Search Results
29 items found for ""
Blog Posts (5)
- Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park
Hello, my name is Jamie, and I am a passionate nature & landscape photographer from Las Vegas, Nevada. I have been creating art from my photos for almost 20 years. Lately, I have an overwhelming urge to travel all the time. This year, Yosemite was at the top of the list! After planning the trip for over a year, my husband and I traveled more than 9 hours in our Airstream with our two pups from our home in Las Vegas to reach this iconic location. One of the most important sights at the top of my list was the John Muir Trail that led up to Vernal Falls. The parking lot was almost half a mile from the trailhead, and we were lucky enough to get the last spot in the lot, which made me even more determined to get the shot I had hoped for. The road was scattered with several hikers on their way to the trailhead. The birds were chirping, and I could feel the cool breeze on my face. My camera felt heavy as I thought about the extra half mile each way on the hike. The fresh smell of the trees distracted me as I enjoyed the serene nature. Not too far past the start, the trail started to steepen. Before starting, I had read on my trail app that my journey was a 472ft elevation gain, but I didn't really understand what that meant at the time. While I love the outdoors, I've always been lucky enough to avoid super strenuous hikes. And for me, this was just that! The trail kept going up, and I grew more tired with every step. My legs felt like jello. I didn't think I was going to make it. Just as I thought I couldn't go any further, my feet just kept on going. I aimed to take a picture of a beautiful waterfall and held onto the thought. Before I knew it, the trail started going down in elevation, and all I could think of was that I would have to walk back up this huge hill to get out of wherever I was going! Suddenly the bridge to cross the Merced River was in sight, and I could hear the roaring of the falls off in the distance. About halfway across the bridge, I caught a view that stopped me in my tracks. Vernal Falls was peering around the corner past the tall trees. At the same time, the sun came out from behind a cloud and glistened off the white water. With the towering granite walls in the background and the large boulders scattered in the river making up the foreground, the 317-foot waterfall seemed dwarfed in comparison. The combination of these elements created a perspective I just had to capture. The final result was a work of art that could only be made from a photograph of Yosemite. I captured an image that reminded me just how small an individual feels standing in this grand landscape. It was the perfect addition to my growing portfolio of Yosemite images, and I was proud to be able to share it with the world.
- Lone Cypress Tree of Carmel Bay, California - "Sunset Cypress"
DESCRIPTION: The image depicts a Cypress tree from Carmel Bay on the Monterey Peninsula of California standing tall and proud on a granite hill overlooking the ocean. The tree is bathed in warm golden light as the sun sets behind it, casting beautiful orange and pink hues on the sky. The smooth waves of the sea can be seen around the hill, adding a serene and peaceful feeling to the scene. In this work of art, the cypress is a silent witness to the beauty of nature and its surroundings. The image captures the tree's natural beauty and the majesty of nature surrounding it. THE STORY: My name is Jamie, and I am a passionate nature & landscape photographer from Las Vegas, Nevada. I have been creating art from my photos for almost 20 years, first underwater, now on dry land. It has always been my dream to become a full-time professional artist. Now that I have been capturing professional-quality photographs on dry land for a few years, I have an overwhelming urge to travel all the time. I dreamt of capturing my two favorite things in one shot, trees, and the ocean. My trip was during the torrential rainstorm in the Winter of 2022 when atmospheric rivers of moisture hit the Western United States one after another. The rain had been coming down in sheets all day. Waves were crashing against the rocks, and the wind was howling. Despite my rain gear, I was drenched and chilled to the bone. I was patient and determined to capture the photograph I longed for. I arrived just before sunset and began to set up my equipment. Storm clouds were overhead with only a sprinkle of rain from the sky. I became doubtful that the weather would hold out long enough to complete my mission. The local weather alerts advised people to stay indoors as there was a danger of flooding, fallen trees, and gusts up to 48 miles per hour. I knew of the threat but decided not to let this opportunity pass me by. While getting out of the truck, I saw the 15-foot waves crashing on the granite hill, and the roaring ocean renewed my will to succeed. The wind was whipping my hair around, and the chill in the air added to the excitement. I could taste the saltwater mist in the air as the waves crashed against the sea's edge while the smell of the cold crisp ocean air filled my nostrils. I was careful to stay safe from the edge as I did not want to get swept out to sea by a rogue wave. The wind picked up, and I battled the elements to stabilize my tripod. As the rain remained steady, my heart sank as I realized water spots were soaking my camera lens. Keeping it dry long enough to snap a photo was nearly impossible. I then realized I had a lens hood in my gear bag and hoped this would shield my camera's view from the rain! I quickly fixed it to the front of my lens and wiped the spots free yet again. The sun was now setting, and I snapped shot after shot, capturing the waves crashing on the granite rock below the famous tree. The tree stood tall against the stormy sky, and the rain and waves added to the drama in the background. I knew this was the shot I'd been dreaming of. I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. It was a dream come true to photograph the most famous tree in the world, and even a rainstorm couldn't get in my way. I was proud to have persevered and completed my mission against all odds. The accomplishment of adding such a stunning picture to my professional portfolio brought me closer to my dream of becoming a professional photographer. To purchase a print of this photograph, visit my Etsy page by clicking here.
