John O.
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fotojohn.bsky.social
John O.
@fotojohn.bsky.social
100 followers 26 following 97 posts
Utah-based photographer and naturalist.
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fotojohn.bsky.social
I'm in the minority, but I love the #openspace in this image I made in Kerala, South #India. It allows the photo to breathe. Tap the image to see the whole thing!
An incredibly simple image made from Estuary Island near Kovalam Beach, Kerala. A fisherman propels his boat through protected coastal waters while a woman carries a water pot. I love India not for the colors and textures and scenes, but for her people. Vibrant, accepting, hopeful, driven... It's all there if you can get past the culture shock. Having lived there multiple times helps me know, understand, and see her better than I do any other culture.
January 8, 2026 at 2:20 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Sometimes all we need is #hope. Tap to see the full panorama (and rotate your phone!) #sunrise #snowcanyonstatepark #beUTAHful

And yes, #ImBack after a much needed break from social media!
The sun rises over Snow Canyon State Park. Located near St George, Utah, the park is home to stunning rock formations and landscapes.
January 8, 2026 at 3:55 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Not every shot ends up a keeper… but when it’s the only excitement in a herd you’ve been watching for 90 min, you really wish you’d gotten it right, lol. I’m a photographer, and sometimes I cut off creatures’ heads #onaqui #beUTAHful #mustang #horse #bloopers #illbeback
September 6, 2025 at 8:16 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
#deathvalley has to be one of my favorite shoots. The variation in #panoramas is stunning, to say the least. See more in the alt story! #nationalparks #landscapephotography
A blue sky shines over weathered hills in Death Valley National Park. In early 2021 after a year of coping with the pandemic and an adult son struggling with leukemia PLUS a high stress work place, I needed a break. I hit the road for a week of shooting throughout my native West. Death Valley in the winter can be brutally cold, but the light is softer and the features of the land pop out. When it feels like the whole world -- your anti-vax and anti-mask friends included -- are basically trying to kill your son, time with God and in nature are the answer (just like with everything else). The click of the shutter? It's just a fresh click to sooth that addiction (I swear I get a dopamine rush every time I see an image like this in my view screen).
August 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
#artisticindependence begins today officially. I've spent the last while learning Darktable and have finally #cutthecord on #Adobe. Some ask why... First, there's the 50% increase in fees, but second... It's nearly impossible to avoid #AI in their tools.

My art is MY art.
August 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Pika-tchu! Cute little pika that poked its head out while I had lunch atop a random peak in #DenaliNationalPark Sometimes #wildlife doesn’t have to be particularly wild #alaska #pika #nationalparks
August 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Bumper to bumper, the only word to describe this #Plymouth #Barracuda I shot a few years back is C-L-E-A-N!. Meticulously restored, and the engine sounds even better than you’d think. The owner is a satisfied repeat customer. Who’s shooting your #classic #hotrod? #vintage #automotivephotography
August 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
You plan and plan, hike and hike, and nothing. But go on a Sunday drive, and you'll likely be surprised!

