Sea Otter Mother and PupElkhorn Slough, Moss Landing, California

Elkhorn Slough is a wonderful spot to observe coastal wildlife including many bird species and the ever-delightful California sea otter, which congregates here in this wildlife reserve. I choose to kayak (with my camera gear, cautiously!) so I could move slowly and quietly. Due to the area’s protection, the animals are relatively unconcerned with human presence, often more curious than afraid. This mother and her pup came fairly close to my kayak, keeping an eye on me, but not otherwise changing their behavior, clearly interested as much in me as I in them.

Hope to see you there!

ScanningMasai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya

I’m excited to catch up with you to tell you about my recent photographic safari to Kenya and upcoming exhibit next weekend which will showcase some of the pieces that came out of that trip. 

In December I went to Kenya with my son in law, a budding photographer, for a two week photo safari, my first major photo trip since the start of Covid.  As you probably know, Kenya is in East Africa, halfway around the world (11 time zones - we stopped over in London for a couple of days to alleviate jet lag).  We were part of a small group of experienced photographers, visiting three of Kenya’s well known wildlife parks - Amboseli, Tsavo, and Masai Mara - in the savannah region of East Africa.  The terrain varied from open grassland to scrub and some forest.  We stayed in lodges or tent camps, and typically did two game drives a day - early morning and late afternoon - when the animals are more active and the light is better for photography.  The open countryside is ideal for observing and photographing wildlife.  We traveled in safari jeeps with open windows and pop up roofs which provided multiple options for photography.  

Our guides were local tribesmen from the areas we visited who were familiar with the back roads, the weather, and of course, the wildlife.  Their familiarity was important because we were the visitors in the animals’ native habitat and needed to know what to expect in terms of their behavior when they were around us.  The animals were clearly aware of our presence, but for the most part they chose to ignore us.  I learned that their behavior was different - less tolerant of people - outside the parks, where poaching is more prevalent.  Park rules prohibited us from driving closer than 100 feet to the animals. But they were free to come closer if they chose, which they often did, sometimes within even a few feet of our vehicles, which gave me the strange feeling of being on the “other side” of the enclosure at a zoo, where the animals have free roam and we were caged in our vehicles.  I have to say, it is discomforting to have a “free range” lion or elephant coming in your direction.  For our safety, we were not allowed to leave the jeeps when we were out on a drive.  But what a memorable experience!  Only possible in a few places around the world.

We observed all of the large animals that Africa is famous for - elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, antelope, warthogs, hippopotamus and more - except rhinos, most of which are critically endangered.  Some of the animal populations have declined dramatically over the past decades, but there are still enough to give you a good idea of what the African savannah must have been like in the past.

I took over 20,000 photos over the course of the two weeks - an average of 1,500 per day.  That’s a lot of shots.  Part of that was due to my getting familiar with a new, high speed / high res camera which I had purchased specifically for photographing wildlife, to supplement my trusty high res but slower camera which I’ve used for shooting landscapes for many years.  (The nice thing about landscape subjects is they don’t move, so camera speed is not essential!)  It took me several weeks after I returned home to go through all those photos to see what stood out.  And even more time to post-process those that stood out.  But I was simply awe struck by the quality of many of those shots.  In the end, I have a lot of really good shots which I am excited to share with you - along with the many stories behind those shots.

You can preview a selection of my Kenya photos on my website (stevetoll.zenfolio.com - Wildlife portfolio).  I hope you can make it to my show to see more in person, but if you can’t, I’ll be happy to arrange a remote show and tell.  My show is part of Silicon Valley Open Studios, which runs the first three weekends in May in the SF Peninsula / Silicon Valley area, with 300+ artists in 100+ locations. More information about this event is available on their website (svos.org).  My weekend is Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14 (11-5 both days).  Directions at: svos.org/artist/stephen-toll

I hope you’ll be able to join me to see and hear about it first hand.

Looking forward to seeing you!
 

Lanterns at Enomoto ShrineNara, Japan

Come enjoy an outing with art, music, and adult beverages in Scotts Valley's very pleasant summer weather.  Combine it with a hike in the redwoods or a stroll on the beach to round out your day!