- Northern Arizona Part 2: Vermillion Cliffs National Monument & Horseshoe Bend
On the second full day of our trip to Northern Arizona, we opted to check out the south side of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. This is also the road to Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona. We don't get out this way very often. Since we were less than 100 miles away, it seemed like an excellent opportunity to photograph one of the most iconic places in the Southwest! Driving along the cliffs through the desert on this very long straight road gives the perspective of how tiny we are as individual humans. The Historic Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon was a unique sight. I had never seen a double bridge before. Although the temperatures we already pretty warm, we stopped and walked along the pedestrian side of the bridge to check out the mighty Colorado River. One of the best experiences of the day was seeing the California Condor up close. The wingspan was huge, and its eyes were eerily human! When this bird turned his head, I felt like he could see directly into my soul. After a late start in the morning, we finally made it to Horseshoe Bend at about 11:15 am. It was already 98 degrees outside. We went for it knowing it wasn't going to get any cooler and that we didn't have enough to do in Page to keep us occupied until the sun was lower in the sky! As of the date of this writing, the average high temperature for August-September in Page, Arizona, is only 86-94 degrees. Needless to say, I did not expect such temperatures. The hike from the parking lot to the overlook is about three-quarters of a mile one way, 1.5 miles round trip with a 137-foot elevation gain on the way back up the hill. Don't get me wrong, a 137-foot gain over three-quarters of a mile isn't nothing, but it isn't super difficult either. Unless it's nearing 100 degrees outside! There are two awnings along the trail to provide shade for a rest. I urge anyone to prepare themselves accordingly when setting out on this trail. Remember, steep downhill makes a challenging uphill, especially when it's sweltering outside. Check this one off your list when the weather is cooler. Definitely not recommended during warmer months. Despite the weather, this area was quite a bit more crowded than I would have expected. It was pretty challenging to find a spot along the cliff's edge where a good picture could be composed without waiting several minutes for others to clear out of the way. Back at the campsite later that day, we took a walk to check out Jacob Lake and the Historic Jacob Lake Ranger Station. Although it was "temporarily closed," the doors to the station are made of plexiglass, so you can easily see inside and get a good feel for the atmosphere and conditions where rangers once lived. There wasn't much of a lake left of Jacob Lake due to the drought in the Southwest. The lake was more of a puddle. It was also fully gated to keep people away from the area. Although this photographic opportunity quickly dwindled, even better ones quickly arose! The setting sun provided great lighting for my new favorite photographic technique, Intentional Camera Movement. I created a couple of beautiful shots of the grasses and surrounding wildflowers in the area. On the walk back, we met a fellow (and very talented) wildlife photographer named Ian. He told us about his encounters with the Kaibab Squirrels earlier that day. During his story, he even found one for us to take a picture of too! The Kaibab Squirrel is "one of the rarest mammals in the national park system" and is only found on the Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is an area that is only about 20 by 40 square miles. The following morning we woke up early and set out for a nature walk, hoping to find more Kaibab Squirrels. While the squirrels were scarce that day, we did find a birdfeeder at the edge of our campground that was attracting these stunning bluebirds. They put on quite a show for the camera! We set out for home around 10:45 am local time. We encountered the same construction traffic on our drive up, causing a one-hour delay and an additional 15-minute delay. The total drive time to reach home was 5 hours and 15 minutes for 232 miles.
