https://www.joycebealer.com/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/blog/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/europe_asia/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/southamerica/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/northamerica/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/blog-coming-soon--/ https://www.joycebealer.com/gallery/my-latest-images/ https://www.joycebealer.com/page/about/ https://www.joycebealer.com/page/prints/ https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/delicate_sunrise/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Delicate_Sunrise.jpg Delicate Sunrise How often does a person get to spend their morning in a place like this, simply enjoying and watching the fog dissipate?  Quiet reflective moments are so valuable.... Dolomites, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/fitz_roy_and_waterfall/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/FitzRoy_and_Waterfall.jpg Fitz Roy and Waterfall For me there's something special about the beauty of both mountains and water together which fills my inner being with excitement.  If you feel the same way I wish I could transport you to this entire morning, including this very scene.  I can still recall the entire time and how fabulous it was to stand in this flowing water and gaze upon the grandeur of Mount Fitz Roy and all of its surroundings.  For me it was bigger than life and an incredible day beyond my dreams. Patagonia, Argentina https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/dreamy_night/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Dreamy_Night.jpg Dreamy Night I was with other photographers as we unexpectedly came upon this local scene enroute to our intended destination.  We had to stop and stay as the sun set evolved and this glow emerged and intensified.  All the while the fisherman in the background continued to work in the water, becoming what the scene was actually about. Java, Indonesia https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/in_my_dream/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/In_My_Dream.jpg In My Dream This are is one of my favorite places to hike and this particular morning was one of my favorite mornings there.  I had been hoping for something like this and monitoring the weather realized it might occur so headed out in the dark with high hopes.  Upon arriving, the mountains were entirely shrouded by dense fog which literally took hours to dissipate.  It was so exciting when the mountain tops began to appear... a truly incredible experience for me to witness! Arizona, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/all_dressed_up/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/All_Dressed_Up.jpg All Dressed Up Change is inevitable as life goes on.  This photo is a reflection (literally and figuratively) of how change is inevitable and also beautiful.  Autumn occurs in many forms of life, as the leaves change color, in fact to their greatest intensity, then let go in order to find a place for new growth.  In the Cypress groves, not only does this change occur, but it also allows for reflection of the changes that occur... new knowledge from the growth.  Then afterwards allows for a time of rest before more new growth.  Cypress Swamps, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/venice_night_2/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Venice_Night_2.jpg Venice Night 2 I had spent a few days in Venice which allowed me to embrace the culture and love the city.  I felt recharged and it surpassed my expectations.  Night time is quiet and romantic, even for a lone traveler as I was, and fell in love with the city itself.   Venice, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/venice_night_1/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Venice_Night_1-2.jpg Venice Night 1 Venice is a city that is meant to be experienced, and in that experience it enters one's heart.  Night time is still and  beautiful and full of what it is...  sincere and a place that doesn't pretend.  It is fully as it appears.   Venice, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/the_protector/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/The_Protector.jpg The Protector The sky was doing its magic for a long time, casting light at varying amounts at the mountain tops while I stood there with my camera taking shot after shot.  A random man eventually joined me and we stood next to each other for awhile, photographing in silence, until he said "This is incredible".  It was.   Lofoten, Norway https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/a_dance_of_resilience/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/A_Dance_of_Resilience.jpg A Dance of Resilience Access to this remote part of Patagonia was achieved via boat into the fiord area.   We spent several days drifting along the waters and taking smaller boats to shore to hike and bushwhack our way to a chosen destination.  Here turquoise waters are surrounded by resilient bonsai trees whose shapes are sculpted by the intense wind which is often present.   Patagonian Fiords https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/valley_of_anthropoids/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Valley_of_Anthropoids__.jpg Valley of Anthropoids There's something so fun and playful about these snow enveloped trees.  Every time I see them they're so human-like.  In spite of the -18 degree weather it was fun to explore and wander amongst the forms as the light came through. Alaska, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/within_the_storm/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/WithinTheStorm_.jpg Within the Storm I took this image during a solo trip into the Canadian Rockies; one with lots of blowing snow and interesting cloud formations.  I pulled over and stopped several times just scouting the area, watching the sky clear in part with snow blowing off the mountain tops.  It was so beautiful and mesmerizing!  The trees at the top are so impressive and strong to withstand these conditions.   Canadian Rockies https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/windows_to_the_clouds/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Windows_to_the_Clouds.jpg Windows to the Clouds I was on a short visit to Arches National Park and taking in a couple of short hikes led me to this area that I wanted to see.  