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The Wildflower Season

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The vibrant spring greens of California are an annual occurrence, turning the rust brown to a delightful shade of emerald green, post the unpredictable rainfall that quenches the thirst of the parched golden state. But it is the accompanying wildflower blooms that brigthen the rolling green hills with shades of pastel colors; bright yellows, oranges, pings and whites dominate the sun-drenched landscapes, growing along winding highways, gentle valleys and lush green meadows.

The next wildflower season is upon us. Happy hunting photographers, and don't trample on the delicate blooms; they are needed for the future wildflower seasons.

Pacheco State Park

CA USA

The High Point

The high point on the landscape was a tall sandstone butte towering above the desert environs; the deep red twilight clouds amplified the ochre sandstone, turning it into a shade of vibrant pink. As I watched, the deep reds slowly turned to dark shades of twilight, signalling the end of a beautiful day in Monument Valley Tribal Park in the Southwest of USA

From the mystic slot canyons in Page, through the windy roads that twisted their way through the colorful desert terrain of northern Arizona, the entire trip was a feast for the visual senses, with the scenery and colors changing every mile. I can't wait to return to this colorful corner of the country this year.

Monument Valley Tribal Park

UT USA

Abode of the mountains

"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world"

The warm afternoon sun was shining brightly over a remote village nestled of Arslanbob in the southern reaches of the mountains country of Kyrgyzstan. The jagged snow-capped peaks of the Krebet Babash-ata mountain range rose from behind the foothills, anchoring the beauty of the alpine village. Fresh montane breeze flowing down from the mountains was a soothing relief after the hard climb to get here.

This remote village at the heart of the largest naturally occurring walnut forest was perhaps one of the most picturesque and relaxing villages I have every stayed in. Time and people proceeded slowly, and with surroundings like this, I don't blame them. While I didn't stay in this place for long, I got to experience a slice of this peaceful life.

Arslanbob

Jalal-abad, Kyrgyzstan

In the Delta

I was standing on the edge of the boardwalk, peering onto the waters of the delta. An amalgam of clouds, remnants of a late afternoon thunderstorm, caught the last rays of sunlight, glowing bright pink while awaiting twilight. A few shorebirds and waterfowl were making last calls on the delta before heading to their nests. The air was filled with their sounds: a squak here, a scree there, and the resounding drone of crickets all over.

The San Joquin delta is a spectacular place in California, coming alive in the spring, with fresh wetlands, flocks of migratory birds and jaw-dropping sunsets. This place is truly a treasure to be preserved for the future. And while I had the chance to visit it a few times, in no other visit did the sky put such a spectacular show like this one.

San Luis NWR

CA USA

Through the wormhole

The glow in the night sky transcended reality: green shimmers and pink glimmers glinted and gleamed against a dark starscape. Eventually, thick bands swept their way over the mountains, across the fjord and onto the next valley deep in the Westfjords of Iceland, until one settled right atop me, albeit just for a moment.

Clear winter nights in the Pacific Northwest make me yearn for the Aurora spectacle that I had witnessed in the northern reaches of Iceland. And I hope to visit that magical display in the sky once again.

Flateyri

Westfjords, Iceland

Timeless Bazor

One of the most unique aspects of travel in Central Asia is visiting the ubiquitous bazors that form the center of life in the communal atmosphere of the towns and cities. Historically, these bazors formed the focal point of commerce along the Great Silk Road. In one of these great bazors in the friendly city of Bukhara, stalls full of ripe produce stand shoulder to shoulder with delicious sweets and delicacies, colorful handicraft and beautiful woven goods.

Standing at one of the exits of the bazors, I captured this scene overlooking one of the main alleys in Bukhara, a scene I believe hasn't changed much over the last few centuries.

Bukhara

Uzbekistan

Memories of Spring

Every spring, the gold dry grass gets a fresh coat of lush green, the dull hazy sky turns a vibrant blue with puffy white clouds, and the smoky air is replaced by the heavenly smell of moist earth

Such is the magic of spring of rolling hills that dominate the topography of the East Bay, a transformation I looked forward to eagerly every year while I lived in California.

Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve

CA USA

Lighting the madrasah

Registan: one of the most beautifully restored triad of madrasahs: an imposing darwazah (door) lined with intricate tilework, beautiful wall paintings, swirling pillars and gracefully arched doorways. And while the structures look spartan under the mid-day heat, the well-executed lighting adds a unique shine to these imposing structures.

Walking under the eaves of these tall monuments is walking over centuries of history, the oldest one more than 6 centuries old, and breathing the very same air of piety that has permeated this region for millenia.

I for one, am glad to have visited and experienced this amazing wonder of the world.

Samarkand

Uzbekistan

Cold Reflections

The silent shores of Lake Minnewanka were eerie on that cold dreary morning. The clouds sucked away the sunny disposition of the Rockies, leaving behind the still waters of the lake, with only the green conifers to give me company.

It was supposed to be colorful sunrise in the mighty Canadian Rockies, but with the sudden change of weather, I had to make a sudden change of plans, and I found myself shooting the ghostly cold shores of Lake Minnewanka.

Lake Minnewanka

AB Canada

Evening Market

Walking around a sleepy old bazaar in the heart of Samarkand transported me back to an era when this beautiful city developed at the crossroads of the trade routes that formed the Great Silk Road. Spanning from the mystic Orient to the mighty Persian empire, this network of trade routes was responsible for spreading everything from flavorful spices to algebra all over the Eurasian continent.

It is a city with layers of history hiding in plain sight, a Central Asian city worth the visit.

Samarkand

Uzbekistan