Jacob Martella Photography

A high-angle, wide view of rolling mountains covered in green and yellow autumn trees, seen under a dramatic sky. The sky is a vibrant blue, filled with large, dynamic white and gray clouds. In the valley on the left, a highway interchange and a small town are visible.

A sweeping landscape of forest-covered mountains, with sunlight highlighting patches of yellow autumn foliage. A river winds through a valley in the mid-distance. The sky above is filled with horizontal bands of bright white and dark gray clouds against a deep blue.

A stunning view looking down a long, V-shaped valley, with a river winding through the center. The steep mountain slopes on either side are covered in dense forests of green and golden-yellow autumn trees. The sky is filled with horizontal rows of puffy white clouds against a vivid blue.

The view you get here at Pinnacle overlook is simply unmatched. You get amazing sights of the Appalachian mountains in Tennessee and Virginia, and on a clear day you can see mountains over 15 miles away. And on this fall day, we get a great view of the fall colors in Appalachia.

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A telephoto landscape shot of layered mountain ranges. Dark, hazy blue foothills are in the foreground, with a long, distant line of snow-capped peaks spanning the horizon. The sky above is filled with dynamic white clouds, with a darker, heavier cloud layer at the very top.

A high-elevation view looking down from a mountain, over the dark, tree-covered tops of foothills. Below, a vast, sprawling city on a hazy plain stretches out to the flat horizon. The upper half of the frame is a bright blue sky with large, puffy white and gray clouds.

A wide, high-altitude landscape showing a vast, rolling field of green alpine tundra. In the background, rocky mountain peaks are partially obscured by low, heavy gray clouds and fog that fill most of the sky, creating a moody, overcast scene.

A high-elevation view from a mountain, looking over a vast, sloping foreground of reddish-brown rocks and sparse tundra. In the distance, a lower mountain ridge with patches of green forest is visible, leading to a hazy blue valley. The sky is covered with thick, heavy gray clouds.

Pikes Peak has been named America’s favorite mountain, and it’s easy to see why. Accessible both by car and cog wheel railway, its easy for even flatlanders to get up to the top of the 14,000-plus foot mountain and enjoy the views in every direction.

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A close-up view of a mountain ridge covered in dense autumn trees showing hues of red, orange, and green. A patch of golden sunlight illuminates the right slope. Above the mountain, the sky is filled with dramatic, intensely colored clouds in shades of bright yellow, gold, and purple, with a section of deep blue sky.

Arriving back in Gatlinburg we are greeted with an incredible scene: snow dusting the top of the mountains around the town. It's not much, but it makes for an incredible sight in the golden light of sunset.

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A railroad track, covered in fallen autumn leaves, curves from the foreground and leads directly into a dark, arched tunnel carved into a rough, dark rock face. The scene is surrounded by dense forest with vibrant green and yellow foliage, and a railroad crossing sign stands to the right of the tunnel entrance.

A high-angle view looking down at a set of railroad tracks that curve around the base of an immense, sheer, light-colored rock cliff. The cliff face dominates the left and center of the frame, with green and yellow autumn trees growing at its base and along the top edge.

A dramatic, low-angle shot looking straight up a towering, curved cliff face of grey and white rock. The cliff fills the frame, with trees showing autumn colors at the very top. The sky, visible at the top, is a mix of dynamic white clouds and patches of deep blue.

The bottom of Natural Tunnel State Park acts as an oasis away from the rest of civilization. Here, there is no cell service. And on some days, you might not run into a single person. Instead, you can enjoy the bubbling creek, the wind rustling through the trees, and occasional trains.

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A wide-angle landscape shot of layered mountain ranges under a clear, deep blue sky. The foreground ridge is covered in vibrant autumn foliage, with a mix of yellow, orange, and dark green trees. The mountains in the background recede into the distance, becoming progressively lighter and hazier blue.

A classic view of layered, "smoky" mountain ranges fading into a light blue haze. A foreground ridge, covered in dense yellow and orange autumn foliage, slopes down from the right. The tops of green fir trees are visible in the lower-left and on the right, framing the hazy blue mountains in the distance under a clear sky.

A vibrant mountain landscape framed by two large, bright green fir trees on the left and right. In the center, a series of mountain ridges covered in green, yellow, and orange autumn foliage recedes into a hazy, blue-purple background under a clear blue sky.

The views on Newfound Gap Road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park are simply incredible no matter where you pull over to take in the scenes. The trees really were putting on quite the show last year.

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The historic Flagstaff train station glows with warm interior lights against the cool, deep blue of the twilight sky, evoking a sense of timeless journeys.

A BNSF freight train, with its distinctive orange locomotive, travels along the tracks through Flagstaff under a vast, open Arizona sky.

A classic railroad crossing signal in Flagstaff, its red lights illuminated, stands as a bright warning against a softly blurred background.

