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2012-05-06 17:52:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Medicine Bow Cabin
Just off I-80 at Arlington, WY.

2012-04-30 17:04:43 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

With today's release, we have hit the 40 wallpaper mark! Thanks so much for the support everyone! With that in mind, we have a beautiful photo based wallpaper once again by +Coulter Sunderman called "Tenton Meditations". Download it now - http://bit.ly/JMsEOY

2012-04-30 15:00:35 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

A new piece composed from many photos I've taken in #GTNP -- wallpaper sized for your desktop pleasure! Download at the link and enjoy!

Can I #mountainmonday artwork?

2012-04-22 18:38:08 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Afternoon Storms
Clouds meander about & through the Tetons creating amazing displays of light. One of my favorite earthy things to do! #earthday

#skysunday by +Randy Scherkenbach and +Patrick Scherkenbach
+Sky Sunday - Photography Theme

2012-04-19 19:56:40 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Tulip
Some latte art from a few years back when I was a regular hipster barista!

#coffeethursday with +Jason Kowing and +Cheryl Cooper
+Coffee Thursday

2012-04-18 16:27:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

An unnamed waterfall in Grand Teton National Park, WY

#wetwednesday
#waterfallwednesday by +Eric Leslie
#bwlandscapewednesday by +Francesco Gallarotti

2012-04-16 20:14:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Working on a new story-driven website, over previous, more static efforts. Hoping that this might also be a good way to share photos and stories -- G+ is great but I'd rather direct people to my website using G+ than directing people to my G+ profile.

The picture has been posted here for #mountainmonday (curated by +Michael Russell) previously. This is a re-worked version (still not totally satisfied) where I tried to enhance the contrast over the previous version. Hope that is ok for sharing the tag!

2012-04-16 20:09:54 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Release #38 is now available to download. Check out "I Heart Zombies" by illustrator John Schwegel - http://bit.ly/IRj1ub

2012-04-15 01:08:24 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

What it's like having Tony Hawk for a father

2012-04-13 15:53:22 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Headwaters of the Hoback
Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

Before I moved to Jackson, and learned about the threats to the Hoback River, I stopped to snap this picture on a trip to Laramie. Driving through this canyon is quite amazing. I was dwarfed by these peaks thrusting up into the clouds as the fast moving Hoback River buzzed in my ears.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest has allowed a Houston Company, PXP, to lease several hundred acres of land on the National Forest for proposed gas well development -- hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

The Hoback River is a congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River, which means that the state its currently in is the state it must remain in. That means the clear waters and native cutthroat trout populations cannot be disturbed. The proposed gas field would surely create an impact on this beautiful river.
... more »

2012-03-26 16:34:34 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Perfect cappuccino on a perfectly brisk #jacksonhole morning.
S-Turns espresso from Snake River Roasting Co.!
Bird mug from my favorite lovely lady Taylor!

2012-02-20 21:14:35 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Dawn Snowshoeing
#GTNP , WY 2012

One of the first snowshoe treks this year after "the big one" finally hit #jacksonhole #wyoming .
Winter dawns are so hushed, quiet, and still. You can hear ice crystals skimming across the snow. Every faintest movement is noticeable, every footstep is noted by the residents of the forest.

One of my favorite photo theme days!
#mountainmonday curated by +Michael Russell
#monochromemonday by +Charles Lupica & +Hans Berendsen & +Bill Wood.
#plusphotoextract by +Jarek Klimek
#naturemonday curated by +Rolf Hicker

2012-02-18 00:27:59 (3 comments, 4 reshares, 32 +1s)

BFF afternoon hike
Perfect day for a little hike in GTNP with my best bud!
#fidofriday +Fido Friday #jacksonhole #wyoming #gtnp

2012-02-17 18:40:59 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Moonset
A full moon sets as dawn rises over Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