Other Pages (17)
- Connect | Jamie Lee Peterson
Connect with Me Hi, my name is Jamie Lee Peterson and I want to thank you for your interest in my photography and digital artwork! View My Stores Be the first to know about sales, new art, and updates! First Name Email I agree to the terms & conditions Thanks for subscribing! Subscribe
- Jamie Lee Peterson Photography | Nature Wall Art Decor
Nature Wall Art Decor by Jamie Lee Peterson Load More Hi, my name is Jamie, and I am a published, award-winning nature photographer. After capturing nature’s beauty on camera for over 20 years, I now offer my nature wall art decor made from my photographic art for sale online. My favorite topics to photograph include: Landscapes Seascapes Wildlife Underwater Photography Within these pages, you will find galleries that include all my nature photography wall art and links to purchase wall art decor. Click the photos to read details, background info, and behind-the-photo stories about the works of art. If you have any specific inquiries or requests, use the Contact Form to reach me. Prints of my nature photography wall art are available on the Prints page . You may also find them at my Etsy , eBay , and Amazon stores. A wide variety of sizes are available in paper, metal, canvas, and acrylic to suit your taste. What I Do: Moving into Fine Art Landscape Photography In recent years I have expanded my Nature Art from strictly underwater photos to also include landscapes and nature photography. To my amazement, I have found that I can find relaxation in any kind of nature. Not just underwater. The forest is one of my new favorite places to be! Developing portfolios and turning my photographs into art in each topic has been a very rewarding growth experience. New Fine Art Photography Prints for Sale! My new fine art landscape photography galleries include Seascape and National Park Photography. My recent favorite is the Yosemite Photography Collection. Yosemite is probably the easiest location to photograph. It is the most majestic and beautiful location I have ever visited. The Wildlife Photography Portfolio features the amazing animals I've encountered during my adventures. Definitely stop by this gallery to take a look at the latest additions! The Underwater Photography Portfolio is still my pride and joy and will expand as soon as logistics permit me to return to the bottom of the ocean. And of course, I will always channel my inner Ansel Adams whenever the opportunity arises to add to my Black and White Photography Portfolio . Giving Back Using photography to display the delicate beauty of nature has always been the inspiration and motivation behind my work. Creating art from photographs emphasizes the importance and beauty of the location. I believe now is more important than ever before to understand the delicate balance that we, as humans, take for granted every day. If my nature art photographs help even one person understand and strive to make a difference, I have done my job. I hope you enjoy my photographs as much as I enjoyed creating them. A percentage of proceeds from each and every sale of artwork I make are donated to an ocean charity listed on the Philanthropy page . Any feedback or critiques that you may like to provide would be greatly appreciated. You may use the chat box at the bottom of the page or the Contact Form as methods to reach me. Online Photography Galleries Seascapes Experience the beauty down by the sea View Gallery Underwater Pictures The gallery where it all began... View Gallery Landscape Pictures To be one with nature is the best place to be View Gallery Wildlife See the amazing animals found on my adventures View Gallery Displays of Nature Wall Art Decor Nature wall art decor makes an excellent gift for anyone who wants to add a pop of color or a dash of nature to any room. Offices, living rooms, and bedrooms can be great places to showcase this beautiful art. Available in traditional paper prints, metal, acrylic, and canvas. Examples of homes and offices with varying decor and color schemes where this fine art nature photography is displayed beautifully is shown below. Load More Print Styles & Options There are four different mediums to purchase my prints. Each piece is made to order and created to stand the test of time. All works of art come ready to hang except for the traditional paper prints, which will need a frame (sold separately). Photographic Prints Traditional paper prints on professional photo paper. Floating Metal Art High definition metal print, floats 1-inch off the wall with included mount Gallery-Wrapped Canvas 1.5" gallery wrap, mirror border, and laminated to makes colors more vibrant and add protection against fading, scratches, smudges and fingerprints. Framed Prints One-of-a-kind framed works of art designed by Jamie. Ready for immediate shipping. Acrylic Wall Art 1/8" thick glossy acrylic wall art, no borders, back mount to float 1-inch off the wall, with 1/4 inch rounded corners
- About | Fine Art Nature Photography
Hello & Welcome! From under the sea to the stars, my mission is to promote awareness of nature and marine life, by use of photography and digital artistry. About Me Although my earliest memories in life include running around with a camera in hand, for many years I spent too much of my life absorbed with work and studying. I was letting life speed by unnoticed. When I began scuba diving in 2004, I brought a camera with me on every dive so I could show my mom the many creatures I saw on my adventures. It wasn’t long before I knew I needed to bring the unique beauty of the underwater world to the surface for all to appreciate. Since then, my studies of meditation and mindfulness have opened my eyes to the beauty all around me and has allowed me to expand my photographic work to dry land. Landscapes, starscapes, and wildlife have now become staples in my work. Since the camera doesn’t always do a scene justice, I have learned to have as much fun in the digital darkroom as I do behind the camera. Some of my most rewarding pieces have come from turning what might have been a “throw away” photo into a beautiful piece of art. I have devoted many years to capturing Earth’s beauty and showcasing scenes in a unique manner. It is my hope that my photography help others also see the beauty around them and conserve and protect it as a result. Whether they’re from deep below the ocean’s surface or far out in the stars, I hope my photographs bring you as much peace and happiness as they brought me in creating them. Call (702) 202-0262 Email contact@jamieleepeterson.com Follow