As the sun was setting these little clouds and the dusky blue sky contrasted beautifully against the lit up red rock.  It literally stopped me in my tracks.  Quickly scooping my camera out of its bag I was able to capture just a few shots before the light escaped for the night.   Arches National Park, Utah, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/breaking_storm_patagonia/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Breaking_Storm_Patagonia.2500.jpg Breaking Storm Patagonia Patagonia weather can be unpredictable and stubborn.   During one of the many days of waiting for the heavy clouds to clear this was a time when Mother Nature was teasing, making us think we might get a glimpse of the mighty mountains before us.  Just as the clouds seemed to be moving away from the mountain tops, they would instead choose to head back and stay, or another batch would come in and create more density... and it was all happening very quickly.  Among it though, there were tiny breaks, some a second or so, or less, and if one was fortunate enough with the shutter a moment could be caught.  Certainly as photographers we are always grateful for beautiful, slow-moving, perfect light and conditions, but times like this are something I love too.  Nature changing so quickly and so unpredictable; fleeting moments of something so different.   Patagonia, Chile https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/second_glow/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Second_Glow.jpg Second Glow This was taken during a fun and spontaneous sunset hike.  The sky was moderately cloudy and kept evolving.  Standing there, witness to this, was so fabulous and the surroundings so peaceful.  I took a few different perspectives while the sky was changing quickly.  The light came and went... then came again much to my pleasure!  I names this photo "Second Glow" for that reason.   Arizona, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/fire_and_glass/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Fire_and_Glass_.jpg Fire and Glass Autumn is an amazing time in the Cypress swamps.  Here you can see peak colors made even more dramatic by the incredible location and mirror-like reflections caused by wonderfully still water that surrounds them.   Cypress Swamps, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/my_soul_speaks/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/My_Soul_Speaks.jpg My Soul Speaks When the trail brought me to this destination I could barely believe my eyes.  It still remains as one of my favorite places I had ever set foot and I can recall the details of my time there; so incredible!!!  There were many different areas to photograph from and the sky kept changing.  It was a perfect experience.  I hope for you that you can feel even a tiny percentage of its grandeur because I can't find adequate words to express how it actually felt to be there. Dolomites, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/path_to_tre_cime/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Path_To_Tre_Cime.jpg Path To Tre Cime Scattered clouds wandered through the sky during my visit and gently faded for sunset as you can see here.  These formations are impressive for sure, and amazing to be underneath.  There are actually people in this photo dressed in red, near the base of the closest structure, providing some sense of scale.  Can you find them? Dolomites, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/glorious_journey/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Glorious_Journey_.jpg Glorious Journey This was such a peaceful place to be, perched on a rock watching the water flow by.  Then the beautiful clouds rolled in and the mountains lit up with the glow from the sun to enhance it even more.   Dolomites, Italy https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/cypress_chorus_line/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Cypress_Chorus_Line.jpg Cypress Chorus Line I spent several days at the Cypress Swamps and the conditions were wonderful for sunrise two days I a row.  It was so captivating watching the glow appear behind the the trees, then the fog roll in and spread, then disperse until it was melted away by heat of the rising sun.   It was so rewarding that this photo placed in one of the top 201 photos of the year for ILPOTY in 2024.   Cyprus Swamps, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/in_perfect_stillness/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/In_Perfect_Stillness.jpg In Perfect Stillness One of the places I love to explore with my camera in the winter is Alaska.  It's full of surprises and unexpected light and scenes.  This area was accessed via helicopter just before sunrise.  As the sun advanced in the sky I loved the way the edges of the sastrugi lit up, so quickly took a couple of shots before it disappeared.  For me these unexpected surprises created by light are pure magic and food for my soul.    Alaska, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/a-perfect-storm/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/A_Perfect_Storm_.jpg A Perfect Storm I grew up in the Northeast USA and when it rained it rained everywhere, and included densely clouded skies.  I was shocked the first time after moving to the Southwest as I was sitting on my apartment balcony bathed in sunshine as it was raining across the street from me.  I have always enjoyed rain and weather patterns, and desert storms are right up there.  Here dark clouds stir over iconic Sedona red rocks as the sun peeks through from the right, creating dramatic southwest storm scenery.  Sedona, Arizona https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/icy_icy_cave/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Icy_Icy_Cave.jpg Icy Icy Cave Something about ice caves is so incredible and fun to visit.  This one is enormous!  Just as anything that is affected by nature this cave changes with seasons and had the opportunity to be fed by a river that ran through it, thus allowing of the occurrence of ice bubbles on its floor.  