Over the hills and far away

The Memorial Day long weekend of 2022 was unnaturally cold and wet, even east of the Cascades. While we braved two nights in camping, took these photographs across the Upper Cascades as we drove around in search of dry weather.

I have to admit - I love to take photos under an overcast sky, and with waterproof/weatherproof gear, could care less about the rain…

Diablo lake was not milky teal but those clouds hugging the mountains across the water was a treat for the few folks who stopped by the famed vista point in this weather.

On the other side of the pass the sky was still not blue but the rain became thinner and the air drier. As we lost altitude, started noticing beautiful spotted white trunks of birch trees and lush spring green leaves filling the gaps in between the trunks.

Our final stop was a ghost town in the Far East and North. Still cloudy and occasional rain kept us indoors/in the car but I managed to take a few photographs when it was dry.

A familiar coast

Not far from home

The colors from the 80's

It is still a bit cold for the animals in hibernation and the cold blooded crawlers to be out on these trails in Central Washington but not cold enough for the creeks and small lakes to be frozen. It almost feels like the end of winter but the lack of a lush green skin on the hills will remind one of the remaining days of winter with warmer days just around the corner.

It is the time of the year when nature in this region is engulfed in pastel colors.

Stacks in tide

For a world less square [from XPAN brochure]

Far from home

I don’t know many people who would drive four hours for a sunset but there are creatures like me - they exist!

32 sec at f/16, ISO 100 Hasselblad XCD 4/45P

32 sec at f/22, ISO 100 Hasselblad XCD 4/45P

Another weekend, another place to shoot at sunset.

Birds of sunset

Gulls on a beach at sunset

Steel and concrete

Spotlight

In the scene I could barely notice the column of sunlight illuminating Maylor Pt. across the bay. As I hurried my way out from a late lunch/early dinner to the wharf looking for signs of sunset, this scene caught my eye…

Shades of summer

The shadows grew tall when the sun raced towards the near west horizon on this beautiful late summer evening in the mountains.

Hurricane Ridge

The Hurricane Ridge standing tall above Kingston

2022: Day One

Western Washington is still clad in ice and snow remnants from two winter storms since Christmas of 2021. There is no ice on the beach but the way to it had plenty, rendering the travel to the beach somewhat inconvenient if not difficult and dangerous.

In terms of golden hour quality, an hour before sunset the scene looked promising but soon clouds moved in. Regardless, it was a memorable dusk: As the tide receded I walked farther towards the waterline with the camera on the tripod, taking 1/2-2 seconds exposure shots, occasionally retreating for a rogue wave. The sky turned pink for a bit, the clouds however remained unlit. I was more fascinated by the retreating bubbles on small waves that were consistent with the wind blowing north.