Less than a week ago, I was staying at the Spur Cross B&B in Cave Creek, Arizona, when on my first night, this beautiful sunset burst over the mountains in the distance. The color splash across the sky was (as you can probably tell) phenomenal. The Saguaro room at Spur Cross is set with a wall of windows that allow you to see North – so, once arriving to Spur Cross, within the hour, the colors began to creep outside my window. I stayed inside, watching the progression, until it became too much! I pulled on my shoes in a fury, rushing out of the door with my camera bag flung behind me. Within minutes, the colors blossomed into what you see in this image first, then as the sun crept beneath the mountain line, off to rise another day, a beautiful dark purple and saturated reds had spread throughout the evening's sky.

I write this Friday Fine Art Feature only days since I took the photograph above. The Sandia mountains loom overhead of Albuquerque and its surrounding areas, at 10,678 feet above sea level – which is just over two miles high! Along my 2014 USA road trip, my traveling partner Matt and I drove up the steep winding roads of the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway, until we were level with the peak. There's a little gift shop park at the peak, where you can hang out if need be, but I found that getting away from the paths, and exploring the cliffside was a much cooler experience – although, a bit more dangerous, as the higher you go, the more windy it tends to be. There have been a few moments in my life that I would constitute as a 'God moment,' and from time to time, I talk about these moments on the blog here, but I can say that Sandia was another one of those moments. There was no one else around, and only the roaring silence was there to keep me company. My thoughts were blank, and my emotions full – this was one of the best meditative moments I've had on this trip.

*Offer ends when the next Friday's Fine Art Feature image is published. You may choose any photograph you wish for your free 8x10 print. Both prints will be signed and are limited edition.

So, there I was... That's how all great tales start, right? Well, perhaps this isn't so much a great story, but rather an exploration of creative expression – an expression of what I saw, felt, and imagined. I write this from San Antonio, Texas, a few days after this image was created. Throughout the first month and a half of my 2013 USA road trip, I've began to realize that I despise tourist traps, overly developed areas, and built up attractions, and unfortunately for me, the United States is packed with them – while some are pretty cool, and worth visiting, others, however, I've found are not so wonderful. I visited the Alamo, expecting a lot of the same touristy shenanigans, and while I was correct in part, I was also pleasantly surprised with my experience. There weren't billions of people as I expected, however, I was visiting on a day in April – and where in most places (especially in Northern USA and Europe), April would be a bit too early to expect high volumes of visitors – April in Texas is peak. The crowd was manageable, and barely a hindrance on the experience, so that was a win for me! I did the norm, touring the museums and reading all of the informational panels, but what struck me as most powerful was once I took the time to take in all that is the Alamo – in my mind, I replayed the story of the history, as best that I knew it, and just took in the difficult and dreadful days of the time period. In my mind, I could sort of relive, and feel the immense power of what was before me, and while this explanation of this photograph is vague at best – you may just have to visit this monument on your own, and perceive it as you will.

*Offer ends when the next Friday's Fine Art Feature image is published. You may choose any photograph you wish for your free 8x10 print. Both prints will be signed and are limited edition.

So, there I was... All good stories start out that way, right? Anyway, I was driving along Highway 55 in Louisiana along my 2014 USA road trip, when I slammed on my breaks in a rather dramatic scurry of movement – which comprised of me putting on my caution lights, pulling over, and grabbing my camera from behind my seat. Cars flew by me, honking profusely. An irritated semi-truck flew by in the other lane, unbothered, yet he decided to hold down his horn for a good few minutes, barreling forward, away in the distance. I know what you're thinking... That was pretty stupid, why would he do that? I would have to reply by saying that you're probably 100% correct, BUT I have become quite the do-it-all-for-the-shot type of photographer. There were times where I nearly died to take some of the shots that I have, so what's another shot going to do? Obviously, break-checking some poor motorists in Louisiana isn't a smart idea, but don't you worry, I know how to take some extra precautions – or else, I likely wouldn't be here writing to you now! Back to the story – I jumped out, having to dodging traffic, as I scurried to the edge of the bridge, and then there was this beautiful glow coming from the sunset. I had to stop, lower my camera and just take in the wild, raw beauty of it all. What made me take this shot, you may ask? Well, I loved the way the sun painted the trees, backlighting each trunk, branch and stem with such a passionate red heat – rarely have I witnessed a beauty like what was in that moment in time.

*Offer ends when the next Friday's Fine Art Feature image is published.

On the short list of the most magical and awe-inspiring places that I've ever visited, is Scotland, without a doubt. The people were accommodating and lovely to talk with, the food was delicious, the myths and traditions were intriguing, and the landscape, oh my god, the landscape... WAS AMAZING! Every which way I went, the direction didn't matter, only the journey within the wilderness mattered. I toured the Highlands of Scotland for a couple of weeks, spending a few days on the lovely Isle of Skye. To simply drive around the Isle of Skye is a treat in itself, as the scenery just continues to change around you, no matter where you're going – every five minutes, it seems as though there is a new and completely unique terrain surrounding you, enveloping you, rapturing you. If there is ever one place that's filled with so many myths, fantasies, traditions, stories, and magic, it is the Highlands of Scotland. There's just a power, an emotion, and a history that is embedded in, through the landscape, which radiates and pulses. There were times that I hiked off, into a field or up a mountain, and once I felt the time was right, I stopped and I sat, just taking everything in, letting the world around me, take me over. And in those moments, I felt like there was something much more happening, or had once happened to the land.

My time in Iceland went by in a blur of color and wilderness. The landscape of Iceland is one of the most magical, mesmerizing, and breathtaking to experience, and it's a a playground for photographers and other creatives. For me, I've wanted to visit Iceland, because of all of the HDR-style photographs that have circulated around the internet – each image seemed to have a magical essence, and a dramatic, yet beautiful terror. As far as I'm concerned, as a photographer, few places sound just as wonderful! I wanted to go and to capture the ever-changing moods, the powerful and vivid sunrises, and the burning colors of the sunsets. Few places in the winter have such a beautiful and consistent light available, than that of Iceland during the beginning of its winter. For the shot above, I found by driving around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula figure-eight loop. These beautiful and wild creatures were prancing around a bit, having just broke their fast for the morning. I'm not sure if these horses weren't entirely wild, or if they're simply as friendly as can be, by nature – I honestly don't know a whole lot about horses, nor have I ever ridden one. These three beauts came right over to me, as I parked my car along the side of the road and began walking toward the field here. The pretty boy in front, with the wicked cool hair tried to nudge me, so that I would pet her (or him, I suppose?), and he let me do just that. It was an amazing moment for me – for at that moment, I felt a connection to the earth, and to the land of Iceland, and to the wild. I will never forget that moment.

*Offer ends when the next Friday's Fine Art Feature image is published.