Orcas Island

Just after the holidays, I took a short trip to Orcas Island. I was burdened with a cold and sleepy after the holidays, but I managed to get outside for photography each day I was on the island. There is a lot to see there; Moran State Park alone is extensive enough to make you forget that you're on an island, with waterfalls, old-growth forests, meadows, views, and lots of hiking trails. I can't wait to go back.

Mount Constitution

When I told people that I was going to Orcas Island, I heard about the view from the top of Mount Constitution (in Moran State Park), accessible by vehicle. I did indeed visit the area, and the view lived up to the hype. Mount Baker is right in your face, as are other islands in the area, and you can see north to the mountains of Canada and south to Mount Rainier. Here are my two best images from the summit, with Mount Baker in the distance. F/14 for both of these compositions.

Next, an image from a viewpoint a short distance down a hiking trail from the summit, again with Mount Baker in the distance (on the left). Due to the wider angle, there is more distortion and loss of image quality on the sides of the image. But I like how this composition highlights some of the topography of Orcas Island itself. F/16.

Rustic Falls

Earlier that same morning, I did some photography at Rustic Falls, also in Moran State Park. My planned destination was the larger and better-known Cascade Falls, but - surprise plot twist - the sun was shining, and the sunlit highlights of the falls proved too bright for the camera to handle. Thankfully, I had stopped at the better-shaded Rustic Falls on my way. I thought the fallen tree over the creek was an interesting visual element. F/14, 4 seconds, for both of these compositions.

Turtleback Mountain

On the other side of Orcas Island is the Turtleback Mountain Preserve; I hiked the Ship Peak Loop, a short jaunt up to Garry oak groves and open meadows with excellent views. Here's an image from the trail, with a Garry oak in the foreground and Pacific madrone (or madrona) trees just beyond. F/14.

Carter Falls

This weekend, I hiked to Carter Falls in Mount Rainier National Park. The weather was beautiful and clear, but cold; even with all of my warm clothes, photography or snack stops were sometimes a challenge. This will be something to think about as another winter approaches. Still, it was rewarding to walk in the sunshine, and see rivers and streams beginning to freeze over.

First, a waterfall just beyond Carter Falls (Madcap Falls, I think). I liked the angles of the log or logs over the falls - I've never seen anything like that before! F/14, 0.8 seconds.

Next, three compositions from the place where the trail crosses the Nisqually River, with the same set of icy rocks in the foreground. These images have different strengths and weaknesses, and I am unsure which I prefer. All F/18, 0.4 seconds.

Finally, Carter Falls itself. Due to breezy conditions, a few of the branches are somewhat blurry, and the image quality here isn't as good as it is in the other compositions. I could use this image in some contexts, but probably not as a large print. F/16, 0.8 seconds.

Little Mashel Falls

The Little Mashel Falls hike near Eatonville has been on my radar for some time, and I got the chance to check it out on Saturday. Most of the hike is not particularly scenic, passing through some rather young second-growth forest, but the journey is quick and easy enough. The falls themselves, however, are impressive and were worth the visit. I'd be interested to return here in late spring, when there are leaves on the trees, although by that time of year I often feel drawn to wilder settings deeper into the Cascades.

Three waterfalls are accessible from the hike. The Middle Falls is the most impressive, and my favorite image of the day came from this spot. I like the contrast between the white of the falls and the green on the rocks. Moreover, I think the decision to occupy most of the frame with the waterfall, and exclude its top and surroundings, creates senses of size and closeness. F/14, 0.4 seconds.

Next, two views of the Lower Falls, set against mossy trees and branches. I am not sure which I prefer - the branches are interesting in the horizontal composition, but I like that the vertical composition includes the plants and rocks above the falls. Both F/14, 0.6 and 0.5 seconds, respectively.

Baker River Fall, Again

The only thing better than visiting the Baker River trail once in a season is visiting it twice in a season, I say. I hiked the trail on Monday, and enjoyed excellent conditions for hiking and photography: light winds, shade from the valley walls to create times and places of gentle lighting, and clear skies for mountain viewing. While the image I was most excited about - a view from the end of the trail with Mount Shuksan in the background - didn't turn out well, I was able to find some other interesting perspectives of the forests and river.

First, a forest view, with mossy trunks and branches prominent. In the late fall and winter, I tend to shy away from compositions involving the forest floor or understory; bare shrubs and branches can make compositions too busy (unless there's a mitigating factor like fog or snow). In this case, though, I think the fallen leaves form a color zone distinct enough to make the composition work. F/18.

Next, a shot of some colorful leaves with part of the Baker River itself behind them. This is similar in concept to some compositions from a trip I made to the area last November, but the shaded conditions this time created a different mood. F/16.

Finally, some red alder trunks with other leaves of various kinds and colors in the background. This composition is a bit busy, but I like the color scheme. F/14.

Larch March 2019

On Thursday, I took advantage of the excellent weather to explore the Iron Bear/Teanaway Ridge hike, hoping to find some larches still showing fall color. As larch hikes go, this isn't the most spectacular that I've ever seen - generally speaking, the best views of larches are across ravines, on distant hillsides, or otherwise at a distance from the trail. The expansive views available throughout the hike made up for this, however, affording plenty of photogenic scenery. The day's largest challenge was lighting. The filtered sunshine, at a lower angle this time of year, was manageable in terms of contrast, but it caused issues with lens flares, and I lost some otherwise good compositions that way (even with shading from both a lens hood and my hand).

Below is my best composition from the hike, looking roughly southeast from near the junction of the Iron Bear and Teanaway Ridge trails. This one is good enough that I could reproduce it at large print sizes; that would have the effect of making the distant larches more discernible. F/14.

Next, a fall scene from nearer the trailhead. F/14.

Here is a view from my turnaround point, with a cloud-shrouded Mount Rainier visible over larch-clad hillsides. I would have liked a clearer view of Mount Rainier, but those distant clouds were thickening by the minute, and I had to make do with the conditions I had. The end result was good but not great, I think - although I might have a more favorable opinion of this composition if I were to see it enlarged in print. F/16.

Finally, a characteristic view from the upper reaches of the trail. I have mixed feelings about this one; while I really like the lighting and the color, the image quality turned out less than ideal, and the vertical lines aren't all in alignment. F/13.

Valhalla in the Snow

Well, fall was fun while it lasted! On Saturday, I hiked to Lake Valhalla (via the Smithbrook trailhead). I was hoping to find some fall colors there, as I have in the past, and perhaps even get lucky enough to juxtapose fall leaves against fresh snow in some compositions. Alas, the fall colors were almost entirely gone, and quite a bit of snow had fallen in the area. Still, I had fun contrasting the snow with the greens of the trees, and with the deep color of the not-yet-frozen lake.

First, a view of Lake Valhalla itself. F/14.

Next, two views from earlier in the hike. The yellowish green of the foreground trees isn't as vibrant here as it was in person - I wanted to contrast that with the bluish colors of the distant trees and mountains - but I think these images still work. Seeing them in print might be worthwhile, as that would give me more information to work with as I continue to fine-tune the colors. F/14 in both cases.

Finally, a view of some snow-covered young trees in an open area; this composition is more evocative of December than October, but I like it. F/16.

That's all for now! I'm hoping I'll get at least one more chance to find some fall colors before winter comes in earnest.

Baker River Fall

Yesterday, I hiked the Baker River trail, an easy trail through old-growth forest with river and mountain views. It's one of my favorite photographic destinations for pretty much any season. The fall color along the trail wasn't as good as it has been in other years, but excellent weather conditions for photography in the morning - overcast skies, no breeze - made up for this setback, and allowed me to walk away with a few good images. Later in the day, the weather took on a showers-and-sunbreaks pattern, with a breeze moving up the valley. While this made photography difficult in the afternoon, it was still an enjoyable experience. On my way back to the trailhead, I lingered for a peaceful twenty minutes or so on the footbridge over the Baker River, watching rain falling through sunshine and clouds billowing over the valley.

First, a view of what I think is Hagan Mountain, with vine maple in the foreground. F/16.

Next, a characteristically mossy forest view, with the other side of the Baker River valley visible through the trees. F/16.

Here's a composition with a similar concept; the sense of depth isn't as striking, but the scale and height of the trees come through more clearly. I didn't quite have time to perfect the image quality and exposure; a decent rain started falling immediately after I had set up my tripod for this shot. Still, I'm pleased that I ended up with something good enough to post here. F/16.

Finally, a view of Sulphide Creek, at the end of the trail within the North Cascades National Park boundary. The rocky banks of Sulphide Creek tend to change location, and the water level varies, so I never know what to expect from the area as a photographic destination. This time, there was plenty of room to wander the rocks on the west side of the creek, enabling me to find this vantage point. F/16, 1/3 second.