From gray to glorious! The Pacific Northwest has been delivering some serious winter weather lately, but today, we were gifted with a bluebird day for the books. It's a reminder that even in the depths of winter, beauty and light can always be found. Feeling so grateful for this stunning landscape and the chance to experience it in all its forms.
Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA
Cloud strokes
While exploring the countryside of New England many years ago, I forced myself to really slow down and enjoy the scenery. Driving through the backroads and avoiding the high-speed turnpikes proved fortuitous as I chanced upon this beautiful scene at a small rural pond. Its still waters mirrored the vibrant hues of a New England autumn, creating a breathtaking double image. In the sky above, wisps of clouds stretched across the canvas like artful brushstrokes, adding another layer of beauty to this serene scene. This was the epitome of tranquility, even though I was but a few minutes away from a fairly major town. It was a reminder of the simple beauty that surrounds us, even if we are sometimes not aware of it.
Mohawk Trail
MA USA
Amber silhouettes
Bathed in the fiery hues of a summer sunset, the Olympic coast puts on a breathtaking display. Amber clouds paint the sky, casting dramatic silhouettes of rugged cliffs and stoic pines against the vibrant backdrop. Waves gently lap the shore, completing this serene coastal scene.
Witnessing this spectacle in what was initially just a casual summer backpack with friends was a truly unforgettable experience. This was one of the many spectacular stills I captured during the two nights on the peninsula.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
Limbs of Starlight
Have you looked up at the night sky recently on a clear night? It is mostly a few pinpoints of light often drowned by human-caused light pollution. Look closely up at a really dark night sky at high altitudes, and you'll see the sheer density of stars.
What appears as empty space to the naked eye is teeming with countless points of light. This long exposure reveals the trails of these distant suns as they arc across the night, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. It’s a powerful reminder that we are just a tiny part of something much larger.
This is a 1hr long sequence capturing concentric star trails over the limbs of a dead tree in Bryce Canyon.
Bryce Canyon National Park
UT USA
Seeking sunlight
The western coast of Washington state has been pounded by storm after storm for the last 25 days. As a result, a full day, or even a few hours of sunlight has been a rarity in Seattle. This effect, compounded by the incredibly short days of winter here, has certainly impacted my mood during what is meant to be the most joyous time of the year.
Here is to hoping that this will change over the next few weeks, both from the increasing length of day, and from a change in weather patterns.
Meanwhile, here is an image from a prior winter in Seattle during a remarkably crisp winter day.
Seattle
WA USA
The Square of Forty-Five
Welcome to 2025. We are now closer to 2050 than we are to the turn of the millennia. Let that sink in.
So much has changed in the last 25 years. I still remember the birth of 2000 with the Y2K scares, the rise of the dot-com economy (eventually leading to its collapse in the following year), the growth in popularity of cell-phones as a technology and many more. In the intervening years between then and now, we invented snazzy new smartphones, made advancements in AI, healthcare, medicine, and many more, all while dealing with multiple financial crises, multiple pandemics, and a more volatile geopolitical arena. Now, 25 years later, we are still dealing with some of the ramifications of those developments, including the middle-east quagmire, a tech-bubble in AI and more.
Who knows what the next 25 years will bring....
But in the meantime, let us enjoy the present. The Space Needle finally presented an amazing fireworks display and we were lucky to avoid any weather disruption.
Seattle
WA USA
End of an year
At first glance, it just seems like a regular sunset view over the Puget Sound by Seattle in the Pacific northwest. But observe closely and you can spot the telltale signs of high altitude winds from the layers of undulating cloud patterns in the sky. These high altitude cloud patterns are the result of layers of wind blowing over mountain ranges that dot the western coast of Washington state. And these layers will often catch the colorful sunset light, adding to extra drama in the image.
A Washington State Ferry departing to Bainbridge island from Seattle adds to the visual interest in this scene overlooking the sound.
Here is to a closure on 2024, a tumultuous year for many in this world.
Seattle
WA USA
Red Hot Chili Embers
Boom went the mountain. This was followed by a shockwave, and showers of hot lava that spewed from the tip of the volcano and rolled down along the perfectly conical slope of Fuego. And this happened every 20 min like clockwork.
The New Year festivities are often marked by bright lights and crackling sounds. As we approach the next one, I am often reminded of my previous New Year in Guatemala where I also witnessed natures fireworks on a grand scale from atop the summit of Volcan Acatenango. This particular scene is of an eruption that I captured during full moon.
Volcan Acatenango
Guatemala
On Fire
This December in Seattle has been one of the more gloomier winters, with storm after storm bringing overcast skies and drenching the coast and mountains with rain. Compared to this, 2023 was host to a many more sunny days with colorful sunrises and sunsets. This was one of the many dramatic sunrises in Seattle from 12 months ago where the reds were very intense straight out of the camera.
Seattle
WA USA
Layers
From high in the mountains of the Sierra Madre range which runs along the spine of Guatemala, one can spy the innumerable peaks and sub-ranges that branch off. Smoke and dust from the agricultural and industrial activity form a hazy blue layer, leading to an appearance very similar to the Smoky Mountains in the US. Perhaps what I found most fascinating was the sharp line above the horizon with a dark sky and a lighter foreground, formed by the smog catching the morning light.
Volcan Acatenango
Guatemala