Moose at Spirit Lake, UT. Harsh afternoon light, this is no contest winner but thrilling nonetheless to spend time observing and listening.
August 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Sometimes a little hummingbird just makes the moment! #bird #ornithology #wildlifephotographer
August 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
A #monday post about an American Kestrel (Falco sparvarius). This was a thrilling interaction. I would snap a frame, take 7 steps forward, and snap another frame (story in the alt text) #ornithology #wildlifephotography
The American Kestrel (Falco sparvarius) has a gorgeous orange and blue-gray tone to its feathering. Nature loves contrasting colors, as well! The encounter was thrilling. On one of the coldest days of winter, I saw this bird from a long way away. I walked ahead slowly, naturally, until I was within range. I snapped a frame, took seven steps, and snapped again. This went on for at least 2 min, until finally I had this frame, and the bird had had enough.
August 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Sometimes you just have to get low and #wide #3:1, like on this #Porsche 550 #Spyder I found at #Speedweek last year. Hint: you really have to tap.on the photo to see it. #automotivephotography #racecar
August 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
I like big burls, not gonna lie. ;) See alt text for an explanation. #alaska #girdwood #tree #forest #landscape #landscapephotographer
These bulges are caused by some sort of adverse conditions - fire, infection, infestation, etc. They are a sign that the tree has encountered adversity, and overcome. There's a lesson here about people too. Our adversities usually don't cause physical deformation, but they can still affect our mental well-being.
August 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
While an African #safari is all about the "Big Five," sometimes the other animals can steal the show. I love this image of a Vervet #monkey for a number of reasons; see the Alt text for more info #wildlife #wildlifephotography #africa #africansafari
I really like this image of a #vervet #monkey, for a number of reasons. First, the trees frame the subject well. I could have cropped tighter, but with the trees the subject has room to breath, but is still the center of attention. Second, we are making eye contact with the monkey. The eyes are truly the window to the soul, and I often wonder what my subjects are thinking when I capture their images. Finally, I love the sharpness in this photo. I'm a huge fan of texture, and the uniform texture of the monkey's hair contrasts nicely with the random nature of the bark on the trees.
August 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
In all of my #photography, I am captivated by texture, especially when is is juxtaposed against a lack of texture. That’s what drew me to the salt crust on Badwater Flats. See ALT text for the story! #deathvalley #nationalparks #astrophotography #landscapephotography #california #sunflare #moonflare
It’s called Death Valley in reference to how hot it gets, but #deathvalleynationalpark belies its reputation in January. It was below freezing on #badwaterflats, and I had been shooting the salt crust for a good hour or so waiting for dusk. The salt is fascinating here, because there are little pockets or crusted puddles everywhere. The texture is mesmerizing. I waited and waited through dusk, and captured this just before the sun set behind these clouds, which were rushing in. I was shooting RAW, high resolution (80mp) on my #Olympus EM1. I focus bracketed this image, to be sure I froze motion as much as possible (shooting at a wider aperture), but still had focus between a meter and infinity. The Oly 7-14 2.8 is a tricky lens. Like all ultra-wides, it picks up sun flare easily, but it surprised me that it picked up moon flare in this image. Unlike many wides, it doesn’t have a useful hood (it has a four-petal configuration making lens hoods pretty much impossible). Looking back, flare often shows up as a happy accident, adding character as well as depth to my images. On the tiny screen on my camera, I was pretty sure this was going to be a usable image. This was day 4 of a 6-day ‘winter sabbatical’ though, and I camped outside the park overnight, so it was several days before I saw it on a decent screen. I’m pleased with the outcome. Give me a like or a repost if you enjoy these longer “story behind the photos” posts!
July 31, 2025 at 4:20 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
I find the people of #India to be fascinating, both as friends as well as subjects. This #fisherman was working on the shores on Estuary Island in #Kerala. #streetphotography #beachphotography #indiaseries

You can always see more of my work at johnoverbaugh.com
July 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
I'm back, bluesky! Today's image - sometimes you find things you just aren't expecting! Like an #umbrella in #paris #travelphotography #france
July 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
I’ve been taking a break from the ‘Sky to wrap up my 914 restoration. Here are a few teasers!
#dogleglife #ifyouknowyouknow #porsche #porsche914 #automotivephotographer
May 13, 2025 at 4:55 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
This is Bridger Jacks Spires, just outside of Canyonlands Islands in the Sky National Park. It is a threatened part of Bears Ears National Monument.

Contact your elected officials and tell them to protect Bears Ears!
#resisttyrrany #publiclands #nationalparks #SayNoToMaga
Interesting fact: if you visit the BLM site, information about Bears Ears is slowly disappearing... https://gis.harvard.edu/blog/mapping-bears-ears-national-monument I have loved my visits to this incredible spot - the solitude is invigorating and the stars at night? To die for!
April 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Contrary to its name, the grey-headed #kingfisher lives in arid places and lives off land-born prey such as insects and small lizards. It is found from northern to southern Africa and parts of Arabia. #bird #ornithology #tanzania #safari #wildlife #wildlifephotographer
A grey-headed kingfisher, adorned with blue, black, brown, and white feathers, perches in a tree overlooking the forest in Tanzania.
April 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
To me every #sunrise is a promise of another chance, renewed hope, and a new start. #landscapephotography #sun #ocean #sea #water #dawn #atlantic
April 19, 2025 at 12:10 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
When was the last time you just sat someplace in the #moonlight and just pondered? One of the reasons I love #astrophotography and shooting at night in general is that you’re likely to get loads of alone time. #keywest #floridakeys #ocean #sea #atlantic #waterfront #pier #nighttime #fullmoon
April 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Beautiful, beautiful #sunrise this morning over Key West. I believe God is the ultimate artist, and every scene He paints for us is a testament of His love for us. #landscapephotography #ocean #color #orange #sea #atlantic #florida #floridakeys #vacation
April 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
fotojohn.bsky.social
Imposing symmetry.
Dry Tortugas National Park #nationalparks #fortress #monochrome
April 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
What the world needs right now is a lot more beauty. Good news: it's Milky Way season! #panorama #milkyway #astrophotography #utahphotographer (Click to see the full image)
The Milky Way arches over Flaming Gorge.
March 31, 2025 at 1:33 AM
fotojohn.bsky.social
High time I made a post, things are hectic... I love how this European Roller just knows how to strike a pose! The #complimentaryColors of blue and orange are really appealing, too. #tanzanianSafari #ornithology #bird #europeanroller #tree #africa
March 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM