Photography in Glacier National Park

The first stop of my "spring" 2021 road trip was Glacier National Park, in Montana. And I quote spring because what I've found so far (and not just in Glacier) is much colder and much wetter weather than I had anticipated -- not complaining, though, much better than heat!

So, I got to Glacier way too early in the season. Most roads were closed, and most trails were not accesible. Not that I was planning on doing a lot of hiking alone, grizzlies are not something I'd want to mess with.

I still got to see quite a bit of the park. In this video I show you footage from the East side of Glacier National Park, where I spent 3 days. And the images I made there, of course.

I hope you enjoy it.

"ONE", my new book, now available

Years in the making, my first "coffee table" photo book is finally here. ONE is a collection of almost 200 images, my best work from the first 5 years as a professional photographer.

ONE is available right now for preorder. Make sure to get your copy before June 13th. On that day, I will stop taking orders and the book will go to the printer. There will be no more copies after that.

If you can't find your country in the list, please contact me to find a way to get a copy in your hands.

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Leaving is always hard

After months comfortably spent at home, I’m finally back on the road. This trip will take me to amazing places, some new, some very familiar. Even though I’m really excited about what is to come, I’m also struggling. And this is a familiar feeling.

You see, this is a solo trip. I will be alone for the next month, even a bit longer, and that’s a drastic change from my boring routine. Today, for example, I didn’t talk to anyone. Not having service for most of the time doesn’t help the feeling of isolation, either.

Then there are the unknowns. Only uncertainty is certain.

The only way forward is to embrace whatever might come my way. But it can be hard at first, while I’m still breaking from my everyday habits and comforts.

In just 3 days, I’ve gone from camping in 85 degrees, surrounding by starving mosquitoes, to freezing temperatures, snow, and carrying bear spray wherever I go. I’ve already had to take the car to a repair shop. I’ve driven 2,000 miles across 6 states. I’ve seen bison, and mountain goats. Vast plains, jaw dropping peaks, and pristine lakes. And this is just the beginning!

I know I will have an amazing time (I am already), but shrugging off these uncomfortable feelings might take a few more days. Change is never easy. But, in most cases, it’s worth the fight.

How I make an image: an overview of my photography process

In this video, I give you a quick overview of my whole photography process. From the very beginning, when the image is just an idea, to the very end, sharing those images online or making a print.

My ND filter collection

I use ND filters almost on a daily basis, both for my photo and video work. My collection has grown over the years, so in this video I show you which ND filters I have, why and how I use them.

The ND filters shown in this video are:

• Lee Filters: 6-stop http://amzn.to/2y0JBjV​, 10-stop https://amzn.to/3epUXWV​, 15-stop http://amzn.to/2xhtMZ9​, holder https://amzn.to/3bajHka​
• Gobe: 3-stop https://amzn.to/2XapTjW​, 6-stop https://amzn.to/3vNHIFt​
• Gobe (compact camera): 3, 6 and 10-stop https://amzn.to/2lOlzYQ

Image of the Month, April 2021: "Ruins of Lake Michigan"

The pandemic didn't make traveling easy these last few months, so I've been working more locally. There's always somewhere new to discover nearby.

In my case, that was the Great Lakes. I'm very fortunate to have them so close and yet, I had never gave them the attention I know now they deserve.

I spent quite a few days camping along Michigan's west coast, all along Lake Michigan's shore. I found landscapes much more beautiful than I would ever imagine. And they have delivered big time.

Some of the images I was able to make there are some of my favorites. Among them, April's Image of the Month, "Ruins of Lake Michigan".

I made this image during a camping trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes. It wasn't meant to be a photography trip, but rather a few days to disconnect from daily life. And yet when I saw this scene I couldn't help it but to try to make an image with the very limited gear I had with me.

You can watch the video of this trip here: Camping in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan.

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artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

"Ruins of Lake Michigan" is available for purchase here.

