Very rarely, the desert comes alive.  Flooding rains create channels and long dormant grasses spring to life.  The flood slowly moves on, water evaporates, and the grasses dry out at different rates due to the channel topography creating the colour patterns you see.  Eventually all this grass will die, and the land returns to sleep for another generation.  The fabled Never Never land of the Australian outback then returns to our dreams.

Alive

The Decagon is the infinitely evolving, always unique, and eternally open membership token of the Decaverse. Designed by Kjetil Golid.

Decagon #4134

mfer #6593

The first rays of sun begin to take over the sky as a solar flare, which can be several times the diameter of Earth, erupts with violent energy.

Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024.

Solar Fury

Steve and a picket fence taken looking south over Berg Lake and Mount Robson.  What is Steve?  Most have never heard of it, those that have might just think it's an Aurora.  Let me explain below why this purple ribbon is so special and why this shot is so important.  

This extremely rare capture went viral, and became a piece of scientific history.  The shot and associated time-lapse were then used in the physics paper led by W. E. Archer, “The Vertical Distribution of the Optical Emissions of a Steve and Picket Fence Event” published in Geophysical Research Letters, of which I was a co-author. The paper advanced our understanding of these phenomena by narrowing down the altitude extent of the Steve and picket fence emissions. 

Steve is east/west mid latitude phenomena at lower latitudes than you typically see an Aurora. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by a 25 km (16 mi) wide ribbon of hot plasma at 3000C (5430F) flowing at a speed of 6 km/s (3.7 mi/s) (compared to 10 m/s (33 ft/s) outside the ribbon).

While occurring with the same space weather that brings an Aurora; Steve is not an aurora as it is not generated through the precipitation of electrons.  Steve runs East/West while an Auroral beams runs North/South along the magnetitic field lines to the poles.

For unknown reasons Steve is sometimes but not always associated with a picket fence aurora.  The picket fence always forms below Steve and is thought to be caused by electron precipitation.  While Steve has been witnessed and documented by the aurora chasing community for a long time it is only newly being characterised by the science community. 

The paper advanced our understanding of these phenomena by narrowing down the altitude extent of the Steve and picket fence emissions.

I was fortunate enough to capture Steve while observing to the South while at Berg Lake.  This meant I was clear of any interference from the Aurora to the North.    The image was taken while camping overnight at 1,646m (5,400 ft) as part of a multi-day back country hike. 

The North Face of Mt Robson rises 2,308m (7,572ft) out of the lake to a total height of 3,954 m (12,972 ft) and is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

Steve

Deliciously ugly or stunningly beautiful, Johnston Canyon in the spring melt certainly gets ones attention. This is a closer look at the lower falls. Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

#04 - The Eye of the Beholder

To walk into the wild is to realise what once was.  The majesty of the mountains.  The impossible quiet.  The omnipresent solitude which focuses your mind like a lens focuses light.

Into the Wild

The salt mountains and pink lakes of Bonaire challenge your fundamental perception of what earthly landscapes look like.  Salvador Dali's quote “Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision” is even more profound when applied to superreal landscapes.

Salt

The water was dark and flat. Trees closed in on both sides with late autumn fire. We moved slowly, the engine low and steady in case we hit submerged logs. This was the Great Dismal Swamp. Men had once hidden here—runaways, fighters, those who wanted to disappear. Moonshine was made in here. It was quiet now, but not empty. You could feel the past pressing in through the trees. Three days passing through the swamp. We didn’t say much. Just watched the way the light hit the water and tried to keep the boat in the middle.

The Great Dismal Swamp

We slipped through the Cape Cod Canal at first light and headed north for Maine. The water lay almost motionless, a sheet of pale blue glass. After what felt like hours, the fog finally began to burn off, and sunlight struck the surface, scattering into long, bright ribbons.

Cape Cod Bay

Intrepid Ocean

Lightning strikes thrice as a severe thunderstorm passes over the Watagan mountains.  Taken on dusk from a remote ridge looking over the Wollombi valley towards the Watagan mountains.

The highest point is Mount Warrawolong at 641 metres (2,103 ft) above sea level, which is taking a direct hit of lightning in this shot. The severe storm season sees an increase in storms due to the increase in energy provided by the sun during the warmer summer months, coupled with weather patterns that are favourable for storm growth. 

The Watagan Mountains, or Watagans, is a mountain wilderness area that forms part of the Great Dividing Range, located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Lightning Strikes Thrice #20/34

Limited Edition of 34.  Lightning strikes thrice as a severe thunderstorm passes over the Watagan mountains. Taken on dusk from a remote ridge looking over the Wollombi valley towards the Watagan mountains.

