I am constantly trying to improve on my methods.  As I do so, I find myself trying to find the best and most interesting lighting conditions.

Proper lighting has been a key component of my photographs for as long as I’ve owned a camera.  However, it’s become even more important as my skills have evolved.  Our summer has been off to a stormy start in the Mid-Atlantic, so unique lighting conditions have been easy to find.  Below is a compilation of some of my work over the past couple of weeks.

The sun pokes through the clouds on my way out to a shoot

Great Falls of the Potomac

The early morning sun pierces through Great Falls Park

First Landign State Park, Virginia Beach. The sun’s early rays illuminate the marsh surrounding White Hill Lake.

The sun’s early rays illuminate White Hill Lake in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

Spanish Moss Glow. First Landing State Park is one of the few places in Virginia that Spanish moss naturally grows

Not only is spanish moss rare in Viriginia, it is also at the extreme northern edge of its range here.

Maple leaf in First Landing State Park. I find the caostal swamps of Virginia to be interesting, being at the extreme edge of many plants’ natrural ranges, you get a large amount of biodiversity.

I caught this little guy climbing a road in the George Washington Naitonal Forest. It is currently turtle nesting season, so these guys are all over the place.

A low-canopy forest is illuminated in the last rays of the day.

North Fork Mountain Trail

Catching the last lighting here, a distant storm over Elkins, WV created cloud cover that obscured most of the sunset. Tibbett Knob is a spectacular rock outcropping along the VA/WV state line in the GW National Forest.

Clouds clear after a late day storm over North Fork Mountain on the Virginia/West Virginia state line in the George Washington National Forest