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I am very happy to share a photo essay I published in the October issue of Blue Ridge Country Magazine (on newsstands now. Enjoy!

A field of Goldenrod below Mount Washington and the Presedential Range at dusk, New Hampshire.

Nikon D700, 17-35mm, 1 minute at F16, Singh Ray 4 stop ND grad (soft), raw capture at ISO 100.


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A few images from yesterdays waterfall hike in the Glens Natural Area, Ricketts Glen State Park, PA. The water levels were exceptionally low and although I did the entire circuit hike I was only inspired to shoot a total of 3 compositions. Either way I am pretty happy with my keepers!


Harrison Wright Falls, 125 seconds at f16, raw capture


Sheldon Reynolds Falls, I climbed to just under the shelf of the upper fall to get a perspective looking down the waterfall to where it hits the red base rock below.


R.B Ricketts Falls, I crossed the plunge pool with tripod and camera to into the underside of this cave behind the falls. I was able to get off one image without the shot being totally ruined with water spray.

This past week I sumitted Old Rag Mountain and spent the night up top with friend and fellow photographer Chris Kayler. This is not the first time I have done this hike to the summit of Old Rag, but was in fact the first time for me to sleep on the summit. In fact, this hike is featured in my book 50 Amazing Things You Must See and Do in the Greater D.C. Area: The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Guide . In hopes of getting away from the record high temps and humidity crippling the DC area, we picked a day that forecasted a cold front moving in across the mountains in hopes of cooler temps in the mountains and the chance of thunderstorms at or near sunset.

We started the hike in the afternoon and quickly realized just how hot and humid it still was! With the temp hovering around 90 degrees and the humidity at 85%, we knew we were in for a long and hot haul up the trail! As soon as I hoisted my 45 pound pack filled with camera gear, sleeping bag and pad, overnight food, rain gear and 5 liters of water for an overnight on a dry summit, we quickly hit the road on the 1/2 mile approach to the actual trailhead. By the time we arrived, I was already drenched in sweat and decided to take a did in the swimming hole along the river to cool off before tackling the upward climb towards the ridge and the approach to the summit proper.


Chris Rock Hopping on the Ridge

After about 2 mile of an upward climb through the sweltering heat of the forest, we arrived at the summit ridge and were greeted with the most refreshing breeze sweeping from west to east across the ridge line. It was just what the doctor ordered! In contrast to the cooler temps and great vies now comes the most challenging section of the hike, a .9 mile summit approach across a boulder strewn ridge that involves constant rock hopping, over hand climbing, bouldering, chimneying and in a few spots crawling on your hands and knees through rock cuts and small caves. This is usually a pretty moderate climb with a day pack or just camera gear, but add-on an 45 pound overnight pack and it becomes strenuous and in some cases very difficult. Below are a few shots I snapped of our climb across the ridge towards the summit.


Chris bouldering his way through the rocks


Chris in one of the small caves below the false summit

We arrived on the summit of the mountain after a long and exhausting 2 hour climb across the ridge and were greeted with an afternoon thunderstorm raging across the mountains and huge thunder heads to the east. It rained but briefly over the summit followed by strong 30 to 40 mile an hour winds. We had some nice although brief light at sunset. I found a nice composition of a jumble of car sized boulders on the summit with dramatic sunset skies and painted light at sunset. After the light faded, we settled down into a rock depression of the summit for a quick diner of freeze-dried Chili Mac and then a long night under the stars. Myself or Chris did not get much sleep over night due to the constant battering of the wind sweeping across the summit. I awoke around 3am and spent the rest of the night until civil twilight watching shooting stars and the constellations track across the night sky.


Boulders on the Summit at sunset


Moon set and summit rocks at Civil Twilight


Sunrise over the Appalachians from the summit

After a great sunrise session and feeling really exhausted from lack of sleep and a hard climb the day before, we settled back down at our camp for some calories and bit of caffeine before packing the gear and tackling the summit ridge back down into the woods. The temps were pleasant that morning and we arrived back to the trailhead parking a little before noon. It was a great little adventure and yielded some new images for me! All in all, a great time in the back country of the mountains.


Morning at camp on the summit of Old Rag

For the month of July, I am releasing a 12x18" Fine Art Print of "Fire and Ice" printed on Fujichrome Super Gloss at a discounted price of $100.00. I made this image in the high country of the Indian Peaks Wilderness at Blue Lakes under the Continental Divide. The hike up was tough and I encountered down pours, sleet and sub freezing temps in order to be on location for the sweet light.

