Archive for November, 2010

Cascade Range Peaks from Artist Point

10 exposures stitched, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM @ 35mm

Click for larger version…
mountains to the north of artist ooint

  For the past few years I find myself wishing that I’d spent more time in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest photographing the peaks in the Cascade Range. The classic/cliche Picture Lake is awesome and can yield interesting photographic moments almost every time but the wide range of possibilities from up at Artist Point make it more appealing to me. The trouble is the road remains snow covered until sometime in July (this year it opened on the 30th of July – a bit late). As the road closes with the first major snowfall, this year in late October – this isn’t a lot of time to enjoy it. I live only an hour away just north of the border in Canada but always seem to get caught doing other things. At this time of year I know I will be waiting at least 7 months until I can get back to Artist Point. Editing images like this always give me ideas as to what I want to do next time I am there… but so long to wait!

This panorama is from Artist Point looking north into the Cascade Range peaks north west of Mt. Shuksan. The peaks are (from left to right): Mt. Herman (foreground), Tomyhoi Peak, Canadian Border Peak, American Border Peak, Mt. Larrabee, Winchester Mountain, Goat Mountain, Goat Mountain East Peak, and Mt. Sefrit.

If only the last light of the day lasted longer!

Reflection Lakes and Mt. Rainier

mt rainier mirrored in reflection lakes

I know the Reflection Lakes are a very common subject in Mt. Rainier National Park and, being right beside the road, readily accessible. I still love this spot though, and since on my other two trips to Rainier it was first surrounded by snow and then very windy I lingered in the early evening on my recent October trip. Unfortunately it was a bit late in the year to get a good foreground subject as the wildflowers were long past, but I still like this result – the reflection is almost perfect. Not terribly original though but I have written in a notebook that I bring with me on such trips a few compositional ideas I have for next time. Without it I tend to forget my ideas until a few hours after I have left an area, having returned to implement those very ideas. Of course, this all hinges on me remembering to bring the notebook…

-print available-

Mt. Shuksan and Arctic Lupine

Another shot while walking from Artist Point towards Huntoon Point back in October. Considering how windy it was that evening I am pleased the Arctic Lupines (Lupinus arcticus) are relatively still for this shot. Mt. Shuksan and Shuksan Arm in the background.

arctic lupine and mt shuksan

Twisp, Washington

Driving on Hwy 20 just outside of the town of Twisp in Washington State. Taken in May on my way to Kelowna after visiting North Cascades National Park.

just outside of twisp washington on hwy 20

I believe the flowers on this hillside are Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana).

just outside of twisp washington on hwy 20

After the Storm in Manning Provincial Park

mt mcconnell storm clouds manning provincial park

Soon after a heavy rainstorm in Manning Provincial Park I shot these photos of the clouds swirling around the mountains and ridges just off the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy 3). In the shot above Mt. McConnell emerges from the clouds. Below, the clouds swirl around a ridge on Silverdaisy Mountain. I would have loved to be able to do a time lapse at this point – the clouds were moving really fast.

clouds swirl near ridge on silverdaisy mountain in manning provincial park clouds swirl near ridge on silverdaisy mountain in manning provincial park

Picture Lake Fall Color

mt shuksan reflected in picture lake

Another angle from the shots I took at Picture Lake taken during my last fall trip. I have taken many shots of this (and similar) spots but haven’t quite settled on being “done” with the area. Regardless, its close to home and I always have a good time shooting up there. Even more so during the few months of the year that Artist Point is open.

Chain Lakes Trail Fall Color

chain lakes trail fall color

The Chain Lakes Trail in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. This is the view of the trail heading west from Artist Point in mid October.

As usual I am having option paralysis as to which of these I prefer in terms of composition compared to the alternate. Suggestions?