"Find Your Way" Photo Spotlight

November greetings everyone, and wow, I can’t believe I’m saying that! We’re really getting down do it here in terms of winding up 2025. And I’d be lying if I didn’t use the words “challenging, difficult, and stressful” as summarizations, to say the least. But, I must remind myself that there has been a fair amount of fun and good memories made as well. And I’d also be wise to keep in mind the old adage that “nothing that is worth it is easy.”

These thoughts make this weeks’ photo highlight quite fitting. I feel like I’ve been doing nothing but trying to “find my way” of late, as if we aren’t always doing that to some degree of truth in our lives…

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“Find Your Way” - Bald Eagle State Forest, PA

“It has been some time since I’ve stilled this scene. In fact it is one of the oldest in my professional portfolio that I still hold near the top as some of my best work. An oldie but a goodie, if you will. Circa October 2011, I’m pretty confident off the top of my head, as it came at a time when the way finding I was doing was due to a recent relationship break-up I was having a very difficult time with.

It happened in mid-August and I can recall desperately wanting the Autumn to arrive as I looked for anything to make a difference in my surroundings. And I felt the change of seasons held the greatest promise of distraction to get me back out there, so to speak.

Although the Autumn still proved to be an emotional time for me, I did begin to get back out there and got lost in my Art for a while. This was the Fall before I would have my first backpacking adventure in the Spring of 2012, thusly all of my work was still coming via day hikes in and around the mountains of central Pennsylvania, home. I remember this October provided some brilliant foliage for a couple week period in my nearby haunts, and I took every opportunity I could to immerse myself in it!

On this particular afternoon I headed out deep into what is known as the Seven Mountains, towards Poe Valley and Poe Paddy State Parks in Bald Eagle State Forest lands. I had driven past this area a couple times already the previous week and noticed the bright red beginning to flame. The rainy, foggy conditions of the day made me feel if this grove of what I had originally thought was Red Maple was still on fire, it could be magical!…

Well, it was. And upon closer investigation, I realized these were not Maple trees at all and would later identify them as Sourwood. I spent some time there in the late afternoon examining the area and reveling in the mysticism that surrounded me everywhere I turned.

As the sunset drew closer and light was waning quickly, the atmosphere got even more photogenic. The fog thickened as it crept through the trees of this glowing red forest. Peering deep into the soul of these woods, as I recall, the internal turmoil and pain were absent and I felt a clarity I hadn’t in sometime.

Call it corny and cliché if you must, but I remember vividly in that moment knowing that it was through this veil I must go. And I do strongly feel this is one of those defining moments in my journey - as a photographer, as an artist, as a person.

Fast forward almost 15 years now and I still love to get lost in this forest. And so do many of you it seems - it has been a favorite of admirers and collectors from the moment I first shared it, through to this day.

There is just something about the eerie beauty of its enchantment and the magic of its mystery that beckons one to walk right into it. Go on ahead… ‘Find Your Way’”

https://www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/find-your-way

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If you’ve made it back out of there yet, thank you for your time and I hope you found it enriching in some manner for yourself. And if you checked out that short and anti-climactic video (Lol!) I attached on my Halloween post, thank you, there was a point to that - I want to incorporate more of my video I take while out there into the website and blog and so I wanted/need to test out a few things on my end.

There’s still one more Autumn Photograph I want to highlight yet, so be on the lookout for that most likely next week! Until then, let’s keep on hiking on through…

All my best,

Brandon

Happy Halloween and "Morning with the Maples" Photo Spotlight

Ghoulish greetings my friends! 🧛🏻‍♂️(Said in a classic Dracula voice)… I’m so sorry, wait actually no - I can’t help myself, I’m an unapologetic fun-loving nerd, lol! We are still having some rather spooky weather here in the Northeast - gray skies, spits of rain, and winds whipping all around! Hopefully anyone going out Trick or Treating tonight with their kids or just embracing the joy of being a kid themselves stays safe and has a wonderful time!

I know I say this approximately 9 times a year (albeit all for very specific reasons!), but I love this time of year! I grew up with a healthy love of the horror genre and fully embrace that to this day. I could right a whole book here on the various films, books, and video games that have brought me joy and helped shape who I am, but I’ll digress, and try to keep things more relevant, haha!

Halloween, now in middle-age adulthood, has come to represent to me the culmination of the month of October. It’s like taking everything I love about the Autumn season - the trees changing leaves, the crisp air, the delicious smells, the harvest, the horrors - and stirring it all into a Witches Cauldron for one big Monster Mash of a celebration!🧙‍♀️🍁🍄🌰🍂🧌🌕🐺🧟‍♂️🎃👻

And so, I just felt compelled to treat you all to a little piece of Autumn eye candy to enjoy throughout the All-Hallowtide Weekend we have upon us. Be sure to delve deep down to the bottom of this bag (aka this post) to enjoy a short, sweet treat…

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“Morning with the Maples” - Shenandoah National Park, VA

“Shenandoah, my first National Park. And my first National Park backpacking experience way back in October of 2012, a couple years before I made my first pilgrimage to Vermont for the Fall Foliage. This Park holds a special place in my heart, and is arguably my favorite east of the Mississippi. Once I experienced Autumn in New England, and began coinciding Art Festivals along with being up there for the first part of October, it has become increasingly difficult to make it Shenandoah then in the latter part of the month after returning home. But on occasional years, I can pull it all off in one Monster of a month, if you will!

This was one such year, and although I don’t have this date handy off the top of my head, I’m going to say it is either 2014 or 2015 because I know it’s back from my Mamiya RB67 medium-format film days. I had actually hiked this trail (Meadow School Trail in the Central District) first in the Spring and realized the forest here is predominantly Sugar Maple, need I say more!!!

Up here in the Central District of Shenandoah, you are accessing trails from much higher elevation than many further Northern and Southern District Trails. And I have learned that means peak foliage up to a week or two earlier on average, occurring more in mid-October than late October. This particular year, I was fortunate enough to nail it! I’m talking about an “All Out Glowing Orange Color Assault On Your Senses!!!” I mean, and as you can see, basically EVERY leaf was screaming “CHECK ME OUT” all the way down to the forest floor!

It was simply magical! And oh the smell!!! Such glorious conditions abounded on this backpack… The air was clear and crisp, the ground was slightly damp and evoked the Earth and the Maple Leaves in every beautiful breath! (Yes, I wholeheartedly feel the smell of a predominant Maple Forest smells different - and what I associate with the Season - than an Oak Forest, let’s say, in the Fall). I recall the night prior to photographing this scene, having one of my first quintessential Autumn backpacking experiences…

‘It was in the cool dark of night that I sat in my Therma-Rest make-shift Airpad seat, tucked in my 20 degree sleeping bag with only the light of tea candle providing any visibility. As I sipped my Southern Tier Pumking Ale, out of nowhere the shrieks and yips and howls pierced the still of night! A pack of coyotes going crazy over something! And they were close! I even got a brief glance of one prancing by in the shadows of my headlamp and candlelight! It sent chills up my spine, in a beautifully eerie way that I will never forget. How fitting for the Season!’

