Eye on the World Catalog

Monument Valley, Utah

Monument Valley’s mesas have been seen in their fair share of spaghetti westerns and cigarette commercials, mostly with late afternoon sun highlighting the deep red colours of the natural rock. I wanted to show something else... the scale of these formations, how they contrast with the flat landscape and the fact that they are a hotspot on the tourist trail rather than being isolated in the desert. So a high vantage point was chosen with a good perspective on the winding road. By waiting until a congregation of cars made their trek to the inner valley it speaks to reality of their setting, but it does not take away from the spectacle and beauty of this natural wonder.

Overall 645 x 490

Rothenburg Town Square from above

This town is wonderfully picturesque from every angle and location. Here we can see the well preserved buildings within the walls of the medieval city, viewed from the tower on the Rothenburg Town Hall.

Overall 750 x 370

Ribbon Dance, Imperial Theatre, Xian

Taking photos of stage performances is made difficult by the relatively low light conditions and rapid movement of the subjects. In this picture I was able to find a compromise with a shutter speed that still kept some slightly blurred movement in the silk ribbons but was able to maintain the principal subject in sharp relief within the single spotlight of white light. The vivid colour of the stage lighting helped to dramatise the scene and transform the otherwise white ribbons into bands of fire.

Overall 485 x 385

Prague Castle and Charles Bridge

The sheer size of the 1200 year old Prague Castle is impressive, and at over half a kilometre long it is the largest castle in the world. With such a long history it has been home to many rulers and boasts almost every architectural style that exists. The museums in the castle and the Crown Jewels that are housed there draw huge numbers of visitors who all seem to make their way there across the Charles Bridge. As though mindful of the photographers art the city lights up the buildings with meticulous care. Then it becomes a waiting game – waiting for the moment when the light in the sky is just right to balance the scene painted by the floodlights. Overall 1525 x 465

Crystal Mountain, Washington State

Sometimes the wrong things happen for the right reasons. Travelling through Washington state to see Mount Rainier we took the side road up to Crystal Mountain. Half a metre of snow in the lay-by halfway up the mountain should have been no match for our big four-wheel-drive. However hidden in the snow were large ice-blocks and the car rode up over these, stranding the wheels in the air. With nowhere to go until help arrived we walked across to the viewing platform to gaze at a marvellous scene. The overnight snow had dusted everything and created a brilliant silver sheen over the whole scene. Overall 905 x 375

Ready-to-Frame Photographs

Mounted with matte border and foamcore backing

Landscape Arch, Arches National Park, Utah

Landscape Arch at the northern end of Arches National Park is the longest arch in North America, and the fifth longest natural arch in the world, after four arches in China. It spans an incredible 93.3 meters and is just 1.8 metres wide at its narrowest point and its impossibly frail appearance inspires awe in any who see it up close. Parts of the arch fell down in three separate incidents in the 1990s, demonstrating that it's an ongoing process that forms these geological miracles.

Overall 645 x 405