Hawaiian Princess...

There is no such thing as time off for a nature photographer...even when spending time with our grand-daughter Maya.  A dreary, rain-soaked day on the Oregon Coast was brightened considerably by this young hula dancer.

Icons of My Own

Punchbowl Falls, Columbia Gorge

After railing in previous posts about the futility of chasing icons, I chased one of my own today. Few waterfalls in the US are more well-known or widely-photographed than Punchbowl Falls on Oregon's spectacular Eagle Creek. But since my companion Steve had never been there, I was all too pleased to introduce him to one of my favorite corners of the Northwest. We were lucky enough to get there just between two downpours. 

The rainfall from the last few days had swollen the creek somewhat, but the handsome shape of the falls was still evident. Either way, we had to wade out into the middle of stream to get this view. Eagle Creek flows from the snowy slopes of Mt. Hood, and we spent a good hour standing in the bone-chilling water. Painful, but worth it.

I last photographed this falls - on Fuji Velvia! - almost twenty years ago. Seeing it again today was like visiting one old friend, in the company of another. All in all, a good day.  

Nikon D3, 24-70mm f2.8 lens

Change in Plans...As Usual

Spring Waterfall, Southern Oregon

We had planned to photograph the coast...but persistent rain and clouds made that largely a waste of precious time. So, instead, we headed inland to look for waterfalls, at a time of year when they are at their most spectacular. In a remote canyon in southern Oregon, we found this beauty - 150 feet tall, yet surprisingly graceful. You may notice that the top of the falls is cropped off - that's because the sky was gray and lifeless, and only subtracted from the image. (There may be purists who hate pictures that cut off the top of people's heads - and the tops of waterfalls - but who cares?) 

Finally a technical note. I had huge problems with sharpness today: a combination of an unstable tripod collar, a smudged polarizer and, most likely, an impatient photographer. This should serve as a reminder that photography is not just about color and design but also about reducing variables. There are any number of technical issues that can subvert even your most artistic efforts, and solving those can make the difference between a fine image - and a lost opportunity.

Nikon D3, 70-200mm lens, Polarizer

Dodging Downpours

Vine Maple, Redwood National Park

We came for the rhododendrons. But we either came too late...or too early...or whatever...but there were simply no rhododendrons blooming. And to make matters worse, the normally stable May weather on the Redwood Coast was replaced by what felt like a winter storm: temperatures in the 40s and soaking rains.  Miserable.  Undaunted, Steve Shuey and I spent the day trying to find pictures in the stunning but chaotic redwood forest.  The most appealing subjects were vine and bigleaf maples, all covered with luscious new foliage.
Yes, I have been shooting a LOT of green lately.  It may be time for another color...

Seat-of-the-Pants Sunset

Sunset, Crescent City, California

It was a classic photographer's dilemma; the sun dropping toward the horizon and we were in a new town with no idea of a good place for sunset. A quick check of the maps, and a chat with a local or two, produced a couple of ideas -- but none panned out.  So instead, we went on instinct and raced towards a cluster of distant seastacks.  Just in time: we found a spot just moments before the sun disappeared behind an unexpected cloud. Not a prizewinner, but not bad for a last-minute save.  Now it was time to see if the Mexican restaurant was still open.

(Photo note: a quick Photomerge panorama)

Orderly Chaos

Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park

Another image from my recent trip. One of the greatest challenges of shooting in this Northwest environment is the utter chaos of the forest. There are branches at all angles, crazy shadows and highlights: frankly, it's a mess. But sometimes, out of all that chaos, a design emerges - a completely unexpected sense of order. That's how I think of this shot. Maybe not as simple and bold as the ones I showed before, but one I keep coming back to. I am beginning to think that while some pictures jump out at you, others mess with your head, demanding more work from both the photographer and the viewer. This is a picture you can get lost in - and maybe that's a good thing.

Chasing Clouds and Dodging Trucks

As I predicted, the forecast storm never arrived this morning, so I bagged returning to the Hoh Rainforest and headed back to Lake Crescent where I played with more mossy trees and lake water.  Pretty stuff, pure design and color.  I don't know why I've never bothered to shoot this area before: probably because it's a place I'm always driving past on my way to somewhere I think I want to be...

On the way home in the afternoon, the rain finally arrived - too late to drive back to the Hoh - so instead I took a short detour to see if the wild rhododendrons were blooming on Mt. Walker. This is the best place in the state for rhodies, and they didn't disappoint.  But lest you think this is a tranquil scene of remote wilderness, I should tell you that these flowers (actually both these shots) were taken from the shoulder of a very busy Highway 101. To be honest, my biggest photographic challenge was the gusts of wind caused by the endless line of passing logging trucks - a sobering reminder of the fact that on the Olympic Peninsula, if it isn't protected, it's gone.