Valley in Oahu from helicopter. Great morning light for the whole 45-minute tour.

Canon S95, ISO 80, f/4, 1/250, RAW, Apple Aperture.

This is Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, Montana. Shot in the morning with the Sun through the valley and the clouds.

Nikon D7000, Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF).

Photo Settings: 40mm, f/7, 1/250 second, ISO 320.

Map: 48.6972, -113.7106

Taken of the Kalalau Valley in Kauai, Hawaii while on vacation. This location has an unreal, majestic feel to it that takes your breath away. Can't wait to go back!

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS, 1/640 second, f/2.8, ISO 80.

I am pretty sure this is someone’s summer cottage. Imagine waking up to this view in the morning. I shot this somewhere between Geiranger and Stryn in Norway.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

The setting Sun casting golden rays on the town of Banff in Alberta, Canada. I took this from Sulphur Mountain in Spring 2012.

Samsung 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 OIS

Angel's landing is one of Zion National Park's most famous hikes. This photo was taken off-trail and you can see in the bottom right corner, the path leading to the Virgin River valley below. Down center is the road where the bus shuttle drives. It is only authorized vehicle in the park past its lodge. It is an amazing park to visit, only a two-hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Adobe Lightroom 5 and Nik HDR Efex 2.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM.

Map: 37.2696, -112.9506

Taken on the peak of Mount Pilatus.

At first I just wanted to capture the valley, then I spotted a goat sitting in the grass. The goat must have felt uncomfortable having me so close by. It stood up and walked away. But for a few seconds it was looking down the valley, just the way I wanted it for the picture.

Nikon D600, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.

Photo Settings: 26mm, f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

This is the first time I visited Yosemite and thus obviously the first time I saw the famed Tunnel View vista. This is at sunrise, about 5:30 in the morning. The crowds were still thin, and many roads in the park had just been re-opened for the Spring/Summer. I have adjusted the RAW file for exposure and white balance in Photoshop and Light Room, with additional minor tweaks in Exposure X2.

Lightroom, Photoshop, Exposure X2. Sony a7rii, Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 lens.

Sony Alpha 7R, Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF).

Photo Settings: 17mm, f/5, 2.5 seconds, ISO 400.

Map: 37.7156, -119.6769

It is said that Tolkien travelled through the landscape of Switzerland to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, a deep valley that many people now believe was the direct inspiration for the valley of Rivendell, a place instrumental to events both in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The name Rivendell itself means "Deeply Cloven Valley" and the Lauterbrunnen, with its steep sides and many waterfalls (72 to be exact), certainly fits this description, with the mountains of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau lying beyond.

Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom, Color Efex, Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich.

Nikon D800, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED.

Map: 46.6000, 7.9089

Sunrise at the Taschachhaus in the Pitztal valley located in Tyrol, Austria.

Adobe Lightroom 5.

Sony Alpha NEX-7, Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS.

Photo Settings: 20mm, f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Map: 46.9096, 10.8175