Goat Lake

Yesterday, I took a day trip to Goat Lake in the north Cascades. The lake is a challenging location to do photography; the length of the hike essentially prevents being present for the best light (unless you're backpacking). I booked it to the lake and got up there just after 10 am. The lighting was still a bit angled and there were some pretty drifting clouds; even so, there was no getting around the day's harsh lighting. So a lot of these images will need lighting work when I take the RAW files into Lightroom.

The first is an image involving the lake itself, from the path that extends around the shore past the main trail and day use area. F/22. I believe this mountain is Cadet Peak.

Next, two compositions involving clouds and the flanks of Cadet Peak, also from near the lake. F/22.

Below, some paintbrush (Castilleja) from a dry creek bed that intersects with the trail, with alder trees and a distant mountain in the background. F/4.5.

Next, a view of Elliott Creek early in the morning. Although the trail frequently puts you within sight of the creek, unobstructed views are hard to come by. This was my best attempt at a composition involving the creek. F/22, 1.6 seconds.

Another variation on the theme of mountains and clouds. If these peaks are named, I haven't yet identified them. F/16.

Finally, cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum or Heracleum lanatum) and old-growth forest. F/22.