As I started to write this, our third installment of our celebration of 2013, I enjoyed a beautiful, balmy, 51-degree day out my French doors. What a welcome change from yesterday when we got close to, if not in excess of, an inch of rain. Entirely unnecessary in my book!

We were not only back stateside, but we had returned to Maine, a different area where I had spent even more time sailing, for Summertime on the Maine Coast.

I love all those narrow, often-bumpy, back roads, ones I got to know as an adult, as I was always on the water as a child. We drove along one to our morning location that was blanketed in fog. It was beautiful as the sun drifted almost-in and out.

Arnie gave his shot a mysterious and eerie look. The old KISS principle is at its best here.

I like to look for different ways to show up the craggy coast and rocks that look like hugs slabs laying against one another.

In September, we headed to the Southwest for our trio of photo workshops. We started with one of my favorite locations, Canyon de Chelly & Navajoland, a place inhabited by the Anasazi long ago and now home to the Navajo who consider themselves descendents of these amazing people.

I found an old wagon at one of our locations and loved the way the light gently graced it, adding to its old-world feel.

Arnie made this shot that gives the viewer an inkling of the maze of canyons in this incredible place. If one did not pay attention, one could get lost.

From Arizona, we went to Santa Fé & Taos, an area that has seen artists for well over 100 years … the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Weston, Edward Curtis, and many others, too numerous to list. They provide a challenge and inspiration to Arnie and me.

We were lucky to be invited in the home of one of the Taos people, active in his community. It was a rare opportunity and one we cherished. Before that, however, Arnie made this photograph of him and a friend around the corner from his abode.

There is something about the shapes of the old, adobe buildings that has always fascinated me. I love the way they catch the light. I saw this shot when it was still light out, but I knew what I wanted and waited until the time, for me, was right

Colorado’s Fall Colors was our last Southwestern adventure on this trip, and Arnie and I both made images we really loved. It is a fun time of year, with the Vinotok festival right before our workshop, and the Crested Butte Film Festival right after. Something for everyone. We had a great time with our group at Vinotok, but because it was not actually during the workshop, we were honor bright and only selected images from the workshop itself.

Some of our shoots were at quite high altitudes.

Here, at 11,00 or so feet, when the Apine-glow appeared, it was magical! It was fleeting, and we were lucky to get some photographs. A minute later, and it was gone.

There is a valley that always produced some wonderful shots. It was early morning, and Arnie gave his shot a really moody feel.

We had started this segment off at sea level and ended up in the 11-12,000-foot range in the Rockies. What a wonderful variety of locations we had! I love not only the sea, but the mountains, having grown up in both environments. Clearly, I was meant to live in a place with fjords and sandy beaches! Ah well, we get to share these with our students, albeit in different locations!

Next: Part 4, The final four … eight …

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