Happy Holidays!

Happy Hanuhkah, Christmas, Kwanza, Winterfest, Festivus, or whatever you're celebrating this time of year! No matter what we're celebrating it seems to be the season for giving, and what would be better than an awesome print for your loved one? Any and all of my work is available for sale. So feel free to browse through my blog, my website, and especially my for sale page. If you see something you like just let me know. Prices vary depending on the image, size, and the finish you would prefer, but they're all very affordable.

I hope to hear from you soon and enjoy looking through my photos.

Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Tallest Man on Earth

So it's been tough to think of what I could possibly follow the photos from NM with. I also haven't gotten a chance to go out and shoot anything since NM. However, with the holidays coming up I was searching through images to think of which ones will make good presents, and I stumbled across some photos I shot that never got posted. Quite awhile ago I was lucky enough to catch a performance by The Tallest Man on Earth at Club Congress, here in Tucson. If you're not familiar with the band, it is a single man from Sweden who has mastered an American art, country folk music. I fell in love with his music on our drive out to Tucson from the East and seeing him perform could have been the culmination of my time in Tucson, and I would've felt complete. I saw him perform a few days before shooting a wedding, so I had with me some higher end rented glass and tested the large aperture by shooting hand held in a dark club. They for the most part all looked the same, so here is just one.

Enjoy,
Tyler Gates

Gila Wilderness: Gila Cliff Dwellings

At the recommendation from a co-worker at REI we decided to check out the Gila Wilderness while on our trip to New Mexico. The Gila was first suggested because of what is supposed to be an amazing overnight hike that takes you to the Jordan Hot Springs along the Middle Fork of the Gila River that is right in the middle of it. We researched more about the hike and couldn't wait to do it. Then Emma hurt her back. We still decided to check out the area around the trail which included not only the Gila Cliff Dwellings, but also tons of free camping! It also boasted an awesome hour and a half long ride down a winding forest road to get there(a huge highlight for me, a downside to my motion sickness prone partner). Not doing the hike ended up being a good idea either way. With night temperatures close to single digits and a guarantee of getting wet from the many river crossings, it seemed best to stay at the campground. We instead took a day to tour the cliff dwellings and then explore the drier side of the West and Middle Fork rivers.

The best way to sum up our trip to the Gila is that I can't wait to go back.

Enjoy
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

White Sands: Textures and Shapes

White Sands: The Dunes

I can't even explain what it was like to walk through the "backcountry" of White Sands. All it takes is climbing over a few dunes for you to feel like you're in the middle of no where, miles from anyone. Sleeping in the "backcountry", an area that starts a mere 3/4's of a mile, from the parking lot, is the only way to experience the dunes. Sunset and sunrise is when the dunes are in all of their glory. I've never felt like I was on another planet more in my life.

Please enjoy a few photos of the dunes. If only photographs could do this place justice.

Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

White Sands: Just a Taste

I just got back from 3 days in Southwestern New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. I spent one night in White Sands National Monument and one night in the Gila Wilderness. Both places were absolutely amazing! And although 24 hours in White Sands is all you'll need, the views I saw will stay with me for life. As for the Gila Wilderness, I think I could live there for a year and not see all of its wonder.

Either way, the next 3-5 posts will most likely center around this trip and those destinations. So please keep checking back for updates, I'll try to be fairly regular. In the meantime enjoy a little taste of White Sands.

Enjoy
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Meisner Wedding

Although wedding's aren't my normal thing, I'm always happy to be part of my friends' special day. This wedding was between my friends Eric and Ellie, who had actually met at my parents house awhile back. I flew back east this fall for their wedding and here are a few select shots.

Enjoy
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Paradise Forks

Just another part of exploring Northern AZ, Emma and I stopped by Paradise Forks. Paradise Forks is a set of waterfalls at the start of Sycamore Canyon, the second largest canyon in Arizona. It's a haven for trad climbers, and considered some of the best climbing in Arizona by many, and the best crack climbing in the US outside of Utah. Even if you don't climb, the 40 minute drive to Flagstaff is totally worth the views. There is a great horse and hiker trail (sorry mountain biker's, it's in wilderness land) that travels over relatively flat ground along the rim for several miles, giving away amazing views of the canyon at every turn. The canyon and the national forest surrounding it offer miles and miles of hiking trails and jeep roads, as well as a bunch of primitive and back country camping options. We only spend a day and a half here but I could easily go back for at least a week to explore even more.

Enjoy these photos of Paradise Forks, if you look closely many of them have climbers dotting the walls.

Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography