distance. The Henry Mountains are barely visible on the left side of the photograph.

The sky has some sweeping clouds that form a gentle swirl, almost rising from the top of the butte before us. The swirl sweeps from right to left, creating a nice counterpoint in the photograph. There are purple tones in the clouds and just a scrap of blue.

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david @fringe.com · 30/11/2025

Bisti Deep The stars light our way. Onward, we go. #newmexico #bisti #astrophotography

The arch of the Milky Way soars over hoodoos.

We’re standing in and among hoodoos, which rise beside and before us. These hoodoos vary from a few feet tall to well over 40 feet. We’re actually standing on top of a hoodoo to give us a little more perspective. There’s a wide open area that leads from left to right, and on the right side it turns and heads deeper into the wilderness. The path is white rock, which many people mistake for snow. That’s easy to do because it’s night. The hoodoos are generally white with a reddish-colored rock, a cap rock, on top. So, the foreground is mostly white with some red-colored right.

The highlight is the Milky Way. The Milky Way’s core is at the right, and the arch goes from right to left. There’s some airglow, which provides some yellow and green coloration at the horizon. You can faintly see Barnard’s Loop at the top right, but only if you squint. At the left, the arch heads into white light. This is light pollution from the drilling rigs and is completely impossible to avoid. The best you can do is minimize it, and even that is exceptionally difficult to do.

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david @fringe.com · 23/11/2025

Secret Fall The secret is to keep moving and keep finding beauty #nature #landscape #autumn

A waterfall tumbles over a stone ledge and into a stream while being surrounded by fall color.

We’re looking straight into the small waterfall, which is about one hundred yards away. There is a reasonable amount of water, not too much and more than a trickle, The stream ends at a mossy-covered stone wall, and the water pours over the stone, making the waterfall. It’s just under twenty feet tall. From there, the water flows toward us in a rocky covered stream.

The waterfall is framed by trees in full autumn color. The waterfall is left of center of the opening in the leaves, providing some interesting dynamic tension. The leaves are predominantly yellow, but there are lots of shades of orange and even a few reds in there. Some of the bushes in the front are green, so the entire scene is very colorful.

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david @fringe.com · 16/11/2025

Dark Spire. There is always a path out of the darkness. #photography #landscape #utah #nature #night

A spire juts up from a ridge in a valley floor at night.

There’s a lot going on in this seemingly simple photograph. First off is the spire. This is a dark piece of rock that rises 75’ feet or so from the top of a ridge. Its sides are smooth as can be and there are a couple of bands of different color rock around it. The top is thinner than the bottom, but only because it looks like some of the side near the top broke off long ago. There’s a second, much smaller spire to the left of the main spire, but it is only a few feet, maybe 20' or so, high.

There is a ridge that the spire sits on, entering from the bottom of the photograph, and with its sides sloping left and right. The ridge ends at the spire. There’s a pathway on top of the ridge where people have walked out to the spire. And believe you me, a lot of people have walked out there. Tons. And walked everywhere, messing up a really pristine landscape. Sigh. But I digress.

Beyond the ridge the valley continues off to the left and is surrounded by high walls of rock, or at least, what passes for rock here. It’s more loose and way crumbly something. If I was a geologist, which I am not, I could tell you what it is, but suffice it to say it isn’t all that solid, but at least it can form high walls.

Oh, and the photograph was made at night. You can see stars in a deep blue sky, and everything else, except the spire, is a pale and ghostly. This places doesn’t have much color in the day to begin with, and at night, forget it. The spire is dark, so makes a nice, and in fact, the only contrast, with everything else.

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david @fringe.com · 09/11/2025

Dancing Aspens Dance, and spread joy #photography #aspens #joy

A close up view of aspen trunks in peak fall color.

There are about a dozen or so aspens that dominate the frame of this photograph. Behind them are the golden leaves of other aspens, so the photograph is trunks in the foreground and leaves behind. You can see the forest floor which has some forms and other growth you typically find.

What make this special, though, are the trunks themselves. They are all curved, bending to the right. The curve starts near the bottom, bends to the right, then the trunk straightens back out and go up and out of frame. The overall effect is that the aspens are dancing. There are other aspen trunks in the far background—these are all straight.

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david @fringe.com · 02/11/2025

Crystal's Repose History Remembers. #photography #colorado #history

A view of Crystal Mill during the fall. The mill itself is the featured object of the photograph, as well it should be, but does not occupy the entire frame. Instead, the mill itself is ever so slightly left of center. It is later in the afternoon, so the entire scene is well lit, especially the mill. You can see every board, and if you were to zoom in all the way, even the cracks in the boards.

The mill is perched on a large rock, and a wooden square cage reaches from the mill to the Crystal River, some 20 feet below.

The Crystal River enters from the left side, unseen, and flows left to right, down a small waterfall and out of the frame to the center right. There’s a good amount of water, so the waterfall, just 10 feet high, is energetic.

Aspens at the peak of fall color surround the mill on the left, back, and right. There’s just a hint of green, but really, we’ll call it peak. You can see some larger mountains in the background, but just the base of them.

The sky is blue with some cumulus clouds that hint at rain.

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david @fringe.com · 26/10/2025

Little River, Great Smoky Mountain NP Nature provides tranquility. #photography #nature #landscape

A river flows toward us, with fall color in the background.

A river, just as wide as the photograph, flows from the middle of the photograph toward us. It is quite shallow, perhaps just a foot or so, and there are rocks jutting up everywhere. The river is gently flowing and is tranquil.

In the background there are small trees leaning over the river, and in fact, they obscure the river. The leaves are green, yellow, and orange, in every hue imaginable. So, it’s a cacophony of color hanging over the river. There’s a few bare branches, too, adding some visual interest.

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david @fringe.com · 12/10/2025

Hoodoo Dance The last rays of sunlight are a perfect time for celebration. #newmexico #photography #wilderness

A panoramic view of hoodoos with a developing sunset.

The lower portion of the photograph is hoodoos from edge to edge; the left center section rises up, and the topmost hoodoos sit at odd angles. I, personally, think they had a little too much to drink, but others tell me that’s just the way they were formed. Who knows? Anyway. They look pretty neat, what with the odd positioning and all. The hoodoos on the left are larger, and the ones on the right are smaller, and countless. Seriously. There must be over a hundred teeny-tiny hoodoos. The photograph was made at sunset, and the hoodoos, especially the ones on the left, are all in golden tones. The ones on the right aren’t golden, but their tops are catching the light, so they have a little golden tone in them.

The sky is mostly cloudy with some blue patches here and there. Like the foreground, the sky is reflecting the late afternoon colors, which here are purple and pink tones. The clouds are pretty heavy, but because they’re colorful, the scene looks excellent.

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david @fringe.com · 21/09/2025

Teton Stronghold Be strong. Be resolute. Never give up. #photography #teton #fall

The snake flows past the cloud-wrapped Mount Moran with aspens in full fall color.

This photograph is oriented vertically. The Snake River takes up the very bottom of the photograph. There are a few ripples on it, but overall it is pretty calm. Aspens line the far bank, and they are in full fall color. There’s also a single pine tree there. It’s looking pretty lost in and among the aspens, that’s for sure.

Above the aspens and taking up the top two thirds of the photograph is Mount Moran. You can’t see it very well because it is cloud-wrapped, but there are a few breaks here and there that let the mountain peak through. You can see, barely, that it has a little snow here and there.

There’s a hint of blue sky in the upper right, but again, it’s mostly clouds.

Overall, it makes a strong impression of the mountain towering over fall.

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david @fringe.com · 31/08/2025

Archangel Falls Good things come to, and bad things disappear from, those who wait. #zion #waterfall #photography #nature

The Virgin River runs down Archangel Falls in Zion National Park.

The river has some flow to it, but it is not overly high. There’s enough water to spread out over the entire cascade without it being too deep. The cascade itself is deep red rocks with a lot, and I mean a lot, of low drops, with each one being just a foot or so high. The river runs from the back center of the photograph toward us. This makes sense because I was standing in the cascade to photograph it. I also used a longer exposure, so the water appears silky and flowing. What isn’t apparent in the photograph is how slippery it was. There’s some moss that you can’t see, and it was very difficult to walk!

