Cooper River

A couple weeks ago, I camped at the Salmon La Sac Campground and got an early start on the Cooper River trail. It's a pleasant forest walk with occasional (but very nice) river views, which I last visited at the same time of year in 2019.

By walking a short distance beyond the end of the Cooper River trail, you can also reach Cooper Lake. I didn't make it to the lake last time, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I was in a hurry? At any rate, I visited it this time, and it didn't disappoint. I was able to find a secluded spot to set up the tripod and have lunch. Getting a shot took a little work - an abandoned football was stuck in the marsh, ruining my first composition. (It wouldn't have been practical to use the heal/clone feature, and I try not to do that, anyway). Thankfully, since I noticed while I was there, I was able to frame this composition with the leaves obscuring it. F/14.

Next, a view of the river from a lovely spot about two-thirds of the way down the trail. I used a wide-angle lens and set up the tripod at a low height to make the water feel closer. F/16, 1/8 of a second.

Here's a vertical version of the same vantage point. I like the addition of the rocks at the bottom. F/16, 1/8 of a second.

Next, an early-morning view of the Cooper River nearer the trailhead. I liked the way the light was hitting the trees. F/16, 0.8 seconds.

Below, another early-morning view of the river. F/16, 1 second.

Another highlight of the Cooper River trail is the wildflowers. There aren't any big meadows or anything, but there's a pleasant variety throughout. (Last time, I found candystick, a cool-looking myco-heterotroph.) Pictured here are paintbrush, with lupine in the background. I'm guessing these are harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida). F/5.

Next, a forest scene that caught my eye. F/16.

Finally, a rare open view from the Cooper River trail. I took this in the nick of time, just before a work party arrived and started throwing up dust! I'm not complaining - it's necessary work - I'm just happy that the timing worked out. F/16.

The Hidden Worlds of Perry Creek

Yesterday, I hiked one of my favorite trails, the Perry Creek trail off the Mountain Loop Highway. Conditions were challenging for landscapes, as winds and lighting were both unpredictable. Although I did manage landscapes that took advantage of that changing light - more on that in a moment - my favorite images of the day were closeups of plants and foliage that I hadn't noticed before, or that I saw in a new way. I think my early difficulties with landscapes forced me to notice smaller-scale scenes that, in an environment like Perry Creek, I usually pass by.

First, a new flower for me - spotted saxifrage (Saxifraga austromontana). The small flowers looked simply white or off-white from above, but a close inspection revealed some very interesting orange and red spots. There's a bit of empty space in this composition that I'm not thrilled about, but I'm still very happy that I found these flowers. F/6.3.

Next, the colorful foliage of a stonecrop (genus Sedum). My best guess is that it's Oregon stonecrop (Sedum oreganum); that's the closest match from other photos I've seen, and there's documentation of Oregon stonecrop in the Perry Creek area. F/5.6.

Here's another wildflower, Fendler's waterleaf (Hydrophyllum fendleri), F/5.6.

Next, one I've photographed before, red columbine (Aquilegia formosa). It's uncommon to see one of these flowers turned up like this instead of hanging down, so I wanted to capture that new perspective. F/5.6.

As promised, there were some landscapes as well. Here's the classic view down the Perry Creek valley toward Hall Peak (obscured by clouds). The rapidly changing sunlight was tricky to expose for, but I like the way it looks in the final image. The color contrast with the rock is also fun. F/16.

Next, one of the many waterfalls coming down the valley walls, with lush maples providing the setting. F/16.

Finally, the colorful seeds of vine maple (Acer circinatum), with another waterfall in the background. I would have liked the seeds to be a bit more prominent in the composition, but the vivid red helps them stand out, at least. F/8.

Spring at Ohanapecosh

A few weeks ago, I visited the Silver Falls area of Mount Rainier National Park, near Ohanapecosh and the Grove of the Patriarchs. I haven't really been able to get to the images until now (or go on another hike since then), because it's been a very busy June, with a move and other things on my plate (all the rain hasn't helped, either). Hopefully, with the weather straightening itself out and my life calming down ever so slightly, I'll be able to get back into the swing of hiking and photography.

Silver Falls

Despite the relatively even overcast lighting, I had some trouble getting the exposure right in my waterfall shots, with the waterfall ending up much brighter than the surroundings. Ultimately, I had to rely on brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights quite a bit in Lightroom to make the images work. Contrast this high takes a toll on image quality, but most of my shots turned out better than I had expected. First, my favorite composition of the falls. F/16, 1/4 of a second.

Next, a view of the river just above the falls. I like how colorful this composition is - the reddish driftwood, yellow-green moss, and blue water contrast with each other very well. F/18, 1/2 of a second.