The show will be held at Skypark at 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley.  Hope to see you there!

I am available for a zoom call if you would like​ to chat about my artwork or get a personal “virtual” tour of what I've been exhibiting and doing recently.  

Osaka Castle at DuskOsaka, Japan

I will be exhibiting the weekend of September 18-19 (Saturday and Sunday, 11-5 both days) as part of Silicon Valley Open Studios, along with other artists.  Please come see us at Site 118 in Los Altos (directions below).  There will be many other artists also exhibiting (over 200) at other locations – visit svos.org for a complete listing.

The pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench in everyone’s lives for the past 2 years.  It certainly did for me, derailing my photography and show business.  I’ve been hunkered down in my burrow, and even after getting my shots earlier this year, I’ve been slow to get out of it.

Fires have also curtailed my normal expeditions in the Western U.S.  I've become more keenly appreciative of the power of nature to both soothe and stir us while cooped up waiting for the smoke to clear.  I find myself now wondering when I’ll ever get to go camping and exploring with my kids and grandkids, and how I’ll get to pass along my values and experiences in the natural world…

My “other” job as Executive Director of Silicon Valley Visual Arts, the presenter of Silicon Valley Open Studios, has been both rewarding and burdensome.  The pandemic has been a big challenge for arts organizations, but I’ve enjoyed helping ours move into the virtual world and adapt to our changing environment.  At the same time it’s given me little time for my own photography.

Come visit us next weekend!  It will be outside, but please bring a mask for everyone's safety.  Directions at: svos.org/artist/stephen-toll

If you can’t make it to the show, I am available to meet by phone or Zoom to give you a personal “virtual” tour.  Use Contact on the menu above to reach me.

Looking forward to seeing you! 

Osaka Castle at DuskOsaka, Japan

Grape Cluster 2Perico Vineyards, California

My normal photo trips and show schedule which would have started in the spring and run until after Labor Day were completely disrupted first by the pandemic and then by the wildfires that hit California and the Western U.S. this summer. On top of that, I assumed the Executive Directorship of the Silicon Valley Open Studios organization in which I have participated for the past 7 years.  This has been an all consuming job as the pandemic completely upended the normal Open Studios plan this year, and we pivoted to a virtual event format for the first time.  As a result, I have had very little time to devote to my own photography or shows this year.  

Fortunately, I did get in a two week trip to Japan late last year before the pandemic began, and got in a short visit to the Napa Valley wine country just before the pandemic hit, so I do have a few additions to my gallery for you to see!

The trip to Japan, my first, was every bit as eye opening and educational as I hoped it might be.  Time was divided between cities and countryside: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara; the Izu Peninsula and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail.  History and culture intertwined with landscape and architectural traditions.  Unique designs, customs, and cuisine reflecting a viewpoint both ancient and modern.  Castles, parks, shrines and temples.  Bullet train and immersive digital art.  A fascinating mix.

The Silicon Valley Open Studios virtual event (shop.svos.org), which I am currently participating in, has been organized as a benefit for Second Harvest to raise funds for their efforts to feed those impacted during these tough times.  All participating artists are contributing a portion of their sales to Second Harvest.  This virtual show is open now through November 30 at shop.svos.org, with over 150 artists and 700 artworks offered for sale.  Please visit and check it out! 

Also please visit my website (stevetoll.zenfolio.com) to see other new additions to my gallery which couldn't be included in the virtual event.  I will be contributing 20% of all sales during this period, whether from the SVOS event or from my website, to Second Harvest.

Since we aren't able to meet in person at Open Studios this year, I am available to meet over Zoom to answer any questions or discuss my works - just drop me a note.

So - if you're looking for a special gift for someone this holiday season, stop in and visit me at:

shop.svos.org
stevetoll.zenfolio.com

And please stay safe - I'd like to see you all after things settle down next year, hopefully!

Rocky Mountain WildflowersArnica Latifolia, Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja), and Purple Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) bloom in late summer at Forest Lake, Colorado

I've done some recent shoots in Yosemite and Colorado - check the additions to my Recently Added gallery.