These "bubbles" form from decaying substances which release methane gas which is trapped as bubbles on their way to the surface as the water forms into ice. Alaska, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/i_will_survive/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/I_Will_Survive.jpg I Will Survive The Dragon Bravo Fire resulted from a lightening strike at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in July, 2025 and rapidly grew to mega fire status.  In spite of destruction and damage to the area, Nature is strong and will persevere; such strength to aspire to mimic.  This photo was taken from a vantage point on the edge of the South Rim.  At the time I had great concern about the prospect of even greater damage to such an incredible area.   Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/rainy_day/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Rainy_Day.jpg Rainy Day This was my final day at the swamps and the weather so different from the days prior.  The rain appeared and I decided to see how well I could shelter my camera from the moisture and at the same time capture it as an image.  Nature provides up with so many diverse experiences.  I'm constantly in awe. Cypress Swamps, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/yosemite_moment/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Yosemite_Moment.jpg Yosemite Moment Although it took several visits to this classic viewpoint in Yosemite National Park, I was hoping for wonderful atmospheric conditions, and it was eventually worth every trip.  I was so happy to find these conditions on my final morning in the park! Yosemite National Park, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/the_road_back/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/The_Road_Back.jpg The Road Back This photo is symbolic to me of many things, but was literally taken on the road back from a photo trip.  It makes me reflect on how many times I have stopped excitedly as I was heading to or from a chosen destination.  There is so much truth in the message: It's not the destination but the journey that create the most memories and sculpt us into who we are.  A big Thank You to all who have helped me in any way along the way so far, and in advance to those who will be there in the future.   Andes Mountains, Peru https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/starry_night/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Starry_Night.jpg Starry Night The sun had set and the afterglow created a lovely soft light across the landscape.  The air was crisp and amazingly still.  What to me looked like prehistoric flowers , as tall as they were, stood perfectly still , as though they too were mesmerized by the moment.  The stars began to glisten in the sky.  The mountains were wrapped in all of this.  Every separate component revealed that it was part of the whole.  I set my camera at a small aperture and a 30 second exposure... and it worked to capture all I needed, near to far in a single shot... satisfying yet surprising.   Andes Mountains, Peru https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/if_mountains_could_talk/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/If_Mountains_Could_Talk.jpg If Mountains Could Talk Do mountains have personalities?  Can they see us as we gaze upon them?  Somehow I think these do.  They were so incredibly alive and the sky so interactive this particular morning as the clouds swirled among them, slowly taking their time to drift away.    I moved quickly and slowly... both... mesmerized and grateful for this morning of glorious light and cloud play.   Yosemite National Park, California, USA https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/moment_for_a_break/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Moment_For_A_Break.jpg Moment For a Break Photographing this beautiful horse and rider in this magnificent light was amazing!  I was instantly captivated by her beauty but when the action began and the effects by the dust and light occurred it was incredible! Java, Indonesia https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/mustache_cloud/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Mustache_Cloud.jpg Mustache Cloud The wispy mustache-shaped cloud sat perfectly at the top of the snow-covered mountain, just calling to be photographed.   Andes Mountains, Peru https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/gracefully/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/Gracefully.jpg Gracefully It was so incredible to be right here and experience the feel of the still night and witnessing the sky before sunrise while gazing at the setting moon glowing over the elegance of Mount Fitz Roy.  I loved the way the graceful branch made a visual connection with these elements, bringing the experience even more special. Patagonia, Argentina https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/fitz_roy_and_cascades/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/FitzRoy_and_Cascades.jpg Fitz Roy and Cascades This particular trip to Patagonia was a fabulous and exciting experience, and bigger than life place to be!   I was traveling with a small group of photographers and until this particular morning the sky was covered with clouds so dense they encapsulated the mountains.  Every day though we dreamed of this possibility, remained hopeful, and planned for this opportunity.  We were SO excited when the mountains appeared!!!  It turned out to be a well planned and organized morning of probably greater than 10 miles of climbing, hiking, and seemingly endless adventure, until the light became too contrasty to continue.  Even now my heart is filled with gratitude for these memories and a type of rare camaraderie that I'll always cherish.   Patagonia, Argentina https://www.joycebealer.com/photo/a_fairytale_sunrise/ https://www.joycebealer.com/images/xl/a_Fairy_tale_Sunrise.jpg A Fairytale Sunrise This was a very special trip for me and this photo was taken on one of two very special days.  We had waited for these moments, but we all know that it's still never certain that the gift from above of a beautiful sunrise will occur.  I'm so grateful for that gift, the amazing time spent here, and to be able to capture it.   I can still recall it's every detail... a beautiful adventure I'll remember forever.   Patagonia, Chile https://www.joycebealer.com/news/ https://www.joycebealer.com/contact/