Goat Lake

In early July, I hiked to Goat Lake, one of my all-time favorite places, on a cool and cloudy day. In many cases, I am a fan of doing photography on overcast days due to the even lighting. At a place like Goat Lake, though, with its expansive mountain views, overcast lighting presents challenges of its own. A cloudy sky can look washed-out and overexposed, and avoiding the sky definitely limits possible compositions. I did have some luck, however, with floral, forest, and creek shots. The cool weather also made the final switchbacks uphill less taxing.

First, some thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) with the lake in the background. I realize that this one is similar in concept to one I took in 2020 (second image in this post), but horizontal and with a different flower. The colors of the pink salmonberry flower and blue sky in 2020's image are more striking, but in this year's composition, the flower is more prominent. F/8.

Next, a slightly wider shot of the lake. F/13.

I also managed a couple decent compositions of Elliott Creek. In this first one, I like the bright green of the background trees, and how it contrasts with the more shadowed trees in the foreground. F/16, 1.3 seconds.

Even though you don't see as much of the creek in this next one, I think the big trunk at right (and the two bunchberry flowers growing on it) help bring the composition together. F/16, 1.6 seconds.

Next, Pacific coralroot (Corallorhiza mertensiana). Because Pacific coralroot is a myco-heterotroph, it doesn't rely on photosynthesis for sustenance. Very dark spots under big trees, where other plants have a hard time thriving in the low sunlight, can be good places to try to spot coralroot. It was in one such location that I saw these. F/5.6.

Lastly, the lush green forest of the farther reaches of the trail (after the Upper and Lower trails join). F/16.

That's all for now. Next up, some odds and ends from a couple other photography trips in July...and after that, pictures from Canada!