Category: Nature Photography

Mount Hood and the Hood River Valley with fruit tree orchards in fall color.

Top Spots for Fall Color in Oregon

Posted on September 17, 2020July 9, 2025 by Greg Vaughn

Mount Hood and Hood River Valley in Autumn. Autumn has long been the favorite season of many nature and landscape photographers. Changing weather and the brilliant colors of leaves provide great opportunities for getting out and capturing the beauty and...Read More

photograph of Bead Lily flowers and leaves

Wildflower Walk: Bead Lily

Posted on July 31, 2020May 9, 2025 by Greg Vaughn

Bead Lily, Willamette National Forest, Cascade Mountains, Oregon. On a wildflower hike in Oregon's Cascade Mountains last week I came across this lovely clump of Bead Lily next to the trail and under the canopy of a diverse old-growth forest....Read More

Windblown Poppies

Posted on April 4, 2020April 4, 2020 by Greg Vaughn

Windblown poppies; Carrizo Plain National Monument, California. Several months ago I put together a very detailed plan for a month-long road trip to Baja California, Mexico that included stops on the return to some of southern California's best wildflower locations....Read More

Close-up photograph of Osoberry blossoming at Mount Pisgah Arboretum

First Signs of Spring

Posted on February 2, 2020February 13, 2020 by Greg Vaughn

[caption id="attachment_15293" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Indian Plum or Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis); Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Willamette Valley, Oregon.[/caption] Looking at my Lightroom catalog, I realized that I hadn't done any serious photography for the whole month of January. That, and a day...Read More

Sand dune at dusk; White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA.

My Top 10 Nature Photos of 2019

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Greg Vaughn

Another year's orbit around the sun is almost complete. And like last year and the year before, this one seemed to go far too fast. But it was a wonderful year – a year full of wonders and a...Read More

Redwood trees in the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwoods National and State Parks, California.

Redwoods and Rhododendrons Photo Workshop

Posted on February 17, 2019December 17, 2019 by Greg Vaughn

[caption id="attachment_15150" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Redwood trees in the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwoods National and State Parks, California.[/caption] Arriving at the trailhead parking area while it was still dark, I hoped for fog in the forest when I got to...Read More

Balsamroot at The Nature Conservancy's Tom McCall Preserve overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.

Balsamroot at Rowena Crest in the Columbia River Gorge

Posted on February 15, 2019December 17, 2019 by Greg Vaughn

[caption id="attachment_15145" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Balsamroot at Rowena Crest overlooking the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.[/caption] On a plateau formed by lava flows eons ago, the Nature Conservancy’s Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena sits several hundred feet above the Columbia River....Read More

West Cascades Scenic Byway – Photographing Oregon Update

Posted on November 2, 2018April 17, 2024 by Greg Vaughn

The West Cascades Scenic Byway between the McKenzie River and Westfir is one of my favorite locations for fall color in Oregon. Passing through two major river drainages, Forest Road 19 in the Willamette National Forest is also known as...Read More

Balsamroot at Tom McCall Preserve, Rowena, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge.

Columbia River Gorge Wildflowers

Posted on April 26, 2018April 17, 2024 by Greg Vaughn

[caption id="attachment_2133" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Balsamroot at Tom McCall Preserve, Rowena, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge.[/caption] Now is the time to head to the Columbia River Gorge for wildflower photos. I stopped for a check at the Nature Conservancy’s Tom...Read More

Trail through Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwoods State and National Parks, Calfornia.

Why Do We Find Beauty in a Landscape?

Posted on February 10, 2018July 9, 2025 by Greg Vaughn

[caption id="attachment_2126" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Trail through Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwoods State and National Parks, Calfornia.[/caption] Why does man find beauty in a landscape? Is it not because he is a part of nature, inwardly subject to nature’s laws,...Read More