Journal

My old journal/blog commenced in 2006 and was retired in early June 2021. Fifteen years worth of posts - articles, gear reviews, announcements, trip reports, photographs, environmental issues, and much more - can be found here. Please subscribe to my Journal to stay tuned (I recommend Feedly). Thank you for reading.

Page: 1 2 | View All | Categories:

Sentinel — Sentinel

June 30, 2026 | Death Valley, California

A lone raven (Corvus corax) watches guard over a volcanic ash-layered canyon and a lone Desert Holly (Atriplex hymenletrya) on a moody, stormy morning. Death Valley National Park, California.

Read more ...

Strange Worlds — Strange Worlds

June 29, 2026

A monochromatic departure from reality - not merely in subject content but in the photographic concept itself - can allow a viewer to establish a deeper and more immediate connection with the essence of the image.

Read more ...

Moab Photography Symposium: April 26-29, 2027 — Moab Photography Symposium: April 26-29, 2027

June 24, 2026 | Moab, Utah

In April 2027, I am joining seven other talented photographers and instructors in Moab, Utah for the Moab Photography Symposium — and I'd love to see you there.

Read more ...

Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass — Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass

June 16, 2026 | Idyllwild, California

Many THANKS to the Professional Photographers of California (PPC) for bringing me on board again to teach for the second year in a row at their 2026 West Coast School - their 70th! Many thanks as well to PPC administration, staff, and volunteers for making my Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass a resounding success...

Read more ...

2026 L.A. Center of Photography Print Auction — 2026 L.A. Center of Photography Print Auction

February 25, 2026

My photograph Manifestation of the Spirit is open for bidding at the 2026 Los Angeles Center of Photography online print auction.

Read more ...

The Artful Landscape: February 8-12, 2027 — The Artful Landscape: February 8-12, 2027

February 20, 2026 | Death Valley, California

Chuck Kimmerle and I are excited to announce our February 8-12, 2027 workshop, The Artful Landscape, in Death Valley National Park.

Read more ...

Published: San Bernardino Sun Newspaper — Published: San Bernardino Sun Newspaper

December 26, 2025

A few of my photographs were published in the San Bernardino Sun newspaper on December 26, 2025.

Read more ...

Season's Greetings! — Season's Greetings!

December 26, 2025

Happy Holidays to one and all! May your holiday season be bright; may your houses be holy; and may the heights of your prosperous new year be dizzying. May you and yours feel the warmth and peaceful embrace of the season...

Read more ...

We Talk Photo with Michael Gordon & Guy Tal — We Talk Photo with Michael Gordon & Guy Tal

November 30, 2025

It was a real pleasure to converse with my friends Jack Graham and John Pedersen of We Talk Photo, who invited me and our good friend, Guy Tal, to another discussion regarding creativity and the creative life, inspiration, and happiness in photography...

Read more ...

Breaking it Down: Refining Photographic Composition — Breaking it Down: Refining Photographic Composition

November 19, 2025 | Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

“When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave until you have captured its essence...

Read more ...

Rayleigh Scattering in Nature and Landscape Photography — Rayleigh Scattering in Nature and Landscape Photography

November 13, 2025

Many photographers have likely never heard of Rayleigh Scattering or considered its impacts on their own photographs. In short, Rayleigh Scattering is the scattering or deflection of light by particles with a size much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation...

Read more ...

Print Your Legacy in On Landscape Magazine — Print Your Legacy in On Landscape Magazine

October 21, 2025

In an age where most of our images live, and disappear, on screens, what does it mean to create something lasting? In our latest article, photographer and educator Michael E. Gordon reflects on the power of the printed book...

Read more ...

Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass: June 7-11, 2026 — Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass: June 7-11, 2026

October 20, 2025 | Idyllwild, California

I'm thrilled to have been invited back by Professional Photographers of California to teach again at their annual West Coast School, the next one slated for June 7-11, 2026, nestled in beautiful Idyllwild, California, in the San Jacinto Mountains...

