Spring in Hailey
The sun sets over vibrant wildflowers in Hailey's Colorado Gulch.
Blaine CountyColorado GulchCroy CanyonFlowersHaileyIdahoLupinSpringSunsetWildflowersWood River Valley
Eclipse Alien Scape
When preparing to shoot the 2017 total solar eclipse, the primary challenge was to conceptualize images that would stand apart from what would surely be a myriad of indistinguishable pictures, all born from one of the most heavily photographed events of the decade. In collaboration with Sapna Reddy, a photo buddy from San Francisco, we set out to capture this exciting spectacle from a unique location—something off the grid, away from crowds and traffic, and with room to get creative.
After extensive scouting, I discovered just such a place in the Boulder Mountains near Sun Valley, Idaho. At well above 9,500 feet, the location had nearly two minutes of totality, guaranteed isolation, and a small pond that angled directly toward the coming celestial show. The pond was unlike anything I’ve seen in high-altitude lakes; growing inside the multi-colored water were bizarre algae pillars (which we named “water tufas”) that climbed vertically from the sandy bottom and ballooned across the water’s surface. It was a truly alien landscape, and a perfect complement to such an otherworldly phenomenon as a solar eclipse.
On August 21st, we donned our headlamps and heavy packs and set out hiking before sunrise. The experience did not disappoint, and the eclipse exceeded all expectations.
In order to create a visual story that not only captured the critical phases of the event (such as totality or the diamond ring), but also provided a sense of place and insight into the drama of the experience, we knew that we would likely be creating composite images. I had three cameras running: one with a telephoto lens for eclipse close-ups, one wide-angle lens to capture the unique landscape, and a third hand-held camera to attempt a unique perspective through a “LensBall” (i.e. a small, perfectly round glass sphere that renders the outside world upside down).
When I finally found time to edit these images, I gave up on this one at least twice. I was determined to make it look like it had felt; but as those who saw it know, it is just plain hard for a photo to do the experience justice. I eventually came back to it, and here is my artistic take on the event. Hope you enjoy!Total EclipseAugust 21 20172017 Solar EclipseBackcountryBlaine CountyBoulder MountainsBouldersEclipseGreat American EclipseIdahoKetchumSilver LakeSolar EclipseSummerSunSun ValleyWide AngleWood River ValleyWater TufasDiamond RingReflection
From 2017 Total Eclipse
Sunset on the Camas Prairie
Storm clouds pass over Idaho’s Camas Prairie at sunset.
Camas PrairieSunsetMayIdahoLandscapesSpringTravelStormCountry Road
Pettit Sunrise
Few lakes do "perfect stillness" as well as Pettit, in the Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, Idaho.
August 2020Blaine CountyIdahoLakeLandscape PhotographyLandscapesMountainsPettitPettit LakeReflectionsSeptember 2020 IssueStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographySummerWater
Pioneer Cabin B&W
The Higher You Get The Higher You Get
BackcountryBlaine CountyHikeIdahoKetchumPioneer CabinPioneer MountainsPioneersPiosSeptemberBWLandscapeSummerSun ValleyWildernessWood River Valley
Autumn Gold
Cutting through storm clouds at sunset, a double rainbow hangs over the colors of fall in Idaho's Boulder Mountains.
Boulder MountainsFallKetchumLandscapesLeavesSeptemberSun ValleyDouble RainbowIdahoStorm CloudsSunsetBlaine CountyWood River Valley
First Snow
Something magical happens when seasons collide. Fall changes to winter in Sun Valley, Idaho.
BarnBald MountainBaldyFallIdahoKetchumLeavesOctoberSnowSun ValleySunriseHorsesAutumnBlaine CountyWood River ValleyWinterRiver RunSki MountainSun Valley Sunrise
Snow Falls
Heavy rains during the epic 2017 snow year created these intriguing “vertical corduroy” striations in the Boulder Mountains, just north of Sun Valley, Idaho.
BouldersSnowBlaine CountyFebruary 2017IdahoStriationsWinterWood River Valley
Baldy Sunset from the White Clouds
The sun sets over Baldy, as seen from the White Cloud Nine fairways in Sun Valley, Idaho.
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Silver Creek Spring
Lupine flood the hills above Silver Creek.
CloudsIdahoJune 2019LandscapeLupineSilver CreekSilver Creek PreserveSpringSteve Dondero PhotographyWildflowers
Ruud Mountain in Fall
The iconic Bald Mountain sits behind an explosive display of Sun Valley fall colors and the world's first chairlift on Ruud Mountain.
Bald MountainBaldyFallIdahoKetchumLeavesRuud MountainSun ValleyProctor
Stars Over Shangri-La
Star backdrop the world famous Elephant's Perch in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. Shangri-La, October 2014, just before midnight.
BackpackingElephant's PerchFallHigh Alpine LakeHikingIdahoLakeMountainsNightNight PhotographyOctoberSawtooth MountainsShangri LaStanley BasinStars
Sunrise over Redfish Lake
When you go out to scout a portrait shoot at sunrise and this happens. Redfish Lake, Stanley, Idaho
Redfish LakeJulyLakeStanley BasinSummerReflectionWaterSunrise
Rainbow Over Ruud
Ruud Mountain in Sun Valley, Idaho, is home to the world's first ski lift, and apparently a pot of gold.
SunsetMayBlaine CountyChairliftKetchumProctor MountainRainbowRuud MountainSpringSun ValleyWood River Valley
Summer in the Boulders
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Best Seat in the House
This is one of my favorite locations to enjoy the fall colors in Sun Valley, Idaho.
SNRAFallIdahoKetchumLeavesOctober 2013Sun ValleyAutumnWood River ValleyBlaine County
Fishing the Creek
The world-famous Silver Creek is a fisherman's paradise.
Silver CreekMay 2014FishermenIdahoLandscapesPicaboNatureSpring
Hemingway's View
Shot from right near Ernest Hemingway's Memorial in Sun Valley, Idaho, the last rays of the day streak across the iconic Bald Mountain as Autumn goes into full swing.
FallIdahoKetchumLeavesSun ValleyTrail CreekSunsetBaldyBald MountainCloudsErnest Hemingway MemorialLight RaysBlaine CountyWood River ValleyAutumn
Fall on the Big Wood
Idaho's Big Wood River passes gracefully through the autumn colors of Sun Valley, Idaho.
FallIdahoKetchumOctoberSun ValleyLake CreekBig Wood RiverRiverWaterLeavesAutumnBlaine CountyWood River Valley
Spring at Silver Creek
IdahoLandscapeMayNature ConservancySilver CreekSpringAspensAlfalfa
Fall in the Boulder Mountains
Idaho's Boulder Mountains flex their fall colors as a storm passes through at the onset of sunset.
Boulder MountainsFallKetchumLandscapesLeavesSeptember 2012Sun ValleyIdahoStorm CloudsAutumnBlaine CountyWood River Valley
Sunset Over Lower Stanley
Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains backdrop the Main Salmon River as it flows past Lower Stanley at sunset.
Stanley BasinAugust 2012StanleyLower StanleySawtooth MountainsSummerSunsetFenceSalmon River
Star Trails at Shangri-La
Star trails encircle the world famous Elephant's Perch in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. Shangri-La, October 2014, just before midnight.
ShangriLaStar TrailsFallNightStarsReflectionSawtooth MountainsIdahoStanley BasinPolarisNorth StarElephant's Perch
Summer Storm in the Boulders
A storm cell passes over the Boulder Mountains just north of Sun Valley, Idaho.
Boulder MountainsCloudsJulyKetchumMountainsSilver PeakSummerSun ValleyBlaine CountyWood River Valley
Storm Over Trail Creek
Evening light illuminates a feisty storm cloud as it charges across Trail Creek and into the Pioneer Mountains outside of Sun Valley, Idaho.
FallIdahoKetchumLeavesSun ValleyTrail CreekStormRainCloudsPioneer MountainsTrail Creek PassBlaine CountyWood River ValleyAutumn
Baldy in the Fall
Bald Mountain looks down on the colorful display inherent in this photographer's favorite season.
ProctorBald MountainBaldyFallIdahoKetchumLeavesRuud MountainSun ValleyAutumnWood River ValleyBlaine County
Lupine Over Silver Creek
Wildlowers flourish in the spring at Silver Creek, near Picabo, Idaho.
LupineWildflowersSilver CreekMayIdahoLandscapesNatureSpringPicabo
