Fate and Style on Chain Lakes trail

So this weekend was most likely the last of the decent weather (relatively speaking) hikes for the year. A group of us headed for the Chain Lakes trail at Mt. Baker, hoping to see some fall color and maybe just maybe get some snow covered shots of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker. Fall color was indeed found, fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you like it) the light was very spotty, as the sun darted in and out of fast moving cloud banks throughout the day, yielding interesting hightlights and shadows that made setting up for a shot difficult at best as seeing something the light was often gone before you could take advantage of what you'd seen. Still, the first part of the hike did indeed yield some fall color gems, like this one:

Fall Color near Bagley Lakes

Part of what was so important and special for this trail for me was that recently I have been discovering just exactly WHAT my photographic style is, not just what beautiful things do I want to take pictures of, but how do they feel and what feels and connects with me on a deeper level than a beautiful postcard-esque scene. Coincidentally, this hike actually proved to be perfect for it, fate keeping me from seeing the entirety of Mt. Shuksan and forcing me to adapt and find points of interests and compositions that I might otherwise have not tried to work so hard to get because of the beauty of the fully exposed mountain. So, because of that, and because I was focused on getting shots that fit within what I'm learning about my style, for once, I was the one who ended up way up ahead while the majority of the pack ended up shooting and hanging back in the rear!!

From left to right: Clover (dog), Mark, Deborah, Kelli, and Rakesh about 20 minutes
back, shot using my 400mm lens

As I finally crested the ridge near Table Mountain, it became quite apparent that we weren't going to be getting any full mountain shots, and we bundled up, hoping for a change in the light or weather. Clouds surrounded us, first giving us a grand view and then taking it away entirely as we were enveloped in cold clouds, the sun occassionally breaking through to give surreal results with the lighting.

The most we ever saw of Mt. Shuksan, viewed through an incoming cloud

Detail on Mt. Shuksan as the sun went down, shot with my 100-400 lens,
my new favorite lens for finding interesting shots from a distance

So that's the trip in a nutshell, we got cold, froze for a while, took shots whenever the sun lit up anything, and in the end did not get out sunset, but we had fun, and got to get out on the high trails one last time before snow arrives for the winter season, so I'm happy I got to go, and strangely, even happier that I DIDN'T get to see all of Mt. Shuksan :)

Quest for Gold...Larches that is!

So this weekend was very fluctuational when it came to my plans, first I was going to go with a group to Rainier, but didn't get much response (too late on the planning), then I was going to go to the North Cascades with a couple other people, but my car was acting up and it's a pretty long drive to attempt as a day trip and really get a decent hike in. Finally it was settled that I was going to go camping with another set of friends up to Tuck and Robin Lakes, and THEN, even that was changed because the nighttime temperatures and snow would have made camping and the potential for escaping said cold temperatures rather difficult. SO... it was decided that we would instead go questing for Larch trees in fall colors up in the North Cascades as a camping trip. Our plans set I proceeded to get gear appropriate for freezing my ass off and surviving :)

Now, I'm not much of a camper, always leaned toward the day hikes as much as possible, but the mere THOUGHT of finally being able to see and photograph fall Larch trees was a big motivator for me. So, I geared up, with the help of a good friend who showed me the ropes, and a few other friends who gave me awesome advice for how to survive. My bags packed, and our group corraled, we headed off to find us some Larch trees!

Day 1 was spent oohing and ahhing over every glimpse we got of the mountains, and finally, having missed our trailhead pullout being distracted by snow, mountains, ice and in the end an obscure trail sign, we pulled off at Washington Pass and were greeted with beautiful dynamic light and even a trio of Larches for me to photograph in the foreground, what else could a guy ask for??

Alpine Larch (fall colors) in front of Winter Spires at Washington Pass

Having literally leapt out of the car and gone running off to photograph the larch and mountains, I was feeling just awesome already about the trip, so we finally managed to locate our trailhead to Maple Pass and Lake Ann, amidst the snow and slush that was the road, and hiked in the compacted snow up the trail, finding all sorts of goodies to shoot and enjoy, despite the nagging feeling of cold and extra weight of packs stuffed with stuff for "just in case"

Bouncing light off of snow onto more snow on a tree on the trail to Lake Ann

Our first glimpse of real fall color (non-larch) came as we escaped the forest for the first time and boom, there it was, covering a hillside, and with a little bit of snow left since much had melted from the sun, we all stopped and took our first serious photo break, shooting and climbing and stalking a Pika and just enjoying the sun and colors we were hoping for, finally feeling like the decision to change plans was a good one.