Warning gates flash their red lights and sound their bells. Seconds later, gates come down to block the railroad tracks. A few more moments later, headlights appear around the corner to the west. An eastbound manifest train is traveling through Flagstaff, Arizona.

#trains #photography

A brilliant double rainbow arcs across a dramatic, stormy sky above the Tucson desert, with saguaro cacti standing tall against the dark mountains.

A fiery, vibrant sunset paints the sky in brilliant orange and red hues above the silhouetted mountains and saguaro cacti of the Tucson desert.

A serene desert sunset casts a warm, golden and purple glow over a Tucson resort, with the silhouettes of palm trees framing the tranquil sky.

#Tucson might be known for its hot summers, but it can cool off, believe it or not, with a nice summer rain shower. And once those showers pass, you’re left with an amazing rainbow and a breathtaking sunset.

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A brilliant double rainbow arcs across a dramatic, stormy sky above the Tucson desert, with saguaro cacti standing tall against the dark mountains.

A fiery, vibrant sunset paints the sky in brilliant orange and red hues above the silhouetted mountains and saguaro cacti of the Tucson desert.

A serene desert sunset casts a warm, golden and purple glow over a Tucson resort, with the silhouettes of palm trees framing the tranquil sky.

#Tucson might be known for its hot summers, but it can cool off, believe it or not, with a nice summer rain shower. And once those showers pass, you’re left with an amazing rainbow and a breathtaking sunset.

#photography

A vibrant, full rainbow arcs across a dramatic, stormy sky over downtown Tucson. Below, the city's buildings and streets are illuminated by the warm, golden light of the sun breaking through the clouds after a thunderstorm.

The best part of a classic Tucson monsoon thunderstorm is the reward you get after it passes. The desert light combined with the stormy sky created this incredible, vivid rainbow over downtown. A perfect end to a dramatic afternoon.

#arizona

A Gentoo penguin stands on an icy rock, squawking with its beak open and flippers spread wide, while other penguins are scattered in the background.

A close-up, side-profile shot of a majestic tiger with orange and black stripes resting in tall green grass, with a chain-link fence in the background.

A zebra stands in profile near a chain-link fence, surrounded by lush green foliage.

A giraffe stands facing the camera in a grassy field, while a kudu antelope with faint stripes stands further in the background.

Spent the day at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in July, and it definitely lives up to its reputation as one of the world's best. The Scott Aquarium is incredible, housing everything from sea turtles to jellyfish. A fantastic place to explore and photograph a variety of habitats.

#zoo

A life-sized bronze statue of Negro Leagues founder Rube Foster stands in a museum exhibit. He is wearing a suit, tie, and cap. Behind him is a wall with a large "NEGRO LEAGUES" sign and framed documents.

A view from over the shoulder of a bronze statue of a baseball player, showing his number "10." The statue looks out onto the "Field of Legends" exhibit where other player statues are positioned on the indoor diamond.

A perspective from just behind home plate in the "Field of Legends" exhibit, with the bronze statues of the catcher, umpire, and batter in the foreground and the rest of the players on the field in the background.

A museum wall displaying numerous vintage Negro Leagues baseball jerseys and caps, each enclosed in a clear protective case and mounted against a dark green background.

Visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City in July. It's so much more than a sports museum—it's a powerful lesson in American history, perseverance, and determination. Standing on the Field of Legends, surrounded by statues of the greats, is an unforgettable experience.

#baseball

A wide shot of the Colorado Railroad Museum on a sunny day, featuring a large wooden water tower, several sets of tracks, and various historic train cars.

A three-quarter view of the Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 683, a classic black steam locomotive, sitting on the tracks.

The Rio Grande Southern "Galloping Goose" No. 7, a distinctive yellow and silver vintage railbus, is parked on display.

The front nose of the classic Rio Grande No. 5771 diesel locomotive, featuring its iconic yellow, silver, and black livery.

Looking for a cool trip back in time near Denver? Check out the Colorado Railroad Museum. It's an awesome place to get up close with historic machines, from massive steam engines to the quirky Galloping Goose railbus that tell the story of Colorado railroading.

#trains #railroad #railfan #colorado

A wide, panoramic view of the Grand Canyon at sunrise. The early morning light casts a warm glow across the vast expanse of the canyon, highlighting the deep shadows and the intricate details of the distant plateaus and mesas under a clear sky.

A vibrant sunrise at the Grand Canyon, with the sun's golden light illuminating the rugged, layered rock formations. The sky is a soft blue with wispy clouds catching the morning light, creating a peaceful and awe-inspiring scene.

Woke up for the sunrise at the Grand Canyon and it definitely didn't disappoint. It's wild how the light can paint the canyon in so many different ways, all in the same morning. Just a couple of peaceful moments from that morning.

#grandcanyon #arizona #sunrisephotography #landscapephotography

red rocks with mountains in the distance

A cog wheel train waiting at a station

a white car traveling down a mountain road into clouds

view of mountains in the distance from the top of another mountain

Pikes Peak has been named “America’s Mountain” as it can be seen for miles when traveling west across the plains. Take a ride up with us to the summit on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway and learn more about the storied history of the mountain.

jacobmartellaphotogr...