I remember then in the morning, it was so difficult to pull myself away. My coffee and Mountain House Biscuits & Gravy were an absolute perfect match to the brisk morning. I truly felt the essence of this forest all around me for a few blissful hours and knew I had to still it on film, so that I could always come back to my bountiful ‘Morning with the Maples.’”

https://www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/morning-with-the-maples

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Side note on the above image and story - this forest also is home to one of the oldest, gnarliest Sugar Maples I have been graced to encounter out in the Wilderness. Tap to take a peak at this spooky beauty, if you dare! Mmmmmmmwwwaaaaaaaahhhhhaaahhhaaahhh…

Happy Halloween my friends, 🎃💀🎃👻🎃🧟‍♀️🎃

Brandon

“Happy When It Rains” Photo Spotlight

Hey everyone, boy are we getting a good soaking here in the Northeast! I was just outside checking on some things and caught a little of the fresh drizzle, and it reminded me of just how refreshing and re-invigorating that feeling can be - literally like the cleansing of a shower! And so I thought I’d take a break from the “glorious sun highlighting Autumn’s beauty” type of photographs I’ve shared recently and show you that rain, mist, and fog in the Fall Forest are also quite glorious! Depending on the scene and one’s mood at that time (just like Mother Nature’s), one could even say such conditions are arguably even better…

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“Happy When It Rains” - Green Mountain National Forest, VT

I recall from this week in early October of 2018, that the mood you see here pretty much sums it up. I was on my traditional backpacking week between two Art Festival weekends up in Vermont, and I had chosen this little nook of the Appalachian/Long Trail near Killington. (If you read my “In the Heart of Autumn” spotlight on October 1st, yes that same stretch of trail!)

“Often, people will say what a great day to be out taking photographs on a bright, sunny day. And while, yes, I enjoy a lovely sunny day out on the trail as much as the next person, it doesn’t always exactly resonate with stunning photography outside of the wee early hours and then the latter hours of the day. But clouds, on the other hand, contribute to nice, even light, even during times of the day when light can typically be too harsh. And storms, well, they can create otherworldly conditions and atmosphere!

As I’m sure I mentioned in that other post, this stretch of forest is filled with towering Old-Growth Sugar Maples, not to mention Red Maples, White and Gray Birch, Beech, Aspen, Hemlock, and well, you get the idea - it is a magical place to find yourself lost in for a time!

And this time that I was given was wet. Multiple storms hovered over the region for most of that week, but you know what? I had such a memorable time filled with wonder just kind of hanging out for a few days. I had made a lovely little campsite hidden well off the trail, nestled in amongst some of the Giants of the Forest. And there I basically holed up in my hammock, rain fly, warm clothes and good rain gear. I can vividly recall how relaxing it was and the strong smell of the damp Autumn Woods. And when the rains weren’t too drenching, I would head out with my camera and explore…

Of the uncountable incredible scenes I came across on these early days of Autumn - the forest still lushly green, dappled with those Sugar and Red Maples beginning to vibrantly glow in their oranges and reds, veiled by mist and fog - this one made me stop in my tracks and ponder it for some time. And when that happens, it usually means it is time to break out the beast (aka the large-format 4x5 view camera).

Those soaked and saturated heart-shaped leaves just jumped out of the scene before me along with the downed birch trunk and foreground green, while everything else - hints of orange and the forest you know is back there is kind of cloaked in another world by the misty atmosphere. I just love how the image oozes with earthiness and mystery. You can just feel the dampness and smell the Earth! And one can’t help but wonder what other treasures lurk just beyond sight, out there in the fog…

After exposing my sheets of film, I meandered back to my little hammock cave and would soak in another night of rain drops falling through the forest, beading off of my rain fly and the Old-Growth Giants swaying in the breeze. I eventually would really get a good drenching on my backpack out, the kind that even solid rain gear can’t withstand forever haha, but I wouldn’t have wanted any of this rain soaked adventure to be any different. What a healthy, refreshing reminder to slow down and absorb the world around you.”

https://www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/happy-when-it-rains

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Take care and be on the lookout again tomorrow, I have another Treat lined up for this Halloween Weekend, because why not have a little excess goodness during this Spooky fun time of the year!

All my best,

Brandon

P.S. - It also recently hit me to get back to showing this when I do a photo spotlight to give you an idea of how the image could look in one of my Custom Curly Maple Frames!

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"Autumn's Divine Glory" / "Maple Kissed by Dawn" Photo Spotlights

Happy greetings on this glorious mid-October day! And welcome to a few of you whom I just met in Northampton, MA at the Paradise City Arts Festival this past weekend, it was a pleasure. I missed posting this last week amidst the scramble of show life and travels, so I’m giving you a double whammy to enjoy. Very apropos, as Autumn’s blaze has been firing up through Northern Vermont the past couple weeks and is moving southward throughout the Northeast!

Funny enough, I had actually forgotten that these two images were made only a week apart from each other. In my head they were 2 different years, but no - only 5 days apart, both along the Long Trail while backpacking up Mount Mansfield near Stowe, VT. The first one somewhere in the ballpark of 500-1,000 feet higher up the mountain than the latter the following week. The foliage that year (2016) was special, as you can see! And as you will read direct writings from my journal, I was having very similar emotions on both backpacks…

“Autumn’s Divine Glory”

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“- From my journal on October 6th, 2016 from where I made camp off of the Long Trail hiking up Mt. Mansfield in Vermont -

         I came upon these beckoning Sugar Maples late in the day and made camp right here in hopes to catch the dawn’s first light setting them on fire. Earlier today I smelled Fall distinctly for the first time this season. Halfway up this mountain, on the Long Trail, the delicious smell of Autumn leaves in the crisp air! Mixed with the strong scent of pine and fir and the Earthy aroma of damp soil in the coolness of shade towards sunset, the smell evoked the spirit of the season! Within this forest of Maple, Birch, and Evergreen, I sit with my eyes and thoughts fixed upon the stars and the silhouetted giant trees. Leaves tumble down upon me in the breeze as I drift amongst the stars. I await the morning light to cast its glow upon these mountains, ablaze with Autumn fire like I have only ever imagined...”

         -October 7th-  

         “I awoke this morning to a magnificent pre-dawn glow, accentuating the orange glow of the maples with its pinkish-purple hue. The first rays of light to touch these beauties were purely divine. Highlighted Birch bark and fiery Sugar Maple leaves contrast against the shadow of the Green Mountains. What a majestic scene in this golden light! The heavy smell of fir mingles with the unmistakable scent of Autumn. The leaves, the cool air, the dampness in this refreshing light. It is so peaceful as birds softly chatter and it lulls me back to a dreamy state... Autumn’s glory, so fleeting and so precious.”

www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/autumn’s-divine-glory

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“Maple Kissed by Dawn”

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October 11th, 2016 -

“How glorious this crisp October morning is underneath this canopy of majestic Maples! When the sun breaks the facing mountains at dawn and casts its soft warm glow upon this forest, its light sets the fiery orange and red Sugar Maples ablaze! Like rekindling the flame that temporarily burned to embers, the Sugar Maples’ dark orange hue from their nightly slumber is awakened with brilliance!