I have two exhibits scheduled for this summer.  First up is the Scotts Valley Art & Wine Show on the weekend of August 17-18 at the Scotts Valley Sky Park from 10 am to 5 pm, Booth #C26.  This has proven to be a popular show which almost always offers a welcome cool spot to visit on a hot summer day.  For directions and additional information, visit svartfest.com.

Second is an exhibit titled "American Splendor" which I'm mounting in honor of my high school class 50th reunion at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and which will run from August 26 to October 5.  For my followers on the East Coast, this will be a rare opportunity to view some of my current prints, as I don't usually ship collections that far.  My reunion is the weekend of September 27-29, so if you want to come then let me know and I will try to arrange to meet up with you if possible.  For directions visit the school's website at Hotchkiss.org.  The exhibit (one of three on display) will be in the main corridor as you enter the main building.  

I will have at least one additional show back on the West Coast this fall - details to follow.

Hope to see you at one of these!

Cathedral Lake ReflectionsYosemite National Park, California

I have long wanted to hike in to Cathedral Lake and Peak near Tuolumne Meadows. I spent a couple of days at the tail end of the season camping at Tuolumne Meadows and decided to try to get a sunset shot of the peak. It involved a 2.5 hour hike in (in daylight) and a 2.5 hour hike out in the dark (!) Thank god for LED lights - cell phones work nicely for lighting trails in the dark. Next time I'll camp at the lake for a real sunset shot!

This area has been extensively photographed, so I was looking for something different. I was drawn to the far side of the lake which had a seldom photographed perspective of the lake and the peaks, a photogenic rock formation in the mid ground, beautiful reflections in the lake, and a graceful shoreline linking them. This shot exemplified the difficulty of capturing an image in low light which reflects what the eye sees. The camera sensor is less sensitive than the human eye, so significant elements of the image were underexposed. Fortunately enough detail was captured to adjust in Lightroom.

This will be my 6th year exhibiting with Silicon Valley Open Studios (SVOS) in May.  My schedule this year is:

• May 4-5 in Belmont
• May 11-12 in Los Altos 
• May 18-19 in Los Gatos

There will be multiple artists showing at each location, including 12 in Los Altos.  Hours are 11-5 Saturday and Sunday each weekend.  I'll be showing a number of new images on metal.  For a preview, visit my Recently Added gallery. 

See map for each location at my svos.org listing.  

Hope to see you there!  And be sure to tell (or bring) your friends and family!

• August 18-19 at the Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival (www.svartfestival.com)
  A cool(er), fun spot to spend a day near the coast on a hot August day!  Open Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5
• November 23-25 and November 30 to December 2 at the 337 Mirada Art Gallery in Half Moon Bay (www.337miradaart.com)
  A modern, spacious gallery on the coast.  Late fall is a good time to visit.  An excellent opportunity to do some holiday shopping!  Open 11-6 each day.
• July through September at Mistral in Redwood Shores
  A nice restaurant on the lagoon opposite Oracle HQ

There will be a variety of artists at each location.  I will will be showing many new prints, largely metals, as well as past favorites.  Metal prints have become very popular for their clear, vibrant appearance.  For a preview, visit my Recently Added gallery or my main gallery at stevetoll.zenfolio.com.  Come by to see them in person and gain a first hand appreciation of this media.  Please tell and/or bring your friends. 

I look forward to seeing you at one of these events!

• May 5-6 in Belmont (619 Southview Court)
• May 12-13 in Los Altos (2234 Vineyard Court)
• May 18-20 in Half Moon Bay (337 Mirada Avenue)

There will be a variety of artists at each location. 

Hours are Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, all 3 weekends. Google maps and more information are available at www.svos.org/artist.php?id=2417

For a list of artists and media on exhibit with me on May 12-13 see www.svos.org/searchSite.php?site_id=118

There will be new prints as well as prior years' favorites on display and available for purchase.  For a preview, visit my Recently Added gallery. 

Please tell and/or bring your friends.  Hope to see you there!

