The first light of sunrise slips into Cook’s Meadow in Yosemite National Park, transforming frost into mist and golden autumn foliage into a glowing crown for this famous elm tree. Taken in October 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
October 2021. Joshua Tree NP. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
The volcanic eruption at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland. Taken by drone in September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite NP, October 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Fagradalsfjall erupts. Taken by drone in September 2021 in Iceland. By Ben Blankenship.
Taken in Iceland, September 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Waves crash into a sea cave on Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. Photo taken in May 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite NP. October 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland, September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland, September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland, September 11, 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Joshua Tree NP, May 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
This vantage point is one of my favorite in Glacier National Park. The blue glacial waters of Grinnel Lake perfectly reflect the light of the setting sun while the rocky face of Angle Wing Peak fills the background. Photo taken in July 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Wildfire smoke fills the sky as the morning sun slips over the distant peaks at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. Photo taken in July 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Zion National Park. March 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Joshua Tree. May 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
After two weeks of hazy, cloudless conditions, conditions finally turned to perfection. A psychedelic pattern of clouds hung over Yosemite Valley like a beautiful tapestry for just a few moments before the autumn sun eviscerated them. Taken in Yosemite National Park, October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Olympic NP. May 2021. by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland. September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland. September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Glacial blue waters rush through the narrow reaches of Avalanche Gorge in Glacier National Park. Photo taken in July 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Olympic NP. May 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
During my time living with and photographing the artisanal gold miners of Rio Carate, it was my gold mining friend Joaquin that worked as my guide. On this day, he guided me high into the mountains to a remote stream where he had been mining for gold. The hike was a grueling ascent, and an incredibly dangerous descent, as we clung and scaled along the sides of crumbling jungle cliffs. It was all to easy to see the danger that these men and women confront on a daily basis to make a meager living off pulling gold dust from a river. Taken in Carate, Costa Rica. September 2018. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
The setting sun is framed by a gap in a sea stack on Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington. Taken in May 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Iceland. September 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
The iconic peaks of Mount Eystrahorn are wrapped in the clouds of the dying hurricane Larry as it moved over Iceland. Photographed in September 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite NP. October 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Isle of Skye, Scotland. May 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
The North Star sits at the center of this spiral of star trails. Taken in Zion National Park, March 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
As morning light slips into Yosemite Valley, it first kisses the eastern facing edge of El Capitan, a 3,000 foot granite wall. Taken in Yosemite National Park, October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Glacier NP. July 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
Grand Teton NP. October 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
My favorite type of photograph is a hybrid between wildlife and landscape, in which an animal can be featured as part of a beautiful landscape. And this photo to me embodies this duality perfectly, as this subadult brown bear rests amongst the beautiful arctic lupine wildflowers. Taken in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. June 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Yellowstone National Park. September 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Sunrise at Swiftcurrent Lake with Grinnell Point dominating the background. Taken in Glacier National Park, July 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
A Joshua tree stand alone in the approaching night in Joshua Tree National Park. Taken October 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite Valley is a wonderland of beautiful landscapes and surreal scenery. Here, the rock known as Three Brothers illuminates with early morning light, creating a scene of magical beauty. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Bryce Canyon NP. November 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
Yellowstone NP. September 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Grand Teton NP. October 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
In Yosemite National Park, as the sun sets and day turns to night, climbers high on the face of El Capitan switch on their head torches. Their lights can be seen from the valley floor, and set against a beautiful starry sky, it makes for a magical scene. Taken in October 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Glacier NP. July 2019.By Ben Blankenship.
A hiker pauses at the bridge over Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park. Photo taken in May 2021 by Ben Blankenship.
