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/
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.
This fall season, I took a risk and took some time off from my corporate career to focus on my health and get my head screwed on straight. Grateful for this time in nature and thank you for letting me share with you!! ❤️✨ #naturephotography #colorado #happywifehappylife
October 15, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This fall season, I took a risk and took some time off from my corporate career to focus on my health and get my head screwed on straight. Grateful for this time in nature and thank you for letting me share with you!! ❤️✨ #naturephotography #colorado #happywifehappylife
During a winter storm last season, #Yosemite Valley was shrouded in #fog and precipitation, hiding many iconic peaks, creating an opportunity to focus on smaller scenes, like this scene of sugar pines and Sierra granite boulders dusted with #snow. Hopeful for more conditions like this in the West!
October 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Clear days with increasing clouds create perfect opportunities for bringing out the #monochromatic drama of Colorado’s iconic peaks, from Sneffels to Chimney Rock, revealing striking patterns of light and bare aspen.
Happy #monochromemonday !
Happy #monochromemonday !
October 13, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Clear days with increasing clouds create perfect opportunities for bringing out the #monochromatic drama of Colorado’s iconic peaks, from Sneffels to Chimney Rock, revealing striking patterns of light and bare aspen.
Happy #monochromemonday !
Happy #monochromemonday !
55 years around the sun today and what better present I could have had than to wake up to this view of clearing storm light (my favorite! 🤩) and a fresh blanket of snow while sipping my morning coffee 🩵
October 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
55 years around the sun today and what better present I could have had than to wake up to this view of clearing storm light (my favorite! 🤩) and a fresh blanket of snow while sipping my morning coffee 🩵
On a memorable camping excursion in the eastern Sierra, we awoke to see the mountains illuminated by clearing storm light and adorned with a fresh layer of #snow. While I came for the fall color, I was most inspired by this ephemeral #atmosphere.
October 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
On a memorable camping excursion in the eastern Sierra, we awoke to see the mountains illuminated by clearing storm light and adorned with a fresh layer of #snow. While I came for the fall color, I was most inspired by this ephemeral #atmosphere.
During a family visit, I got to watch these tiny #hummingbirds feeding in the backyard garden, and inspired by their playful activity around my aunt's favorite purple flowers, I grabbed the telephoto to capture some shots as they were gathering nectar 💚💜
October 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
During a family visit, I got to watch these tiny #hummingbirds feeding in the backyard garden, and inspired by their playful activity around my aunt's favorite purple flowers, I grabbed the telephoto to capture some shots as they were gathering nectar 💚💜
Dramatic clearing #fog revealing the peaks of Cimarron Ridge in #Colorado on an early #autumn morning. Seeing the mountains socked in by the clouds, I never would've thought to head out in the middle of the morning to photograph, but glad I was encouraged to go! What a fun and inspiring morning💛
October 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The morning of my uncle’s passing, I was unknowingly photographing this colorful early autumn scene in Colorado’s San Juan mountains. He served as a father figure to me and I know that the vibrant colors and panoramic views were something he would have loved and appreciated💚
September 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The morning of my uncle’s passing, I was unknowingly photographing this colorful early autumn scene in Colorado’s San Juan mountains. He served as a father figure to me and I know that the vibrant colors and panoramic views were something he would have loved and appreciated💚
The Many Glacier region was closed to visitors in Glacier NP Fortunately, a last-minute reservation at Many Glacier Hotel provided an opportunity to photograph along Swiftcurrent Lake. At sunrise, the dense #fog slowly burned away, revealing the dramatic peak of Mount Wilbur bathed in a golden glow.
September 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The Many Glacier region was closed to visitors in Glacier NP Fortunately, a last-minute reservation at Many Glacier Hotel provided an opportunity to photograph along Swiftcurrent Lake. At sunrise, the dense #fog slowly burned away, revealing the dramatic peak of Mount Wilbur bathed in a golden glow.
Colorful Baring Creek in #Glacier National Park which hosts an array of rainbow colored rocks, offering great opportunities to experiment with shutter speeds for unique #abstract effects. Oxidized iron brings out rich red hues of hematite, enhanced by the complementary green color of chlorite
September 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Wishing all my fellow leaf peepin' shutterbugs and nature photographers a very happy first day of #autumn! Who knew you could find scenes like this in #Utah, known for it's desert landscapes, but in the high elevations, dense old growth aspen forests abound in the #Wasatch Range. Happy fall, ya'll🍁
September 22, 2025 at 2:51 AM
One of my favorite memories spent in the Chicago Botanic Garden was finding and photographing the many critters. For every reasonably sharp image, I have about a hundred blurry ones, but that is OK! Finding my little #garden friends brings me so much joy! 🦋🐛🐝❤️
September 17, 2025 at 12:58 AM
One of my favorite memories spent in the Chicago Botanic Garden was finding and photographing the many critters. For every reasonably sharp image, I have about a hundred blurry ones, but that is OK! Finding my little #garden friends brings me so much joy! 🦋🐛🐝❤️
Sharing my passion for photographing flowers instructing at the Out of Chicago #Botanic conference was an absolute dream come true for me! The water lilies were perfect for demonstrating some multiple exposure techniques in the garden for a painterly #impressionistic effect 🪷🩵
September 16, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Sharing my passion for photographing flowers instructing at the Out of Chicago #Botanic conference was an absolute dream come true for me! The water lilies were perfect for demonstrating some multiple exposure techniques in the garden for a painterly #impressionistic effect 🪷🩵
A smoky visit to #Glacier National Park serves as an important reminder of the impact wildfires have on shaping and transforming the area’s #landscape. The view from the Blackfeet Indian Memorial highlights a thick haze and evidence of burned forest resulting from the Red Eagle Fire.
September 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A smoky visit to #Glacier National Park serves as an important reminder of the impact wildfires have on shaping and transforming the area’s #landscape. The view from the Blackfeet Indian Memorial highlights a thick haze and evidence of burned forest resulting from the Red Eagle Fire.
Hot temperatures entice me to spend time in a cool digital darkroom processing some overlooked images from past #autumn seasons. I'm looking forward to taking a much needed sabbatical and visiting SW #Colorado again in our trusty truck camper! Hit me up if you're in the area in late September!
August 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Today is International Honey Bee Day, a day that highlights the importance of #bees for pollination, food production, and biodiversity, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite shots of my favorite little garden friends 🐝💛
August 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Today is International Honey Bee Day, a day that highlights the importance of #bees for pollination, food production, and biodiversity, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite shots of my favorite little garden friends 🐝💛