I hope this newsletter finds your summer going well. Backing up just a bit it was another great spring season of workshops wrapped up last month with time spent in a range of climates and geography, and did not disappoint in offering up memorable experiences and photographic opportunities.

Since my last newsletter, I traveled down to Mendocino for a coastal headlands workshop where stormy weather made an appearance, including rain blowing sideways at one point. Yet part skill of constantly watching changing weather reports and part luck with Mother Nature doing what she wants, we navigated our time in the field for what ended up being optimal conditions.

In early May, we brought back the Create Better Prints workshop at HD Aluminum Lab and this time did an add-on day in the field to enjoy the spring greens and flowing water in the area. If you have been putting off making any prints of your work, I recommend taking the time to do it for at least a few photos. In the online world we live in (bringing you this newsletter), having something you can touch and view in person can be a welcome break.

Then, as June came upon us, I headed to Eastern Oregon for time on the prairie and mountain views. When we last did this workshop four years ago, our morning out photographing the barns and surrounding landscape was magical as a stormy sky cleared at sunrise. This time it was equally impressive, plus we were greeted with a low snow level, bringing a fresh dusting of white across the mountain forests and jagged peaks.

Most recently, I returned from a different kind of adventure, a 48-mile canoe trip through a beautiful landscape only accessible by river. I will have more to share about this trip in a future newsletter.

The above photo is from this really hard-to-reach location I recently discovered and has hardly been photographed. Okay, it couldn't be further from the case. Many of you might know this viewpoint on the North Oregon Coast. I am sharing this photo for a couple of reasons. First, it's some of the best light and atmosphere I have experienced there. Second, it's a good example of how helpful it can be to know the area when the weather changes without notice. I had no plans to stop here. In fact, I had no plans to photograph that evening. When I saw the sky breaking up while driving on the densely forested coastal highway, I knew I could get here in time for the show. When I arrived, the scene felt like a dramatic painting from the greats of the Hudson River School, hence the name.

In this newsletter:

• Oregon Outback Collection
• 2027 Best of the Northwest - Live Date
• 2027 Best of the Rest - Available Now

Oregon Outback Collection

The remote southeastern region of my home state better known as the Oregon Outback has been a place that continues to intrigue me ever since my first visit in the spring of 2008. After that trip, surprisingly it took me a while to return on any regularity. Fortunately, it's becoming more frequent in recent years.

Being in wide open spaces with a lack of services, limited cell reception, and more cows than people couldn't be more opposite from city life I call home. They say we disconnect when we leave home and office behind for places like this. Only partly accurate. We leave behind one type of connection in search of another. During these trips, I continue to connect with the area, with the good fortune to create work that resonates with me. This gallery is almost all new work. Some photos that haven't been shared until now, were taken almost 8 years ago. Don't they get better aged on my hard drive? Photos aren't wine, yet I am excited to finally have an Oregon Outback collection I will continue to update.

2027 BNW Workshops - Coming Soon

Mark your calendars for September 10th at 10:00 am PT. This is when the 2027 Best of the Northwest Workshops will be available for sign-up.

All will be opportunities that I haven't offered in years or are new. As a side note for those who have taken BNW workshops for a while, please look at the dates to ensure it works for your schedule. While I will continue to hold these shorter workshops over a weekend when possible, I am moving away from this being the only option. This allows more flexibility due to factors such as conflicting events, tide preferences, lodging options, etc.

As for the rest of 2026, there are only spots left for the following workshop. The rest are sold out with waitlists available.

• ​Covered Bridges and Streams - October 16 to 19

2027 Best of the Rest

As mentioned in a prior newsletter, next year is shaping up to be busy both locally and beyond. I am excited for new workshop opportunities with some amazingly talented colleagues. While circumstances could change, at this point I am not planning to add anymore Best of the Rest workshops to this list for 2027.

• ​The Oregon Experience - May 2 - 7 (with Michael Shainblum and Gary Randall)
• ​Route 66, Chicago to Springfield - October 10-16, 2027 (with David Cobb)
• ​Best of Coastal Maine - October 18-23, 2027 (with Ben Williamson)
• ​Colors of Escalante - Nov 5-9, 2027 (with Eric Bennett)

Reads, Watches, and Listens

What I am reading, watching, or listening to that I feel others might find of interest.

• ​The Nature of Place by Circle of Light - This debut ebook from the very inspiring and creative collective, Circle of Light, is worth your time. It's clear a lot of thought and intention went into this well designed 296 page book. Knowing this group I am not surprised at the quality. You can read it all or focus on the leading essays that interest you most. Even if you just view the work displayed, it's worth the purchase.
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• ​Junglekeeper by Paul Rosolie - In our current times where our protected public lands are under more threat than recent past from both our government and private interests, I needed a book that showed hope and promise. What Paul and his team are doing in the Amazon rainforest shows positive change is possible. An inspiring story, I highly recommend it.
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• ​Love + War produced by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin - When I leave for a photo trip my family knows it's near certain I will return. Being a war photographer that constantly pushes the limits to get the story is a completely different life both for photographer, Lynsey Addario, and her family. It's an engaging story of her impressive accomplishments yet will let you decide on the near-constant absence from her kids, who clearly needed her.
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• ​Song Sung Blue produced by Craig Brewer - As a child Neil Diamond was in regular rotation on the classic household audiophile setup that wasn't much smaller than a couch and seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur. While based on the tribute band it was really well done and brought back memories growing up with his music and forced to see him live way before I truly appreciated it.
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• ​Name By Landsat - If you want a minute of fun, you can spell out your name or anything else with this link to satellite imagery.

If you enjoy this newsletter, I would appreciate it if you share it with your family or friends. As always, thank you for your time and support!