National Parks Service 108th Anniversary | Landscape photographer
Our National Parks Service is celebrating 108 years this weekend. I've been fortunate to visit several of them over the last few years. But plan on visiting many more in the future. Each of them is unique and awe inspiring in their own right with varying climate and landscape. Although the first park was established in 1872, Yellowstone, the actual park service was established in 1916. Theodore Roosevelt was one of the national park system's greatest historical supporters and helped preserve some of our greatest national treasures. Spending time in nature of this magnitude is time well spent. If you haven't been to a national park recently (or ever!!!), make plans to go now. Words and pictures do not do them justice. I'm forever grateful of the foresight of those responsible for preserving these priceless national treasures.
National Parks Service 108th Anniversary
The parks included in the grid below are:
Acadia, Crater Lake, Death Valley. Great Smoky, Lassen Volcanic, Yellowstone, and Yosemite
The parks represented below are:
Black Canyon, Grand Teton, Olympic, Glacier, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon, Great Sand dunes, and Zion.
The parks included below are:
Glacier Bay, Redwoods, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Mount Rainier, Sequoia, North Cascades, and Pinnacles.
Happy 108th anniversary to the National Park Service!
A few years ago I visited Joshua Tree National Park after attending a photography conference in Death Valley in the late winter. It was the perfect time to extend my trip to Joshua Tree.
As I set off on a road trip to Wyoming, a friend messaged me that there was smoke blowing into the Jackson area. I decided that landscape photography and smoke don’t always play well together, so I changed course and headed for Bryce Canyon National Park; a park I had yet to visit.
Different national parks visited and photographed by Nadeen Flynn Photography.
Scenes of Glacier National Park. July 2021 was the month that I headed to Montana to attend a landscape workshop in Glacier National Park. Glacier is a national park that I'd been wanting to visit for some time.
I was especially enthused about this visit to Death Valley because of the appearance of Lake Manly which is in some years a dried lake bed full of mud cracks and salt patterns. Beautiful in their own right. But, the occurrence of a hurricane last fall created a wealth of water in the Valley, and so Lake Manly came to life once again as it does so periodically.
When my friend asked if I’d like to join her and several other women photographers on a trip to North Cascades National Park, of course, I said yes. She graciously did all the planning and made all the arrangements for the stay, food, and transportation. All I (we) had to do was get ourselves there with gear and appropriate clothing. How nice is that?
Last October, I held my annual one-day Waterfalls Workshop in Northern California. It’s a day of photographing waterfalls, learning techniques, meeting new friends, and enjoying just being in the mountains. It’s a gorgeous time of year with the color change. Several of the workshop members decided to stay to photograph and enjoy the area for another day. Thinking this was a fabulous idea, I decided to stay as well to enjoy the autumn views in nearby Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Day 4 of our Glacier Bay NP trip was again full of wildlife and landscapes, and a most amazing glacier. The David B traveled along the Muir Inlet to the Reid Inlet passing mountains, icebergs, whales, assorted birds, sea otters, and arriving at Reid Glacier. We photographed from the boat, the skiff, and on land. There was beautiful scenery every direction we looked!
Day 3 of our Glacier Bay NP trip was again full of wildlife and landscapes, and our first view of a most amazing glacier. The David B traveled along the Muir Inlet passing mountains, icebergs, the Reid Glacier, whales, assorted birds, and seals until we rounded the corner to see the magnificent McBride Glacier. Seriously, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life!
Icy Straits and South Sandy Cove were the locations of our Day 2 trip in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Full of beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and abundant nature in every direction, this trip was a photographer’s dream.
For more years than I can remember, I have wanted to visit Alaska. Seems like a reasonable desire, yet over the years different events prevented that from happening. And, there is always the planning - what area to visit, when can I squeeze it in, how will I travel there, and the questions go on. Finally, this summer, everything aligned and I was able to not only visit part of Alaska, I did it with a photography workshop aboard a vintage 1929 boat/ship, the David B.
Night time photography at Pinnacles National Park including star trails and Milky Way
different national parks visited and photographed by Nadeen Flynn Photography
The roads and trails close during the winter in Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park. But, if you'd like to snowshoe, cross-country ski, or walk the trails, you are welcome to do so. When I arrived at Manzanita Lake during the first week in January, the small parking lot contained two other cars. I knew it would be a great day to enjoy the snow and sun at the lake while being surrounded in nature.
In August I took a road trip to the State of Washington, solo, in order to attend a workshop given by Nate Lubbe and Autumn Schrock at Mount Rainier National Park.
When my friend, Amy, shared information regarding an upcoming workshop in the Mount Rainier National Park, my interest was piqued. The workshop would include shooting the night sky as well as different locations around the park.
While visiting Yosemite Valley in February before the 'shelter at home' directive, I made it a point to photograph things that I do not usually shoot. Or, at least photograph those scenes from a different perspective if possible.
One of the very best things about Lassen is that it is not at all crowded. It's bittersweet, really. We were happy to have few fellow visitors. The trails and viewing areas were not crowded. Yet, it is such a beautiful place, it's a shame more people are not there to enjoy it. It's not a particularly large park as far as national parks go. Certainly not as big as Yellowstone, but it has some of the bubbling mud, sulfur springs, and other features similar to Yellowstone.
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Please CONTACT ME at nadeen@nadeenflynn.com with any questions or to schedule your learning session.
As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer in-person workshops and mentoring. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.
Serving Yuba City/Marysville, East Nicolaus, Wheatland, Lincoln, Woodland, Davis, Roseville, Rocklin, and the greater Sacramento area.
(530) 633-7575
The roads and trails close during the winter in Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park. But, if you'd like to snowshoe, cross-country ski, or walk the trails, you are welcome to do so.