• October 7-8 at the Los Altos Fall Festival in downtown Los Altos
  • 10-5 both days (Saturday & Sunday)
  • https://www.losaltosca.gov/community/page/los-altos-fall-festival-3
  • Map
• October 20-22 at the 337 Mirada Art Gallery (formerly the Dunn-Mehler Gallery) in Half Moon Bay at 337 Mirada Avenue, along with several other Bay Area artists
  • Hours: Friday 3-7, Saturday and Sunday 10-6
  • www.337miradaart.com
  • Map
• November 10-12, also at the 337 Mirada Art Gallery in Half Moon Bay
  • same hours and location

I will have a good selection of prints and notecards available.  If you haven't been to my gallery in a while, check out my Recently Added images or just browse my collection.

Hope to see you at one of the upcoming shows!  If you can't make it, but would be interested in some art for holiday gifts, let me know so we can arrange to get them ready for you in time.

• May 6-7 in Belmont (619 Southview Court)
• May 13-14 in Los Altos (2234 Vineyard Court)
• May 20-21 in Half Moon Bay (337 Mirada Avenue)

There will be a variety of artists at each location.  Hours are Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, all 3 weekends. Google maps are available at http://www.svos.org/artist.php?id=2417

I will have quite a few new prints on display and available for purchase.  For a preview, visit my Recently Added gallery. 

Hope to see you there!

Shortly afterward I spent some time in the Appalachian Mountains (Shenandoah and the Great Smokies), a region I have wanted to visit and photograph for some time.  It was during fall color, which is distinctly different from the west coast and one of the best times to visit the east.

I have included some shots from these trips on my website at Recently Added – check them out.  I expect to have some of them on exhibit at my upcoming spring shows.

At the end of March, I did a loop through Central California looking for spring wildflowers to photograph.  I had a special lens I wanted to try out, and with the El Niño winter just behind us, I was hoping to see large fields of flowers.  While many spots were just ordinary, there were a few that were quite spectacular, including an entire mountainside covered in California poppies that I visited near Santa Barbara.  (Also in Recent Additions.)

Spring is my busiest time for shows.  I just wrapped up a couple of exhibits in San Jose, including one at Art Ark, a wonderful gallery just south of downtown.  May is even busier.  The first 3 weekends I'll be exhibiting in 3 different locations:

1. May 7-8 in Saratoga with Silicon Valley Open Studios - my 3rd year (see map at svos.org)
2. May 14-15 at the Los Altos Fine Art Show in downtown Los Altos - my 2nd year (rotaryartshow.com)
3. May 21-22 in Los Altos, also with Silicon Valley Open Studios (see map at svos.org)

I was featured again this year in a Los Altos Town Crier article about the upcoming show, as well as in a Metroactive Silicon Valley article.

I hope you can join me at one of these upcoming events so I can share some of my new pieces and the adventures they came from with you.

If you think someone on your holiday shopping list this season would enjoy seeing a bit of nature on their wall each day, let me know (contact me here).  We have time to get some of that beauty in your hands for the holidays!  If you'd rather let them choose their own image, a gift certificate works perfectly.

Best wishes for the holidays and 2016!

If you didn't make it, but still would like to see my new work or some old favorites, I will be exhibiting this coming weekend at Los Altos Fine Art in the Park in Lincoln Park, Los Altos, Saturday and Sunday May 16-17 from 10-5:30.  Quite a few folks have already mentioned that they plan to come.  Stop by, we'd love to see you!

My newest work will be on display along with many prior year favorites.  There will be a drawing.  Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 5:30.  Located at Lincoln Park in downtown Los Altos.  For more information, including directions, see:

http://rotaryartshow.com

I look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, including a map to the exhibit location, see:

http://www.svos.org/artist.php?id=2417

In May, I will be showing at Silicon Valley Open Studios and the Los Altos Fine Art Show.  Details to follow.

• May 10-11 in Los Altos
• May 17-18 in Los Gatos

   From 11-5 each day
 

For more information, including maps to the exhibit locations, see:

http://www.svos.org/artist.php?id=2417