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James Molloy Photography

The Poetry of a Photograph

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East Fork of the Owyhee - Fujifilm XT-5 - 1/160 @ f/16, ISO160, 35mm. A four hour trip by truck and a two hour ride by ATV brought us to this remote location in southern Idaho. Needless to say, we had the place to ourselves and we spent the afternoon exploring this beautiful river canyon.

Clouds Over the Sawtooths - Fujifilm XT-5, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 125, 56mm. An early season snow blankets the Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, Idaho. I love photographing these rugged peaks when the snow starts falling. The Salmon River can be seen in the foreground. The heavy cloud cover was a portent of things to come. I encountered my first snowfall of the season shortly after this picture was taken.

Dunes at Daybreak - Fujifilm XT-5, 1/125 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 35mm. There is nothing like a walk on the beach in the early morning; it helps you put everything in its proper perspective. It also provides the best light of the day for taking pics! Photographed at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

The River - Fujifilm XT-5, 1/250 @ f/10, ISO 125, 53mm. It’s hard to beat northern Idaho for scenic beauty. We were on a road trip in early May heading south along the Salmon River on a cloudy, rainy day when I was afforded this view of the river valley. I have to admit that the weather conditions enhanced the natural beauty of the place and provided me with a dramatic landscape photo. In fact, it inspired a poem that you can read in the Poetry Section.

Bruneau Sand Dunes - Fujifilm XT-5, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 125, 16mm. Photographed on a recent visit to this state park in southern Idaho. I am standing on one of the dunes overlooking this lake that offers a fabulous reflection in the early morning light. I also like the color in the foreground and the tracks in the sand. Later in the day, legions of sand boarders showed up to test their skills on the steep slopes. We saw some epic wipeouts! I’ll stick to taking pictures.

The Sawtooth Range - Nikon D750, 1/400 @ f/11, ISO 100, 70mm. Beautiful clouds and a thin layer of snow help enhance this photo of the Sawtooths. You can also catch a glimpse of the Salmon River in the foreground. Oh, and a well deserved reputation for being one of the coldest places in the state of Idaho.

The Wagon - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/125 @ f/8, ISO 160, 24mm. This photograph was taken on a recent tour of the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The colorful wagon makes for great foreground interest but it’s the sky over the Isle of Skye that provides the drama! Rain is falling just off the coast in the center background. See the poem Haiku: The Wagon in the Poetry Section.

The Winding River - Nikon D750, 1/320 @ f/10, ISO100, 38mm. Another look at the South Fork of the Boise from the canyon rim, this time in Spring. It’s a long, scary drive on a dirt road to get to this point, but well worth it. I hope you agree!

The Wild One - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/5.6, ISO 160, 600mm. I had the opportunity recently to photograph a herd of wild horses in southwestern Idaho. Since I am not a wildlife photographer, I had to rent a 100-400mm lens. I got some good shots of these rugged looking animals in their natural habitat. It took some off-roading to get there but well worth the effort. Thus, my decision to place it in the Landscapes category. I think I’m going to buy that lens!

Autumn in the Valley - Nikon D750, 1/100 @ f/13, ISO 100, 70mm. I spent four days in this Idaho valley camping with my son. The Cottonwoods and Aspens were magnificent! Beautiful but cold…and then it snowed for twenty-four hours straight creating an entirely different landscape just as beautiful.

Hot Springs - Nikon D750, 1/100 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 46mm. A recent snowfall, one degree temperatures and a hot spring combine for this winter image in the mountains of central Idaho. After shooting several dozen pics, I rewarded myself with a nice soak! See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Horseshoe Bend - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f /8.0, ISO 200, 16mm. An iconic image and no doubt you have seen many photographs of this bend in the Colorado River. I just had to get one of my own. The boats were a nice addition.

The Light Over Lucky Peak - Nikon D750, 1/125 @ f /10, ISO 100, 36mm. We were hiking some trails in the area when a storm came in out of nowhere. A bright flash and a sharp crack of thunder an instant later was a not so subtle hint that the storm was right on top of us. It began to rain…hard! We ran! By the time we got back to the Jeep the rain had slackened and a few bright shafts of light began to penetrate the clouds. I knew immediately that this post storm light could produce some amazing photographs. I raced to this spot to capture the light over Lucky Peak and then wrote about the experience. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Mt Ranier - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 24mm. An easy hike along the base of Mt. Ranier in Washington State brought me to this point just below the glacier. A beautiful view on a warm, hazy day.