#jacksonhole #wyoming

2012-02-11 18:35:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

more doodling the Tetons

#gtnp #jacksonhole #wyoming

2012-02-09 00:50:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Winter

#gtnp #jacksonhole #wyoming

2012-02-01 17:24:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

The Tussle
Bison tussle about in the fresh snow at dawn on another glorious GTNP day!
#wildlifewednesday
#jacksonhole #wyoming #gtnp

2012-02-01 17:02:10 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 10 +1s)

Jenny Lake Misty Morning
As gentle mists rise off Jenny Lake, and a low hanging-cloud perfectly centers itself over the Cathedral Group, I perched on a rock on the shore and looked for compositions. This was the scene on my favorite day of shooting last Summer.
On the left side of the shot is where I captured the Osprey dancing. I also picked out several interesting shots of the shoreline itself. Because the clouds were perfectly obscuring a grand shot, I was forced to think in other ways about composing interesting nature shots.
#sooc other than the pano stitch.
#widewednesdaypanorama
#jacksonhole #wyoming #gtnp

2012-01-31 22:36:50 (1 comments, 5 reshares, 10 +1s)

Jackson Sunset
Everyday this beautiful place outdoes itself.

#mytowntuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz and +Eric Leslie

2012-01-25 23:56:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

22 Lines
Sometimes getting sidetracked turns out quite nicely :)

#jacksonhole #wyoming

2012-01-19 17:11:56 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Finally! The big one hits #jacksonhole and the excitement in the air is palatable!
#wyoming

2012-01-19 17:09:17 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Jackson Town

2012-01-18 23:22:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Rebuild Log: 1996 CMA Astoria SAE 1N/JUN
Status: Complete

Finally! After another full day of heating up and finding leaks / cooling down to fix leaks, it was onto the copper panels which needed some serious TLC.

Unfortunately for me, these pieces were coated and had to be stripped before I could remove the oxidation. Removing the clearcoat took another full day and was exceedingly difficult. I tried boiling water + baking soda but that proved very messy and these pieces were very long and difficult to work with this method. I then went to lacquer thinner, which was marginally more effective. Finally, I soaked the pieces with thinner then wrapped them in plastic to keep the thinner from evaporating so quickly. After stripping, the pieces were washed, "brushed" with metal finishing pads, then washed again and treated with Bar Keepers Friend on a microfiber... more »

2012-01-18 20:39:44 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Grats to the winners! Another reason why G+ is so great!

2012-01-18 13:59:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

3 Ways You Can Help Stop PIPA / SOPA


In the largest online protest in history, more than 7000 websites including Google, Wikipedia, and WordPress are protesting PIPA / SOPA today.

1

Make your voice heard by signing the Google online petition
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

2
Visit FightForThe Future.org to email your representative in congress.
http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa

3

Use black out options on your site/networks and sign the SOPA strike petition here.
http://sopastrike.com/#how-to-strike

"PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations... more »

2012-01-11 23:33:07 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Rebuild log: 1996 CMA Astoria SAE 1N/JUN
Current status: mechanically working!
Next steps: body work, minor leaks, make cappuccinos!

Breakthrough!
I picked up an identical machine and with it was able to go through nearly all parts of the Astoria and verify they worked as intended. I knew the parts machine was solid and had been tested recently -- just the gicar was broken.
With that in mind I turned first to the part I most likely suspected: the pump. Sure enough it was seized up pretty bad. A good acid soak didn't help it moving again so I replaced it with the parts machine pump and bam! We have 8 bars pressure on the gauge.
That would not be the final victory, however, as I also reversed the OPV valve when I put the lines back in. It took longer than I'd like to admit to find it and fix it, but victory would finally be had as the sun set across... more »

2012-01-11 22:26:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

See now, there's the problem right there.