SuperGloss uses a unique polyester base that give it an incredible gloss and creates a depth and dimensionality that has to be seen to be believed. This depth helps SuperGloss prints reflect more light which makes them more brilliant than other papers, and the colors are deeper and richer than even Pearl or Metallic papers. Please allow 2 - 3 weeks to receive your signed print via Fed Ex.

Me and the Element at my camp on Shrine Pass after sunset.

I left my house at 6am on Tuesday morning to begin the long and boring drive of 1700 miles across country to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. On day one I made tremendous time and clocked a little over 900 miles pulling into a rest stop west of St. Louis and slept for the night. Waking the next morning at 5am, I was on the road in a jiff and pulled into Denver around rush hour. I decided to drive another 90 miles west toward Vail and camp up on Shrine Pass. I arrived on Shrine Pass at 7pm and pulled off a small and rough dirt track and drove over the pass for about a 1/4 of a mile to secluded spot on the edge of the mountain overlooking the Gore Range.

After getting settled in, I hiked about a mile up the pass to a high rocky ridge with a stupendous view of the Gore Range to the west. The monsoon was in full effect and the clouds were amazing. A clear break on the western horizon provided a break that allowed the setting sun to pint the landscape and clouds to the west. I shot until it was dark and hiked back to my car camp for a drink of whiskey and good night sleep to the light pattering of rain. We'll see where the today takes me? I need to be in Crested Butte by no later than Friday morning to begin scouting for my workshop that begins on Sunday afternoon.


Srine Pass Sunset, Colorado.


Last light at sunset from Shrine Pass, Colorado.

Best of light,
Joe

Surf below Otter Cliffs from Boulder Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine.

I got in low and close to the breaking surf below the cliffs. As soon as a big set of waves would roll in, I started shooting. The light was very special that morning and I had the entire beach to myself. Ran into Mitch M. at this location just a few days later while leading my tour. Great guy!!

Twilight glow high above Bubble Pond from the west slope of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine

Bass Head Harbor Lighthouse at sunset, Acadia National Park, Maine.

Dawn pastels at sunrise from Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, Maine

Wild Shores, Acadia National Park, Maine

I arrived at the coast in the rain and fog. Hiking out along the rocks I found refuge in the woods that line these granite ledges on Acadia's wild sea shore. I was surprised and excited to see the clouds begin to break and fog banks partially revealing the cliffs in the far distance. I carefully climbed down the wet and slick rocks to get into position o shoot down the coast. I was able to get of only a few shots before the weather moved back in and the magic faded.

islands in the Twilight, Acadia National Park, Maine

After an amazing morning of storms and red skies at dawn along the coast, the weather turned quite fowl and rained hard all day long. I laid around in my little cottage reading a book about nomads listining to the rain drops dance on the semi tin roof of the cottage.

As the day progressed towards sunset, I noticed small breaks in the clouds and decided that sunset on the top of Cadillac Mountain might provide a chance to get above the fog and clouds. I hoped for light and got it as the last soft light of the day painted the sky pink above small islands of in the Atlantic engulfed in in fog.

Best of light,
Joe

Red Sky Dawn, Acadia National Park, Maine

As I type this I am in Bar Harbor, Maine, shooting along the coast and scouting in preparation for my workshop that starts this Sunday. The weather has been challenging with severe downpours, cold temps and high winds. When the storms blow in or blow out, I get down on the rocky coast or hike to the summits of these amazing little mountains that ring the coast around Acadia hoping for some great light.

On this morning I was not disappointed by the light and weather. Making way over and across the granite cliffs in the pre dawn gloom, I watched a small break in the eastern sky hoping it would not cloud over before the suns grand entrance. As the sun rose and broke the horizon, the rains began to pour down once again. The light lasted but only a few minutes and I got this shot as it reached it's most dramatic point.

The 2011 workshop schedule is now online on my website for anyone interested.

Also, look for my profile interview in the July edition of Outdoor Photographer magazine.

After a very long drive on Wednesday leaving at 3am, I arrived in New Harbor Maine at three in the afternoon. After setting up camp outside of Pemaquid Lighthouse State Park, I drove around the back roads of new Harbor and Bristol looking for the amazing Lupine fields that bloom in the beginning of June. I found an amazing display about halfway between Bristol and New Harbor and worked it hard for about 3 hours under soft overcast and the occasional sprinkle of rain.


Lupine dance, New Harbor, Maine (10 image in camera multiple exposure pan)

Later that evening the fog and weather moved in fast and spoiled my plans of shooting any golden light at the lighthouse. I still showed up and worked the light (or lack there of) for about an hour before packing it in for the night. Over night rain and high winds kept me tossing and turning in my tent and I awoke to pea soup fog and a raging sinus infection in the morning. I packed up the car and began the three hour drive northeast to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.


