I am very excited to announce that I will be releasing two new fine art landscape photographs this Friday, 9/5/14 at the Patagonia of Bend.  I don’t often release new landscape prints and releasing two at the same first Friday is very unusual for me.  In addition to the two new prints I will have several other classic Central Oregon prints available.  I’ll be sharing my work at Patagonia of Bend, which is located at 1000 NW Wall Street.

I’ve been trying to create a worthy fine art print of the Lower Deschutes River for over two years now.  My persistence finally paid off this spring when I captured the beautiful image of the Lower Deschutes River seen below.

Lower Deschutes River Fine Art Photograph

I went big with this photograph, 30×50 inch print size!  I felt it was necessary if I was going to capture the beautiful canyon details above the Deschutes River as well as the gorgeous field of Lupines and balsamroot that serve as an elegant foreground for the rugged Deschutes River Canyon.  Spring comes early in the Lower Deschutes River Canyon and the greens of and golds of the canyon don’t last long.  I returned to this stunning location high above the Lower Deschutes, near the town of Madras, Oregon several times this spring before the elements cooperated.  Wildflowers at their height of beauty, a warm sunrise descending into the Lower Deschutes River Canyon which is adorned with the greens of wild grasses and the golds of balsamroot sharing their ephemeral beauty, all captured on a rare wind free morning.  I couldn’t be happier with this new print and I hope my collectors enjoy it as well.  Do you have a fly-fisherman in your life who is difficult to buy gifts for?  I can guarantee they don’t already have this stunning photograph of “Steelhead Heaven”! Keep in mind that I can make much smaller prints of this Deschutes River image to fit your office or home.

One of the fine art photographs I will display this Friday is not new but it is a classic Oregon Landscape photograph.  This beautiful Oregon photograph was captured in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness several years ago.

Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area

This image of Mt. Jefferson has what is quite simply the best collection of wildflowers I’ve ever seen.  I’d been to this exact location a few days before and realized that the wildflowers hadn’t quite peaked, so I planned my return.  I made my return with a light and fast approach.  I simplified my camera gear  down to the bare necessities, including my 4×5 camera body, two lenses, light meter, film plates, a dark cloth, bug spray, a shell, food and the 10 essentials.  I quickly hiked the 7.5 miles into this spot, gaining over 2,000 vertical feet in under two hours and set up for this specific image.  While I take full credit for scouting this location and being prepared to capture this beautiful scene in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, I cannot take credit for the wonderful Lenticular cloud that formed over Mt. Jefferson.  That was a gift from Mother Nature that I was thrilled to receive!  As the cloud formed, I became nervous with excitement.  I was in front of one of the most beautiful scene I’d ever witnessed with arguably the most photogenic Mountain in Oregon as a backdrop and an amazing lenticular cloud cap formed over Mt. Jefferson.  I could not believe my luck.  I made a couple of trips back to this exact location this summer and it has changed, probably forever.  Different, less attractive plants have replaced many of the wildflowers in this beautiful image.  While I may never be fortunate enough to witness this scene again, I am lucky to have seen it once and to be able to share this print with the photographic world.  This image has graced the cover of Visit Bend and other publications and fine art photographs of this image can be found in countless private and corporate art collections across the United States.  To see this beautiful Mt Jefferson Wilderness image, visit me this Friday, 9/5/14 at Patagonia of Bend!

Another new image I will be premiering this Friday is of Oregon’s stunning Abiqua Falls.  Abiqua Falls is located in the Willamette Valley.  Although this image does not require an epic backpacking trip, it does require some commitment.  It is very remote and the descent down to Abiqua Creek can be treacherous if the trail is wet.

Abiqua Falls

Abiqua falls is located in a giant Basalt Column lined amphitheater which looks like it should have been the cinematic climax from the movie, Jurassic Park.  It is truly stunning.  While the falls themselves are elegant it is the entire scene which overwhelms the senses. I worked n this composition for a great while before capturing what I feel is the essence of this special place.  An Elegant 100 foot waterfall, the gently flowing Abiqua Creek and a stunning lichen covered basalt columns.  I can’t wait to share this amazing new print with the art world!

Another fine art landscape print I’ll be showing this Friday is of Central Oregon’s fantastic Sparks Lake.  Located near my home, in Bend, Oregon, Sparks Lake is a landscape photographer’s dream.  Sparks has a naturally elegant composition that is hard to explain, you just need to visit!  It offers  family friendly hiking, wonderful waters for stand-up paddling or kayaking, spring wildflowers, falls colors and Sparks Lake always offers world class views of South Sister and Broken Top mountains, both of which are seen in this fine art landscape photograph which I’ll be showing this Friday night!

Fine art landscape photography

I’ve been to Sparks lake hundred of times but I’ve never witnessed a sunrise like this one before or since.  Placid reflective waters, fresh snow on South Sister and Broken Top, an interesting foreground, and mist over the surface of Sparks Lake combine to make this one of the best examples of landscape photography I’ve ever produced!  Come see these fine art photographs and several more this Friday at Patagonia of Bend!

I hope to see you Friday Night,

Mike