This week during the Jones fire in Nevada County, we lost an amazing hiking and landscape location in Nevada City. At this moment, we don’t know the level of damage, but we have seen photos of the boardwalks burning. These are a few photos from the location:
Until Further Notice
With the world shutdown, I thought it would be a good idea to see how it has impacted a normally very busy Broad Street in Nevada City, which is lined with small businesses.
These are the closure signs put up by the shop owners who need our support the most.
Best of 2019-Landscape
I didn’t shoot very many landscape images in 2019, but this is the selection of my best work.
Pioneer Park with Marissa Mutascio
I had a chance to work with actress Marissa Mutascio in Nevada City this week on a fun portrait shoot. All photos are taken with the Fuji X-T3, 56mm f1.2 and Godox AD400 with a large softbox.
Vintage Looks with Laura Tipon
Model Laura Tipon asked me to shoot her around the old homes of Nevada City to help compliment her already vintage look. I am really happy with the results.
Taken in Nevada City with the Fuifilm XT-3 and a 28 inch Glow EZ deep parabolic softbox. Godox AD400 strobe.
This one was shot using natural light as the sun was going down.
Pioneer Park with Autumn Skye
My first shoot with new model Autumn Skye. This talented model brings endless poses. Shot in Pioneer Park in Nevada City.
Images shot using a Godox strobe with a large 48 inch softbox
Musician Kalyja Rain
I had a chance to take photos of the very talented Kalyja Rain the week after her Mile High single was released.
Pictures taken with the Fujifilm X-T3 with the 56mm f1.2 lens in Pioneer Park in Nevada City.
Shot with a Godox strobe and 48 inch octobox.
Camping with Alex
I had the idea of doing a camp-girl photoshoot at the Inn Town Campground in Nevada City and Alex Jade did an amazing job as the model.
We started the shoot in a RetroRV. Shooting with the Fujifilm X-T3 and natural light.
We then moved into the Airstream to take a few pictures inside and outside.
Then we moved onto Glamping Tent #3 for a few final shots.
Portraits with Becca
I worked with bay area model Becca on some really special portraits over the weekend in Nevada City.
This image of Becca at the Tulip Gardens is now one of my favorite portraits that I have captured. Everything about it is special, just works and tells a story. This is the type of portraits i would love to create all day long.
Both images shot with the Fujifilm X-T3 and 16-55mm f2.8 lens
After taking photos at the tulip garden, we headed down to the cemetery outside downtown Nevada City for some moody and emotional portraits.
Model Alex Jade
I had an opportunity to work with model Alex Jade in Nevada City recently. Below are a few of my favorites. Images shot with the Fujifilm X-T3 and the 56 f1.2 and 35mm f1.4 lenses. Some were shot with natural light plus a reflector and some were shot using a Godex on camera flash.
More with Annaliese Nobile
Teen model, Annaliese asked me to do a photoshoot with her in Nevada City this week. The 3 hour shoot included a visit to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley before it was closed for renovation. We probably had the very last photoshoot in that hotel before the furniture was sold and the wallpaper removed.
We used natural light in the hotel, so that we would not bother the people running around the hallways purchasing every lamp, chair and bed in the building.
Shot through a coffee shop window in Nevada City
Photography Week Publication
I was contacted by Photography Week Magazine a few weeks ago, asking if i would be willing to let them publish one of my pictures. The image they selected was from a recent trip to Nevada City. Photo taken with the Fujifilm X-T3 with the 80mm Macro lens. Published in issue #331
Model: Annaliese Nobile
I had a chance to work directly with teen model Annaliese Nobile on a snow photoshoot at the edge of Nevada City. The shoot took place the day after a heavy snowfall, which gave us a lot of fresh clean powder. Below are some of the results.
Holidays in Nevada County
When the holidays come around, Grass Valley and Nevada City take the festival season seriously. Below are some pictures from Cornish Christmas in Grass Valley and Victorian Christmas in Nevada City.
Wildflowers of Independence Trail
I returned to Independence Trail this week to see how it has changed with the spring weather.
While the boardwalks are the most unique part of the trail, it is the wildflowers that are always changing.
Pictures just don't show the 3D shape of these puffy flowers.
Roadside Nevada County
Nevada county has a few roadside attractions that are unique and fun to visit:
Grass Valley robot
This Tin Man and Tin Woman in Nevada City play Wizard of Oz music when you push his bellybutton.
Rough and Ready has an entire mini town dedicated to Gold Mining history.
More from Rough and Ready
Clark's in Nevada City
Old Shell station in Penn Valley (Bridgeport)
Nevada City Dark Tourism
I always find cemetery shooting to be a challenge. I don't always know what compositions will work best to bring out the details of the old headstones and statues. This week I decided to try shooting with the Fujifilm 80mm macro lens and I think it was a perfect choice. I think this will probably be my goto lens for future cemetery visits. A few samples are below.
Tulip Gardens in Nevada City
For one month a year (in April), you can visit the Crystal Hermitage gardens in Nevada City. These impressive gardens feature around 17,000 tulips and flowering trees in a beautiful hillside location, about 25 minutes from downtown Nevada City.
Fujifilm 16mm lens. The building in the background is a small church.
The gardens are visited by 1000's of people and it seems like everyone is taking pictures with either cell phones or full size DSLR cameras. With all of the colors and different types of flowers, you can imagine why it is so popular.
Fujifilm 16mm lens
Fujifilm 16mm lens. Only about 60% of the tulips are flowering when this image was taken.
Fuifilm 16mm
If you are a Macro shooter, these gardens are a great opportunity to get close to some flowers and maybe a few bugs.
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens. In addition to flowers, you will find status and water features.
Inn Town Campground
When you think about Nevada City, you have to think about the outdoors and the unique camping experience offered by the Inn Town Campground. Located only 5 minutes from downtown Nevada City, the campsite offers you an outdoor experience that includes glamping, RV camping or you can just pitch a tent for a few days.
The office and front desk, complete with gift shop. Inside you will also find a common area with couches, a fireplace and a full kitchen. You will also find a new swimming pool to stay cool.
When you get into the campground, you will immediately see a collection of buildings and tents that you can call home for a weekend.
Across from the tents are bathroom and shower facilities.
Once you go inside a glamping tent, you will be impressed with the care and detail put into each unique overnight visit. You can't get closer to a hotel experience while still enjoying the fresh air of being in a forest.
Open the back flap and you can relax on a private balcony with a view.
Each tent has a unique custom headboard, lights, power and fan to keep you cool on hot nights. Don't forget the comfy bed.
The Inn Town Campground offers 17 different glamping tents with different decorations and features that will make you want to try them all. Different bed configurations are available for the entire family.
A lot of detail has been put into each room, from the wood floors to the chairs.
You will be impressed with how clean and new the tents feel.
The campground offers a place for your own RV or you can bring the family and spend time in a Retro RV with beds and its own bathroom.
The new retro RV available for the entire family.
Near the Airstream (used as a campground business office), you will find the remains of a historic Chinese Cemetery from the gold mining era. Don't worry, the ghosts are long gone.
Next to the campground is the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, which is a great place to visit with the family.
Cabin in the Woods
If you like old shacks and cabins, then check out the Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park in Nevada City, California. The park is the location of an 1800's gold mining town and what is left is a mini ghost town.
My first trip to this park was last year in the middle of summer. When I decided to make my 2nd trip to the Malakoff Diggins park, I didn't realize it would be 1 to 2 feet deep in snow, but that really made for some interesting images.
If you visit the park, you will find an old cemetery, historic church, lake, hiking locations and you can take guided tours of some old general stores.