Black Lion Photography

08/20/2026

There are places where the landscape doesn’t just ask you to slow down—it demands it.

Hidden among the moss-covered forests and rushing waters of the Columbia River Gorge, this little corner of Washington feels almost untouched by time. The sound of the river, the deep greens of the forest, and the soft light filtering through the canopy create the kind of scene that reminds you why we chase these places with a camera in the first place.

Sometimes the best photographs aren’t found at the famous overlook. They’re found a little deeper in the woods, where the only soundtrack is water rushing over stone.

📍 Columbia River Gorge | Washington
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Sony | Alpha a7rV
Sony | Alpha 24-105 G
SIRUI USA
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08/18/2026

Super excited to announce a brand new workshop offerring for 2027! Join Michael Simmons Photography and I along Florida's Forgotten Coast for our 2027 Capturing the Cosmos: Forgotten Coast astrophotography workshop April 9-12, 2027! We be exploring locations such as the historic St. Marks lighthouse standing against the Milky Way, to secluded beaches and reflections along the Gulf. For more details please click the link below.

As always if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

An Astrophotography workshop in the darkest skies in the lower 48, Big Bend national Park.

08/17/2026

Happy Milky Way Monday!

There are some photographs you can simply stumble upon.

And then there are the ones you have to earn.

This lake was definitely one of the latter.

The hike was long, steep, and at more than one point had me questioning some of my life choices. 😅 But I had a vision for this scene before ever making the trek—and sometimes you just have to trust the vision and put in the work to make it happen.

When the planning, timing, conditions, composition, and ex*****on all come together, the struggle fades pretty quickly.

Standing there beneath the Milky Way, with the lake perfectly reflecting the mountains and wildflowers filling the foreground, I knew every exhausting step had been worth it.

The best images aren’t always the easiest ones to make. Sometimes, they’re the ones that make you work for them.
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Sony | Alpha a7rV
Sony | Alpha 24-105 foreground
SIGMA America 14-24 sky
SIRUI USA tripod
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08/13/2026

08/13/2026

Fall in the San Juan Mountains is something you have to experience to understand.

Golden aspens stretching across the mountainsides, rugged peaks catching the last light, crisp alpine evenings, and dark skies filled with the Milky Way.

Come tour the San Juans with us this October as Michael Simmons Photography and I lead an epic week of landscape and night photography, chasing the best fall color and the incredible night skies of southwest Colorado.

We have just 2 spots remaining for this year’s workshop.

If golden aspens + mountain landscapes + Milky Way nights sounds like your kind of adventure, this is your chance to join us.

📍 San Juan Mountains, Colorado
📅 Early October
📸 Landscape + astrophotography

DM me or head to the link in my bio for details and to reserve your spot.

08/12/2026

Hey there everyone! I had the great opportunity to give a presenatation to Linda Nickell's Happiness Hour group last week and I wanted to share it with you all. Every week Linda invites photographers on to give talks on a variety of topics and you can find more over on her YouTube channel. I'd love for you to check out my talk and give it a like and feel free to share.

I also spoke on episode #249 about night photography if that is of interest to you.

Thanks!

Beautiful places don't automatically make beautiful photographs. Th...

08/11/2026

Some places never get old. Big Bend is one of them.

I had the opportunity to lead another group of photographers through some of my favorite areas of the Big Bend region, and as always, the landscape had a surprise waiting for us.

As the sun began to set, the clouds opened just enough to let the light pour across the mountains and desert floor. Those dramatic rays stretched across the landscape, creating a scene that felt almost otherworldly.

It’s moments like this that make leading these workshops so rewarding—not just getting to photograph a place I love, but being able to share it with others and watch them experience that same sense of awe.

Big Bend. Big skies. Incredible light. And another sunset I won’t soon forget.
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Sony | Alpha a7rv
Sony | Alpha 24-105
SIRUI USA tripod
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08/03/2026

328 Followers, 0 Following, 0 Posts

08/01/2026

The days are going to pass whether we spend them dreaming or doing.

You can’t add days to your life, but you can add life to your days.

For me, that means chasing sunrises, waiting under star-filled skies, standing on windswept mountain peaks, wandering quiet forests, and exploring places that remind me just how incredible this world is.

Every photo is a reminder that the best memories usually begin with saying yes to the adventure.

What’s one place that’s made you feel truly alive? 🌎📸

07/29/2026