Receding Ice - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/125 @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 16mm. This is a recent post to my 500px and Instgram galleries and now a feature on this page. There are a couple of things I would like to say about this photograph: Although new to this page, I took the image almost two years ago. I have several other glacier shots from Alaska on this site but for some reason this one got overlooked. That was a mistake because this is now my favorite image from that shoot. So be careful what you toss and always go back and take a fresh look at your old images. For a variety of reasons, you will see them in a new light. There is also an environmental concern depicted in this image. It was obvious to us, the untrained tourists, where and by how much the ice was retreating in Glacier Bay. I have to wonder what this image would look like if shot today or twenty years from now. The wide angle is the key to this image. I was able to bring out some of the structure in the mountains and capture some nice low lying clouds. There is a poem called “Receding” in the Poetry Section that goes along with this photo. Check it out!

Spring Solitude - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/500 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 35mm. The Lucky Peak Reservoir in Idaho on a spring afternoon. The last remnants of snow in the foothills contrast nicely with the early green tones of spring. I like the reflection here as we… — Spring Solitude - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/500 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 35mm. The Lucky Peak Reservoir in Idaho on a spring afternoon. The last remnants of snow in the foothills contrast nicely with the early green tones of spring. I like the reflection here as well and the empty sky, something I try to avoid, in this case enhances the feeling of solitude.

Gem Country - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/500 @ f/10, ISO 160, 56mm. A hike in the Idaho backcountry provided this view of the hills to the north and west of Squaw Butte. And yes, we were looking for gemstones! The Owhyees can be seen in the distance. Volcanic… — Gem Country - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/500 @ f/10, ISO 160, 56mm. A hike in the Idaho backcountry provided this view of the hills to the north and west of Squaw Butte. And yes, we were looking for gemstones! The Owhyees can be seen in the distance. Volcanic rock formations and my son provide the foreground interest. See the poem Bleached Bones in the Poetry Section. We came across quite a few!

Lucky Peak Hike - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f / 9.0 ISO 80, 16mm. We were making our way up the foothills surrounding the Lucky Peak Reservoir. A look back gave me this panorama with some unusual foreground interest. This is early Fall and the water le… — Lucky Peak Hike - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f / 9.0 ISO 80, 16mm. We were making our way up the foothills surrounding the Lucky Peak Reservoir. A look back gave me this panorama with some unusual foreground interest. This is early Fall and the water levels are pretty low.

Stillwater of the Snake - 1/250 @ f /8, ISO 80, 35mm. This is another shot from our rafting trip along the Snake River in Idaho. Once again, I tried to take advantage of the smokey haze from the west coast wildfires by applying the Orton Effect to c… — Stillwater of the Snake - 1/250 @ f /8, ISO 80, 35mm. This is another shot from our rafting trip along the Snake River in Idaho. Once again, I tried to take advantage of the smokey haze from the west coast wildfires by applying the Orton Effect to create this glowing, dream-like riverscape.

Smoke on the Water - 1/250 @ f /8.0, ISO 200, 35mm. We were on a rafting/camping trip on the Snake River in Idaho. The smoke from the western wildfires turned the sky a pale grey. Deprived of color in the sky, let alone any clouds, and the smokey ha… — Smoke on the Water - 1/250 @ f /8.0, ISO 200, 35mm. We were on a rafting/camping trip on the Snake River in Idaho. The smoke from the western wildfires turned the sky a pale grey. Deprived of color in the sky, let alone any clouds, and the smokey haze that filled the canyon, I decided to exaggerate the conditions I was offered and process the entire series utilizing the Orton Effect to create this diffused, dream like glow. A nod to the great Deep Purple for the title. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Swan Falls Dam - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/8 @ f/10, ISO 160, 35mm. This is a three shot bracket image taken about one half hour after sunset. I used two stop intervals between each image. I had a beautiful vantage point overlooking the Snake River. I partic… — Swan Falls Dam - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/8 @ f/10, ISO 160, 35mm. This is a three shot bracket image taken about one half hour after sunset. I used two stop intervals between each image. I had a beautiful vantage point overlooking the Snake River. I particularly like the colors of this sunset and the lights on the dam. I had hoped to get to this spot a little sooner but we were catching too many fish along the far bend you see in the center background.