Lastly, two more views of the falls. Both F/16, 1/3 and 1/5 of a second, respectively.

Eastside Trail

I also crossed the road to hike a bit of the Eastside Trail. The main attraction of the trail from this direction is the access to the Grove of the Patriarchs, but that's been closed since a flood damaged the bridge last fall. Since the main Eastside Trail was still open, I decided I would just hike that as far as I wished. The trail past the Grove turnoff was enjoyable and, I think, worthy of a return visit. There's a particularly fun section where the trail ascends an open slope, with views down to the colorful Ohanapecosh River through vine maples and mossy rocks. I had been expecting more dark, dense forest, so this change of scenery was a pleasant surprise. Here's a view from this spot. F/16.

The vine maples (Acer circinatum) were in full bloom; below is a closeup of some of those flowers. F/7.1.

Next, a view of the Ohanapecosh River near the trailhead. I took a picture from the same riverbank in 2019 (fifth image in this post), but wasn't satisfied with the sense of depth. This time, I set the tripod at a lower height, making the river appear closer, and showing more of the water's texture. For these reasons, I think this year's version was more successful. F/11, 1/13 of a second.

Here's another view of the Ohanapecosh River, with abundant spring foliage in the foreground. F/16, 0.4 seconds.

Finally, some colorful old-growth trunks. F/16.

That's it for now - hopefully, my next hike (and next post) will come soon. Enjoy the sunshine, everyone!

Spring at Deception Pass

As promised, we're back to Washington photography! One of my favorite places to see wildflowers in western Washington is Deception Pass State Park, and I was able to make it again this year, visiting the Rosario Head, Bowman Bay, and Lighthouse Point areas. The abundant camas were past peak, but a few were still blooming, and there were plenty of other wildflowers out.

First, budding broad-leaved stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium). I got a couple good pictures of emerging blossoms on these plants two years ago, so it was fun to get a composition with only buds. F/5.

Next, a species of larkspur (Delphinium) at Lighthouse Point. I'm not great at identifying larkspur species, but based on the location, my guess is that it's Menzies's larkspur (Delphinium menziesii). In the background is a species of desert parsley (genus Lomatium, probably Lomatium utriculatum). Both F/5.

I also found what looks to me like cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum). F/6.3.

Finally, camas (Camassia quamash) on Lighthouse Point. F/5.

Spring Break Part 3: Hidden Beach

One morning during my California trip, I did something a little different and, instead of heading to the redwood trails, hiked along the Coastal Trail to Hidden Beach. Clear skies were in the forecast, so I thought that coastal views were more promising than dealing with high contrast in dense forest. Hidden Beach is a great spot. It's in a sheltered cove, and a good distance from roads or any visible development. So while I was there, all I could see and hear were beach, rocks, sea stacks, green hillsides, and the ocean.

I didn't end up hiking a long distance - it's maybe a mile and a half to Hidden Beach, which was as far as I got. I spent at least a couple hours Hidden Beach; this, and not worrying about saving time for farther destinations, allowed me to notice scenes that I otherwise would have missed, and to experiment with the changing light on different sides of the beach.

First, some lupine blooming on Hidden Beach. I didn't notice these flowers until I had been there for a while, so this is a good example of why I'm glad I didn't rush myself. F/16.

Next, a view down to Hidden Beach from the Coastal Trail. F/14.

Here's one from right on the beach, with Hidden Beach's distinctive sea stack in the background. It was an interesting task finding a vantage point with the waves close enough to be a compelling foreground, but not so close that they would engulf my boots and tripod. Some trial, error, and running was involved. F/14, 1/40 of a second.

Finally, also from the beach, a view the other direction. It took a few attempts to time this one just right, with a wave splashing over the rock at center right, but I'm glad I was patient. It's a nice touch. F/14, 1/60 of a second.

That wraps up my California pictures. Stay tuned for a return to your regularly scheduled Washington programming!

Spring Break Part 2: Prairie Creek

While in California, I also visited Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, again on two separate days. I hiked the Prairie Creek Trail, portions of the Rhododendron Trail, and the Brown Creek trail. I chose routes that were on the shorter side (ca. 5-6 miles each day) so I would have plenty of time for photography stops. I had thought about hiking to the famous Fern Canyon and the Gold Bluffs Beach area via the James Irvine Trail, but ultimately decided against it due to the length of the hike, as I didn't want to rush my photography. (And, as you'll see in the next post, I was able to visit a nice coastal area on another occasion).

One of my favorite spots in the park was the Carl Schenck Memorial Grove, accessible via the Brown Creek Trail. The massive trees, open fern-covered glades, and creek make for a very picturesque environment. First, a view of some richly textured redwood trunks. F/16.

