Brett J Donnelly Photography

Temple of the Gods was captured on an early morning in Utah as the sun was peaking over the La Sal Mountains in the distance. An hour before the sun rose the underside of this amazing arch began to glow a bright red from the warm sunlight slowly illuminating the horizon. It was an unusual experience for Brett as many of his photographs feature such rare light but are unnoticable to the naked eye. Photographing this moment seconds after sunrise allowed Brett to capture the soft glow of the sandstone while maintaining awesome clarity and definition in the distant valley.

Photographed on a clear, calm evening in the soutwest desert of the United States Brett captured Circle of Life.  Sitting high above the canyon below, tucked under an alcove carved into vertical cliffs rests this secret Indian ruin.  The purpose of the site is still debated among archeologists along with the age but one thing is certain… the view from this secluded balcony is breathtaking.  Brett sat patiently by his camera for hours as the light in the distance shifted and slowly illuminated the canyon in warm hues and soft light.

Brett has taken long exposure photography to a new level with Infinity, a rare photograph of famous Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  “I was patiently watching a magnificent sunset fall upon the arch” recalls Brett.  “But I wasn’t there to photograph a sunset.”  As light turned to dark the stars began to paint the sky.  The Milky Way shifted from left to right as Brett aligned his camera on the sandstone slope below.  Taking only a 30 second exposure and pushing his camera aperture to the limit to reduce the effects of the Earth’s rotation, Brett captured Infinity when the Milky Way was framed by this iconic landmark.

This secluded slot canyon located on sacred Navajo land is rarely photographed.  Brett was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit this incredible wonder of Mother Nature.  Carved by flash floods and relentless wind, the red and purple hues of this tight canyon are only illuminated during the summer solstice and at high noon.  The fleeting light shifted quickly as Brett layed flat on his back underneath his tripod waiting for the moment to capture the perfect light.  The sky above was perfectly clear and creates a rich contrast to the pastel hues of the sandstone.  Brett was nearly one hundred feet underground when he captured Earth and Sky.

Hiking through a narrow slot canyon on sacred Navajo land, Brett and his guide approached a brightly lit section where the sandstone opened to the sky and the sun above illuminated a lonely plant.  “The bush offered such great contrast to the sandstone canyon” recalls Brett.  “It was an easy decision to photograph it.  The light was perfect and the moment was fleeting so I had to act quickly.  I setup my equipment, adjusted my settings and came home with a great shot.”

Early mornings are Brett’s favorite time to photograph and Alpenglow shows why that is.  “The light is simply magical before sunrise” explains Brett.  “I remember framing this shot and watching the rock catch fire with light.  It was a wonderful experience to witness the landscape wake up like that.”  The bare rock illuminated by the rising sun is a perfect contrast to the lush valley below.

Waking up early to photograph this magnificent sandstone Arch, Brett captured Rare Light nearly an hour before sunrise.  His camera, stabilized from wind and vibrations by a heavy tripod, spent over five minutes collecting the faint light refracted off our Earth’s atmosphere and falling upon the desert floor.  Brett has mastered the difficult task of long-exposure photography and Rare Light is one of his greatest achievements.  For years he has wanted to capture the rare purple hues of a desert morning and now he has.

Brett photographed Land’s End on a warm summer morning along the rugged coastline of the Atlantic Ocean.  Previously hidden by white sand, these unusal rock formations were revealed after a hurricane battered the shore.  An ever changing landscape is why Brett constantly visits rugged beaches in search of new opportunities to photograph Mother Nature’s beauty.

As the sun set upon Monument Valley, a special land to the Navajo people in southern Utah, Brett wanted to capture the simplicity of this vast and amazing landscape.  He first saw Monument Valley as a young child and had come back several times to experience this peaceful place.  Although the nearby town had changed considerably and it has begun to turn into a tourist attraction, Monument Valley is still a place where if you venture off the beaten path there are new landscapes to discover in every direction.

Exposure was filmed on the rugged beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and is a true artistic expression of Brett’s passion for long exposure photography and pushing the limits of our perception on the world around us.  Utilizing advanced equipment that can capture such detail during several minutes, the calm ocean in front of Brett’s lens magically painted this image on film.  Exposure will surely become a classic and is one of Brett’s favorite prints.  It is available in a limited edition of 250 prints.

Rocky Shore is another masterpiece by Brett Donnelly that showcases his skills as a long exposure photographer.  Captured on the Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Shore took years to perfect including waiting for the perfect atmospheric conditions to produce such beautiful colors in the sky, the rocks, the trees and the ocean.  “I spent years going to this secret location along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico waiting for Mother Nature to give me the perfect light” recalls Brett on his journey to capture Rocky Shore.  “One day I showed up and the weather was perfect and I was able to capture my vision on film using long exposure techniques on a sturdy tripod.”

Sailor’s Delight was captured on a calm evening on the southern shores of the Atlantic Ocean.  The calm winds provided an ideal setting for whispy clouds while the setting sun perfectly illuminted this early American lighthouse.

Craftsman captures the rich history of the American spirit.  The barn was built in the early 20th century as a supply shed for the cattle pasture that is still in operation today.  The character and charm of this Appalachian barn caught Brett’s attention as he was hiking the area in late summer.  “It instantly captivated me… I had been looking for the perfect, unspoiled barn for years.” recalls Brett of his experience capturing Rustic.  “The timing was right too… the fall colors had set in offering the perfect backdrop for the image.  I knew I wanted to make the barn’s rustic details the focal point so I spent extra time ensuring proper exposure of the barn itself.”

Limited Edition: 250

Limited Edition: 250