         It truly is Autumn in all it’s glory where I sit right now, sipping my coffee. I have camped amongst some magnificent old beauties this past evening and morning. Although brisk, chilling winds whipped around last night for hours before calming, the sky was as clear as could be - starlit with a waxing gibbous moon glow. And this morning, not a cloud in the sky, that deep crisp blue like only October can produce. The sun gives warmth yet a chill at the same time. And the forest a splattering of fading lime greens, shimmering yellows, glowing oranges and burning reds!

         It is calm and quiet, unlike the peacefulness of the birdsongs and insects of Spring and Summer, you can almost hear the air this time of year. And oh, the smell of the leaves! Like only a forest floor blanketed with Maple and Birch leaves can smell… Yes, Autumn is in the air!”

www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/maple-kissed-by-dawn

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More Autumn adventures to come over the next few weeks! Until then, get out and enjoy the bounty of the season!

All my best,

Brandon

“In the Heart of Autumn” Photo Spotlight

Happy October everyone! As I mentioned before, I’m going to be highlighting some of my favorite Autumn photographs throughout this glorious season!🍁

“Before I really discovered Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, when I first started making yearly Autumnal pilgrimages up here, my favorite backpacking stretch became a section of the Appalachian/Long Trail that you can access from and/or near Gifford Woods State Park basically right in the center (or heart) of Vermont.

The trail (packed full with rocks and roots as is typical of the Northeast!), takes you through a magnificent forest of Beech, Birch and towering old Sugar Maples as you climb your way towards both Pico and Killington summits. The higher you go, more coniferous forest begins to dominate and you truly enter a different world from the one below.

I haven’t hiked it in the Fall that recently, although I did enjoy a Winter Solstice backpack there a few years ago which you may or may not see a result of in my portfolio’s future!😉… But of the few years of early October backpacks I did there in the mid-to-late 2010’s, my experiences were always magical.

From crisp sunny days with glowing oranges and reds to damp, fog, mist and rain creating otherworldly realms in these ancient mountains, I have experienced a lot of what Mother Nature can throw at you in this relatively short stretch of mileage.

And not to mention wildlife sights and sounds - I remember one evening hiking past an abundance of packs of glowing eyes in the dark wondering what exactly what it was watching me. Only later to hear wild yips and howls of coyotes echoing in the night. I’ve experienced this a few times here, as well as the hoots and howls of owls, both of which add a wonderful touch to the October ambiance if you ask me!🎃

I guess what all of this boils down to is this - ever since I have begun exploring New England, Vermont in particular, I have strongly felt that if a Season (in this case Autumn) has a heart and that heart has a Place, it is buried deep in the Green Mountains of Vermont, protected by the ancient forest that surrounds it…

On this particular morning, I awoke pre-dawn from my deep forest backcountry site and hiked close to a mile up to this lovely overlook I’ve always admired in the damp, yet crisp, cool October air to await full early sunlight highlighting the brilliant blanket of Autumn foliage. From the glowing Maples in the hills and valleys below, to the central Fir, to the bordering Birch trees acting skeletal, if you will - all of it encompassing the beating heart of the Place and the Season.”

All my best,

Brandon

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P.S. - And in case you missed yesterday’s email, here’s a quick link to go back to the post to find out about a special offering for a limited time…

www.brandonklinewnp.com/trailblog/2025/9/30/greetings-from-the-northeast-kingdom-and-a-special-autumn-offering

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Greetings from the Northeast Kingdom!… (And a Special Autumn Offering!)

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Hey everyone and welcome a handful of newcomers from the Quechee Art Festival this past weekend. It was such a fun weekend meeting all of you and being back in Vermont for the magic of Autumn in New England!

The drive up here to Brighton State Park in Island Pond, VT (yesterday Monday, September 29th)was nothing short of spectacular! We took some scenic detours including stopping at The Willey’s General Store for some supplies and driving all around Lake Willoughby, always an inspirational sight to behold! I can’t tell you how many times I listened to James Taylor’s “October Road” in pure memerization of the season, lol!

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And while on the road, taking in the glory, I got inspired to share an Autumn offering with all of you…

I was already planning on kicking off my lineup of weekly Autumn Photograph favorites with a post tomorrow in honor of it being the first day of October, a very special time of the year to me! And then I got to thinking - I should extend a special offer to everyone here, as it’s been a while since I’ve done something of the sort.

I’d like to offer anyone who would like one (or more!) of my custom Curly Maple Framed Photographs at 30% off of their regular price! This includes anything that I currently have on hand that you may have seen in my booth recently and/or brand new Made for Delivery orders. This offer is good from now thru Thursday October 9th! (I’ll be setting up for the Paradise City Northhampton, MA Art Festival on Friday October 10th for the Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend.)

This is a GREAT opportunity if you’ve been on the fence about a piece (or pieces), especially some of my bigger sizes. For example, my current big show piece - a 32x40 print in a 40x50 frame is currently $3,800. At 30% off that’s $2,660, over a thousand dollars saved ($1,140 to be exact)! And so on down the line…

And if you’re not in the market for a framed piece, but would really love a print, I can take 20% off full print price for you.

This offer is not available in the Print Purchasing page on the website. You have to email, call or text me with what you’d like.

Here’s a few looks to perhaps help give you ideas and/or refresh your memory. I hope to hear from you and be on the lookout for tomorrow’s Photo Spotlight!

All my best,

Brandon

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“Fortune and Glory” 32x40 Print in Black Mat and 40x50 Frame - Reg. $3,800 would be $2,660

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“Autumn’s Divine Glory” 16x20 Print in Brown Suede/White Mat and 24x30 Frame - Reg. $1,000 would be $700

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“Shenandoah Dreamin’” 20x24 Print in Green Suede/Black Mat and 28x34 Frame - Reg. $1,750 would be $1,225

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Happy Autumn Equinox! & "To Last a Lifetime" / "Of Things to Come" Photo Spotlights

Good afternoon and Happy Autumn Equinox everyone! This seasonal change always brings a lot of emotions for me. Usually come late August/early September you can just feel nature’s life cycle winding down and I can say I have felt that very distinctly this year. But then, right around now and going into October, the changing leaves and crisp air tend to get me fired up for the last hurrah, Nature’s Grand Finale!

I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t been an extremely challenging year, but I am so excited and looking forward to the next few weeks -

I’ll be heading out Thursday for Vermont to try a brand new festival in Quechee, near the popular town of Woodstock. The show runs Friday to Sunday, hours and specs here - www.brandonklinewnp.com/art-festival-lineup-2025 - Anna and our dogs will join me over the weekend for camping at Quechee State Park and then we’ll head up to the Northeast Kingdom for the following week of camping and hopefully catching the spectacular display of Autumn Foliage up there!

Then the weekend of Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I’ll be in Northhampton, MA for the Paradise City Arts Festival. And with any luck, I hope to get some good backpacking in during that first full week of October!

So, if you find yourself in New England during any of these time frames, I’d love for you to come see me at the shows and enjoy Autumn’s show as well, New England rarely disappoints!

I plan on lining up weekly Photo Spotlights to be released from now through October/early November showcasing some of my favorites of the season and will keep you posted as I can…

Oh and the on-line store is still open, any orders placed while I’m on the road will be fulfilled as soon as I can (approximately a 2-3 week timeframe).

Ok, here’s the fun stuff…

“To Last a Lifetime”

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“It was myself, my brother and our father, in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time and the first time my brother and I got our Dad out backpacking!  It was truly unique experiencing these beautiful Appalachian Mountains on this grand of a scale and just how bio-diverse these ancient Smokies really are!  

Despite being one of the wettest and dampest adventures overall that I have experienced, and thusly being a bit of a damper for our father, it was nonetheless an amazing experience traversing through different climate zones and such a variety of forest types. From mixed deciduous hardwoods, through rhododendron tunnels (which we dubbed “the enchanted emerald forest”), and up to huge Hemlock realms we hiked. 

This image is, to me, a beautiful representation to sum up our adventure.  The photograph was taken right beside our camping location on a mid-September's late afternoon.  To my companions chagrin (haha!), the fog really made the atmosphere for me, creeping through this dense forest of towering Hemlocks and Red Maples.  As I was setting up my camera, my brother was asking me where exactly I was going to hang my hammock...  

“Oh, you mean using that dead tree there?” he asked.  

“Ahh I’m sure it’s fine” I responded.  

Eeeeerrrrrrrr, BOOM!  About 30 feet to my right, a tree fell over...  No one hurt, laughs all around, and needless to say I reconsidered my sleeping placement.  

We soon got a fire going to warm the spirit and later were serenaded to sleep by the chattering katydids and crickets in a thundering echo like I have never heard before... It all still rings so loud in my mind. Much like the ancients dwelling here, memories were made "To Last a Lifetime."

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“Of Things to Come”

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“A little known image in my portfolio, as I don’t typically advertise it or have it on display in my booth. But I still love to gaze at it from time to time and is about as good of a presentation of a close-up as you will find in my portfolio.

The reason, I share it along with “To Last a Lifetime" you ask?

Well, the reason is quite simple - you see, if you were standing right where I was at the same moment I was when I photographed “To Last a Lifetime” and you panned the camera down towards your feet… Ta-Dah!

I just loved how damp and green the forest floor was and having this perfectly placed Red Maple leaf adorned in its Autumn hues just laying there, recently dropped from the towering tree canopy above on this mid-September day, whispering a signal to us “Of Things to Come.”

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Find them both in the store directly here! -

www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/to-last-a-lifetime

www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing/of-things-to-come

And as always, any questions, concerns or anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

All my best,

Brandon

Official On-Line Store Open for Business!!! (Re-Send, Apologies if you saw this over the weekend, but I noticed a formatting issue, plus added a few updates since then!)

Remember when I said last Saturday that I had a big announcement for the website coming this week?…

Well, at long last, I have worked through several of the logistics and many of my own back and forth question marks about beginning to set up my on-line store and I am happy to say it is officially up and running!!!

You can find it on my website under Print Purchasing on the menu header. Here are some direct links for super-convenience…

The Home Page and Full Gallery -www.brandonklinewnp.com

The Print Purchasing Page - www.brandonklinewnp.com/printpurchasing

Right now, I have 30 of my favorite and best selling images available at the click of a few buttons! I just added locations for all of these photographs as well. You can also find all currently available works on the Gallery Page and simply reach out to me about anything not yet on the Purchasing Page. I just really wanted to get this out there at last!

All Photographs are Silver Halide Photo-Chemical Prints on Fuji Crystal Archive Lustre Paper, titled and signed w/ either Artist Proof or Limited Edition number.

At this moment, I am only set-up for loose prints for this direct on-site purchase. I do plan on potentially adding matted, framed and/or what I currently have on hand once I have a little more time to dedicate to that process. In the meantime, if you want your print to be matted and/or framed just reach out to me and we can discuss all options and prices.

They are subject to Pennsylvania sales tax which is 6% and applied to the purchase at the end of checkout. Currently I am choosing a $15 flat rate shipping fee for ease and convenience, which is also added to the balance during checkout.

I’m so excited to finally be offering this! And as a kick-off special, any orders from now through Wednesday September 17th (extending this to Friday the 19th!!!) I am offering buy one at full price and get a second one of same size or smaller at 50% off! (The deadline is so I can get them printed and out to you before I’ll be on the road for a few weeks for some Art Festivals and Autumn Foliage Adventures!!!🍁)

You will just need to let me know what your second choice is in one of two ways - by simply providing the other image title & size you would like in the Customer Specs additional info block that pops up when adding to cart. Or you can email me/call me separately too! I will have to manually provide the discount for you and reach out to you with that anyway.

I have also just edited my About, Mission, and Art Festival pages and added an Artist Statement Page as well, with more updates and edits planned…

Please let me know if you encounter any issues or have any questions, and happy browsing!😁

As always, with all my gratitude,

Brandon

So Many Things…

Well, I think I have broken my own silence streak record by a long shot, once again, sigh…

You see, I have this terrible “it’s got to be the greatest thing ever written” syndrome which tragically translates to silence way more often than anything productive. And the funny thing is, whether you believe it or not, my own silence towards you - my collectors, my admirers, my audience - is one of the greatest stresses I inflict upon myself. There honestly isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t stress about wanting or NEEDING to write SOMETHING, ANYTHING!!!

And yet here we are, what’s it been? Two years?? More than a year, I know that. Not a very good way to keep people engaged.

And so here I sit now, with so many things to say, so many things to do. And let’s face it, things are far from coming easy these days… I could say there are so many things to complain about. But you know what, ultimately I really do feel that there are so many things to be thankful for too.

And I want to keep this positive. After all, that is who I am. And I am welcoming many new subscribers from festivals of the past year and half with this…

Welcome to a place where (hopefully) Nature and the often times “occasional” crazy adventure story can transport you away from the cares and troubles of everyday life and to a place of peace and inspiration.

For those of you who haven’t just met me recently at a festival or heard from me in forever - I am alive and well and I’ve been hiking on “out there,” so to speak!

I’ve finally recently made a few adjustments and updates on my website and I am working on much more to make it a better and easier viewing experience, amongst a million other things! And fingers crossed, without unforeseen hiccups, I have a Big addition soon to be available on the site… So be on the lookout!

Speaking of Big - There’s a pretty awesome secret I’ve been holding in my pocket for over a year now… Guess who is having a photo published in the upcoming new edition of National Geographic’s Guide to the National Parks??!!! More to come on this, but since I’m writing here for the first time since then, I can’t bear to hold it in any longer!

Lastly, as always, I can’t not leave you with a “pretty picture,” right?!

So in striving to keep this simpler and sweeter and continuing with the “Big” theme - enjoy this oldie but goodie… some of my photos have a grand tale behind them, and some of them are a mere matter of dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time. Here’s one on the “lazier” side of that equation. Nevertheless, always a crowd pleaser and one of my best sellers, still, to date.