Read more ...

Photoshop's New Dust Removal Feature — Photoshop's New Dust Removal Feature

September 6, 2025

Adobe Photoshop's new Dust Removal feature, part of the Distraction Removal panel in Adobe Camera Raw, is simply amazing. Because I spend many days in the field each year, and during hostile conditions (wind, blown sand/dust) my camera equipment and sensors can get pretty nasty (take a look at my attached image for proof)...

Read more ...

Voxpop #6: “On Variations” — Voxpop #6: “On Variations”

September 2, 2025

Voxpops (presented by Hintology magazine) are experiments or interviews in which abstract photographers related to the abstract photography community of Hintology either have their work engaged with specific audiences or come to discuss particular topics with regards to their artistic practice...

Read more ...

Vibrant sans Garish — Vibrant sans Garish

August 24, 2025

A follow-up question landed in my mailbox following a recent webinar. Webinar participant and writer Mark asked:

The color shot that you processed last evening had soft, subtle color...

Read more ...

Ask Me Anything! — Ask Me Anything!

August 6, 2025

Join me on September 4, 2025, for a 24 hour long Ask Me Anything Q&A session (AMA) hosted by Nature Photographers Network (NPN). NPN's AMA's present a unique opportunity for photographers to engage directly with some of the world’s most renowned nature photographers...

Read more ...

From RAW to AWE — From RAW to AWE

July 22, 2025

Creative Expressive Editing with Michael E. Gordon and Chuck Kimmerle
August 21, 2025 6pm PST

Editing photographs can be frustrating. While learning how to make basic adjustments is relatively easy, knowing where to begin - or where to end - can be far more challenging...

Read more ...

Nature and Landscape Photographers Masterclass — Nature and Landscape Photographers Masterclass

June 29, 2025 | Valencia, California

Many THANKS to the Professional Photographers of California (PPC) for bringing me on board to teach recently at their 2025 West Coast School - their 69th! Many thanks as well to PPC Executive Administrator Mel Carll, and to my wonderful and amazing assistant, Sharon Lobel, for making my Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass a resounding success...

Read more ...

For What Else It Is — For What Else It Is

May 5, 2025

Equivalents was a photographic concept and body of work developed by the godfather of modern photography, Alfred Stieglitz, around 1925, based on his series of abstract cloud photographs. New York Times art critic Andy Grundberg said that Equivalents offer an "existence of a reality behind and beyond that offered by the world of appearances...

Read more ...

Virtual Presentation, May 6, 2025: Inspiration, Imagination, & Intention in Black & White — Virtual Presentation, May 6, 2025: Inspiration, Imagination, & Intention in Black & White

April 29, 2025

I will be presenting online for the Harbour City Photography Club in British Columbia, on the evening of May 6, 2025, at 7pm PST. My presentation is entitled "Inspiration, Imagination, & Intention in Black & White"...

Read more ...

Photograph: The Castle — Photograph: The Castle

April 15, 2025 | Nevada, USA

Incubation is a vital part of my process. I made this photograph ten years ago but am only now getting around to seeing and printing it with fresh eyes and fresh mind. If there are any downsides to experiential photography - images borne of experience, most often remarkable and exciting ones - is that the images can often be weighted by the thrill of the experience...

Read more ...

Nature & Landscape Photographer's Masterclass — Nature & Landscape Photographer's Masterclass

March 28, 2025 | Valencia, California

Please join me for the West Coast School of Photography: Nature & Landscape Photographers Masterclass, hosted by the Professional Photographers of California.

Read more ...

The Artful Black & White Landscape Photography Workshop — The Artful Black & White Landscape Photography Workshop

March 21, 2025 | Death Valley, California

Chuck Kimmerle and I completed yet another highly successful Artful Black & White Landscape Photography Workshop on March 14, 2025.

Read more ...