Prince William Sound - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/125 @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 84mm. One of my favorite glacier shots from our recent trip to Alaska. I was surprised by the striking color, particularly the blues, in the glacier formations. You can see very clearly h… — Prince William Sound - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/125 @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 84mm. One of my favorite glacier shots from our recent trip to Alaska. I was surprised by the striking color, particularly the blues, in the glacier formations. You can see very clearly here how this particular glacier has receded.

Morning Snow - Nikon D750, 1/200@ f/11, ISO 400, 38mm. An early season snowfall and beautiful morning light and calm ice free water combined for a very pretty seasonal image. I added a white vignette and softened the tones and contrast.

Meditation on a Landscape - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 200, 24mm. I love the elements of this photo from the earth tones to the small boat and just a wisp of a cloud. This is another shot of the Lucky Peak Reservoir in Idaho taken in late autu… — Meditation on a Landscape - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 200, 24mm. I love the elements of this photo from the earth tones to the small boat and just a wisp of a cloud. This is another shot of the Lucky Peak Reservoir in Idaho taken in late autumn. The late afternoon shadows were beginning to descend when I recorded this scene. A cool brisk wind was the only sound I could hear. I felt both lonely and alive! See my poem “Photographing A Landscape - A Meditation” in the Poetry Section.

First Light - Nikon D750, 1/200 @ f/11, ISO 400, 78mm. I was out early after the first snowfall of the season. The sunrise provided a stunning backlight for these snow covered pines along this now deserted lakefront.

Mountain Pass - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 16mm. A winter shot from the foothills around Boise, Idaho. The area is historic because the Oregon Trail passed through these hills. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Winter Pines - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 56mm. A branch of the Payette River on the road to McCall, Idaho. A fresh snow blankets the landscape.

Morning Sun - Nikon D750, 1/400 @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 120mm. An early morning shot of a field in Ohio in early spring. I have photographs of the tree at center left in each of the four seasons.

The Road - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/500 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 16mm. This is a view from a small butte southwest of Boise, Idaho called Initial Point; a jumble of volcanic rock jutting up from the desert floor, accessible only by the dirt road you see in the mid… — The Road - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/500 @ f/8.0, ISO 160, 16mm. This is a view from a small butte southwest of Boise, Idaho called Initial Point; a jumble of volcanic rock jutting up from the desert floor, accessible only by the dirt road you see in the middle distance. The Owhyee Range is visible in the distance. Great place to do some off-roading! See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

The Great Silence - Fujifilm XT-3, 25.0 @ f/2.0, ISO 1600, 16mm. A night shot from deep in the foothills north of Boise. The fire-scarred pines stand as silent witnesses to the growing threat of climate change while the light from the Treasure Valley can still be seen in the bottom right. Please read the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Mountain Sunrise - Nikon D750, 1/60 @ f/8.0, ISO 640, 35mm. A beautiful sunrise from our campsite near the Whitecloud Mountains in central Idaho.

Tree in the Wind - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 56mm. Photographed at Craters of the Moon National Park in Idaho. This tree sits atop a barren volcanic hill overlooking the lava fields. I photographed it at sunrise and sunset but this late afternoon pic was my favorite, perhaps because of the shadows and color. I had to wonder how this tree came to be here, leaning into the wind, branches bending, barely hanging on by its exposed roots. It seemed so out of place in this other-worldly landscape. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

North to Alaska - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 24mm. I photographed this Alaskan landscape just outside Denali National Park. It was a memorable experience for me because we were on a jeep excursion at the time, winding our way through this… — North to Alaska - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/250 @ f/11, ISO 160, 24mm. I photographed this Alaskan landscape just outside Denali National Park. It was a memorable experience for me because we were on a jeep excursion at the time, winding our way through this valley on a narrow dirt road. Driving a jeep and taking pictures; my idea of a good time! It was late in the day so the light coming off the mountains was just right. By the way, we did spot a moose in that tall grass on the other side of the river.

