Living in a city is full of noise. Beeps, honks, sirens, birds, people… you name it, a city has a sound for that. Well, almost. What a city doesn’t have is a sound for silence. To seek that, we packed our backpacks, sleeping bags, a few meals, and headed out to the woods for a weekend get away.
Read MoreWaking up early is a novelty. Crawling out from under your covers is difficult, but worth it. Throughout a year, at least one of my highlights comes from waking up early to catch a sunrise. Often my motivation is a photo idea, but sometimes it is a climbing mission, or an outing with a friend. Regardless, do something hard and wake up early a few times a year! It’ll be worth it.
Read MoreIn this photo essay Dalton Johnson documents Ryan Lynch hand shaping a surfboard from a blank. Documenting the process of how to make a surfboard from start to finish, this photo essay shows the beauty of the hand made process. If you are curious on how to make a surfboard, this photo essay will give you a look behind the curtain at how to make a surfboard.
Read MoreThe message is clear, distractions happen, learn how to handle them. In the end, I wrote the above as a stress relief exercise and to spew out an idea that I had been festering away in my brain for the last few days. In many ways, it was pestering me so much, I just wanted to get it down on paper so I could forget about it.
Read MoreThink of a time in your life, when you said to yourself, “Wow! That was exciting.” Or, “Gosh, that was scary for me!" What do you remember from that memory? Were you close to cliff’s edge, fatigued from exerting yourself, or were you overcoming a fear built up in your imagination? Hopefully, that memory was elective and an experience you can look back upon as type two fun. A learning lesson, a personal challenge, an opportunity to expand your horizon.
Read MoreA gorgeous photo-essay combined with a guiding haikus tell the journey to a remote Alaskan Cabin. Seeking mental clarity and space to think, the characters in this photo essay reset their lives living off the grid. Chopping fire wood for heat, drinking creek water, and without electricity, this cabin in the Alaskan woods is a perfect place for a digital detox from our modern world.
Read MoreSome of the best adventure travel trips are close to home, here is a surf trip to Maverick’s Beach in Halfmoon Bay, California. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
As a kid, I had two dreams. First, to play a sport in college. Second, see the world. The outtake above is from a childhood conversation I distinctly recall as a kid. As an avid lover of the History and Discovery channel, I have always been blown away by this planet, the diversity of landscapes, and the endless adventures. With curiosity often at the root of my adventures, I have taken this mindset into adulthood.
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Telling a story of a hiker staying at a cabin in the woods for a commercial photography lifestyle campaign. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
At the end of the day, my job as a commercial photographer is to sell a product. While photographing a campaign, a thought constantly repeats in the back of my mind and kinda goes like, “You are shooting a (insert product), that is the focus.” This mantra helps balance the struggle between creativity and capturing an image that will sell the product. Overall, the limitation in creating commercial photography is not an art director or creative freedom, the constraint is usually time and money.
Read MoreScarfing down our burritos and loading up in the van, we headed to the trailhead for Freel. The highest point in Lake Tahoe. With hopes of being on the summit of Freel for sunset, we packed a few snacks and headed out on the 10 mile hike.
Read More“Good morning,” we hear from the outside of the tent. “The sky is a bit cloudy, but we are going to make the move for the cache today,” Hannah explains at 3am. We had packed our bags and went to bed with the mindset that we would cache, but there was a weather report predicting weather, so we were unsure if moving was going to be possible.
Read MoreThe five years leading up to this road trip my life had been fueled by immediate gratification, what needs to be done right now, and a constant struggle to make a living. Most of this comes with the territory of starting a career out of nothing, especially a career in photography! However, this was the first trip I was “set” and capable of focusing on my craft everyday, without having to meet the demands of others. While I was still held accountable by clients and deadlines, this project was my baby. I conjured up the idea, raised the funds, and executed on the ideas.
Read MoreWe have all been living in our vehicles at the Buttermilks for a while now, typically sleeping until the sun comes out as the mornings have been cold. However, after some bribery, I convinced the crew that waking up early to watch the sunrise and enjoy a cup of coffee before bouldering would be a great refresh.
They begrudgingly agreed.
Read MoreWe came to Indian Creek on a week-long climbing trip, but mother nature had other plans. It was our third day of the trip and we awoke to a full-blown snow storm. We went to bed watching the sunset over the red landscape, only to open the van doors to a winter wonderland.
Read MoreIs there anything better than holding a warm beverage and watching the sun dip behind the horizon as the clouds and sky change colors? If so, I want to know what! Sunsets are a daily light display that makes my jaw drop when all of the ingredients align; slightly cloudy, something interesting on the horizon, and a nice jacket to keep you warm after the sun disappears. Over the past seven years of vanlife, I have prioritized watching sunsets, often stopping everything I am doing to enjoy this daily gift. In doing so, I have had many evening where my mind is blown by the beauty while living on the road. So, here are a few of my favorite sunsets, with the locations, so you can go watch them for yourself!
Read MoreAfter 3,000 miles, we crossed the border into Alaska! Photo by Dalton Johnson
Driving to Alaska, my Dad graciously joined the adventurous road trip north from California. Together, we did our best to go on adventures along the way, to break up the driving. Also, I needed to continue my training for Mount Denali. During our drive, we hiked, dipped in rivers, checked out glacier, and gawked at wildlife. Our schedule was tight, so we didn’t get to do all that much, but the time together is what counts.
Read MoreMount Forker bathing in last night just before we begin our trek across the Kahiltna Glacier. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Midnight struck, the sun had technically set behind the ridge, but sunscreen and sunglasses were still needed. Crawling out of my sleeping bag, I reached for layers. It was cold. Base layers, socks, boot liner, jacket number one, jacket number two, and gloves… I was now ready to shed the sleeping bag, put my boots on, and start packing my pack. Just as I got started, “Hot water and breakfast is ready,” shouted Hannah. I guess packing will have to wait.
Read MoreAfter a three day digital detox in Joshua Tree National Park, void of vibrations and pings, penning a note felt like the perfect way to continue the slowed down lifestyle and show some gratitude for time well spent with good friends. Pulling a pen from the drawer, tearing out a blank sheet from his notebook, and sitting down with a fresh cup of coffee, Dalton Johnson shares the story of a weekend adventure.
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Blue Bells, a wildflower, dancing in the wind. Photo by Dalton Johnson
When I sat down to write this poem, I imagined an older women living alone, off the grind, in a cabin. The cabin I had stayed at. This nature poem was an attempt at showcasing the mental battle of being alone in the woods, mixed with the reality of curiousity. I wanted the poem to have a sense of fun, yet be serious. Attempt a small commentary about living off the land and a slower pace life.
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