Chasing Light: My Journey in Travel, City, and Drone Photography
There’s a certain silence before sunrise that feels sacred. The world hasn’t yet started buzzing, the air is cooler, and the sky begins to stretch into soft colors that last only minutes. That’s why, as a travel and landscape photographer, I often find myself waking up in the dark — long before anyone else — to chase the light.
Some of the most meaningful images in my portfolio were captured during these early hours. From the snowy mountains of Iceland to the first pink glows over the canyons of Utah, these moments offer not just beauty, but emotion. And for me, that’s what fine art photography is all about.
The Power of Golden Hour
In landscape photography, the best light comes when most people are still asleep. The golden hour — just after sunrise — wraps the world in warm tones, long shadows, and a softness that no midday light can recreate. During these fleeting moments, textures come alive and colors turn richer. The same scene photographed two hours later would be flatter, more ordinary.
Chasing light is about patience and timing. It’s about being ready when that moment happens — when fog rolls through a valley, when a single beam of sunlight hits a mountain ridge, or when a city skyline reflects the first glow of day.
From Chef to Photographer: Following My Passion
For more than 25 years, I worked as a chef, creating art on the plate. But my true passion for travel photography and city photography kept calling. I wanted more than kitchens — I wanted the world.
So I began traveling with my camera, exploring over 20 countries across Europe in an RV, photographing 15+ U.S. National Parks, and chasing beauty in places as far as the Philippines, Iceland, Alaska, and Scotland. Along the way, I discovered another tool that transformed my perspective: drone photography. Shooting from above allowed me to create abstract, powerful images that collectors now recognize as part of my signature style.
Behind the Shot: Iceland Sunrise
One morning in Iceland’s highlands, I woke at 4AM and hiked with my gear through snow-covered terrain by headlamp. The reward? A sunrise over frosted peaks, filtered through icy mist, painting the slopes in amber and gold.
I didn’t just photograph that moment — I lived it. And when someone acquires that image as a fine art print, they’re not just buying a landscape. They’re taking home a memory, a story, a window into the raw beauty of nature.
Why Fine Art Photography Matters
Travel photography and city photography aren’t just about documenting places — they’re about feeling them. Waking up before dawn, braving the cold, standing alone in silence — these sacrifices are what give my images depth. They’re what transform photographs into wall art with soul.
That’s what I aim to share through every fine art print at Baxphotos. From a monochrome image of the Great Salt Lake, to a drone photograph of Factory Butte, to a cityscape of New York under rain, each piece represents a moment I waited for, chased, and captured with intention.
Final Thoughts
The next time you see a sunrise photo, remember: someone stood in the dark to bring you that light. For me, those early hours hold the purest form of inspiration. And it’s in that untouched light where photography becomes more than art — it becomes connection, memory, and legacy.