2012-01-10 17:31:16 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Rebuild Log: 1996 CMA Astoria SAE 1N/JUN
A lot of updates. I currently have all machine parts operating as they should (I'll head over there in a bit and get more pics)! Very happy day!
In this update I gutted many of the components from the machine and brought them home for a thorough weekend cleaning project. Things went well there.
I brought them back to the machine and installed, and still had pressure and pump problems. The pressure gauge, surprisingly, worked very well!
I also picked up an identical machine, with a Laurentis tag (CMA is the main manufacturer of many different brands) which would help immensely in testing parts.
I took the pump and motor out of the Astoria and sure enough, it was pretty seized up. After an acid soak it would turn no better, so I took the pump out of the Laurentis and tried it. Worked like a charm! Very leaky however so I have a... more »

2012-01-07 04:06:15 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

1989 La Marzocco Linea 2AV

Well, my Winter just got a lot more interesting! I've been looking to buy a rebuild project for awhile now, and it may have been right under my nose the whole time.
#coffee #diy

2012-01-07 02:42:24 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2012-01-22 02:51:58 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Rebuild Log: 1996 CMA Astoria SAE 1N/JUN

This machine arrived last week in "working condition." One look at the grouphead told me this thing was probably not in perfect order (although it did look good on the outside). The boiler level gauge was moving sporadically between full and empty, the pump pressure gauge read 10 bars when cold, and just running the grouphead caused significant discharge of the grouphead solenoid.

I thought I could take the problem lines off and clean them out and everything would be cool and I'd be pulling shots later that day. I took off one of the lines to the pressure gauge and its connection with the boiler was completely covered with scale save a tiny pin-hole. I wish I had a pic of it, it was incredible. Anyways what that means is that this boiler needs to come out and get descaled properly, along with all the lines, grouphead,... more »

2012-01-05 18:59:32 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

Lower Yellowstone Falls
Yellowstone National Park, WY. 2011

Typical picturesque September afternoon in YNP. I took my parents here this Summer. While my mom has been to GTNP and Jackson several times, she had never been inside YNP and this was the perfect day for her to see everything. My dad once worked in YNP as a phone tech, so of course he had many good stories about life in the park in the 70's.

#thirstythursdaypics
#wyoming
#YNP

2012-01-04 16:52:19 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Osprey at Jenny Lake
I watched these Osprey all Summer and Fall in GTNP, WY. They hung out around the area between String and Jenny Lake -- one had a nest at String and the other at Jenny (I think), and were often active early in the mornings when I would be there. On this particular morning they were very intent on chasing each other around right in front of me. The display of acrobatics was astounding! How gracefully and powerfully they would turn, climb, roll over and swoop down towards the water, only to turn again at the last second. They did all this through heavy morning mist rising off Jenny Lake, as the sun was breaking through the clouds and turning the mists ablaze with an orange glow. I had hardly any time to take the moment in myself, as I was furiously changing camera settings (I had been shooting landscapes) to try to capture them. This is about the best shot I got of the display.... more »

2012-01-04 16:30:00 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Oh my those specs... those sweet sweet specs...

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/01/04/nikon-d4-6000-nikkor-af-s-85mm-f1-8g-500.aspx/

2011-12-31 15:47:58 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Steel Grey Morning

First impressions photographing the Tetons at the beginning of 2011: freezing cold!

Not a lot of story to go today, I want to upload a lot more pics and have plenty other things to get to today.

Happy New Year!

#2011top11
#wyoming
#gtnp
#jacksonhole

2011-12-31 02:08:02 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Turning Point

2011 was a big step in my personal artistic direction. I learned a great deal about what inspires me to create. This is based on a photo that I took in the early Summer in GTNP. I've got a lot of ideas I've been working on that take my photography in a new direction, such as this one.

#2011top11
#illustration

2011-12-31 01:57:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

How do you check your weather?

Check out the last few days of GORGEOUS weather we've had here in Jackson... I've done a lot of reading on this highly unusual Winter we've had so far, something about Arctic Oscillation or somesuch.