Zion NP. March 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
Atop the John Muir and Mist Trail Loop in Yosemite National Park is this incredible vantage point of Nevada Falls with the rock formation Liberty Cap. Taken in April 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Grand Teton NP. October 2019. By Ben Blankenship
Yosemite NP. October 2019. By Ben Blankenship
Grand Staircase-Escalante. March 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
October 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
Alaska. June 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Joshua Tree NP. May 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
The fall colors lit up for this midmorning shot of Cathedral Rock in Yosemite National Park. Taken October 2018. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Early morning light slips through the dense forest overtop the deep gorge dug out by Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite NP. October 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
A herd of bison graze in golden autumn grasses in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley. Taken in October 2020. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Yosemite NP. October 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
A raven perches atop an aspen tree and surveys the landscape as a herd of lions graze in the valley below. Taken in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020
Glacier NP. July 2019. By Ben Blankenship. Featuring Kevin McNeal.
Yosemite NP. April 2021. ByBen Blankenship.
Bryce Canyon NP. November 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Zion NP. November 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
This unnamed rock feature in Joshua Tree National Park aligns beautifully with the Milky Way in spring time. Taken in May 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Grand Teton NP. October 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
Great Smoky Mountains NPO. October 2020. By Ben Blankenship.
The dead trunk of a lodgepole pine tree is all that remains of a grove of trees that was inundated with the acidic waters from Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020
This very famous elm tree in Yosemite National Park has been photographed countless times. But, being able to capture its last few golden leaves lit up in dawn light before the coming winter was a special treat. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020
160 Exposures were layered to create this star trail image. Taken in Big Water, Utah. March 2021. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Zion NP. March 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
The 3000 foot vertical granite wall known as El Capitan is a favorite location for rock climbers and photographers alike. Although, its proximity to several major airports can make avoiding the contrails of airplanes very difficult! Taken in Yosemite National Park, October 2018. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Great Smoky Mountains NP. October 2020. By Ben Blankenship.
The waters of Kenai Fjords National Park are packed with wildlife, like puffins, eagles, sea lions, orcas, and these giant humpback whales. Taken June 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Utah. March 2021. By Ben Blankenship.
Calcium sulfate and thermophilic bacterial mats combine to create a painter’s pallet of color in Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs. Taken in October 2020. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Carate, Costa Rica. February 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Great Smoky Mountains NP. October 2020. By Ben Blankenship.
Grand Teton NP. October 2018. By Ben Blankenship.
Corcovado NP, Costa Rica. August 2017. By Ben Blankenship
Bryce Canyon NP. November 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
Vashon Island. 2009. By Ben Blankenship
Corcovado NP, Costa Rica. August 2017. By Ben Blankenship.
Vashon Island, Washington. 2009. By Ben Blankenship.
Oregon. 2009. By Ben Blankenship.
Cannon Beach, Oregon. 2009. By Ben Blankenship.
The Merced River in Yosemite National Park creates some of the most beautiful reflections I’ve ever seen. Here, afternoon light illuminates fall foliage against the sheer granite walls of the valley. Taken in Yosemite National Park, October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship
Grand Canyon NP. 2007. By Ben Blankenship.
Glacier NP. July 2019. By Ben Blankenship.
This Mount Rainier as seen through a vintage zeiss lens adapted to fit my digital camera body. Taken in July 2009. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
A daredevil peers into a thousand foot drop to the valley below. Taken in Yosemite National Park, October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020
Taken from Artist’s Point in Yellowstone National Park in October 2021 Photo by Ben Blankenship.
2021’s wildfire season proved to be one of the worst on record. Smoke originating in Oregon and Northern California made it all the way to Glacier National Park, obscuring many of the famous peaks.
The first snow of the fall season in 2019 covered the landscape in a dusting of white magic in Grand Teton National Park. Taken October 2019. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020
In Yellowstone National Park, in its upper geyser basin, Castle Geyser erupts in the afternoon light. Taken in October 2020. Photo by Ben Blankenship.
Light, fog, and snow make for a dreamy landscape in Yellowstone National Park. Taken October 2018. Photo by Ben Blankenship/©2020