Beth Young
@optimalfocus.bsky.social
🌿Creating inspiring nature photography for healthcare art
🚙Happy camper
👩🏻💻Architect
https://www.optimalfocusphotography.com/
🚙Happy camper
👩🏻💻Architect
https://www.optimalfocusphotography.com/
Do you guys ever dig through old image files and find some that speak to you more in the present than they did at the time you captured them? The Utah desert is a fascinating landscape as seen from the air, revealing intricate desert folds highlighted by subtle golden hour light.
February 4, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Do you guys ever dig through old image files and find some that speak to you more in the present than they did at the time you captured them? The Utah desert is a fascinating landscape as seen from the air, revealing intricate desert folds highlighted by subtle golden hour light.
The landscape was covered in a thin coating of ice, so when the sun rose, I had intended to capture backlit sparkle on the foliage that grows along the shoreline of Vermilion Lakes. Instead, the frozen lake itself provided a beautiful bokeh in the background for a dreamy effect. 🫧
January 28, 2026 at 10:51 PM
The landscape was covered in a thin coating of ice, so when the sun rose, I had intended to capture backlit sparkle on the foliage that grows along the shoreline of Vermilion Lakes. Instead, the frozen lake itself provided a beautiful bokeh in the background for a dreamy effect. 🫧
Good morning Sacramento ☀️‼️
A dense #fog layer hovering over #Sacramento this morning revealed only the tallest downtown structures including 450 N Street, the Wells Fargo building and 500 Capital Mall Tower at sunrise.
A dense #fog layer hovering over #Sacramento this morning revealed only the tallest downtown structures including 450 N Street, the Wells Fargo building and 500 Capital Mall Tower at sunrise.
January 18, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Good morning Sacramento ☀️‼️
A dense #fog layer hovering over #Sacramento this morning revealed only the tallest downtown structures including 450 N Street, the Wells Fargo building and 500 Capital Mall Tower at sunrise.
A dense #fog layer hovering over #Sacramento this morning revealed only the tallest downtown structures including 450 N Street, the Wells Fargo building and 500 Capital Mall Tower at sunrise.
In the heart of winter, Two Jack Lake reveals its most tranquil moments. Each scene a fleeting gift of light and stillness in the Canadian Rockies. 💫
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January 18, 2026 at 12:17 AM
In the heart of winter, Two Jack Lake reveals its most tranquil moments. Each scene a fleeting gift of light and stillness in the Canadian Rockies. 💫
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I'm excited to again be an instructor at Out of Chicago’s Flower & Garden Photography Conference! Save the date and join me at Out of Longwood, happening August 25-29, 2026.💐
Receive $300 off your deposit when you register and use the code: YOUNGLONGWOOD300 expires January 19, 2026.
Receive $300 off your deposit when you register and use the code: YOUNGLONGWOOD300 expires January 19, 2026.
January 7, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I'm excited to again be an instructor at Out of Chicago’s Flower & Garden Photography Conference! Save the date and join me at Out of Longwood, happening August 25-29, 2026.💐
Receive $300 off your deposit when you register and use the code: YOUNGLONGWOOD300 expires January 19, 2026.
Receive $300 off your deposit when you register and use the code: YOUNGLONGWOOD300 expires January 19, 2026.
In a meadow in the Canadian Rockies, clearing storm light adorned snowcapped trees with Samson Peak in the far distance warming the winter landscape. A fitting image to wish everyone a very happy new year! 💫
January 2, 2026 at 5:54 AM
In a meadow in the Canadian Rockies, clearing storm light adorned snowcapped trees with Samson Peak in the far distance warming the winter landscape. A fitting image to wish everyone a very happy new year! 💫
Sacramento has been getting copious amount of fog this winter season, and when photographing at my favorite local park close to home, I happened upon a tiny patch of #snowdrops covered in #dew 🩵
December 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Sacramento has been getting copious amount of fog this winter season, and when photographing at my favorite local park close to home, I happened upon a tiny patch of #snowdrops covered in #dew 🩵
Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve, once a hub for logging, now serves as a peaceful sanctuary preserving a small fragment of untouched nature. Early in the morning, patches of fog ebbed and flowed throughout the towering #redwood trees providing peaceful solitude. #mindfulphotography
December 29, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve, once a hub for logging, now serves as a peaceful sanctuary preserving a small fragment of untouched nature. Early in the morning, patches of fog ebbed and flowed throughout the towering #redwood trees providing peaceful solitude. #mindfulphotography
The California coast is gorgeous in the wintertime. Dramatic clouds build up, swells pound the coast, and the sea spray illuminated by the low angle of winter light creates a painterly effect. I’m not much of a coastal photographer, preferring mountains, but the Sonoma coast was beautiful yesterday
December 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
The California coast is gorgeous in the wintertime. Dramatic clouds build up, swells pound the coast, and the sea spray illuminated by the low angle of winter light creates a painterly effect. I’m not much of a coastal photographer, preferring mountains, but the Sonoma coast was beautiful yesterday
A snowy scene from the Canadian Rockies that to me, resembled a holiday postcard. Happy holidays to all who celebrate 💫
... #happyholidays #winterseason
... #happyholidays #winterseason
December 25, 2025 at 3:15 AM
A snowy scene from the Canadian Rockies that to me, resembled a holiday postcard. Happy holidays to all who celebrate 💫
... #happyholidays #winterseason
... #happyholidays #winterseason
Is there anything more inspiring than watching the setting sun piercing through a dense cloud cover to cast dancing slivers of light on towering snow-capped peaks?
The subtle warm and cool tones of the landscape after the first dusting of #snow creates a magical #landscape of violet and gold✨
The subtle warm and cool tones of the landscape after the first dusting of #snow creates a magical #landscape of violet and gold✨
December 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Is there anything more inspiring than watching the setting sun piercing through a dense cloud cover to cast dancing slivers of light on towering snow-capped peaks?
The subtle warm and cool tones of the landscape after the first dusting of #snow creates a magical #landscape of violet and gold✨
The subtle warm and cool tones of the landscape after the first dusting of #snow creates a magical #landscape of violet and gold✨
I love the winter season's quiet solitude and I love to celebrate #simple scenes such as a #subtle sunset's colors reflected in the #calm waters of Lake Minnewanka framed by bare winter trees in the Canadian Rockies 🩵 #naturephotography
December 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I love the winter season's quiet solitude and I love to celebrate #simple scenes such as a #subtle sunset's colors reflected in the #calm waters of Lake Minnewanka framed by bare winter trees in the Canadian Rockies 🩵 #naturephotography
I captured some black and white imagery of Chico & Redding for a corporate client this weekend, which was an entertaining challenge because I photographed 3 things I NEVER do: #architecture, #monochrome, and subjects in bright sunlight. It challenged my brain to look for architectural #simplicity
December 15, 2025 at 5:13 AM
I captured some black and white imagery of Chico & Redding for a corporate client this weekend, which was an entertaining challenge because I photographed 3 things I NEVER do: #architecture, #monochrome, and subjects in bright sunlight. It challenged my brain to look for architectural #simplicity
Our very last night in #Banff, I finally got clear skies which resulted in hastily dragging myself out of a warm bed at 1am, throwing on some winter clothes and braving single digit temperatures for starry shots, an #aurora display and even a little late-season Milky Way 🌌 #astrophotography
December 9, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Our very last night in #Banff, I finally got clear skies which resulted in hastily dragging myself out of a warm bed at 1am, throwing on some winter clothes and braving single digit temperatures for starry shots, an #aurora display and even a little late-season Milky Way 🌌 #astrophotography
A tiny sliver of sunlight illuminating the intricate textures and late season #autumn color of one of Yosemite Valley’s many stately black oaks just before the setting sun dipped behind the granite peaks. A fitting image for the waning season of autumn
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#yosemite #naturephotography
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#yosemite #naturephotography
December 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A tiny sliver of sunlight illuminating the intricate textures and late season #autumn color of one of Yosemite Valley’s many stately black oaks just before the setting sun dipped behind the granite peaks. A fitting image for the waning season of autumn
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#yosemite #naturephotography
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#yosemite #naturephotography
Is there anything more blissful than calm #autumn mornings spent on the Merced River?
To avoid the crowds in #Yosemite during the shutdown, I elected to explore quieter scenes along the Merced River and found some beautiful reflections of fall color. 💛#mindfulphotography
To avoid the crowds in #Yosemite during the shutdown, I elected to explore quieter scenes along the Merced River and found some beautiful reflections of fall color. 💛#mindfulphotography
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
I love photographing along the American River near home every November when the #Sacramento weather gets #atmospheric, the water gets calm reflections, and there’s the slightest hint of fall color along the shoreline. A collection of images from this morning's jaunt. #shootlocal #healthcareart
November 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I love photographing along the American River near home every November when the #Sacramento weather gets #atmospheric, the water gets calm reflections, and there’s the slightest hint of fall color along the shoreline. A collection of images from this morning's jaunt. #shootlocal #healthcareart
Swiftcurrent in Blue💙
Overcast conditions dramatizing the dark mood of Mount Wilbur that rises prominently through the clouds at Swiftcurrent Lake in #Glacier National Park while the cool air stirred ripples across the water carrying the exhilarating scent of pine
Overcast conditions dramatizing the dark mood of Mount Wilbur that rises prominently through the clouds at Swiftcurrent Lake in #Glacier National Park while the cool air stirred ripples across the water carrying the exhilarating scent of pine
October 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Swiftcurrent in Blue💙
Overcast conditions dramatizing the dark mood of Mount Wilbur that rises prominently through the clouds at Swiftcurrent Lake in #Glacier National Park while the cool air stirred ripples across the water carrying the exhilarating scent of pine
Overcast conditions dramatizing the dark mood of Mount Wilbur that rises prominently through the clouds at Swiftcurrent Lake in #Glacier National Park while the cool air stirred ripples across the water carrying the exhilarating scent of pine
This morning’s beautiful #sunrise created a stunning blend of cool violet and fiery orange hues. The unseasonably early #snowstorm we got in California blanketed the peaks of Conway Summit which contrasted beautifully with the bright #autumn aspens of the eastern Sierra on a crisp, clear morning.
October 19, 2025 at 10:44 PM
This morning’s beautiful #sunrise created a stunning blend of cool violet and fiery orange hues. The unseasonably early #snowstorm we got in California blanketed the peaks of Conway Summit which contrasted beautifully with the bright #autumn aspens of the eastern Sierra on a crisp, clear morning.