Back to the local forecast: There were multiple severe winter weather warnings issued for the last few days because of this "very moist front" moving across the Teton Range. However, perhaps maybe because of this "oscillation" and the Hole's classic inversion tendencies, much of the valley got rain and above-freezing temps instead of several inches of snow. The mountains got snow, but it was also very moist, and temps were still above-average.

I just stepped outside and noticed the hill right behind my apartment -- more or less the backside of Snow King -- is nearly devoid of snow!

Avalanche... more »

2011-12-30 18:31:51 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Bison, everywhere
Grand Teton National Park, WY. 2011

Another from the morning Taylor and I were headed to Lander and were stopped by this herd of bison on the highway along GTNP. The bison love Elk Flats. I've seen them there numerous times throughout the last year. Of all the wildlife sightings I've had this year, bison are by far the most numerous and frequent.
These two guys were among the biggest in this herd, and they would not budge for me as I tried to navigate through the herd. When the ranger came along they got into a tussle with each other as they retreated down the embankment.

#2011top11
#wyoming
#jacksonhole
#gtnp

2011-12-29 16:14:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Bends
Yellowstone National Park, WY. 2011

Yellowstone in June this year was cold, marshy, damp, dirty, grimy, and still half-buried in snow. I drove the loop looking for opportunities and found few. I did take this pano however and it's certainly the best shot from that day. I had eyed it on previous trips so I'm happy that this one turned out like it did.

The late-season snowpack played an interesting role in my adventures this year. I got one of my favorite shots ever -- on the North Fork of the Little Laramie River -- because of our unusual Spring season. And because of the late thaw, all the seasonal occurrences we enjoy throughout the year were affected as well, pushed back a few weeks. So in a way, this marshy, damp, grimy day has a lot to do with all the shots I took this Summer, Fall and Winter.

#2011top11

2011-12-29 15:02:36 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

National Elk Refuge & Flat Creek
Jackson, WY. 2011

My personal favorite photos from 2011. Most (maybe all) of these are previously unpublished -- they are a little more personal to me and tell a story about my last year. 2011 was a big adventure for me, and filled with a lot of growth. I hope to continue that growth into the next year!

Over the Summer I lived at the bottom of this hill, and Loki and I would take a nice walk up it every morning. We had some memorable experiences -- one very close encounter with a moose and her offspring, a curious coyote, a few really nice architectural pieces, and great views of both Jackson, the Elk Refuge, and the Teton Range. Here is Flat creek around the beginning of Summer, high water causing its undulations to swell and snake around the Elk Refuge.


#2011top11 with +Younes Bounhar
#ThirstyThursdayPics with... more »

2011-12-29 01:15:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

OK OK OK; Here's the BEST Xmas gift you'll find this year. I promise. A FREE trip, for 2, and possibly 4 people, to Wrangell St. Elias National Park. That's $2800 value, and possibly twice that; if we get enough entries I'll give the trip free to 4 people instead of 2.

Stay in a quiet backcountry cabin, and we'll ski, snowshoe and hike and photograph some of the most incredible winter landscape you ever did see. We'll quite possibly see the northern lights,


This offer is open to anyone (over 18) who think they’d enjoy a trip like this. The more people that enter, the more people will win.

If less than 250 people enter, I’ll give away a trip for free to 2 people. If I get more than 250 people enter, I’ll give away 4 free spots on the trip.

You can enter for someone else as a gift. One entry per person though, please. And youmust ... more »

2011-12-28 17:37:02 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Wintering Bison
Grand Teton National Park, WY. 2011

On our way to Lander to deliver a print and meet my folks on the morning of Christmas Eve, we were stopped at Elk Flats by a large herd of bison on the road. For about 15 minutes we were the only ones stopped. The herd meandered around our car, tussling with each other, feeding their calves, shaking off the morning frost. Finally a ranger appeared and coaxed the herd off the road. I have a few more from this morning that I will post later today.

This is the same location as the other bison picture in my Wyoming album, in the field of wildflowers.

