For Jeff by TedGore

I’d like to dedicate this image to a fantastic person and photographer who we lost last year. Jeff Swanson passed away from Melanoma a little over a year ago, the anniversary was at the beginning of this month. A memorial website is hosted by SmugMug and can be found at http://bit.ly/1Esn55O, also, if you feel inclined to donate to the Melanoma Research Foundation, you can do that here, http://bit.ly/1hqNtlP This is another image from my trip to the Patagonia region last April. During my exploration around Mt. Fitz Roy I came upon one of the most idyllic scenes I saw the entire trip. This perfect arrangement of fall color, contrasted with the skeleton of an old lenga tree seemed to just be waiting for it’s picture to be taken. It also provided one of the best camping spots I had the entire trip. via 500px http://bit.ly/1FdcQgQ

Deep Chill by ACWaddington

I photographed this ice cave on the Torre Glacier in Los Glaciers National Park Argentina. The glacier has shrunk some 150 metres since the end of 2012. I shot this on a scouting trip and decided to return a few days later, it was amazing to notice that even in such a short space of time part of the arch had collapsed. Rappelling into the cave was a worrying but exhilarating experience. If you like this image please look at my Amber Room shot adjacent to this one. I feel the two compliment each other quite well. via 500px http://bit.ly/1LwgBFs

Cascada Veinticinco de Mayo by ACWaddington

A waterfall on its own doesn’t usually impress me, but using one as the foreground to Patagonia’s most dramatic mountain gives you something to work on. I confess, I thought I knew Los Glaciers National Park but here on Arroyo del Salto I found a cascade that had totally escaped my attention. I found it on the 25th May, which is a public holiday in Argentina. I was resolved to keep coming back again and again to get it right, but I managed this on only my second visit, I particularly love the small details like the tip of Fitz Roy’s summit poking out through the clouds. I was very lucky to have the perfect water flow, exquisite light on the mountain and a balanced composition. You can be assured I will keep trying to re-shoot this scene; hopefully we’ll have some snow soon. I offer private guiding in Patagonia. Click this link for information.GUIDING I’m also co guiding a 2016 workshop with Erez Marom details here. EREZ MAROM via 500px http://bit.ly/1JfGd36

Celestica by tpoulton001

in the end, everyone can understand themselves only. You are the only one to which you never have to explain what you mean. Everything else is misunderstanding. Laguna Torre - Patagonia With so much commanding our attention these days, it’s easy to feel like were drowning in a tidal wave of messages that arrive daily through our phones, computers and personal devices. At some point, it seems the only way to catch a break is to simply walk out into the wilderness, and away from the constant technological distractions. I have just completed my second OOAK Photography Adventure for 2015, we went on a backcountry trip in Patagonia both in Chile and Argentina and enjoyed many nights camping in the wilderness. This trip was particularly wonderful because it was my first to this part of the world and a break from the endless notifications that inundate my daily life. I was reminded of the importance of temporarily disconnecting from the “real” world. Of course, it doesn’t take a photography trip to do this. A walk in the park, run by the river or snowshoe in the mountains will provide ample opportunity to go social media free for a few hours. In order to truly disconnect I believe we need to either spend some time alone or surround ourselves with people who can also turn the power off. Unfortunately we have become so dependent on this form of communication we found it hard to disconnect.. Just a few hours or days spent away from our devices gives us the perspective and discernment we need when we choose to connect again. By fully engaging in our time spent in nature - breathing in the fresh air, watching the sun set and rise or the way the snow blows off the mountains - we’ll stay in the present moment and away from the perpetual ”To Do List.” In fact, when we let go of all the things that command our attention, we are better able to prioritize and discern what is important. The time we take to refresh our spirits will make us much more creative when it’s time to enter the game again. What I really missed the most was my beautiful wife and children, I feel recharged by my time in the wilderness and believe I can better handle what happens in the “real" world. via 500px http://500px.com/photo/104535909