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a large pond surrounded by large trees in a garden

a series of pools and water fountains surrounded by trees and a lawn in a garden

people watching several large water fountains

water lilies in a garden

Located over 25 miles west southwest of Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens features over 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows along with 13 indoor gardens. If you plan on going, make sure you carve out an entire day. You’re going to need it all to see everything there.

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a colorful mural of tiles along a staircase in Brazil

Tiles on a staircase that say "Escadaria Selarón" and "Rio de Janeiro"

tiles on a staircase that display the logos of four local soccer teams

people walking up and down a large outdoor staircase decorated in colorful tiles

Escadaria Selarón is a set of colorful stairs covered in tiles and artwork. The stairs were created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón who said it was his tribute to the Brazilian people.

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a tall statue of Jesus with his hands outstretched on top of a mountain

an anteater walking amongst chairs and tables

an monkey walking amongst chairs and tables

a tall statue of Jesus with his hands outstretched on top of a mountain

Standing at the 2,300 foot peak of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, the Christ the Redeemer statue looks over the entire city. It’s become an icon for both the city and Brazil and was voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

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People in Texas Rangers jerseys and jackets in the back of a pickup truck with the World Series Trophy on the roof in a parade

A sign saying "Kings of the road. Champs of the world."

A man in a Texas Rangers jersey standing in the back of a pickup truck in a parade

A cream and black flag with the Texas Rangers City Connect logo and the words "Dream the big dream"

With baseball season back in full swing, let’s throw it back to the 2023 Texas Rangers World Series championship parade!

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a room full of a model train layout

a room full of a model train layout

a yellow trolley traveling along a model railroad layout

a house along a lake on a model railroad layout

The Toy Train Gallery at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is a fun fantasy layout using 3-rail O gauge (or Lionel) track and trains. From fun and whimsical scenes to peaceful scenes by a lake, there’s something for everyone in this exhibit.

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a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

The San Diego and Arizona Eastern layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum depicts the actual route for the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad from San Diego, down into Mexico, back into Carrizo Gorge and on to El Centro, Arizona..

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a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

a train traveling on a model railroad layout

The Tehachapi Pass layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum depicts the Southern Pacific’s route from Mojave to Bakersfield through Tehachapi Pass. The layout is the largest of the four layouts at the museum and spans two levels to fit everything in!

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a train traveling on a model railroad

a train traveling on a model railroad

a model of a Santa Fe train depot on a model railroad layout

a yellow diesel engine sitting on a turntable on a model railroad layout

The Pacific Desert Lines layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum depicts the planned but never built line for the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad. From the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego to the Carrizo Gorge, this N scale layout is simply spectacular!

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A train traveling on a model railroad

A train traveling on a model railroad

A town in the mountains on a model railroad

A town in the mountains on a model railroad

The Cabrillo Southwestern layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum depicts a freelance route in Southern California complete with trolley routes, narrow gauge lines and even a carnival.

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a number of boxcars sitting at a railroad museum with mountains in the background

Here we see a collection of narrow gauge box cars from the Denver and Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern railroads. These cars would have traveled in the central and southern parts of the state along the vast network of narrow gauge lines in the mountains.

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a streamline diesel locomotive sitting on display at a train museum

Built in 1955, Denver and Rio Grande Western 5771 spent most of its time pulling passenger trains along the D&RGW’s Moffat Tunnel route between Denver and Salt Lake City.

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a steam locomotive sitting at a train museum with mountains in the background

Denver and Rio Grande Western steam engine No. 683’s claim to fame is being the last surviving standard gauge steam engine. Built in 1890, No. 683 arrived on the railroad just as the D&RGW’s line between Denver and Salt Lake City opened.

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a "Galloping Goose" diesel-powered rail car sitting at a train museum

Faced with the prospect of dwindling customers and revenue due to the Great Depression, the Rio Grande Southern needed a cheaper way to move passengers, freight and, more importantly, mail along its line between Durango and Ridgeway.

Enter the Galloping Goose.

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a steam locomotive sitting at a train museum with mountains in the background

The Colorado Railroad Museum houses historical railroad equipment that could be seen throughout the state, including steam engines, diesel engines and passenger cars from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and other railroads in the state.

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A stationary chairlift with the land below the mountain in the background

Sandia Peak is also home to some of New Mexico’s best skiing. Skiers can enjoy traversing hills through the Cibola National Forest, and can access the ski hills via a road on the eastern slope or the Sandia Tramway on the western side.

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A mountain in the distance underneath large clouds

The top of the Sandia Mountains gives us an unobstructed view of a large part of central New Mexico. Here we’re able to see the Santa Rosa mountains over 50 miles away as well as a field of wind turbines to the east of those mountains. Simply incredible.

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