In the background you can see tall, towering canyon walls extending to the top of the photograph. They're golden because of the light reflecting off them, and they are striking in the color. There are some trees with green leaves on either side of the river, which are bright and vibrant.

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david @fringe.com · 26/08/2025

Marketing really needs to pick a lane. #marketingfail

A close up view of a supermarket display showing a bag of coffee in a cardboard box. The coffee claims it is "The high achiever" and offers energy plus focus. Fine. It's coffee. Makes sense.

The box, however, extolls "customizable sleep time" (whatever that is). Probably not the best coffee description.

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david @fringe.com · 24/08/2025

Voltage Smite Justice, like karma, comes swiftly and all at once #photography #nature #landscape #lightning

The photograph shows an empty field with low distant hills in the background. It’s late summer, so the field has some green, but there’s also a bare patch of dirt. There is a single small cactus. Just a bit of the field is showing, so the photograph is mostly sky.

The sky is full of dark, ominous clouds, full of blues and purples. Why purple? Because the clouds are lit by twin strikes of lightning, cloud to ground. The bolts emanate from the top center of the photograph, and it’s their light that makes the clouds grow.

These are large bolts, especially the one on the right. They are impressive, and you can feel the surge of electricity in the photograph. There are numerous smaller tendrils branching off the main bolt. You can feel the tension and the drama in this photograph. And yes, the thunder from this strike was epic.

I was obviously close to the lightning, and one could argue far too close. Lightning is deadly and completely unpredictable. If you can see it, it can see you. And it will be attracted to you. Do not attempt to photograph lightning without adequate safety precautions, such as having a safe place to be in. Please be safe.

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david @fringe.com · 17/08/2025

Thor’s Well Let your worries flow away, at least for today #nature #ocean #photography

An ocean scene where the water appears to be flowing into a large hole. And, in fact, that is precisely what is happening here. This area of the Oregon coast is rocky and craggy, and has lots of these kinds of holes. This one, which is about twenty to thirty feet across, is one of the larger ones. Who knows how deep it is, but there is likely a way out at the bottom for the water. When the waves sweep in, the water pours into the hole.

It’s also incredibly dangerous to photograph this, too. Why? Because you need to be close to it, and that means you’re out on the rocks, and any way you look at it, your back will be to the ocean. And there is, quite simply, no more dangerous position than having your back to the ocean. And that goes doubly so when you’re out on slippery rocks, close to something which is lethal, with water pouring and streaming all around you, hoping that a big wave doesn’t come in. Yeah, it was wild to create this one.

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david @fringe.com · 10/08/2025

Peace and beauty will find us every day. #photography #landscape #nature #colorado

An alpine meadow filled with wildflowers and distant mountain peaks in the background.

We’re looking at a meadow filled with wildflowers. There is mostly tall grasses, and intermixed are white wildflowers and bluebells. There are a few yellow and red flowers in there, too, but not very many, and you have to look really close to see them.

A row of pine trees is just behind the meadow. The pine trees clearly edge the meadow, and it isn’t a thick row, but they are there, all the same. A mountain comes down from the right and ends just before the center of the frame.

In the background there are peaks of some much taller mountains, and are these are lit by the sun.

The sky is a beautiful shade of blue with white fluffy clouds. There’s a hint of a storm cloud to the left, and it looks like later a storm might come in. And yes, a storm did happen later, and it was fierce. I ended up soaking wet from it, but that makes this photograph all the more special.

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david @fringe.com · 03/08/2025

Follow Me Let’s go outside, touch dirt, and set off on an adventure. #photography #wildlife #wildhorse #nature More at www.fringe.com

A foal leads his mom down the hill. Two silhouetted horses are in the photograph: a young foal and a mare, both heading down a slight slope. They are headed from left to right. Behind the mare you can see a little dirt being kicked up. The ground is a wonderful nondescript brown with a couple of small rocks. Behind the horses, the sky is light blue with loads of cumulus clouds.

