Brett J Donnelly Photography

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.

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.

Hidden Hammock portrays the peaceful solitude of the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Taken during the summer months on the coast of Florida, Brett traveled to this site a dozen times before finally capturing this final print. “I wanted it to be just right” explains Brett about his quest to capture Hidden Hammock. “The shot was difficult because there were many shadows to contend with and a bright ocean in the background. In order to get my exposure dialed in, I waited until sunset when the shadows were at a minimum and the light was soft. Using a semi-long exposure I was able to pick up the subtle, golden hues in the tree bark and still maintain the ocean in the background.”

Fallen Sands is a breathtaking look into the heart of Mother Nature’s power and grace. The image, captured in springtime along the Gulf of Mexico, is the product of 10 months of hard work filming this rugged coastal shore. “I kept going back to this beach over and over again” recalls Brett reflecting on the challenge of capturing Fallen Sands. “I knew from the moment I found it that it had the potential to be an amazing shot. That night I traveled there during a calm afternoon and for some reason as the sun began to set two storms collided overhead and all hell broke loose!” Brett’s experience on that beach nearly turned disastrous. The secluded beach offered him little coverage to avoid the intense lighting that crashed around him only minutes after capturing Fallen Sands. He took refuge in nearby mangroves for 45 minutes before the storm moved on and he could hike down the coast back to safer ground. “I’ll never forget my experience filming Fallen Sands… it was definitely worth it.”

Limited Edition: 250

Marsh Island demonstrates the fragile and diverse ecosystem of the Florida coastline.  This mudflat plays an important role in the hunting and breeding of over one hundred different species of birds including herons, storks, pelicans, eagles and more.  Alligators, fish, foxes, bobcats and other large animals also call this area home and are protected by state and federal park systems.

Limited Edition: 250

Morning Calm, perhaps Brett’s most famous image, is a dynamic photograph taken on the Florida coast before sunrise one calm spring morning. Brett travelled to this site many times over the course of several months in search of the perfect conditions to capture his vision.

“It was the perfect morning… exactly what I had been waiting for. The air was dry and warm which provided ideal conditions to capture a brilliant sunrise.” recalls Brett. Using a long exposure to capture a wide range of colors and to emphasise the stillness of the water, Morning Calm displays the power and grace of natural light by displaying every color of the spectrum… from the cool blues and greens of the water to the warm reds and yellows of the horizon.

Limited Edition: 250

Southern Light is the result of a year-long quest to film this dramatic pier in the perfect light. Brett’s determination to get the perfect shot paid off. “From the moment I found this site I knew it had the potential to be an amazing image. I came back again and again and finally got the perfect sunset I had been looking for.” recalls Brett about the April evening he took this image. “It was a magical night on the Gulf of Mexico.”

Utilizing sturdy equipment to hold his camera perfectly still, Brett composed the shot and used a very long exposure to capture the fleeting light as it took refuge behind the horizon. It was nearly dark by the time the camera completed the exposure which is what brings such dramatic color to the sky, water and sand.

Limited Edition: 250

Filmed early in the morning, prior to sunrise, Midnight Pier is a dramatic image full of color and life. This dreamy landscape was captured in Brett’s camera using a long exposure and a very sturdy tripod. Working with his camera on this beach in the dark, he opened his shutter for several minutes allowing the subtle light to slowly fall upon the film. Using this technique, Brett is able to photograph a world not seen by the human eye… a place full of colors that goes beyond the boundaries of our vision.

Limited Edition: 250

Summer Morning, captured just before dawn on a beautiful beach in his home state of Florida.  Summer Morning captivates you with it’s ethereal, moonlit sky and delicate sunrise illuminating the calm Atlantic surf.  The warm, wooden dock gives a sense of place in the image without drawing attention away from the perfect sunrise and the rich darkness of deep space.

“When composing this shot I was originally shooting it as a horizontal.” recalls Brett on his latest image Summer Morning.   “I took a step backwards to evaluate my placement and to take in the entire scene when I noticed the crescent moon hovering above the horizon.  With only seconds left before sunrise I quickly readjusted my equipment, set my exposure and filmed the final shot with a 30 second exposure.  The result was Summer Morning and the latest print to join my collection.”

