Balsamroot in full bloom stretch towards the horizon where the first light of day hits Mt Hood. Framed against the pink sky, the scene was a a perfect reminder of the beauty of spring in the Pacific Northwest, which encapsulates everything from the vivid tulip blossoms in Skagit Valley, the vibrant flowers in neighborhood gardens to vast blooms like this one.
I used the blur of the windswept blooms to highlight the gusty conditions that morning. While I attempted a few shots at a higher shutter speed to freeze the motion, I found that the blurred flowers worked equally well for this scene.
Columbia Hills Historic State Park
WA USA
Sunblooms
The wind was incessant and unrelenting. The tiny flowers struggled to hold on, dragged by the breeze that blew up the rolling hills. It was a battle that the flowers would eventually succumb to, but not yet. And until then, these tiny balsamroot blooms would grace the green hillscapes with their colorful blooms, lending a brief bit of yellow to the otherwise brown and dusty slopes on the Columbia River Gorge.
The sun had't crested the distant range, and in the shadow of the morning light, I spied a dusty rustbucket nestled in a field of balsamroot. I was still contemplating how it made its way down here, far away from the nearby roads and ranches, when the sun slowly appeared, blooming with a vibrant sunstar over the eager balsamroot.
Columbia River Gorge
WA USA
The Yellow Fields
From the distance, it appeared as though somebody had taken a giant brush and painted the green hillsides yellow. Vast swathes of grassy meadows were covered with millions of balsamroot, a relative of the sunflower, all blooming in unison and creating this beautiful annual spectacle. And with the spring weather holding up relatively well, the conditions were ideal for photographing this remarkable event.
After a day of exploring this beautiful park, I drove along the road to find the promised land for sunset - a vast meadow blooming balsamroot with the unmistakable cone of Mt Hood soaking the last light of the day. And here, high above the gorge, the wind had picked up, gusting up from the gorge below and rolling over the vast open plains. The tiny little blooms were putting up a brave fight against the strong gusts, but it didn't seem they'd last more than a few more days. I, for one, was glad to be able to capture the last of the yellow spectacle.
Columbia River Gorge
WA USA
Journey of Time
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
- Henry David Thoreau
It seems we are all involved in a rat race, chasing a mystical dream in our daily lives: money in the real world, fame in the virtual world, and popularity in the social world. But what we actually need is time in the physical world. Our short lives are but a scintilla of light in the forward journey of time, and to be able to not just make a mark on it, but to experience that journey in the fullest should be the dream we should chase.
How are you chasing that dream this bright weekend?
Columbia River Gorge
WA USA
Remnants of a Fire
The rain beat a gentle tattoo on the roof of the house, reminding me that stranglehold of the winter storms hadn't truly melted away by the middle of spring. And with that, I was expecting a dreary hike in the mountains under gloomy grey skies, visibility marred by low-flying clouds and the characteristic misty drizzle of the Pacific North West. But that was not to be.
An atmospheric sky meandered high above, it's fast moving clouds dragging fleeting patches of shadow and light along the bright waters of the Columbia River. In the distance, crepuscular rays beamed down onto the rolling landscape, an endless series of mountain ranges stretching to the horizon. Tiny wildflowers were starting to embrace the warmth of the spring sun, braving freezing winds and occasional cloudy skies.
The bright and cheery scene was, however, marred by the blackened slopes on the southern side of the gorge, remnants of one of the most damaging wildfires in the Pacific Northwest - the Eagle creek Fire. It will take decades before the south side heals back its lush self.
It was a with a heavy heart I visited the Columbia River Gorge, and despite the giant scar, she was still beautiful.
Dog Mountain
WA USA