The highest point is Mount Warrawolong at 641 metres (2,103 ft) above sea level, which is taking a direct hit of lightning in this shot. The severe storm season sees an increase in storms due to the increase in energy provided by the sun during the warmer summer months, coupled with weather patterns that are favourable for storm growth.

The Watagan Mountains, or Watagans, is a mountain wilderness area that forms part of the Great Dividing Range, located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Lightning Strikes Thrice #29/34

Lightning Strikes Thrice

Spend a bit of time in the high-altitude Himalayas and you start to appreciate the old Nepalese pilots adage that “we don't fly when there are clouds, because the clouds have rocks in them”.   The incredible spire of Ama Dablam rises to 6,812 metres (22,349 ft).  Taken after climbing to an elevation of 5,559 metres  (18,238 ft) .   Nepalese Himalaya, Nepal

The clouds have rocks in them 

Lighthouses provide hope of safe passage through the darkest of times, where otherwise there would be none.  Norah Head lighthouse on the Central Coast of New South Wales in Australia, was turned on for the first time in 1903.  Like a sentinel of the night, it has been warning seafarers of the rocky shores there ever since. 

Light in the Darkness

Foundation

Looking across at the sheer chunk of rock which makes up Gimili peak.  In Norse mythology Gimlé or Gimili is described as the most beautiful place in Asgard, the realm of the gods.  The small party of adventurers resting on the ridgeline are lost in the sheer scale of the landscape. 

Gimili is part of the Valhalla complex and sits at 2774m (9100 ft) in the Selkirk Mountains of Valhalla Provincial Park. British Columbia, Canada.

Sheer

Real landscapes that challenge your perception of reality. Minted into a manifold ERC-721 contract. This is the signature series of Robert Downie.

Few places in this world hold the allure of the Australian outback. The weathered red and orange dirt of an ancient landscape. The seemingly endless days of driving. The feeling like you’re travelling though not just space, but though time itself. Not quite sure where you’re going, but being pulled out further into the sublime endlessness.

Endless

SuperReal

‘The wind howls, but the mountain remains still’ Japanese proverb.  Take a moment to pause and soak up the view.  There is a certain sense of peace in wild places which is unattainable elsewhere. Iceline trail, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Stromy Iceline Trail

Stormy Iceline Trail

Rarible

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable” Mary Olive

Astrological alignments have a way of making us feel insignificant.  This alignment of Mars over Mount Assiniboine was the result of years of planning, followed by several days hiking, then several sleepless cold nights on the side of the mountain running on little other than caffeine and creative determination.

During 2018, Mars was on what is called a "close approach".  As Mars is on a different orbital ellipse to earth close approaches vary.  The next close approach where Mars will appear this large will not be until 2035.   During 2018's approach Mars was  a mere ~1/30th of the distance from earth compared to its furthest orbit. 

To pull off this shot the approach also needed to align perfectly with Mount Assiniboine during darkness, along with being in the right season for the Milky Way.  This conjunction of events (before considering terrestrial weather) is unlikely to happen again in my lifetime.

I spent the night just below Nub Peak (2,755 m or 9,039 ft) to capture this event. I wanted the perspective provided by a higher altitude vantage point, as from this position Mount Assiniboine (3,618 m or 11,870 ft) rightfully towers over Sunburst Peak (2,849 m or 9,347 ft) in the foreground which you don’t appreciate at the more accessible 'nublet' far below.  Mount Assiniboine sits in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.

Mars, Assiniboine, and the Milky Way

Sometimes everything just aligns.  This image captures 'Steve,' a distinct atmospheric phenomenon, hovering directly above the icy expanse of a frozen Ness Lake. Unlike the Northern Lights, 'Steve' appears at mid latitudes, further south than where you usually find an Aurora.

'Steve' shares its origins with space weather conditions that produce Auroras, but it isn't an Aurora itself. It forms differently, not from electron precipitation. Researchers believe it's created by a narrow, 25 km (16 mi) band of high-temperature plasma, reaching about 3000°C (5430°F), and moving rapidly at 6 km/s (3.7 mi/s)—a stark contrast to the slower 10 m/s (33 ft/s) movements outside this plasma ribbon.

Interestingly, 'Steve' is sometimes accompanied by a 'picket fence' aurora, though not always. This picket fence aurora, always located below 'Steve,' is thought to result from electron precipitation.  It's only recently that the scientific world has begun to study and understand this phenomenon in detail.  

Currently, it remains a mystery whether the electron precipitation that results in the 'picket fence' aurora is directly produced by 'Steve' or if 'Steve' merely acts as a guiding force, channeling the electrons into position. The relationship between these two atmospheric phenomena continues to be a topic of intrigue and study in the scientific community.

Plasma Sky

Intrepid Nights

A moose wanders through the first snow of the season.  An iconic sight of the North, Moose have been shaped by the predators that evolved with them and have incredible endurance and speed.  The largest of the deer family by some margin; they stand up to 2.1 m (6.9 ft) high at the shoulder and the males can weigh up to 700kg.

Endurance

Northern Exposure

It is something quite special to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta (aka Ayers Rock and the Olgas) lined up at sunset. If you are not familiar with the area you might think there is too much red in this shot; but that’s just how it is. Red rocks, red earth, and red dust in the sky. 

This shot was taken from a charted doors off helicopter at sunset. Uluru and Kata Tjuta are commercially restricted areas for photography and this image was taken under permit and subsequently approved by the traditional Aboriginal owners, known as Anangu.

Uluru has a circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 miles) and stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high above the surrounding plain. At its peak it sits at 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk thought to be underground. The peaks of Kuta Tjuta in the foreground sit just a little higher at 1066m (3,497 ft) and rise 546 m (1,791 ft) above the plain. Northern Territory, Australia.

Kata Tjuta and Uluru

The endless flatness of the never never land of the Australian Outback interrupted by the improbable monolith which is Uluru.  Experiencing the sun setting next to Uluru / Ayers Rock is more than just looking at a vista, it is a spiritual immersion into the timeless nature of this ancient land. 

Sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area, the rock has a circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 miles) and stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high above the surrounding plain. At its peak it sits at 863 m (2,831 feet) above sea level with most of its bulk thought to be underground. Considered the worlds largest inselberg (literally "island mountain"), or monolith, it has incredible homogeneity and is almost without jointing or parting across its surface. This has allowed the rock to remain solid though the avoidance of scree and soil slopes while the rest of the landscapes around it eroded.

In a landmark native title settlement the area surrounding Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuṯa was handed back to the indigenous Pitjantjatjara Anangu in 1985. Named by British colonists in 1873 as Ayres Rock after the Chief Secretary of South Australia, it is now officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock under a dual naming policy.

Commercial photography at Uluru is a regulated. This image was taken under commercial permit and approved for use by the Anangu review board.

Earth and Sun

Intrepid Outback

Severe lightning storm over Northern British Columbia just after dusk. You can clearly see the purple fringing on the edge of the lightning bolts. The lightning itself emits pure white light however the discharge though the atmosphere actually creates a plasma and the purple colour comes from this ionisation of the atmospheric gases. Ionisation is the same phenomena that causes the colour we see in polar Auroras. 

Plasma is neither solid, liquid, nor gas, rather it is a fourth state of matter. It is quite rare on earth however over 99% of the matter in the universe exists as plasma, held within stars or as superhot interstellar matter. We had a beautiful display of the storm looking back towards it out at Ness Lake as the cell passed mostly to the east of us and we avoided the flooding rain they received in town.

Northern Lightning

Intrepid WX

All good things start with some quiet contemplation between mfers.  

In the beginning

All good things start with some quiet contemplation between mfers. As 2022 closes out, mfers are about to get a little more intrepid.

Intrepid Mfers

Fire in the Sky #8. Thunderstorm passing over the Watagan mountains, taken from a remote ridge. The Watagan Mountains, or Watagans, is a mountain wilderness area that forms part of the Great Dividing Range located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Fire in the Sky #8

Foundation collection - https://foundation.app/collection/firesky.  Fire in the Sky is a series about the power of nature. It was taken as a severe thunderstorm passed over the Watagan mountains from a remote ridge. The Watagan Mountains, or Watagans, is a mountain wilderness area that forms part of the Great Dividing Range located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.   

Fire in the Sky #5. Thunderstorm passing over the Watagan mountains, taken from a remote ridge. The Watagan Mountains, or Watagans, is a mountain wilderness area that forms part of the Great Dividing Range located in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Fire in the Sky #5

Fire in the Sky - IntrepidPhotos

Ghost train version of The Chicago "L" late at night. With parts of the system dating back to 1892 it is the second-oldest rapid transit system in the Americas. The “L” is derived from the elevated nature of the system above the streets which make it such a distinctive part of the city.

The Chicago "Ghost"

The Chicago "L" late at night. With parts of the system dating back to 1892 it is the second-oldest rapid transit system in the Americas. The “L” is derived from the elevated nature of the system above the streets which make it such a distinctive part of the city.

The Chicago "L"

Intrepid Metropolis

This is the original promotion video for Alive released in 2022.

Intrepid Extras is for bonus collector airdrops.  Artist history is important; where better to celebrate it than on chain and distributed to the holders of the art.  I have set up Intrepid Extras as its own manifold contract to do this. 

‘The Road to 100’ celebrates the collection of 100 Intrepid 1/1s on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a gift to the special community of people from all around the world who have come together to support my work.

The highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, Mt. Robson towers above everything around it at 3,954 m (12,972 ft). Seven out of ten times when you drive past Mt. Robson, it is covered in clouds. But when it's clear, it must be one of the most scenic stretches of road in the world.

The Road to 100

Intrepid Extras

The endless Australian outback.   When I am travelling outside Australia people often ask how do you actually know when you get into the outback? Start at the coast, drive, and drive, and then drive for a few days more.  And you will just know when you get there. 

The road to nowhere

Legacy signature series intrepidphotos.eth ERC-721 collection smart contract.  See https://linktr.ee/intrepidphotos for more recent collections.   

A piece of scientific history.  Steve and a picket fence taken looking south over Berg Lake and Mount Robson.  The shot was used in the physics paper  “The Vertical Distribution of the Optical Emissions of a Steve and Picket Fence Event”.  The paper advanced our understanding of these phenomena by narrowing down the altitude extent of the Steve and picket fence emissions.  Taken while camping at 1,646m (5,400 ft) as part of a multi-day back country hike.  The North Face of Mt Robson rises 2,308m (7,572ft) out of the lake to a total height of 3,954 m (12,972 ft) and is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. 

Steve over Berg Lake

IntrepidPhotos Legacy Contract

The sun breaks through its shroud of darkness, casting a radiant glow on the moon like a polished marble.  

Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024.

The Return of the King

As totality engulfs the day, the moon's silhouette against the sun becomes a haunting spectacle. Solar flares, often several times the diameter of Earth, defy the eclipse's brief, eerie calm, erupting with violent energy.

Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024.

The Dark Lord

Shadows and Revelations

#10 - Wahkeena Falls

A collection of 66 shots from a lifetime of chasing waterfalls by IntrepidPhotos (Robert Downie Photography).  Robert has spent the past twenty years travelling through over fifty countries seeking out the little known parts of this world.  This collection captures the most memorable waterfalls experienced over his lifetime of work.    Waterfalls hold a special place in the human psyche as they add a level of drama and romance to the lifegiving force that is running water.

#47 - White Falls

Intrepid Falls

Anchored amongst hypersaline lagoons the colour of ochre, rimmed with white salt and green mangroves, set against turquoise flats and a deep blue channel.

Polychromatic Sea

Suspended between light and darkness drifting to the edge of the void.  

The Void

Intrepid Ocean Editions

Helioi: An intrepid odyssey though a pantheon of sun gods. A Ninfa collection; minted onto Shape L2.  Six sun gods aligned with six images of our sun under unique atmospheric conditions.  All optimised for 4K: 16:9 screens so they look amazing on digital displays.  Auctions reserves will set at 0.45Ξ   


Helioi

Sometimes everything just aligns. This image captures 'Steve,' a distinct atmospheric phenomenon, hovering directly above the icy expanse of a frozen Ness Lake. Unlike the Northern Lights, 'Steve' appears at mid latitudes, further south than where you usually find an Aurora.

'Steve' shares its origins with space weather conditions that produce Auroras, but it isn't an Aurora itself. It forms differently, not from electron precipitation. Researchers believe it's created by a narrow, 25 km (16 mi) band of high-temperature plasma, reaching about 3000°C (5430°F), and moving rapidly at 6 km/s (3.7 mi/s)—a stark contrast to the slower 10 m/s (33 ft/s) movements outside this plasma ribbon.

Interestingly, 'Steve' is sometimes accompanied by a 'picket fence' aurora, though not always. This picket fence aurora, always located below 'Steve,' is thought to result from electron precipitation. It's only recently that the scientific world has begun to study and understand this phenomenon in detail.

Currently, it remains a mystery whether the electron precipitation that results in the 'picket fence' aurora is directly produced by 'Steve' or if 'Steve' merely acts as a guiding force, channeling the electrons into position. The relationship between these two atmospheric phenomena continues to be a topic of intrigue and study in the scientific community.

During the pandemic, we weren't the only souls adrift at sea. As nations closed their doors, the horizon was dotted with the spectral presence of ghost ships - immense cargo carriers, tankers, and cruise liners. They floated aimlessly in international waters or remained anchored at a distance from harbors; some were manned by bare-minimum crews while others echoed a chilling emptiness.

The plight cruise ships was especially haunting. These massive vessels, once filled with hedonistic entertainment, morphed into somber monoliths reflecting the pandemic's stranglehold. With shores denying them entry, they transformed into desolate islands, their crews often marooned for months on end.

The tales of ghost ships did draw some media attention to the challenges faced by seafarers. Stranded at sea, often without wages, fresh provisions, or a way home, the sheer size of these ghost ships spotlighted the human cost of the stranded in a manner that small vessels like ours could never capture.

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