Maybe the most foreboding peaks I’ve yet to lay my eyes upon, the Vajolet Towers of the Italian dolomites are stunning to see. They tower above you from this vantage point, with a menacing pose, and if I could ever say a mountain looked evil, it would be these. During our travels in the area, Erin Babnik and I stayed at the hut right at the base, which you juuuuust see in the fog here, a refugio that had remarkable charm and character relative to the norm. The walls were adorned with relics of the past. Old boots, stretchers with 75 year old blood stains, pictures from the world war I era. Going to fantastically impressive natural areas such as this, mixed with such a unique taste of European culture is one of my favorite experiences ever. On this day, the passing blustery summer weather had just enough of a break to allow for a quick moment of dramatic light. Perfect for complimenting the mood of this place. I named this shot after the spikey metal crown that sits on the heads of the villains of the Lord Of The Ring series, The Nazgûl, as that’s what I think of every time I look at this image.

An Andean Condor floats through the sky above Cuerno Principal during a moody day in Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. 

The dramatic spire of Cerro Torre dodges the passing clouds being kicked up by the icefields to the west, giving a great isolated view of the famous peak. The murky glacial waters flow out of the lake at the base of the range.

A spectacular beam of morning light shines on Fitz Roy and a section of the glacier falls into Lago Sucia, pulverized into snow from it's tumble down the cliffs face. To read more about the story behind this image, click here. 

Lightning strikes in distance behind the famous Tre Cime peaks in the Italian Dolomites.

Soft late morning light pours down onto the brilliantly turquoise waters of Sorapiss lake in the Italian Dolomites.

The morning sun just peaking through the unique formations of Cinque Torri in the Italian Dolomites.

A myriad of fall color sets the stage for the majestic Fitz Roy in Argentinas Los Glaciares National Park. 

Hurricane Force winds causing ocean like waves, and huge clouds of mist picked up from the surface of a lake in front of the impessive peaks of Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile. The most exciting time I've ever had shooting in the wilderness. 

A flash freeze overnight caused lots of interesting patterns in the surface of a lake at the base of Cerro Torre in Los Glaciares national park, Argentina. The night before I had one of the most frightening run ins with wildlife I've ever had. You can read more about that HERE. 

A most impressive lenticular show above the majestic Fitz Roy. Argentina

An iridescent cloud gets illuminated by shafts of light, and the larch trees glow orange in the Canadian Rockies during autumn. 

A frigid morning of -25c made for some very interesting conditions at Bow Lake, Canadian Rockies. 

Predawn alpenglow on Mt. Assiniboine and Sunburst Peak in Canadian Rockies of Banff Canada.

The dramatic cliffs of the Napali Coast in Kauai stand tall above fields of Naupaka, slowly overtaking the long hardened lava rock. 

The position of the clouds in the reflection on this particular morning interacted in an interesting way with the vegitation on the bed of Vermillion lake in Banff, Canada. Sunburst mountain is in the distance. 

The Owens river meanders through Owens valley next to the impressive Sierra range, the morning sunlight just touching the peaks. 

The rising sun breaks through a thin opening in the clouds, lighting up a peak in Death Valley National Park. Perfectly geometric tiles are formed in a dried up lake bed. 

Nothing catches light quite like a Cholla Cactus. Here, mixed with Brittlebush blooms, and a long exposure sky, the scene makes for a dramatic morning image. 

Wizard island seemingly floats in the reflective surface of Crater Lake, Oregon during sunrise. 

A crescent moon floats in a soft morning sky above Owens River. Eastern Sierra, Ca.

Broken Top Mountain was obviously favored over south sister on this morning as the rising sun illuminated her from behind, and the clouds raced overhead in her direction. A long exposure was used to render the capture the movement of the clouds. 

A large snow cave in the Broken Top area of the cascades, Central Oregon.The melting snow dripped from the ceiling 20 feet above, creating the vertical lines being back-lit by the bright light shining in from the opening.

Golden morning light illuminates Smith Rock in central Oregon. One of the hottest climbing spots in the country, if not the world. I'm sure you can see why.