Mexico

A family trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico where iguanas, coatimundis, and beautiful stars were seen. The vacation happened late July early August. What was intended to be a week of relaxing on a beach and soaking up the sun turned into a photo adventure. Riviera Maya was the destination of our resort and we saw Tulum, Xel-Ha Park, and did a little snorkeling. 

Iguana basking in the sun. 

Coatimundi reaching for food tourists threw in the grass for the animals.

Milky Way shooting out of a beach hut during one of the warm summer nights. 

Tulum ancient mayan ruins on the coast of Mexico. 

Iguana basking in the sun in front of Tulum.

Snorkeling in Xel-Ha. 

Riviera Maya, Mexico was a great vacation with a lot of experience and for me to see another part of the world. 

"It is better to travel well than to arrive." - Buddha

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Nick Koehler Photography

The Trip

"The Trip" happened in late June early July of this past summer (2016). This trip was a trip around the state parks of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. My friends, Jared, Luke, and JC embarked on this trip late June early July. 

Day 1

"The Trip" started in Pittsburgh and our first stop was the Allegheny National Forest.         76.6mi - 1hr 50min

The next stop was Elk State Forest, which we saw a few Elk.. Of course!                                          45.5mi - 1hr 12min 

After Elk State Forest, we moved on Sproul State Forest.                                                        32.1mi - 57min

First time experimenting with Steel Wool. 

Day 2

After waking up in Sproul State Forest; we moved onto Tioga State Forest.                           9.6mi - 18min

Ansonio Park was our next stop. Which we didn't find much so then we moved onto Worlds End State Park. Which led us to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.                                            61.3 mi - 1hr 39min / 91.5mi - 2hr

Played with Steel Wool again. Got chased out of the woods by Coyotes. 

Also able to see the Milky Way for the first time around 1am. 

Day 3

We then we traveled onto Hickory Run State Park. Which turned into us going a little further and traveling to Ricketts Glen State Park.                                                                                101.4mi - 1hr 55min

Day 4

We then visited a Wolf Sanctuary. 2.1mi - 4min. Then Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. 100.8mi - 1hr 53min

After the Wildlife Management Area. We then traveled to Patapsco Valley State Park.         175mi - 2hr 52min 

Then we traveled to the Humpback Rocks outside of Shenandoah National Park. Which gave us a great view, and a up close with Turkey Vultures.                                                                162mi - 3hr 7min

Day 5/6

New River Gorge is there our next stop which we arrived at sunset which seemed to help us out! We were there for 2 days.                                                                                                                                            91.8mi - 1hr 28min

Day 7

After getting to see almost every square inch of New River Gorge we made way to Cucumber Falls.                                                                                                                                            95.6mi - 1hr 33min 

We traveled to Quemahoning Reservoir and then back up to Pittsburgh.                             47.3mi - 58min / 68.3mi - 1hr 30min. 

Total travel: 1422 Miles / Total Time: 7 Days (30 Hours Driving)

"Travel - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." - Ibn Battuta

Thanks to Jared, Luke, and JC for the awesome memories and stories. 

 

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California

In March of 2016 I received a text from my Aunt inviting me to join her on a journey to San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. The trip happened in mid June; June 14-20th 2016. This was not only a great opportunity, but reconciliation for my home for I once lived and grew up in, San Francisco. Moving to Pittsburgh when I was seven from San Francisco was a big turning point in my life. Having to start over and make friends in a place that was all to unfamiliar other than winter trips or summer vacations to visit family. Adjusting to the North East lifestyle and culture was a big step for me, but an important one. Pittsburgh is where I began my passion for photography. Pittsburgh is where I found myself and where I want to go, but... San Francisco has always been where I felt at home; so receiving that text in March was not only an opportunity to visit, but to capture moments and memories that'll last me a lifetime. The trip started of course with a flight to SFO from PIT; which upon arriving my Aunt and I got a rental car and proceeded to our hotel in Fisherman's Wharf. We visited many destinations of views I had researched before hand for photographs and great vista points to capture; here are some of the photographs below...

Day 1

The first stop was Muir Woods National Monument. This destination gave a great aspect of the Redwood trees.

Twin Peaks being our first vista point, but second stop; offers a great view of the San Francisco skyline below. 

Day 2

First stop day 2 was Alcatraz. 

The cells for "dangerous inmates". Solitary confinement cells. 

The small size of the cells for prisoners. 

An outside view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Alcatraz Island. 

The Coit Tower was our next destination which had a beautiful view from atop it.

Last stop for the day was Lombard Street. 

Day 3

Moving our way towards Yosemite National Park; I saw this tree by it's self in a field. Wanted to show the solitude of the tree. 

River running below in the Yosemite Valley. 

El Capitan right after Sunset during magic hour. 

Yosemite falls from the perspective of the Yosemite Valley.

View from Glacier Point right before sunset. 

Tunnel View right before the sun disappeared off the rocky walls surrounding the Yosemite Valley. 

Day 4

The 17mi Drive outside of Monterey, California. 

Fog was rolling in to create a feeling of peace to this tree growing alone.

Then a stop in Monterey to see the harbor seals. This seal hopped onto this anchor and posed for a photo. 

Day 5

5am early rise to catch this sunrise filling in the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. 

Quick stop in Sausalito across the bay of San Francisco. 

Then to a different perspective the Golden Gate Bridge for sunset.

Day 6

Slept in and enjoyed Fishermans Wharf. In afternoon took the Van Ness and California cable car to this destination where I was able to capture this shot of the cable car in front of the Bay Bridge in downtown San Francisco.

Sausalito for the sunset and magic hour. 

Houses on the hill with the San Francisco skyline behind. 

Day 7

Walked around downtown San Francisco and explore City Hall a little.

Checked out the outside view of Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf before returning back to the hotel to get ready to get on our flight back to Pittsburgh.

This trip was a great time and I will have it as a memory forever and images to prove it. 

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Short Trip

On Saturday November 12, 2016 my roommates and I traveled to a few spots around the Poconos Mountains in North Eastern Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was to get out of the apartment and go explore a little bit of the places north of Philadelphia. The spots we touched were "Hickory Run Lake", "Boulder Field", and a part of the Appalachian Trail upon the "Delaware Water Gap". We ended the night watching the stars appear at the "Delaware Water Gap" and then slowly made it down the trail. 

 

Hickory Run Lake in Hickory Run State Park during the time of the sun slowly dropping below the tree line. 

A sunlight area below the Hickory Run Lake. 

A tree growing out of the abundance of rocks in "Boulder Field" in Hickory Run State Park. Sun flare striking through the branches of the tree. 

On top of the Appalachian Trail in the "Delaware Water Gap".

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My First Protest...

My first protest I have ever covered or been to was last night in Philadelphia. The protestors were speaking out against President-Elect Donald Trump. My interest in photojournalism and travel photography brought me to this protest to cover and capture the moments that happened. The protest began on November 9th, 2016 at 7pm EST and ended approximately around 11pm. 

Protestor asks for answers shortly after being pushed down by bike barricade before the Vine St Expressway. 

Mexican flag being held up by protesters on way back to Center City Philadelphia. 

Protestors march through the streets with locked arms. 

"Not My President", A phrase that was sang throughout the night around the diverse streets.

The rally of people standing in a straight line listening to a protestor speak. 

Fists raised high while chanting against President-Elect Donald Trump.

A sign ("We Are Not Trump's America") amidst all the people protesting. 

Celebrating the protest heading back to Center City, Philadelphia.

Protestors uproar in agreement with speaker in front of them. 

Photographs were taken by Nick Koehler Photography. Nikon D750 : 24-70 f2.8 : Off Camera Flash.