Fall color on the side of the ridge on the way to Maple Pass

Having whetted our appetites, we continued on, reaching the junction with the Lake Ann trail and Maple Pass and opting for the Pass, if nothing else than to see Gold Larch and high country. As we broke out of the woods it was awesome, just breathtakingly gorgeous, the snow literally covered everything and the sunlight low on the horizon meant that it was only hitting certain trees, perfect for really highlighting the orange and yellow of the larch

Gold Larch near Lake Ann, viewed from the Maple Pass trail

Lake Ann and the ridges of Maple Pass

The sun began to be obscured by clouds and soon we lost it completely, the temperature dropped, and we were forced to admit that the cold and night temperatures and literally sliding down the trailhead in the dark were not going to be worth the lack of a sunset that was looking more and more likely. So, after much freezing and attempting to take pictures at an awe inspring overlook we all stopped at, we began to trickle back to the cars, a large group at the front and me, staggering in the rear and still trying to get the last of any good shots I was going to get before the lack of light made shooting hand held impossible.

We all arrived more or less intact at the trailhead, very cold and a little wet. We opted to forgo camping nearby the trail due to the snow, and instead drove 1/2 an hour west and down into the warmer (40 degrees as opposed to 28 degrees) area around Diablo Lake. We set up our tents, got our hands warmed up, Scott built a fire while Vern almost lit HIMSELF on fire, and in the end everybody heated up water and ate dinner with much enjoyment and sharing of stories of the day.

Eventually, watching the temperature drop, it was time for bed, and into the tents we went, mostly to bundle up as tightly as humanly possible in the sleeping bags and try to ignore the occassional snore or odd noise in the dark. I cannot begin to tell you how weird it is to go to sleep with a bit of light illuminating the shadows of the tent, only to wake up a few hours later and be unable to even see the hand in front of my face, that was very surprising, and I managed to reassure myself that I had not indeed gone blind by viewing my ipod playlist I was listening to to avoid the snoring of one of our fellow campers. Eventually, I drifted off again, and managed to wake up tired, a little sick, and very groggy cold, to a bit of light and an overcast sky. We all woke up at our own pace, and hoped for the sun to come out. We took solice in shooting the maple fall color around the camp, and eventually the sun burst out and our spirits soared with the promise of a good day.

We began our 2nd day's journey with a few stops at overlooks, and concluded by hitting up the Washington Pass overlook, where I proceeded to climb down into the meadow covered in snow, having seen little ponds that I would just love to photograph the reflection of the surrounding peaks in. Sure enough, after much jumping/sinking/hopping/cursing and a triumphant "YES!" I was in heaven once again, shooting away at Silver Star Mountain reflected in the pools of the marsh.

Silver Star Mountain from Washington Meadows

We continued on, feeding camp robbers, shooting away, and generally seeing who had the most guts to go climbing down to shoot the larches on the slope. The clouds were coming in, but the skies were wonderful, and dramatic, and none of us could stop shooting, you'd turn to go and then it would be "just one more" or "ohh, look at that!" and off we'd go to shoot more.

But finally, as all good things do, it had to end, and the tired and cold crept in on us one at a time, and we returned to the cars and headed home, content in the experience of the amazing time we got to spend in the North Cascades, probably one of the most scenic and amazing places in the whole of the US. Me, I was just happy I finally got to see my Larches all gold and pretty :) And I will definitely be returning, just as soon as the snow finally leaves next spring and I can get out there again!

Water Falls and Mountain Rises

It's been a few days since this trip (almost a week actually) but I wanted to write about it, because it truly was one of the most photographically rich trails I've been on in a very long time, and was an absolutely awesome experience that I need to do again.

So last Saturday a few hearty photographers and our fearless leader Rakesh headed out to Mt. Rainier from Longmire, headed for Comet Falls and Van Trump Park on the south side of Mt. Rainier. We got there, and as soon as the mountain loomed up above us we pulled over at the Kautz creek trail to take some quick snapshots of the mountain. Proceeding onward, we arrived at the trailhead and geared up, heading out and up the trail, crossing Christine Falls and a meandering and shooting along the river for a while before heading up toward Comet Falls. Our first view of the falls was awe inspiring, but maybe I'm jaded, as I almost felt like it was anti-climactic to see the falls themselves. I'm not typically one who is impressed by "the higher the better" philosophy when it comes to waterfalls, and so even though it was a very pretty waterfall, I found myself chomping more at the bit to see the mountain from Van Trump Park. Looking overhead at where I knew the mountain would be, was a big pile of overcast soupy clouds, and I was a little worried we wouldn't get to see the mountain at all. After taking a vote, we proceeded onward, up the gruelingly steep switchbacks toward Van Trump