3 days of photography along Lake Michigan

I finally got my camera back from the shop, so I had to go somewhere and try it. I decided to go back up to Lake Michigan, where I camped for 3 days. I visited spots I'd never been to, like Ludington, Muskegon, Holland or Grand Haven.

Even though the first night I could barely get any sleep due to what probably was the most powerful thunderstorm I'd ever seen, the rest of the road trip was pretty much perfect. It was cold and wet, conditions I love for myself... and for photography. I even ran into some fog the last day.

Long exposures in Saint Joseph, Michigan

I went to Saint Joseph a couple times this past winter, and I had a lot of fun photographing it. I'd never been there without the snow, so I decided to give it a try. It was weird to be photographing the same subjects in such a different environment. The place didn't disappoint, though, and I was able to make a few long exposures I liked.

Camping in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

As much as I like the cold winter, warmer weather means camping season, and I wanted to start early. We spent a few days camping in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan, and even though it was colder than I was expecting (it even snowed!), the trip was a success. Rachel and I got to spend time together, relax, experience nature, see beautiful places, and I even had time for some photography.

On post-processing: photography or digital art?

How far can we go with photography? When does it stop being photography and start becoming something else, like digital art?

I discussed this topic in my newsletter a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it'd be interesting to make a video about it.

Warming Up

With two trips coming up in the next few weeks, I wanted to break out of my comfortable daily routine and get out to make some images. I visit Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes, where I find much better conditions than I was expecting.

Black and White in digital photography: why, when and how

Not too long ago, black and white was the default. This was due mainly to limititations with color photography, but today digital photograph has made easier than ever. Color is the default, and black and white is a choice. A creative one.

Many digital photographers don't realize that black and white is an option. In this video, we discuss why it's a good option, when to do black and white, and how.

Stick with it: consistency and experimentation in photography

Experimentation is a fundamental part of photography. Our work needs consistency, though, and change for the sake of change can lead to procrastination.

The day I became a professional photographer

You'd think -at least that's what I thought- that I became a professional photographer the day I quit my job and started to do photography full-time. But that wasn't the case. It took me a while to realize that I had become a full-time casual photographer. And it was about time to step it up and turn pro.

I broke my camera, new lens, and some Q&A

A month ago or so, I dropped my camera while taking some test shots. I had to send it to be fixed, and it's finally back! In this video, I also talk about a new lens I bought, and answer some of questions I was asked on Instagram.

3 new "Image of the Month" prints

I've been pretty inconsistent updating the Image of the Month series. I finally had time to add 3 new images to the collection.

The first one is Giant, an image I made on a trip to beautiful Asturias in Northern Spain, just a couple of weeks before the pandemic hit. The Picos de Europa mountain range is one of my favorite places on Earth, and this image shows why.

Great Salt Reflections brings back some good memories from my most recent road trip across America. This was a beautiful and calm morning at the Great Salt Lake, in Utah. No one around, a lake as calm as a pool, nice weather, a beautiful sunrise, bisons and antelopes waking up around me... the only problem was the hundreds of hungry mosquitoes swarming me and every other living thing. Still a great moment I will always remember.

The last image is Alone, not far away from where I made Great Salt Reflections. The Antelope Island is a refuge for wildlife, including the bisons. These majestic animals roam these lands year-round, and when the water level is low enough to connect the island with mainland, they adventure further. That is what this one was doing, one step at a time.

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two sizes

Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

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artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

These three images are available for purchase here.

On Silence

Photography has taught how to listen to silence. I discovered that silence is not absence, it's balance. Nothing makes sense without silence. That's what I seek in my photography.

On self doubt

I used to think I was the only one hearing that voice. The voice inside telling me it's not worth trying, I'm not good enough, it's been done before... until I realized I was not the only one. And that, even though it can be painful, this is the way.

On Film Photography

Film photography is a topic that stirs passions. In this video, I tell you about my experience with film, what I think about it, and why I shoot mostly digital today.

Photography is all about timing

In this video, I share a very recent example of being at the right place, at the right moment. That's what photography is about, for the most part.