Seasonal Rituals

I like exploring new parks, and new areas inside of parks, as much as the next fellow. But I've realized that I have some places within familiar parks - even specific plants or individual trees - that I visit regularly every time a certain season rolls around. For instance, the red-flowering currant bushes in Twin Ponds Park, usually in March or April. In June/July, the stand of fireweed in Hamlin Park. In early summer, a street with a good sunset view a few blocks from my house. In October/November, the Arboretum, especially the areas to the north along the water.

And, in March or April, a group of trees in the North Bluff area of Discovery Park. I made this pilgrimage yesterday. Mostly, it is to photograph the buds, which look like this:

These patterns of mine stem partially from practical concerns: every year my technical and compositional skills improve (I hope), so I want to have another crack at getting a respectable picture of, or a new take on, a promising subject. In another sense, though, I simply like these pilgrimages. It's nice to return to familiar places to celebrate the beauty of a particular season, and a way for me to feel more in tune with seasonal changes.

Also, it was another day of experimenting with macro backgrounds:

   

I think I like the one with the bluer background. Probably.

There were a couple others worthy of note yesterday. First, the angled afternoon sunlight was making the newly leafed shrubs look almost luminescent, especially in the second of these two. Since the large trees don't have much yet in the way of spring growth, sunlight can still get through to the understory.

Finally, a few salmonberry flowers are starting to pop out. Most of them are still just buds, though, so there'll be more to come.

The Past Couple Months

Finally some new material! Because let's face it, folks: it's been a crazy winter quarter and, much to my vexation, I haven't had very many opportunities to go out shooting, because of (1) the constant barrage of homework, and (2) frequent cloudiness and rainfall, making photography less worth it given the existence of (1).

Cloudy days certainly are useful, later in the spring or in the fall, and especially in the summer. During the winter, however, I find them pretty disappointing. I can't do very much in open areas because of the whitewashed sky - and more areas qualify as "open" due to the lack of leaves on trees. Forested areas - the cloudy-day highlight of summer - are pretty drab and brown. And more white spots show through because of the bare trees. Finally, there isn't a ton of interesting close-up subject matter.

All that aside, I did get out a few times during winter quarter. First, this from Pacific City, OR, where I went with my housemates over a long weekend (unfortunately for my photography, it was pouring rain for all but about 30 minutes of our stay):

And then a trip to Discovery Park:

The obligatory sunrise trip to Magnuson Park. I don't know what I'd do without this place; it's the early-morning gift that keeps on giving. I took this picture stuck on the side of a hill, barely able to keep my balance. Worth it!

Finally, a trip to Discovery Park this month. Note the different character of the clouds - this was one of the first days this year where the clouds were starting to look like spring clouds. It's hard to describe what exactly that is. I think part of it is the rapid alternation of overcast and sunshine that happens in spring weather. Also I think there tend to be more cumuliform clouds in the spring than in the winter, due to the clash between greater surface-level warming and residual cold temperatures in the upper atmosphere, which encourages convection and thus cumulus-type clouds. I'm not really sure how it all works, but I checked out some cloud books from the library and am trying to learn how the weather around here operates. Anyhow, here are a couple good ones:

I was very fortunate to have this shot. The sun was not out the whole time I was at Discovery. Indeed, it was clouding up as I drove there, and the sun was obscured for the beginning of my visit. I noticed this tree and the clouds behind it, but knew that sunshine would make this picture way more dramatic and cool. When the sun came out, I realized my luck and sprinted over to this tree.

These clouds around the chapel were a lucky little bonus. I almost missed them, but was fortunate enough to turn around at the right time as I was walking away from the chapel and notice them.

Also, spring has sprung in the forest! Some leaves are starting to come out, as you can see in the background of this next one!

I'd better sign off. I think I heard a clap of thunder outside, and want to get off my computer before it zaps me. It's spriiiing!!!

Weeds Are Beautiful, Episode 1

In other news, I can't wait until fireweed season. They don't call it fireweed for no reason - it often colonizes burn areas, and also logging areas. Before and after it blooms, it looks a bit ratty, but it's so cool when it's in season, usually late June and early July. It has such a striking purple color, and generally grows in stands, which can be quite impressive. This particular shot is from Discovery Park this past July. It was a good evening, despite the many mishaps (for example, crawling around through the tall grass looking for my sunglasses!)

Confession: I also wanted to see how a vertical picture looked on this blog. Apparently it works!