Spring in Hailey
The sun sets over vibrant wildflowers in Hailey's Colorado Gulch.
Blaine CountyColorado GulchCroy CanyonFlowersHaileyIdahoLupinSpringSunsetWildflowersWood River Valley
Boulder Peak At First Snow
A rainbow of fall colors sits in front of the first dusting of snow on Boulder Peak in the Boulder Mountains, north of Ketchum.
Blaine CountyBoulder PeakFallIdahoKetchumLandscapesLeavesOctober 2020Steve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyWood River ValleyBouldersBoulder Moutains
Sunset on the Camas Prairie
Storm clouds pass over Idaho’s Camas Prairie at sunset.
Camas PrairieSunsetMayIdahoLandscapesSpringTravelStormCountry Road
Snow Day
Sun Valley's legendary corduroy spoils us daily, even more so after fresh snow.
BaldyBald MountainBaldy in WinterBlaine CountyCorduroyIdahoKetchumLandscapesNordic SkiingNordic TrailsSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleySun Valley Nordic CenterWood River Valley
Pettit Fog at Sunrise
A cape of fog crawls across Pettit Lake at sunrise.
AutumnBlaine CountyCloudsFallFogIdahoLakeLandscapesMorningMountainsOctober 2022PettitPettit LakeSafariSawtooth MountainsSawtoothsStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographySunriseWaterWood River Valley
Sunrise at Little Redfish
A spectacular sunrise washes over Little Redfish Lake in Idaho's Stanley Basin.
Custer CountyFallIdahoLandscapesOctoberSawtooth MountainsStanleyStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographyLittle Redfish LakeSunriseLandscape
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
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
Torchlight Parade
Sun Valley's famous Torchlight Parade on Christmas Eve.
BaldyBald MountainBaldy in WinterBlaine CountyChristmas EveDecember 2022DollarDollar MountainFireworksIdahoKetchumNightNight SkiingSkiingSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyTorchlight ParadeWinterWood River Valley
Summer Serenity at Alice Lake
The secret is out on Alice Lake, so I'm finally able to share photos from one of my favorite spots in the Sawtooth Mountains.
Alice LakeBlaine CountyHikeIdahoJune 2020LakeLandscape PhotographyLandscapesPettitPettit LakeSawtooth MountainsStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographySummerWood River Valley
First Snow
Something magical happens when seasons collide. Fall changes to winter in Sun Valley, Idaho.
BarnBald MountainBaldyBaldy in WinterBaldy in FallFallIdahoKetchumLeavesOctoberSnowSun ValleySunriseHorsesAutumnBlaine CountyWood River ValleyWinterRiver RunSki MountainSun Valley Sunrise
Leaf Vortex
Leaves swirl their way down Trail Creek in Ketchum, Idaho.
AutumnBlaine CountyCreekFallFall ColorsIdahoKetchumLandscapeLeavesOctober 2022River RunSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyTrail CreekWaterWood River Valley
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
Spring at Little City of Rocks
The colors of spring pour through the Little City of Rocks.
Blaine CountyHikeIdahoLandscrapesLittle City of RocksMay 2022NatureSafariSpringSteve Dondero PhotographyWood River Valley
The Ponds
A late-summer storm lifts over the beaver ponds at Trail Creek.
Blaine CountyBeaver PondsPondsFallIdahoKetchumLandscapeSeptember 2022Steve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyTrail CreekWood River Valley
Pettit Fog Pano
Pettit Lake puts on a spectacular foggy sunrise in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains.
AutumnBlaine CountyCloudsFallFogIdahoLakeLandscapesMorningMountainsOctober 2022PettitPettit LakeSafariSawtooth MountainsSawtoothsStanley BasinSteve Dondero PhotographySunriseWaterWood River Valley
Pioneer Cabin B&W
The Higher You Get The Higher You Get
BackcountryBlaine CountyHikeIdahoKetchumPioneer CabinPioneer MountainsPioneersPiosSeptemberBWLandscapeSummerSun ValleyWildernessWood River Valley
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
Snow Tunnel
Even roads are magical with fresh snow.
ActionBlaine CountyIdahoJanuary 2022KetchumLandscapeSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyWinterWood River Valley
Sun Valley Nordic Center
Sun Valley Nordic Center boasts some of the best cross-country skiing in the US.
BaldyBald MountainBaldy in WinterBlaine CountyCorduroyIdahoKetchumLandscapesNordic SkiingNordic TrailsSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleySun Valley Nordic CenterWood River Valley
Fishing the Creek
The world-famous Silver Creek is a fisherman's paradise.
IdahoKetchumLandscapesMay 2014NatureSilver CreekSpringSun ValleyFishingFly FishingRiver
Above The Fog
Looking down on a fog-blanketed Ketchum from the top of Olympic Lane on Bald Mountain.
BaldyBald MountainBaldy in WinterBlaine CountyHikeJanuary 2020KetchumLong ExposureNightSki MountainSki ResortSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyWinterWood River Valley
Lupine On The Creek
Lupine flood the hills above Silver Creek Preserve.
CloudsIdahoJune 2019LandscapeLupineSilver CreekSilver Creek PreserveSpringSteve Dondero PhotographyWildflowers
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
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 MountainBaldyBaldy in FallFallIdahoKetchumLeavesRuud MountainSun ValleyProctor
Baldy Sunset from the White Clouds
The sun sets over Baldy, as seen from the White Cloud Nine fairways in Sun Valley, Idaho.
BaldyBald MountainBaldy in SummerBlaine CountyGolf CourseIdahoJune 2019KetchumLandscapeSteve Dondero PhotographySummerSun ValleyWhite CloudsWood River ValleySunsetRoad
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
Hawk Hill
The Bigwood River curves past Hawk Hill, near Galena.
ActionBlaine CountyIdahoJanuary 2022KetchumLandscapeSnowSteve Dondero PhotographySun ValleyWinterWood River Valley
Summer in the Boulders
AugustBoulder MountainsCloudsIdahoKetchumPondReflectionSummerSun ValleyWater
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
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