#wildlifewednesday by +Mike Spinak
#wyoming
#jacksonhole
#bison

2011-12-28 00:53:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Dubois, WY
At the intersection of the Absoraka and Wind River ranges lies the landscapes around Dubois, WY. It's another jaw-dropping sight in a magical series of shifting landscapes on the road I often drive in and out of Jackson. I was returning from hanging up my show in Lander when I stopped here to take a few scouting shots. The late-afternoon sun was perfect. Shadows reached across the rock faces, impressing their darkness across the landscape.

The Dubois area is full of stunning textures. This area, along with the Green River basin, are two places I'd like to explore in depth this Winter.

#wyoming
and a late #monochromemonday :)

2011-12-22 01:35:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

The Buttes I
Albany County, WY. 2008

The last (for now) image for my show, BACK + FORTH. This picture surprised me in a big way just a few months ago. I was thinking in black & white while browsing through the archives, and this looked promising. I couldn't believe the results of the b+w conversion. This was one of the first shots from my new d90, and during my very earliest days really thinking about landscapes. I cannot wait to get back here soon and explore this place again.

Limited Edition prints available on my website -- www.crs-creative.com
Printed by Asymbol in Jackson, WY -- asymbolimaging.com
Printed on Sunset Metallic paper. Gives the b+w an amazing look.

2011-12-12 22:07:17 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Another Grand Prismatic shot for my show. This was from my trip in 2010 (the other was this Summer), I used a circular polarizer to enhance the reflections of clouds off the spring. One of my favorite photos because of that effect.

#monochromemonday

2011-12-12 16:59:56 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

John Moulton Barn, Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park, WY

No visit to Grand Teton National Park is really complete without viewing this iconic barn, built in the early-to-mid 1900's by John Moulton.
Walking down Mormon row is quite an experience in itself. Time has stopped here and the strands of the past brush by as you walk down these dirt roads. While Mormon settlers were building their homes and farms on this land, my family was doing the same thing 300 miles to the Southeast -- building homesteads in what is now Wheatland, WY.

#mountainmonday

2011-12-11 18:58:42 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

EPA Says Fracking Likely Contaminated Wyoming Drinking Water

"Pavillion-area residents have said for years that their domestic water wells were good and clean until an oil and gas company started drilling and hydraulically fracturing or “fracking” near their homes to produce natural gas.

The EPA’s report includes details of the chemical contamination found in water wells that were drilled by the EPA for the purposes of the agency’s investigation, as well as information about contaminants found in domestic water wells.

The water wells were found to be contaminated by dangerous levels of cancer-causing benzene, methane, diesel- and gasoline-range compounds and chemicals often associated with fracking."

2011-12-11 18:06:27 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

One more from Death Valley. I noticed that nice orange/pink skies at sunset with no clouds look kind of boring in Black and White... Oh well, I like the textures and shapes in the foreground.

Heading out tonight to shoot some startrails and shipwrecks. However I noticed that I haven't gone on a good old fashioned seascape sunrise shoot in a long long while. Need to remedy that soon as well!

2011-12-11 16:32:22 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

This should have been shot from Lake Marie, one of the most gorgeous alpine lakes in Wyoming, but the road was already closed for the season and I missed my chance. Driving back down into Centennial I was a little heartbroken, as I knew that I'd probably not make it back there for six or more months. I stopped here for my "consolation prize" which has become one of my favorite depictions of Wyoming.

I include roads in my photos sometimes to represent more of the experience travelling through this amazing state. So many incredible, gorgeous landscapes are viewed right from the road. And then there's the road itself, leading the viewer through the image.

I was fast learning landscape/nature/adventure photography when I was in Laramie, and while I have many shots I enjoy from the Snowy Range, there are so many more things I'd like to shoot (or shoot differently)... more »

2011-12-09 15:44:28 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

My profile is looking a little too... monotone. How about some color?

Sunset falling on Parvin Lake in Red Feather Lakes, #Colorado

Happy Friday everyone!