Peace of Desert — Peace of Desert

March 4, 2025 | Joshua Tree National Park, California

An eroded and arched quartz monzonite rock formation with Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) and elegant cirrus clouds overhead. Joshua Tree National Park, California.

Read more ...

Photograph: Manly Beacon, Death Valley National Park — Photograph: Manly Beacon, Death Valley National Park

February 12, 2025 | Death Valley, California

Manly Beacon, a Death Valley icon - so named for the 1849 Death Valley emigrant pioneer, William Lewis Manly, is a beautiful structure in the Furnace Creek Formation and has a widely varied façade by compass direction...

Read more ...

How to Follow This Journal and Receive Automatic Updates with New Content — How to Follow This Journal and Receive Automatic Updates with New Content

January 29, 2025

As you may have read in this journal or in a recent Facebook post, I am slowly exiting the use of social media. The big social sites belong to democracy-busting oligarchs who no longer want to be in the business of providing factual information...

Read more ...

Photographic Myths: #1 — Photographic Myths: #1

January 28, 2025

Photographic Myths #1: "the light isn't great, let's try black & white"

Good black and white photography is way of thinking and visualizing. It is not a casual afterthought, nor can it be effectively used as a rescue for poor quality of light or composition...

Read more ...

Photograph: Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae) — Photograph: Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae)

January 26, 2025 | Eureka Valley, California

The unique and elegant Eureka Valley Dune Grass (Swallenia alexandrae) in soft light on rippled Eureka Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Some of these plants were recently harmed when someone illegally drove on the dunes...

Read more ...

Moab Photo Symposium, September 25-28, 2025 — Moab Photo Symposium, September 25-28, 2025

The Moab Photography Symposium (MPS) successfully presents known leaders and new voices in the field of landscape-based fine art photography. The MPS goal has always been to motivate people to personalize their personal photography, which is accomplished via entertaining and enlightening presentations, small field workshops, technical sessions, and the well-loved evening photoJAM! where attendees share their work...

Read more ...

Welcome! — Welcome!

January 22, 2025

Welcome! Whether you're here at the Journal for the first time or a repeat visitor, I sincerely thank you for reading. My goal is to steal attention away from social media platforms and divert it back to my Journal, where there are no ads, fake users, stupid AI photos and videos, nor an oligarchic owner spying on your use behaviors for monetary or political gain...

Read more ...

How to Help Those Impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires — How to Help Those Impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires

January 17, 2025 | Los Angeles, California

My heart grieves for and is with the thousands of Angelenos who have been affected by the devastating wildfires that have destroyed their lives and Los Angeles communities over the past week. I dearly hope that all readers of this newsletter are safe and were out of harms way...

Read more ...

Published: Elements Landscape Photography Magazine #47 — Published: Elements Landscape Photography Magazine #47

January 16, 2025

ELEMENTS Landscape Photography Magazine #47 contains a special feature on iconic American photographer Eliot Porter...

Read more ...

Outside Magazine: A Driver’s “Reckless Joyride” Damaged the Eureka Dunes in Death Valley — Outside Magazine: A Driver’s “Reckless Joyride” Damaged the Eureka Dunes in Death Valley

January 15, 2025 | Death Valley National Park, California

Because of my long connection to and expertise on Death Valley National Park, I am often contacted by media to provide information on happenings and incidents in the park. On Monday, January 13, the National Park Service revealed that a motorist (aka asshole) had illegally driven onto Eureka Dunes sometime in late December or early January...

Read more ...

Published: Nature Vision Magazine #7 — Published: Nature Vision Magazine #7

December 1, 2024

My article Print Your Legacy, along with eight of my photographs, appears in Nature Vision Magazine #7, a publication of Nature Photographers Network. In this article, I provide a practical guide to self-publishing affordable photo books...

Read more ...

NEW Collector's Folio: DENIZENS — NEW Collector's Folio: DENIZENS

September 11, 2024

I am excited to announce the release of my beautiful new Denizens Collector's Folio.

Read more ...

« Previous 1 2 Next Page »