I just happened to be driving by this access area of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park on this mid-July evening back in 2015 when the setting sun broke through the storm clouds and I knew I had to stop… and boy am I glad I did! I stood at the lake shore for over an hour watching the drama unfold, exposing 5 frames on the roll of 120 Fuji Velvia Film I had loaded in the magazine of my Mamiya RB67. This is the one I consider to be the “peak” moment of this sunsets eruption. And although that journey out West (my first cross-country road trip!) was tumultuous in so many ways, it sparked something inside of me that I have never turned back from. And in so many ways it reminds me to this day, a decade later, to never give up and it continues to inspire me to “Dream Big.”

All my best,

Brandon

The Hand that is Dealt…

Well, it has been some time, and I apologize for that. I did not think that when I last posted on January 11th, that November 2nd would be my next post. Nor, for that matter, that the state of the world would be what it is and has been during most of this year.

I want to say a couple things first, just to be clear… this is NOT a political post. I wanted to make sure no one is mislead on that and it was/is important to me that I wrote and posted this before the election (though I do hope everyone goes out to vote!) and results so that no one would be mislead about the title “The hand that is dealt” I have chosen. Sadly, I have been sitting on this title saved in my blog lineup since early March. Take it how you will in your own circumstances but “The hand that is dealt” for this instance means that I make no excuses for “success” or “failure” given the times we are in.

I really have only two “idols” if you will in my genre. Ansel Adams, whom I’m sure most of you have heard of, and Rodney Lough, Jr., probably not the same household name but in my opinion, the modern day Ansel Adams and someone whose work you should look at! Both of these men set the example for the standard of the quality of work I strive for. Both also come from very different time periods and world circumstances. Ansel rose to prominence during The Great Depression and is widely considered the father of the American Landscape tradition, photographically speaking. Rodney, on the other hand made a name for himself out on the art festival circuit in the late 80’s and early 90’s and has become perhaps the most currently renowned and financially successful artist in this field that I can think of. I have even had the pleasure of meeting the man, on my first cross country road trip in 2015. I got to meet my modern day hero and biggest inspiration and he did not disappoint! He and his wife are so kind and welcoming and gave me a complete studio tour followed by me just hanging out with him in his office editing room for about two hours talking all things life, hiking/camping/backpacking, and nature. Amazing.

The point to all this being, unfortunately, the art festival circuit (from what I am told anyways) is “not what it used to be” in relation to the grandeur’s of “success” some have seen during better economical times. But, none of that really matters. All we can do is play the hand we have been dealt and it is in this thought that I always come back to Ansel. I, nor hardly any of us, have ANY idea what it must have been like during The Great Depression. And to think of this man rising to such greatness during such times just really speaks strongly to me about what IS possible. I am in no way trying to make any comparisons of myself to these men, it is simply that these are the only professional influences that I pay any mind to really and so their stories resonate with me.

So I am here to tell you that despite being quiet for a while and the fact that there haven’t hardly been any art festivals to be able to be held this year (I and many of my friends had total cancellations) and we don’t know when things will resume on an even somewhat “normal” level, that I am in no way giving up! I am still playing my hand, it has just been on a bit of a pause. Many of you whom I have had in depth conversations with have heard me say that I fill in the gaps with landscape work. Well, this year has pretty much been all landscape work, which honestly I am thankful for. I know this year has been so tough on so many levels, so to have the opportunity to have a “backup” to go to for consistent income and for that to also be something that keeps me outside and that I enjoy doing AND it also be with a good friend, has been a blessing!

I felt it was important to let all of you know that has been what I’ve been up to. My dreams are still the same. I have simply been biding my time and making money that I can hopefully use wisely for the future of my artwork! I also wanted to say that I sincerely hope you all are doing as well as can possibly be during these times and please feel free to reach out and say hi, I would love to know that you are well!

And lastly, just so you know, things are not at a complete standstill. I am still capable of producing any work which has been available if anyone has any inquiries. I have quite a load of new work that I am chomping at the bit to be able to produce, but as some of my resources have also been affected, I haven’t had too much opportunity to do so. However, it has also accelerated my desire to procure more of my own “in house” capabilities which I hope to acquire soon and be able to have a very productive Winter!🤞😁

Speaking of which, looking ahead to later November and into December, I have just gotten word that the Central PA Festival of the Arts organizers are providing us with an on-line platform of promotion running through November 27th-December 18th. And also I have just submitted some work and thoughts to a Penn State student organization trying to promote awareness of art and mental health with an Instagram tag of @arts.for.health in which my highlight should be posting later this month. So please feel free to pass the words along to any interested and again, as always (and preferably!😉) feel free to contact me directly about anything!

Again, my apologies for taking so long to reach out to everyone, I realize I have a bad habit of becoming silent for too long at times and then it becomes more difficult for me to figure out what I want to say or how to go about jumping back into it. But, as the landscaping season continues to wind down, I intend for my voice to become more active and to get back to sharing what I do… (And don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my promise to finish up a couple stories I left hanging!) In the meantime, in the spirit of a Halloween post I made last year, enjoy a few spooky tree/forest pics from some adventures I was able to have recently🎃

My very best,

Brandon

Full Moon Fun

As I mentioned in my post you would have received on Friday January 10th at 11:00am EST, (Which, if you missed it, you’ll wanna go back and be sure to check it out as it contains a New Image Release!😉) I was out for my first hike of 2020 on Thursday. And the mysterious beauty of the rising Full Moon was so spectacular! I just have to share my short journal excerpt and a few pics with you…

January 9th -

“I was out for my first hike of the New Year today. And what a breath of fresh air it was! My first hike out in the mountains with gear since late October this past year, too long.

A minor snowfall, first of the year, this past Tuesday the 7th dusted our area in Central Pennsylvania with about an inch. Enough to whiten the countryside and mountain slopes with clinging beauty!

The air this evening was crisp, just below freezing and it felt invigorating heaving in and out of my lungs as I climbed up Spruce Gap! There wasn’t a soul about, except for myself, and the quiet stillness reminded me swiftly of the peaceful charm of Winter. The Full Wolf/Cold Moon was glowing in all her mysterious wonder as I descended the mountain, filled with the magic in the air.”

“Sweet Serenity”/Official New Image Release

Well, I was just out for my first hike of the New Year this past late afternoon/early evening, and I thought what better way to kick off my “Tales from the Trail” Blog in 2020 than with a new image release!

I have a confession to make - I’ve been holding this one, and a few others for that matter😉, for public spectacle until the new year. As I mentioned in my New Year’s Eve post, I currently have 6 new images I’ll be unveiling throughout this Winter. So, to kick it off, I am proud to present “Sweet Serenity”…

This little slice of Winter bliss dates back to March 2017. If you recall, Winter Storm Stella, a Nor’Easter that pummeled much of, well the Northeast. Some of you may know, while others may not - but since I embarked on the journey to whole heartedly chase my artistic dreams in July of 2016, I have also filled in the seasonal gaps by doing Landscape work. Not only does this allow me to continue to “play” outside, but I find the physicality of it, much like backpacking, to be extremely satisfying. Why do I mention this? Well, this Winter of 2017 was when I became involved in this “side work” by helping with snow removal with a local Landscaping company. I love being out in the storms and feeling a part of it all, pushing ones limits and reaping the rewards. However, it can be frustrating when I would love to just be “out there” hiking and enjoying but not wanting to give up the income.