Comet Falls from the creekbed

Some Deer met us on the trail, eating and being wary

before heading off to escape the paparrazi

We arrived at Van Trump to find the mountain completely socked in by clouds. But hope loomed on the horizon, as a big patch of blue sky seemed to be slowly making it's way toward the mountain. Rakesh set up his large format camera, and I fed Gray Jays with cookies from my hand. A chipmunk attempted to raid Skye's backpack many times, scittering frantically to grab any scraps of food we or the Jay's might drop.

Gray Jay (image by Skye) eating a cookie out of my hand

And suddenly, I looked up from my little spot on the hill to see that the mountain was beginning to show. I got my camera ready and began shooting, as well as setting up my tripod should the mountain fully escape the clouds. For a while the mountain was in and out, glimpses, teasing, flitting, never quite revealing all.

Hidden by clouds...

And then, the clouds vanished, slipping away to reveal the mountain in it's entirety, and it was gorgeous, amazing, profoundly beautiful in it's majesty. It was amazing to see just how massive it was and to have it revealed that way was an incredible experience!

The Mountain reveals itself

After basking in the sun in the meadow, we decided to stay and watch the sunset, and proceeded slightly onward to a spot in the meadow that had decent framing of the mountain. However, I decided to continue on, I wanted to see what was up on the high ridge overlooking the mountain, and so I continued on the last 1/3 of a mile up to the high ridge, just making it in time to catch the red glow of the sunset beginning to appear on the slopes of the mountain. I was entirely alone, sitting on a rock, my tripod set up and camera shooting away as waterfalls cascaded nearby and the sounds of birds chirping and the wind rushing filled the valleys and moraines and meadows around me.

Mt. Rainier at sunset from the Ridge top

Sundown over the ridges of Mt. Rainier's west slopes

After the sunset I met up with Rakesh and we continued down the trail, stopping once to take pictures of the afterglow on the mountain before entering the trail in darkness, our headlamps bobbing in the night. We met up with the other two a short way down and passed Comet Falls, barely visible in the starlight, as we continued on, stopping occassionally to turn out our lights and gaze at the stars. It was an amazing trip, and a privilage to see the mountain from a vantage point not seen often on postcards or in books. I can't wait to come back and see the mountain again, the sooner the better!

Stalking Treefrogs

Let us celebrate the arrival of fall with the croaking of the Pacific Tree Frogs. Yesterday while I was having lunch with a friend at the Botanical Gardens, she went off to the restroom and I waited by a clump of Sedums. Suddenly I realized there was not one, but two little Pacific Tree Frogs relaxing on the leaves of the Sedum. As she came out of the restroom I waved excitedly to come check out the frogs, and one immediately hopped away, but the other remained. Now, of course, as most photographers know, you should NEVER leave your camera behind if you're going anywhere. I did not have my DSLR, but, I DID have my 8.3mp canon point and shoot, and I proceeded to photograph the little frog until he finally had enough and took off.

Let's just say, I was freaking hooked! I've always had a fondness for these little guys since I used to have them as pets when I was growing up, but I just had to come back. So later on in the day, I returned with my "real" camera, and there he was, sitting in the Sedum. I took a few pictures before he jumped away, and then wandered around the gardens looking for frogs. I found another one near a rose bush, and photographed him, and that was the last I saw for the day before I had to head back.

Treefrog in the Sedum... FROGGY!

Treefrog near the Rose bush

But the obsession doesn't end there, today, I returned again to the gardens, finding only one small one on the Sedum, and one stubborn one who left without a picture into the prickly bushes nearby before I could even catch more than a glimpe of him. But walking through the perennial garden, I came upon the motherlode, no less than 4 tree frogs posed for me, most the bright green but one with a gold tan patch all down his back, and another with the trademark brown "V" on top of his head. So while I have officially paparazzi'd the poor little frogs to death, I am grateful they stayed so patiently while I took their pictures for the year. I even stopped to just watch them occasionally, so freaking cute!!