Here's another image from that spot, with Brown Creek itself just visible at lower right. F/16.

The Prairie Creek Trail was also captivating. The trail is frequently on the border of two distinct environments - imposing hillside redwood groves on one side, and dense streamside forests of maple and alder on the other. This combination, along with an understory that was generally denser than what I had seen at Jedediah Smith, added up to scenery that was more similar to creekside and riverside trails that I've hiked in Washington.

Below is an example of what I'm talking about: in the background is an old redwood, but it's framed by maple leaves (left) and blooming salmonberry (right). F/16.

Next, a series of images from lush redwood groves along the Prairie Creek Trail. I think the first is my favorite, due to the vividly colored ferns in the foreground, but I do like how the second one sets the redwood at right against the alders at left. It's very representative of the area. F/18, F/16, and F/18, respectively.

Lastly, a view of Prairie Creek itself, surrounded by spring foliage. The foreground leaves aren't as distinct as I'd like, so I don't think this image is all that exciting. F/14.

Thanks for reading another long post! Next up: a morning of wildflowers, sea stacks, and big waves along the California coast!

Spring Break Part 1: Jedediah Smith

Last month, I spent my spring break in California! Quite some time ago - last fall, if I recall correctly - I had stumbled on some pictures of the redwood parks in northern California, and I resolved to make the trip this spring if my work calendar allowed (and it did!). I stayed in Crescent City, and visited three locations for hiking and photography (some of them multiple times): Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, the Coastal Trail, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Despite the nasty spring weather we've been having here in the northwestern U.S., I had very good luck during my trip; the worst I had to contend with was occasional morning drizzle, and I saw a surprising amount of sunshine.

Today's post focuses on Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, the first park I visited, and the most unlike the scenery I'm used to in Washington. When you drive in via Howland Hill Road, you're suddenly surrounded by enormous redwood trees, contrasting with a surprisingly open and fern-carpeted forest floor. All of the scenery screams, "You're in the California redwoods now!"

Boy Scout Tree Trail

On my first full day in California, I hiked the Boy Scout Tree Trail, which is roughly five and a half miles round-trip. The redwood forest is gorgeous almost the entire way, and rolling terrain adds to the interest. The small waterfall at the end of the trail isn't particularly impressive or photogenic, but it makes for a satisfying turnaround point. Additionally, the sound of the creek is a fun surprise - most of the trail, far from any streams or major roads, is almost eerily quiet.

First, two images from a hillside about halfway into the hike. This isn't the site of the trail's biggest trees, but the views down into dense redwood forest were lovely, even mesmerizing. High clouds were filtering the sunlight just enough to make these work. Both F/14.

Next, redwood textures earlier in the hike. F/16.

Below, an example of what the forest looks like for about the first half of the hike. I tried this with and without ferns in the foreground, and since I'm not sure which version I prefer, I posted both. F/18 and F/16, respectively.

Lastly from Jedediah Smith, a more backlit scene, with rhododendron leaves in the foreground. There's a little bit of lens glare visible if you go looking for it, but I don't think it's too distracting, and there wasn't as much as I expected. F/14.

Nickerson Ranch and Mill Creek

The next day, I returned to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for a different hike. I started at the Nickerson Ranch Trail, hiked it to the Mill Creek trail, and hiked that trail all the way to the Grove of the Titans. The redwood forest isn't as consistently stunning overall as it is along the Boy Scout Tree Trail, but it still makes for a great hike, and the periodic views of Mill Creek and surrounding streamside vegetation create some fun variety.

First, a nice grove of big redwoods along the Nickerson Ranch Trail. I liked how the filtered morning sunlight was accentuating the individual trees. F/16.

Next, a big tree from Grove of the Titans. I normally wouldn't attempt an image like this on a sunny day, but the trunk was light enough, and reflecting enough sunlight, that I think it worked. F/14. As a side note, I'm glad I visited the Grove, although I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the Boy Scout Tree and Nickerson Ranch areas. The Grove of the Titans has some of the largest individual trees, but the overall forest scenery isn't as continuously impressive, and the trail is more crowded. Furthermore, most of the hike is on an elevated metal grate. While I understand the purpose of this surface in such a popular area, it isn't as fun to hike on (or set up a tripod on).

Here's a shot of Mill Creek that I really like. I was expecting the sunlight to be too harsh, but I was pleasantly surprised by the final result. F/16, 1 second.

Finally, another view over Mill Creek. I like the look of the trees in this one, but am less happy with how the creek itself gets obscured. F/16.

Thanks for hanging in there with this longer post. Next up, wildflowers and ocean views along the Coastal Trail!