Fortunately, working on a sub-contract basis, I can say yeah or nay certain times if I really want. On this occasion, as Stella was hitting our area in the wee hours of the night and continuing through the next day, I decided I was “unavailable” until noon to give myself a little time doing what I love in the midst of a Winter Storm, rather than simply enjoying the aftermath. This aloted me a few hours of peaceful bliss hiking, rather trudging, through about a foot of snow in an area known as Shingletown Gap in the Tussey Mountain region where I had lived.
I have always found this little neck of the woods, resplendent with Hemlock and Rhododendron tunnels surrounding a babbling brook, to be a Winter haven. I could try and write a million more words describing the scene, but I think you can perfectly see how sweetly serene is the calm and quiet of this snow falling down in the forest. And there is nothing else, there needs be nothing else in this moment of peace.

I would shortly after, go on to help my comrades for roughly 24 hours of snow removal and drifting/ice cleanup for the next 3 days. But all the while, I had this scene of “Sweet Serenity” drifting through my mind.

“Sweet Serenity” - Brandon Kline

A Look Back and Looking Forward…

Well folks, can you believe that 2019 is coming to a close?! And not only are we preparing to embark on a new year but a new decade as well!

As the Yuletide Holiday Season wanes, this is a time when often I find myself in a reflective, relaxed state. During these early days of Winter, I cherish the moments and memories that have passed as I build strength and excitement of what the New Year will bring!

At a brief glance, 2019 was packed with days of fulfillment, wild adventures, challenges and love. I honestly could not ask for much more within my means. And if I had to sum up this past decade in a statement, I can honestly say that throughout all the trials and tumbles, I have never stopped climbing the mountain of my dreams. And my vantage point now - despite having quite an ascent and many more obstacles to go I am sure - is a thing of remarkable beauty, filled with awe-inspiring optimism!

So, looking to the near future of 2020 - I have a couple stories to finish sharing with you which encompass my favorite memories of 2019. And as of right now, I have at least 6 official new image releases to share! As well as whatever untold stories this Winter has in store…

And just a reminder, if you haven’t taken advantage yet and there is a piece (or more!) you’ve had in mind, there is still a week left to treat yourself! - www.brandonklinewnp.com/for-the-holidays

Wishing you all a safe, successful, adventurous and wonderful Happy New Year!!! I look forward to seeing you down the trail in 2020😉

Winter Solstice Greetings and a Merry Christmas to All!

Seasons greetings everyone! And a belated Happy Winter Solstice… I hope you all enjoy the warm, cozy comforts of MidWinter to add merry cheer to your Holidays!

I would also like to take a moment to thank each and everyone of you for your appreciation and support! It truly means the world to me. I wouldn’t be where I am without you! I have learned and grown so much on this journey of being an artist and I do not take for granted one moment how important you all are to this process. This 4th year out on the circuit has been by far my brightest one and with any luck, I can’t wait to build on that this coming year!

So thank you so very much for brightening my Holiday Spirit and all my days. Wishing a Very Merry Christmas to you all and to all a Goodnight!🎄❄️🎅

Warm Holiday Wishes

Yuletide Greetings everyone! I hope this finds you all enjoying a lovely Holiday Season this far. I can’t believe Christmas and all celebrations of the MidWinter are upon us. Always a busy time of year, but also a wonderful, festive, and reflective time! I’ve always found such great pleasure and peace during the Holidays by simply enjoying some quiet moments at the end of the day sitting by nothing but tree light in the dark.

And in the Spirit of this Season, I would like to show my thanks and appreciation to all of you by presenting you the opportunity to bring the beauty and peace of Nature into your home for those quiet, reflective, inspirational moments.

For the next 3 weeks, from now through the first weekend of the New Year (January 4th/5th), I am offering the following options for any Photograph(s), Artist Proof and/or Limited Edition, in my collection available in Loose Print, Matted, and/or completely Custom Framed -

1) Print Sizes 8x10 and 11x14 - buy one get one FREE!

2) Print Size 16x20 up through 40x50 - buy one regular price get another of equal or smaller size 50% off! (Or get a free 8x10 or 11x14)

3) Only have the want or need for one piece? - take 30% off regular price!

4) Want your Artwork completely Custom Framed? - take 20% off regular price!

So check out the website - here are a few direct links to make life easy…

Portfolio - www.brandonklinewnp.com/gallery

Prices and Print/Matting info - www.brandonklinewnp.com/ordering-guide

Framing info (bottom of page under Archival Quality and Framing) - www.brandonklinewnp.com/about

…and give me a call at (814) 441-8238 or shoot me an eMail at brandonkline725@gmail.com and let me know what I can help you with!

And one more thing… you can also place your order for the 2020 Nature’s Grandeur Calendar! I have a few upgrades to this years’ model and am excited for the final product! If all goes well, I hope to be able to ship any orders I receive this week by the weeks end. And with any luck may be just in time for Christmas. But they will also be available into the New Year. This year’s calendar is priced at $22.00 (flat rate, shipping included).

You’ll be hearing from me a good bit between now and Christmas and into the New Year with lots up my sleeve🎅😉 And I look forward to perhaps hearing from some of you as well with anything I may be able to assist you with! In the meantime, wishing you all the very best this Festive Season!

“Just Be Here” (part 3 of 4)

I sincerely hope everyone has just enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving Holiday with family, friends, and loved ones! I am sorry to not have wished you all a wonderful feast prior, I found myself quite busy helping a fellow landscaper finish a project before the holiday and then fell a bit ill unfortunately. But, alas I did have a nice visit with my family and have been able to rest and reset!

And no time to waste, as the great MidWinter festivities are a mere few weeks away! Speaking of, I will announce a Holiday surprise or two early next week, and yes, I am making Calendars again! I am currently in the works of it and plan to have it complete by the weekend of the 14/15th so that orders can get out it time for Christmas! Official announcement and ability to pre-order coming next week as well…

In the meantime, I still have MUCH I have promised you! Allow me first to complete my epic tale “Just Be Here” relayed directly from my journal entries of my time out West this past Summer. If you find yourself needing to refresh your memory or if you are a newcomer to the blog - parts 1 and 2 were posted September 20th and 30th respectively if you wish to scroll back through to find them. I last left you with my time in the Tetons and Yellowstone and now to a place I am most thankful for…

Glacier National Park, MT

August 20th -

“Quiet along the Cut Bank… Out for a leisurely late afternoon/early evening hike on the Pitamakan Pass Trail and taking a nice sit down enjoying the peace and solitude along the North Fork of the Cut Bank Creek right now.

I drove through these beloved gates of Glacier Sunday morning the 18th. Finding myself in the Two Medicine region of the Park for the first time, I am so pleasantly surprised at how lushly green it is here! I feel many pictures I have seen have depicted a more barren (albeit still incredible) landscape in this part of the Park, but not so in the least!

