Journal (Photographs)

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Scouting, Vision, & Perseverance
Scouting, Vision, & Perseverance
June 5, 2024  |  Death Valley, California

Location scouting is a vital element of filmmaking and commercial photography. Many landscape photographers also employ scouting in their strategies, although the strategies of most differ greatly from my own...

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Photograph: Storm Over Cochise Head
Photograph: Storm Over Cochise Head
27 September 2022  |  Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Although I hike a great many miles and climb a number of new mountains every year in the pursuit of my photographs and in the best life possible, I rarely talk about my exploits (certainly not online) and typically refrain from location specificity...

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9th Annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo
9th Annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo
04 November 2021  |  Joshua Tree National Park, California

My photograph The Bolo and Baguette hangs in the 9th Annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo, opening this weekend, November 6-7. It's a juried exposition; 108 artists entered 253 pieces of art and mine is among the 61 pieces that will hang in yet another great show...

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On Exhibition: Roots
On Exhibition: Roots
09 August 2021

My photograph Roots is on exhibition as part of the "Rooted" fundraising group exhibition at Greenly Art Space in Signal Hill, California (in the greater Long Beach area). This exhibition runs through October 9, 2021, gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11am-2pm or by appointment (562-533-4020)...

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TAKE ACTION: Massive Solar Project Threatens the Eastern Boundary of Death Valley National Park
TAKE ACTION: Massive Solar Project Threatens the Eastern Boundary of Death Valley National Park
23 June 2021

Friends, please take action TODAY to help protect Death Valley National Park, wildlife, and public lands. This photograph depicts the Bullfrog Hills just east of Death Valley National Park, in Nye County, Nevada...

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Photograph: The Prepared Mind
Photograph: The Prepared Mind
23 June 2021

Incredible stormy light and shadow at sunrise over the Last Chance Mountains, Death Valley National Park. ©Michael E. Gordon. I enjoy creative titling of photographs. Here I've mixed the famous quote of French microbiologist/chemist, Louis Pasteur, with the name of the mountain range seen in the photograph...

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Photograph: Sheltered
Photograph: Sheltered
22 June 2021

Fendler's Meadow Rue (Thalictrum fendleri) in the sheltered embrace of California Corn Lily (Veratrum californicum). Photo © Michael E. Gordon. Purchase your fine art print today.

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You are visiting the Journal of fine art landscape photographer Michael E. Gordon. Please follow the navigation links at the top of this page for additional photographs and information. The old blog (2006-2020) has been retired but is archived and all articles remain available for reading. You can also find Michael on Facebook and Instagram.