Adventures in the Rain

So this weekend was a fun filled rain and cloud fest on the Denny Creek trail up to Melakwa Lake. Saturday my friend Erika assisted me on a model shoot with a friend of mine from Eastern WA who I've photographed before, she wanted to get some good foresty type shots and so we settled on the forests in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. We got there, a little misty, but not too bad, and settled in for a couple location shoots as all 3 of us also took photos (in addition to being a model she's also a photographer) until finally being rained out at the bathing rocks area at Denny Creek. It was actually a lot of fun and I feel like I got some good stuff, and was so excited to finally have an assistant to...well... assist me! She held the flash, she posed the model, she helped her change, she provided good humor and kept it all fun even when we were shooting in the rain.

Brenna as "Forest Traveler"

The second part of the weekend ended up as a return trip by me and a couple of other friends to the same trail, this time to attempt to hike up to Melakwa Lake at the end of the trail (5 miles in). Though we didn't quite make it, and it was pouring rain 80% of the time (thus testing our waterproofing extensively) we still got to see some amazingly moody shots, as well as my first time ever salamander, which also happened to be an amazingly cool animal, the Coast Giant Salamander, which happens to be one of the largest terrestrial salamanders, reaching a max length of about 12-13 inches. Our guy was probably between 10 and 12 inches long, and was in the process of consuming a mouse when we stumbled upon him on the way back down the trail.

The Coast Giant Salamander eating a mouse

Keekwulee Falls


The clouds made layers that were just SO gorgeous

Anyway, it was an awesome time, and I will definitely have to go back, I can see a lot of places to explore and the trail, though moderately difficult for a while after the denny creek slide area, is very interesting in it's variety, and I could easily see it becoming a favorite spot to head to in different weather and seasonal conditions. This year has definitely been the year of the reptiles and amphibians for me (so far on my photo count: Coastal Giant Salamander, Western Toad, Red Legged Frog, Bullfrog, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Garter Snake, Painted Turtle, Red Eared Slider (turtle), and today, Pacific Tree Frog). Yay for these often overlooked denizens of Washington!

Focus on Kitteh

So last night my Mom called me, she's putting together a scrapbook of her cat's and mine, and wanted to see some pictures of my cat, Kaylee, so as I was going through them this morning I was reminded that I love my Kitteh, she's just so much fun to have around, even if she's being a total brat and clawing the furniture and knocking any knicknack that makes a *ting* or *plunk* sound off of the counters and tabletops, she's still right there at the front door every day I come home with a happy "Mrrowww?"

Sleeping on the back of her favorite chair

"I sleep, sleep is good"

Sitting in a box I received some camera equipment in

"You play now? Why you take picture??"

She's just so cute isn't she?? Anyway, I've been neglecting her too much lately and so tonight I think I'll hook up a new toy for her and play with her for a while :) Oh, and if you're reading this and you love kitteh's, go see www.icanhascheezburger.com right away, you'll laugh and all will be good!

A Ghostly Forest

So Saturday my friend Michael and I went to photograph the standing dead zone of trees at Mt. St. Helens. For those not in the know, the standing dead zone is a ring of trees surrounding the blast zone from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens that were killed by the intense heat of the blast cloud, but after the cloud itself had lost enough energy that it couldn't blow them over. Now they stand, forlorn sentinals of the power of nature, both to destroy and to create. So what better than that inspiration to motivate a photo trip?

We got there, and decided to hike the closed road to Windy Ridge (which is closed due to road washouts). We hiked 3 miles in (it's 11 miles to the Windy Ridge viewpoint) to the blast zone, and timed it just right to have the sun at a nice low angle when we got there, so we got lots of cool shadows on the standing dead forest, as well as on the forest being reborn from the ashes of the old. Fall color is already starting to come out and the wildflowers are just at the tail end, still saw Lupine, Indian Paintbrush, Fireweed, and Pearly Everlasting. After we hiked in (taking photos the whole way) we stopped for food and then explored the forest alongside the road as the sun set and the moon rose in all it's brilliance. The moon was literally so bright that we could see just fine without headlamps or flashlights. So we took a few long exposures until our batteries were dead or near dead, and began the long walk back, lit by the moon and some headlamps and flashlights.

Along the way, we saw 7 Western Toads camped out on the road, absorbing the last heat of the day. We stopped to photo the first couple but after that it was just a counting marathon! We also were amazed to be standing on the road when a large owl silently glided right over us, the only reason we even saw it was because of the near full moon.

Gorgeous afternoon light on the remnants of the standing dead forest

The standing dead forest with new growth (HDR image)
The light of the moon was brilliant enough to illuminate the trees

Western Toad hunkering in between the 2 yellow paint stripes in the center of the road

So it was a very fun trip, one of the few times I've ever been to Mt. St. Helens without the goal being to actually GO to the mountain. It was fun and I can't wait to go again!