Pemaquid Light, New Harbor, Maine

By the time I got in, I felt as if my head was going to explode and was rocked with body aches and fever. I settled in to a cheap and cozy little cottage room for the day to nurse myself and sleep. Awaking in the night a 3:30am, I looked out in the pre-dawn light and saw some breaks in the cloud cover to the east. I immediately jumped in the car and headed down to Boulder Beach below Otter Cliffs. The light was amazing and certainly made up for a day lost in the rain and gloom of the coast nursing myself alone in another town far from family and familiar.


Breaking surf and Otter Cliffs at dawn, Acadia National Park, Maine


Acadia's wild rocky coast at sunrise, Maine.


Boulder beach and Otter Cliffs at first light, Acadia National Park, Maine


Earth, sea and sky, Acadia National Park, Maine

Wilderness Warrior
Joseph Rossbach breaks from the crowded overlooks and usual vantage points to capture original


Read the entire profile here

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I just returned from a great four day photography trip to the West Virginia Highlands. I worked the Allegheny Mountains in the northern pan handle of the state near the small mountain towns of Davis and Canaan Valley. This area of ancient mountains, rocky wind swept mountain plateaus, wild running streams and waterfalls is by far my favorite wild locations in the Mid Atlantic, and I plan at least one to two trips per season to this area each year.

This spring I travelled down with good friend and fellow nature shooter Alex Mody. We started the trip late on Thursday evening after I finished up a lecture at the Baltimore Camera Club and arrived on the 4,000 foot summit of Dolly Sods around 3am. Tired and bleary eyed after 4 hours of late night travel, we set up our tents and crawled in for a short two-and-half hours of sleep.

In the pre- dawn night, we awoke and scrambled our way out along the house sized boulders of Bear Rocks working our way north to a location I have shot before. When we arrived we had but only a few moments to set our shots as the sun began to paint the sky in tones of red and orange. I found a different take on an old composition and used the repeating triangle shapes in the immediate foreground as well as the rock in the middle front to create a series of power shapes that push the viewers eye deep into the composition and blazing sky.


First light, Bear Rocks North, Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia

One of the most important field lessons a nature photographer can learn is to always look behind you! After making the shot above, I glanced behind me to see the sky beginning to glow on the western horizon. I took of running over rocks and through the barrens to a spot I had scouted last year. I had just enough time to craft my composition and record the sky glow before it faded.


Balanced boulders and glowing sky at dawn, Bear Rocks, Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia

After finishing up our morning shoot on Bear rocks, we headed back to camp to break it down before driving into Davis and setting up camp in the National Forest near Blackwater Falls State Park. The day had turned from partly cloudy at sunrise to overcast with occasional showers. We worked Shays Run during the afternoon looking for new compositions at Second Falls.

The image below was my favorite from the afternoon shoot. I got low in the stream only about 8 inches from the surface of the water and close to this great V shaped cascade below the falls. I shot this in a single exposure using a Singh Ray LB polarizer and made sure to push the exposure as far to the right as possible without clipping any highlights.


Spring Rush at Second Falls, Shays Run, Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.

Tune in for my next instalment of Notes from the Field, where I will be posting images and stories from days three and four of my recent trip to the West Virginia Highlands.

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I suffered through three days of high winds, down pours and cold nights for the storm to clear up on Bear Rocks. I was rewarded with a breaking strom at sunset on the last night of the trip.

Bear Rocks Preserve, Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.

After finishing up a great presentation at the BCC, we (Alex Mody and Myself) drove 4.5 hours and ended up at Dolly Sods well after 2am. By the time I got my tent up and in for the night, I only got about 3 hours of sleep before getting up and out on Bear Rocks before dawn. We were rewarded with some really magnificent light!!!!

I just returned from a 11 day trip to the southern Appalachian Mountains. I worked the great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest, Linville Falls and Shenendoah National Park. Here are my top selects from the trip.


Middle Prong of the Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee


Spring cascades on the Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee


Sunset from Mortons Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee


Middle Prong spring flood, Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee


Appalachian layers at dawn, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee


Spring garden at Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina


Spring abstract at Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina


Fog layers from the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina


Looking Glass Falls, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina


Black Balsam Knob, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina


Sunstar Falls, Looking Glass Creek, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina


Crown of the Valley, Blackrock Summit, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia


Blackrock Summit dawn, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia