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Beth Young

@optimalfocus.bsky.social

🌿Creating inspiring nature photography for healthcare art πŸš™Happy camper πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»Architect https://www.optimalfocusphotography.com/

694 Followers  |  134 Following  |  109 Posts  |  Joined: 17.11.2024  |  1.6465

Latest posts by optimalfocus.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Good morning Sacramento β˜€οΈβ€ΌοΈ
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.

18.01.2026 00:19 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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. πŸ’«
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18.01.2026 00:17 β€” πŸ‘ 88    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
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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.πŸ’
Receive $300 off your deposit when you register and use the code: YOUNGLONGWOOD300 expires January 19, 2026.

07.01.2026 23:22 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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! πŸ’«

02.01.2026 05:54 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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 🩡

30.12.2025 21:32 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

29.12.2025 23:18 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

28.12.2025 22:21 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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A snowy scene from the Canadian Rockies that to me, resembled a holiday postcard. Happy holidays to all who celebrate πŸ’«
... #happyholidays #winterseason

25.12.2025 03:15 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wishing everyone a happy first day of winter with a little image collection of the season's first #winter storm that swept through Banff, transforming the landscape into a pristine wonderland beneath a soft dusting of #snow ❄️

21.12.2025 19:52 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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✨

20.12.2025 21:04 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

19.12.2025 21:27 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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With autumn quickly coming to a close, thought I’d share some #aerial views of eastern Sierra #aspens displaying their late-season colors. Flying my #drone feels like using a giant tripod, letting me capture unique patterns and perspectives from above.

16.12.2025 02:35 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

15.12.2025 05:13 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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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

09.12.2025 02:57 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

07.12.2025 17:26 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wandering along the shoreline of a glacial lake in the Canadian Rockies, I couldn’t help but notice the intricate #patterns of lines and circles caused by decomposing plant matter at the lake’s bottom releasing methane gas #bubbles frozen in place by the frigid cold. ❄️

01.12.2025 15:27 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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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. πŸ’›#mindfulphotography

17.11.2025 00:41 β€” πŸ‘ 39    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

15.11.2025 21:41 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Yosemite always getting her Glow Up in the late autumn! πŸ₯° One of my favorite times of the year to visit which was rewarded with low lying #fog that provided ephemeral atmosphere in Ahwahnee Meadow on a peaceful #autumn morning. #yosemite

13.11.2025 04:29 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Who says monochromatic images in hues of #green need be boring? The emotional impact is calm, unity, and elegance. It's minimalist and, particularly when used with bright tonal values, presents a very #serene mood πŸ’š

26.10.2025 23:15 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Swiftcurrent in BlueπŸ’™
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

25.10.2025 18:53 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Late season eastern Sierra #aspen showing off their #autumn textures in soft shade on a crisp, clear morning. A tiny, zoomed in detail from the same scene as yesterday's wide angle, panoramic post 🧑

20.10.2025 20:12 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

G Dan, for what it’s worth, it was pretty cold!!

20.10.2025 20:11 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

19.10.2025 22:44 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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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

15.10.2025 22:47 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

G Dan, thanks to your book, I’ve been making a pilgrimage to the valley most years in early November and hope to do so this year 🧑

14.10.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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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!

14.10.2025 15:15 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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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 !

13.10.2025 13:12 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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 🩡

09.10.2025 21:44 β€” πŸ‘ 35    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
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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.

08.10.2025 21:53 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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