Brett J Donnelly Photography

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.

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

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.”

Yellow Leaf Road is a look into the mountain roads of Virginia during the peak of fall color. Utilizing a long exposure soon after sunset, Brett was able to capture the intense colors of this lush vegitation.

“We followed a small forest service road for several miles” recalls Brett. “It was a magical place full of colorful trees, waterfalls, valleys and boulders. As the sun was quickly setting behind the mountains in the distance I decided to capture one more image on film for the day. We came upon this cluster of yellow leaved trees with a bend in the road. It was perfect. I setup my tripod and camera, carefully aligned the shot and took about a 45 second exposure. The result is Yellow Leaf Road.”

Limited Edition: 250 // AP: 10

America the Beautiful captures the true spirit and essence of the American dream. The freedom to roam the open road is both a right and privelege and Brett set out to capture that feeling on film in the Appalacian Mountains of North Carolina. There, along the back roads full of color and grace, he found expansive landscapes, small towns thick with character and the cleanest air imaginable.

“Roaming the Smokey Mountains during the fall has been a dream of mine for many years.” recalls Brett. “We set out with the hopes to capture the true essence of America and came home with a warm appreciation for the beauty and grace of our country.”

America the Beautiful was the defining image of Brett’s journey to depict the heart and soul of America in a single shot.

Limited Edition: 250

Rustic 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

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