I backpacked out to Upper Two Medicine Lake Sunday evening, reveling in the glorious play of the setting sunlight upon the mountainsides. Most excitingly, I encountered my first Moose!!! And my what a big bull he is! Startled by a grunt and thinking I was about to have my first Grizzly encounter, I looked up in to the forest to see this magnificent animal checking me out. What an experience!

And if that were not enough, that evening while conversing with the group at camp (being lead by a Glacier Guides man whom I had met at Bowman Lake in 2o16 (what are the chances?!), and consisting of a wonderful couple, Alex and Katie, whom I hit it off with), the big guy decided to come join us for a twilight drink at the lake and chomping of the brush, giving us quite a show for at least a half hour or so! Even in the dark, by headlamp, one could gauge the enormosity of his head just by seeing the distance between his eyes, ahhh Glacier!

That night I sat at the lakeshore getting lost in the bounty of stars and spiritly spires of the cragged mountains, like ghosts glowing white in the rising moonlight. These moments are what magic truly is.

The next morning I lazily relaxed before hiking out, enjoying the blue-green sparkle of the lake and the morning light on the mountains. I waded into the lake to refresh for a while and cleanse the Spirit, feeling the Mountains blowing in the Wind...

Wouldn’t you know it, while hiking out, another Moose! This time a female, not 20 feet away munching on the brush without a care of me in the world I don’t think. I would say she was almost as hugely impressive as the male - minus the rack and a little bulk perhaps.

Last night I built a fire at Red Eagle Campground on Blackfeet Indian Reservation ground just East of Two Medicine and relaxed into the star rich night under the Milky Way.

An early start this morning to see what other backcountry plans I could ensure gave me such a graceful sunrise moment on Two Medicine Lake as the pink glow illuminated the mountains through the valley I had just hiked. And after a lazy kind of day overall, here I sit enjoying this peace and quiet along the Cut Bank.

I think it’s time to go build a fire and converse with some of Glacier’s Spirits. A long day lies ahead…”

August 21st - “Wow… that about sums it up. This morning began at 3:30am, making coffee by moonlight at my Cut Bank campsite and driving over to Many Glacier. I began hiking by the soft glow of pre-dawn through the forest along the shores of Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes. Very early on, a movement in the forest and a couple sets of eyes met my headlamp - Bear, deer?? Not so sure to be honest?!!

Although I began hiking about an hour later than I had hoped, it proved not to matter in terms of the photograph that was in my head. As the sun angle now in later August takes a while to rise up over the mountains to where it lights the scene - late July I think would be ideal for the Sun breaking the horizon in the valley between and basking what lies before me in fresh golden glow.

Nonetheless, the colors, mood and light upon these lakes, forests, and granite peaks I witnessed this morning on the roughly 3 miles in were nothing short of spellbinding.

And here I have sat, so peaceful and serene, soaking in the fortune and glory of this blessed life!”

“By the Babbling Brook”

First I want to say thank you so much for the incredible response to the “On a Crisp Autumn Morning” post I made last week! I find it so wonderful how sometimes when I share a photograph that, albeit special to me, isn’t necessarily something I think will be as special to you all as some other moments I think will be. It is a true testament to how uniquely different we all are.

That being said, although I had really been hoping to share part 3 of my “Just Be Here” story this week, I have simply not had the proper time to get my journal entries and pictures in order to do so… but I do promise soon!

In the meantime, let me take you peacefully into the weekend with this image I very seldomly highlight but holds a special place in my heart…

It is, after all, the first photograph I exposed during my first ever Autumn backpacking experience (and only second backpack period) from a place that I so dearly love, Shenandoah National Park, VA.

It was late October 2012. My brother had just introduced me to backpacking about 6 months prior that previous April and asked me to plan an Autumn adventure for the two of us. Having driven through Shenandoah for the first time and being my very first ever National Park experience while en route for that April excursion with him, and having a strong desire to begin visiting National Parks, I chose a 4 day immersion into Autumn in Shenandoah…

In the long run, it ended up being not only an incredible test of my endurance and will, but also one of the most eye opening, soul quenching and serenely peaceful experiences that has driven me to further love, explore and adventure in our National Park system ever since!

This photograph I composed early in the new dawning day after the first night out. I hiked back maybe 1/2 mile from where we made camp having loved this particular area along the flowing creek on the hike in the previous day. This image isn’t about mind-boggling color. It is, however, a brilliant representation of what an Autumn forest in Federally Designated Wilderness is like…

As you trek downward from almost 4,000 feet to 1,800 feet, the mountains change from Oaks to Hickory, Beech, Poplar, and Red and Striped Maple in every shade of Autumn back to still Summer green at the lower. Somewhere in the middle, the tall trees of the wood are bare at this point in the season, yet smaller trees still blaze with fire while the forest floor is a bountiful carpet of delicious smelling leaves and gurgling downward with you is the ever so soothingly peaceful sound of the babbling brook while a gentle breeze blows and Fall leaves float down.

Need I say more?

“On a Crisp Autumn Morning”

Brrr! The deep plunge in temps is inspiring me to share this, as many of us will have woken up to a crisp autumn morning indeed!

This photograph is one of my early favorites from when I had recently transitioned from 35mm to medium format film. I essentially stalked this Sugar Maple over the duration of about 2 weeks, patiently waiting for the moment of perfection…

I had known about this beauty from frequent visits to a place that used to be just a hop, skip and a jump from where I lived - Whipple Dam State Park. On one early October afternoon, I went to investigate the color of the young Autumn in this forest and found that this maple had just begun to catch what I call “the fire.” It was green still, all but the tip of the central most branch in the image which was burning orange and I thought to myself - “I am going to keep an eye on you.”

Every 3 or 4 days over the next couple of weeks I went to check on the progression of things. Fortunately, we were having a lovely Fall that year. Color was evolving at a nice pace without disturbances and the maples in particular were glowing amidst the oaks, beeches, and pines. After several investigations, one late afternoon I stood admiring the scene, and knowing we were to have our first real frost that night said - “tomorrow morning is it!”

And so, on the morning of October 17th, 2012 I brewed my coffee pre-dawn, bundled up, drove over the mountain to the park and awaited the rising sun. It was such a peaceful morning and I recall truly reveling in my surroundings as I sipped my coffee, contemplating my life at that time and the beauty of this Autumn forest - the mist rising off the lake as dawn grew brighter, the thawing frosted leaves on the ground, and this fiery Sugar Maple standing proud in the midst of it all. And after I snapped the shutter a few times, I sat some more just breathing it all in - the look, feel, and smell of Autumn all around on this crisp, bountiful morning!

Albeit you most likely will not find the same vibrant color in mid-November as you would in mid-October (depending on your geographic location anyway), I urge you to get out and take a deep breath of some brisk morning mountain air sometime soon. The low light this time of year is beautiful, and you never know what you may find that speaks to you or the wonders it may do for your soul!