Summer Morning represents years of work mastering the technical and aesthetic signature of Brett’s photographic style.  His advanced knowledge of the science of light allows his images to be both dynamic and realistic in the viewers eyes.  This print is an edition of 250 and is expected to sell out quickly.  Be sure to visit his gallery in Orlando, FL to view this piece in person.

Limited Edition: 250

The calm, tropical nature of palm trees has captivated Brett since his early childhood. After all, growing up in Florida he has seen his fare share of them. So he set out to capture the hidden Oasis of a palm canopy through the lens of his camera.

Traveling by boat to the subtropic region of Southeast Florida he came upon this hidden gem on a small island about thirty miles from the metropolitan city of Miami. “I was surrounded by palm trees in every direction” recalls Brett of his experience. “I found a small clearing in the center of this little island and there in the middle was a cluster of palms. The background was full of greenery and the texture of the palm trees captivated me. It was a very enjoyable experience filming in this lush habitat.”

Limited Edition: 250

Quiet Storm is a breathtaking look into the heart of Mother Nature’s power and grace. The image, captured in springtime along the Gulf of Mexico, is the product of 10 months of hard work filming this rugged coastal shore. “I kept going back to this beach over and over again” recalls Brett reflecting on the challenge of capturing Quiet Storm. “I knew from the moment I found it that it had the potential to be an amazing shot. That night I traveled there during a calm afternoon and for some reason as the sun began to set two storms collided overhead and all hell broke loose!” Brett’s experience on that beach nearly turned disastrous. The secluded beach offered him little coverage to avoid the intense lighting that crashed around him only minutes after capturing Quiet Storm. He took refuge in nearby mangroves for 45 minutes before the storm moved on and he could hike down the coast back to safer ground. “I’ll never forget my experience filming Quiet Storm… it was definitely worth it.”

Quiet Storm has been added to Brett’s collection of Limited Edition Prints. This magnificent image comes in multiple sizes up to 36×90 and is exquisitely framed using only the finest, museum-quality materials. Each of Brett’s Limited Edition Prints are hand inspected, signed and numbered to insure your investment will last a lifetime. Quiet Storm is an edition of 250. Once all 250 images have been sold this image will never be printed as a photograph again.

Limited Edition: 250

Autumn Dunes is a tribute to the rugged coastlines of the Atlantic shore.  Brett photographed this majestic image on a warm autumn morning using a long exposure to capture the subtle hues rarely seen by the naked eye. The contrast between the dry dunes and the expansive ocean sheds light on the diversity of this fragile environment.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to find unspoiled beaches along the East Coast.” recalls Brett when reflecting on his experience filming Autumn Dunes. “Over-development of our beaches is a major concern of wildlife experts and environmentalists.  If it continues our future generations will never get to enjoy the unspoiled beauty that I was lucky enough to experience when shooting Autumn Dunes.”

Autumn Dunes represents years of work mastering the technical and aesthetic signature of Brett’s photographic style.  His advanced knowledge of the science of light allows his images to be both dynamic and realistic in the viewers eyes.  This print is an edition of 250 and is expected to sell out quickly.  Be sure to visit your nearest gallery to view this piece in person.

Limited Edition: 250

Limited Edition: 250

Earth highlights the intricate, yet powerful forces of the Atlantic Ocean. Photographed on an early spring day, Brett traveled to a secluded beach where he was overwhelmed by the shapes and forms in the sand. “It was just one of those mornings where everything glistened as the sun rose over the horizon.” recalls Brett. “It was just… perfect. I was captivated by the colors and shapes carved into the beach by the outgoing tide. Mini sandbars were everywhere and it was difficult to pick just one subject to film.”

Earth was Brett’s moment in time when he came to the realization that not all landscapes are shot from a distance. Sometimes they are right under our feet.

Limited Edition: 250

A swirl of ring-beak gulls rises en masse from an Atlantic beach in Traffic Jam. The frantic ascent seems disorganized in the face of the gull’s normal flying “V”, giving rise to noisy disarray.