Pailon del Diablo - Fujifim X-T3, 1/125 @ f/11, ISO 400, 16mm. The Devil’s Cauldron! This waterfall is just outside Banos, Ecuador. We were making our way up the trail to the top of the waterfall (you can only see a small portion here) when I spotte… — Pailon del Diablo - Fujifim X-T3, 1/125 @ f/11, ISO 400, 16mm. The Devil’s Cauldron! This waterfall is just outside Banos, Ecuador. We were making our way up the trail to the top of the waterfall (you can only see a small portion here) when I spotted this vantage point. The forest canopy was open just enough to offer this fabulous view of the falls. You can actually go behind the waterfalls “Last of the Mohicans” style. It was raining hard that day so I was caught between my desire to get the shot in a photo rich environment and protecting my equipment. I took some risks!

Mountain Stream - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/75 @ f/8.0, ISO1600, 16mm. Color & Contrast in the Catskill Mountains on a crisp autumn day.

To the Waters and the Wild - Nikon D750, 2sec. @f/10, ISO100, 46mm - Watkins Glen, NY

Cabin in the Smokies - Nikon D7100

Montgomery Place Sunset - Nikon D7100, 1/60 @ f/11, ISO 200, 38mm, Tripod mounted. One of my more popular images!

Alone - Nikon D7000, 1/800 @ f/11, ISO 200, 18mm - See my poem, Alone, in the Poetry Section.

The Willow - Nikon D750, 1/250 @ f/10, ISO 640, 38mm - Sunrise on the Hudson! See the poem, The Willow, in the Poetry Section.

Be Like A Tree - Nikon D750 - See the poem, Be Like a Tree, in the Poetry Section.

Bridge in Fog - Nikon D7100, 1/200 @ f/14, ISO 100, 31mm - This is the Rip van Winkle Bridge that spans the Hudson between the cities of Catskill and Hudson. See the poem, Bridge in Fog, in the Poetry Section.

In a Sleepy Hollow - Nikon D7100, 1/400 @ f/10, ISO 200, 55mm. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

First Snow - Nikon D750, 1/200 @ f/11, ISO 400, 120mm - There is something enchanting about the first snow of the season!

A March Wind Blows - D7100 - See the poem, A March Wind Blows, in the Poetry Section.

South Fork of the Payette - Fuji X100T, 1/320 @ f/11, ISO 200, 23mm - See my poem, "Running the Payette," in the Poetry section.

Late Summer by the River - Nikon D750 - 1/250 @ f/10, ISO640, 24mm. There is a poem for this photo in the Poetry Section.

“Veils of the Morning” - Another line from WB Yeats - Nikon D750, 1/320 @ f/9, ISO320, 105mm.

The Ashokan - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/240 @ f/10, ISO160, 16mm

Morning on the River - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/110 @ f/8.0, ISO1600. One of my favorite subjects; the beautiful Hudson River. Shot at sunrise on a late autumn morning. Check out the many other Hudson River photos in the Portfolio.

Light in the Trees - Nikon D750, 1/60 @ f/11, ISO400, 40mm. See my poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Two Trees in Winter - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/320 @ f/11, ISO160, 16mm. This shot was taken at Bonneville Point overlooking the Treasure Valley, the location of Boise, Idaho.

Golden Sunset - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/600 @ f/11, ISO200, 56mm.

Around the Bend - Nikon D750, 24.0-120.0mm, f/4.0. See the poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

Winterlake - Nikon D750, 1/320 @ f/11, ISO400, 46mm. Footprints in the new snow (mine), in this early morning lake shot. A large flock of geese can be seen beyond the reflections as the sun lights up the distant shore.

Cloud Forest - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/60 @ f/8.0, ISO400,16mm. We got up before dawn one morning in Mindo to take a private bird watching tour. We did see many exotic birds on our tour (at a distance), but it was the lush green mountains peeking through t… — Cloud Forest - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/60 @ f/8.0, ISO400,16mm. We got up before dawn one morning in Mindo to take a private bird watching tour. We did see many exotic birds on our tour (at a distance), but it was the lush green mountains peeking through the early morning mist that was most memorable for me. Still a landscape photographer at heart!

Mountain Road - Fujifilm X-T3, 1/500 @ f/11, -2EV, ISO 320, 24mm. Another shot from the Lucky Peak Reservoir in Idaho.

Lake Sunset - Nikon D750, 1/80 @ f/10, ISO 100, 40mm. Captured on the eve of my daughter’s wedding.

Revelation - Fujifilm XT-3, 1/125 @ f/9.0, ISO 400, 24mm. Night falls on the Gettysburg battlefield and the imagination gives life to the spirits that inhabit this hallowed ground. See my poem of the same title in the Poetry Section.

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