“On a Crisp Autumn Morning” - Brandon Kline

“Autumn’s Divine Glory”

Hello folks and welcome several newcomers! It’s been a few weeks and yes I am still in the middle of telling my story from out West back in August! I assure you that will be completed soon! I’m just getting back from an Autumn adventure up in New England the past few weeks and will have another story to tell🍁😁 But, for right now, I didn’t want this image highlight to wait any longer, as scenes like this are fully consuming my mind of late…

I have been blessed to gaze upon and revel in such Autumnal beauty throughout my life so far. One of my inspirations in life, Rodney Lough, Jr., once said “to view a leaf turned color at the height of Autumn is purely divine.” The more I think about this quote over the years, the more I couldn’t agree more. It just fills me with such pure joy!

From my journal on October 6th, 2016 from where I made camp off of the Long Trail hiking up Mt. Mansfield in Vermont. I came upon these beckoning Sugar Maples late in the day and made camp right here to catch the dawn’s light setting them on fire -

“Earlier today I smelled Fall distinctly for the first time this season. Halfway up this mountain, on the Long Trail, the delicious smell of Autumn leaves in the crisp air! Mixed with the strong scent of pine and fir and the Earthy aroma of damp soil in the coolness of shade towards sunset, the smell evoked the spirit of the season!

Within this forest of Maple, Birch, and Evergreen, I sit with my eyes and thoughts fixed upon the stars and the silhouetted giant trees. Leaves tumble down upon me in the breeze as I drift amongst the stars.

I await the morning light to cast it’s glow upon these mountains, ablaze with Autumn fire like I have only ever imagined…

I awoke this morning to a magnificent pre-dawn glow, accentuating the orange glow of the maples with it’s pinkish-purple hue. The first rays of light to touch these beauties were purely divine. Highlighted Birch bark and fiery Sugar Maple leaves contrast against the shadow of the Green Mountains. What a majestic scene in this golden light!

The heavy smell of fir mingles with the unmistakable scent of Autumn. The leaves, the cool air, the dampness in this refreshing light. It is so peaceful as birds softly chatter and it lulls me back to a dreamy state…

Autumn’s glory, so fleeting and so precious.”

“Autumn’s Divine Glory” - Brandon Kline

“Just Be Here” (part 2 of 4)

“The grand lift of the Tetons is… a primal gesture of the Earth beneath a greater sky.” - Ansel Adams

Back in the Grand Tetons National Park…
August 14th - “I caught sunrise this morning at Snake River Overlook, where Ansel Adams once stood for his moody, iconic shot. Although the sky was crystal clear, the first rays of the new day sun basking the Tetons in pinkish golden glow was nothing short of spectacular! As mist looms off the Snake River amongst the forest below and silence pierces the air, I stand in the presence of grandeur.”

Yellowstone National Park…

August 16th - “I seem to have successfully re-forged my first Yellowstone backpacking visit back in 2015. By this I mean that what was done so hap-hazardously back then, I have re-traced very similar steps around Fairy Falls in the Midway Geyser Basin and in the Lamar Valley while backpacking these past few days. A little more experience, knowledge, and no shortage of good fortune have given me quite an adventure!

I camped off of the Fairy Falls trail two nights ago, enjoying a splendid hike past Grand Prismatic Spring and through young forest growth. Wispy and somewhat enchanting in appearance falling above the meadow wildflowers, I feel Fairy Falls is aptly named. That night I enjoyed the stars in the deafening quiet of the forest, so quiet in fact that it took me some time to hear past the ringing in my ears.

Enjoying camp till early afternoon the next day, I took a mid-day hike out to Imperial Geyser. As it caught my eye enough to warrant setting up my camera, after a couple exposures in dark overcast skies and rumbling thunder the storm was upon me, pelting me with sideways rain! No sooner packing up and trying to keep myself and my gear dry, the most fortuitous break in the sky happened! Clouds parted into big puffy cumuli and rays of sun basked the green hillsides and highlighted the blue, steaming water of the geyser. I raced to set back up and got two more exposures of the drama and thunder kept rumbling and the geyser blew!

I felt quite triumphant, having been hoping to witness a geyser moment worthy of capturing on film. So off I went back out the trail. Halfway back another storm let loose which began to break as I neared views of Grand Prismatic. What a remarkable moment of Nature I was treated to! Sun bathed the Grand Prismatic’s Blue steam bellowing up, highlighted the contrasting stormy skies, and a full magnificent double rainbow appeared, perfectly framing the scene!

Reveling only these miraculous moments I bore witness to, I made my way Northeast to the Lamar Valley. More storms erupted and more moments of magical light adorned my way - I note several places along the way which would be incredible sunrise/sunset viewing platforms of spectacular mountain vistas!

I arrived much later than one would like to my trailhead into the Lamar Valley, but as good fortune would have it I hiked safely here - halfway in the dark by headlamp, noticing a bison carcass not far off the trail and as thunder and lightning rode my heels! But I made it, and probably drier than had I hiked earlier through the torrential monsoons that were occurring moments before I began! As luck would have it, I was treated to a beautiful sunset glow across the valley amidst stormy skies and a safe, peaceful journey to camp.

And upon settling here, the skies were clearing, stars twinkling, and the full moon rose above me, here in the valley of the wolves. It’s glow the most mystical, enchanting silver-blue lighting the landscape around me, purifying me with pure magic in the night. These are moments one will not soon forget!

Waking at dawn this morning, I laid in my hammock watching the pale glow of sunrise slowly cutting through the blanket of mist until I felt the light was going to be quite something on the scene. I meandered down to Cache Creek, which I had also admired by moonglow and mist last night.

Taking off my shoes and socks, slowly and carefully I crossed the chilling stream, feeling quite alive! And behold the image before me of the layers of rock, creek, trees, hills, and valley! Green bathed in gold morning light upon Soda Butte with wispy cloud mist lingering atop the hills and brilliant blue skies! What peace and tranquility can be afforded those who weather the storm! I enjoyed this gaze for quite some time, imagining herds of bison, packs of wolves, a grizzly sal with cubs cresting those hills and how truly special it is to be blessed with Nature such as this!

I have since enjoyed a peaceful morning/early afternoon of hammock time, breakfast and coffee, reading and writing in this awesome campsite! As if I didn’t know before, but I am gaining the appreciation one gets by time spent in the backcountry for how truly spectacular this place is, Yellowstone. Time to hike on and see if perhaps the bison are out grazing in the sunny meadows after last evenings drenching… which seemed to affect them not, haha!

August 20th - catching you on my hike out of the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone - “my hike out was a pure Summer daydream. The sun-soaked meadow, blue skies, and white puffy cumuli painted Mother Nature in such perfect Summer splendor! And yes, the bison were grazing in plenty. On my hike, the main herd was down the valley from me a distance but a few stragglers ventured to pass pretty close by me. And on the drive out of the Northeast section towards Tower-Roosevelt, they were abundant to say the least! Herd after herd as you looked left and right throughout Lamar! Grazing, frolicking, running and rolling around in the dirt, such a scene for the memory!

Shortly before getting back to the trailhead, I had stopped for one more photograph. Where the lush grasses and marshy water had caught my eye the evening before, in the face of Druid Peak rising high above in this valley of the wolves!”