Sierra bound

On Saturday at 5 am I depart for a 10 day road trip to the Sierra. I passed through on my way to Oregon last month, but it was all too brief, considering it has been almost 2 years since I have stood atop one of those fine granite peaks. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but judging by todays forecast, I might be spending more time climbing in Owen’s gorge than up in the hills. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for some autumn color, but I fear I’m too early. But no worries, I’ve got bigger and better plans for the next weeks. More later…

A couple photo’s from Oct 2005, my last trip before heading overseas…

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Fall colors on Aspens in Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. © Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Fall colors on Aspens in Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. © Cody Duncan Photography

Wanaka

Lake Wanaka as seen from near the summit of Roy’s Peak. It was a cold and wet spring day when my buddy Mikkel and I decided to hike to the top, with the hope that the rain would hold for a little while longer. Nearly to the top, a gentle snow began to fall. One of those snows where it seems that the world almost becomes silent, and everything is still, except for the light flakes landing across your face. Unfortunately, the snow turned to rain once we descended in elevation, good thing Wanaka suffers no shortage of pubs for a warm meal and a pint or two.

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Panoramic landscape photograph of Lake Wanaka, New Zealand. © Cody Duncan Photography

My first trip to Wanaka would be a short one of a few day, but it became one of those places that I would return to again and again. In the Autumn, I spent several amazing weeks climbing here with a good group of people. The days were often crisp and clear with clouds coming during the night. Each morning the peaks would have a little dusting of snow, getting lower and lower as the days carried on. All around we were surrounded by the beautiful golden colors and light of the Autumn; endless days climbing under the southern sun. I stayed as long as I could, but not long enough, now that I look back on it…

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Rock Climbing in Wanaka, New Zealand.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Oh Mt. Cook, Where art thee?

My sunset at Lake Matheson, said to be one of the most photographed spots in New Zealand. If one is lucky, The magnificent Mt. Cook will be seen rising in the distance. But as the Southern Alps are basically a 12,000 foot wall rising only a few short miles from the coast, they serve as a barrier to all that weather that comes ripping out of the Tasman sea. Thus it is rainy more often than not. Still beyond beautiful none the less…

New Zealand Stock landscape Photo: reflection in Lake Matheson, New Zealand.  © Cody Duncan photography

Cape Reinga

Took this 10 shot pano nearly 2 years ago, just got around to stitching it together.

Click to view larger.

New Zealand travel stock photo: Panoramic Photograph of Cape Reinga, New Zealand. © Cody Duncan photography

Lofoten

There is nothing more spectacular than a wall of snow covered peaks rising from the sea. I have been haunted by the Lofoten since I first saw them 6 years ago, twice I have returned, but I fear that shall not be enough…

Norway Stock Photo: Panoramic photograph of Lofoten Islands in Storm.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Harbor Panos

To use my usual saying: Took a stroll down to the Santa Barbara harbor to take a few pics…

Maybe a few more words: Been working on some new ways of shooting panos, or at least new to me. I’ve got a few more ideas in the works, which should come out pretty cool if I can find the right conditions/subject.

Click on pics to view larger.

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Panoramic Photograph of Santa Barbara Harbor, California.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Panoramic Photograph of Santa Barbara Harbor, California.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan Stock Photo: Panoramic Photograph of Santa Barbara Harbor, California.  © Cody Duncan Photography

Lake Powell: Wide

3 shots stitched together in Photoshop. Click image to view larger.

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Lake Powell tilt-shift Panoramic. © Cody Duncan Photography

Tilt shift pano: 3 shots while utilizing lens tilt to change focal plane to center of frame (vertically). Click to view larger.

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Lake Powell tilt-shift Panoramic. © Cody Duncan Photography

Midnight

Swiss Alps in December. These clouds brought the winter’s first snow, by morning all was white…

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Night clouds and passing over mountains in Bernese alps of Switzerland. © Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Night clouds and passing over mountains in Bernese alps of Switzerland. © Cody Duncan Photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Night clouds and passing over mountains in Bernese alps of Switzerland. © Cody Duncan Photography

Storm

It was a cold May evening that I departed Lofoten, where I had spent the previous three weeks; arriving on an even colder April night in the middle of snow and wind and darkness. My destination was Trondheim, two days to the south traveling on the Hurtigruten, where I was then flying out the next day back to (warm) Germany. By May, being this far in the north, the days are nearly endless. Time becomes irrelevant, the sun is simply always there, or rather more correctly, somewhere behind all the clouds. As the boat gently rocked on its way to Bodø I found a nice couch in a quit part of one of the lounges to curl up on. By 4:00 the next morning I was up again, staring endlessly out the windows at mountains and snow and water and clouds and light. All day, the boat passed in and out of storms: Snow and hale and wind only to become a peaceful and calm sunny day a few moments later. As a storm would approach, I would put on every piece of clothing I had and head out to the outer deck. Blasted by wind and cold, any exposed skin would be numb in a few minutes. Then the storm would pass and I would squint into the bright reflections off the water, only to repeat the process again and again and again. I didn’t get much sleep those days…

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography

Cody Duncan Travel Photography: Stormy weather along Norwegian coast from Hurtigruten coastal ferry. © Cody Duncan photography