It’s always risky to ascribe human emotions to the animal kingdom, but it certainly does look like there is joy in the young horse’s heart. Its head is held high, and its ears are alert. It almost seems to float off the ground, and it can’t wait to keep exploring. I know. I made the photograph, and this young horse was full of life, energy, and vitality.

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david @fringe.com · 20/07/2025

The Sentinel We are but stewards of these lands. It’s our responsibility to protect them. #photography #landscape #monumentvalley

A man on a horse watches over Monument Valley

A man in a red shirt is sitting on a standing horse right of center in this photograph. The man and horse are on a rock outcrop. You might think the man and horse dominate the photograph, but that’s not the case. They’re quite small, and you have to squint to make out any details. The landscape is vast, and they are but a tiny part of it. And that, in turn, truly emphasizes the scale.

Behind them is a large portion of Monument Valley. 1,000 foot buttes look almost small, but they’re not. But the photograph encompasses so much that your sense of scale is impacted.

The skies are cloudy with some thick clouds. Not the kind that are likely to produce rain, but just thick. The scene is sunlit, though, because there was a break in the clouds that allowed the sun to shine through.

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david @fringe.com · 13/07/2025

Our public lands provide extraordinary moments and vistas. It’s up to us to preserve them. #photography #landscape #colorado #wildflower

A panoramic photographs with bluebells in the foreground and a mountain in the background with blue skies.

The foreground is a meadow, and the photographer (that’s me!) is standing in the middle, surrounding by vegetation, and, of course, bluebells. The flowers, not overly dense, stretch from side to side. There’s some tall pine trees in the background, but they look small from this perspective. The shoulders of two other mountains are on each side, framing the image and pulling you deeper into the photograph.

In the background is a mountain with some scraps of snow on it. It’s above the treelike, so there aren’t any trees on it. That makes sense because I made this photograph around 14,000 feet.

The skies are blue with some light cloud streaks that seem to disappear behind the mountain. With the cloud streaks and the foreground pulling you into the photograph, the overall effect is powerful and almost—almost—makes you forget about the bluebells. But they’re there and the namesake of this photograph.

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david @fringe.com · 06/07/2025

Luminous Silence Always reach for the light. There’s plenty for everyone. #aurora #alaska #naturę #photography

Silhouetted trees rise to meet auroral light in a panoramic photograph.

There are several silhouetted tree tops, mostly pine, but also a couple of birch, in the photograph. You can’t see the trunks, only the tops. The pines in the center are the tallest, making a nice symmetry in the photograph. There’s only about 15 pine trees total, so there aren’t many trees, but they are all very symmetrical and pretty. On the right-hand side are leafless birches.

Behind the trees, the aurora streams down. The aurora is an iridescent teal that positively glows. It appears the trees are all reaching up to meet the light, which is what makes this photograph so impactful. There is some sky visible on the left side with some stars.

This is a simple image, but powerful because of the simplicity.

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david @fringe.com · 29/06/2025

Lightning Road Storms hold no fear for us. Onward! #photography #nature #lightning #colorado

A dirt two-track leads into a storm-filled sky with lightning.

The foreground has a two-track, left of center, that leads into the distance. On either side of the track is some desert-like scrub and vegetation. There’s some low yucca plants, weeds, and stuff you don’t really want to walk in. Nothing is over ankle height, though, so you can easily see into the distance. Everything is green and healthy looking because it’s been raining here a lot recently.

The sky, though, is where the action is. It has heavy clouds—really heavy clouds, and it is pouring rain in the distance. To the right you can see inflow steaming in, and in there is probably a rear-flank downdraft, too. The photograph doesn’t show the wind well, but as I made the photograph, it was super windy. You can see all sorts of layers and nuance in the clouds, and the clouds lead the eye to where the two-track goes.

Oh, and there’s lightning, too. You can clearly see three bolts. The ones on the left and right are your every-day bolt of lightning. But the one in the center is really exceptionally. It goes through the inflow cloud and is bright and intense. There’s also a faint bolt in the clouds that never made it to the ground.

This storm did its best to spawn a tornado, and really, it should have, given the slight rotation and healthy inflow. But it did not, which is a good thing.

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