Browsing through the archives, my eye spotted this interesting composition. This particular scene was a sunset in the rugged Olympic coastline in Washington state. What drew my eye was how nature (represented by the tree) managed to survive the unrelenting vagaries of weather that this region experiences, especially during the winter rains. The tree also acts as a kind of focal point, drawing attention away from the harshness of the rest of the scene.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
In a PNW winter, the high summits of the Cascades or the Olympics beckon us to hike through wooded lowland trails, cross deep banks of snow, traverse icy ridges and reach rocky summits. And if you are lucky, you would be the first person of the day to break trail. When the conditions are right, the PNW rewards you with a remarkable experience: traversing through powder snow under bluebird skies to guide you to panoramic vistas of icy peaks, sun-kissed summits and rocky ridges. Higher up, conical edifices of conifers that braved the winter storms dot the soft embankments of white, resembling ancient creatures traversing slowly through the snow.
This year is quite unlike any other. With higher than average temperatures, the snowline and snowpack have receded to historically unprecedented levels. Whether it is a temporary quirk of nature or a symptom of a longer-term climactic pattern, the coldest month in the PNW has proved not to be. So here are scenes from prior years of the blue and white jewels of the PNW.
National Parks of Washington
USA
The jagged peaks of the Vancouver Island Range and the North Cascades for spiky silhouettes on what proved to be exceptional clear sunsets and sunrises from the Olympics.
Olympic National Forest
WA USA
As the sun slowly made its way to the horizon after a long summer day, I was enthralled by the kaleidoscope of colors that evening, including the deep blue shadows on the Puget sound, the pink belt of venus, the orange glow atop Mt Rainier, the deep red alpenglow of the Olympics and the azure blue above. On the western horizon, I witnessed the transition between shadow and light as the line between dark and light slowly crept along the horizon towards Tahoma.
Olympic National Forest
WA USA
On a rare storm-free winter weekend in Washington, I managed to sneak out to the Olympic coast in search of some color after a long spell of the famous PNW greys. Thankfully the sky opened up that weekend for what turned out to be a remarkable sunset. I tried multiple compositions of that sunset, trying to frame the seastack and the small tidepools with the setting sun. This was one such outcome from that memorable sunset
Olympic National Park
WA USA
Sometimes I just stare in wonder at what nature can create. On a rare sunny winter day in the Olympics range of Washington, a small cloudburst empties itself into the thin dry air. I found myself drawn in to its inverse pattern created by the pyramidal mountains of the Olympics
Olympic National Park
WA USA
There was not much holding me back from heading back to the comfort of my parked car that evening.
I was freezing on that beach and the best of the light had already left the skies. I was looking forward to a warm meal on that winter evening, but my gut instinct kept me back. Thankfully my instinct proved right, and the burn lasted for a long time
Olympic National Park
WA USA
This lighthouse was commissioned over a 130 years ago to help ships navigate the narrow channels of the Puget sound. Its remarkable that the the original structure still remains today, and still serves as an active aid for traversing the canals of Elliot Bay. And it serves as a great subject for sunset photography in urban Seattle
Seattle
WA USA
During a spring hike a few years ago, I was blessed with remarkable conditions over the Puget sound. I specifically sought this location in an urban park so that I could capture the beautiful silhouette of the Olympic range. A lone sailboat happened to be at the right place to frame this scene.
Seattle
WA USA
Unlike the last photo which was taken on a sunny weekend, this one instead was on a cloudy day, typical of winter in the pacific Northwest. Instead of grand landscapes, I chose to focus on the ethereal fog that keeps the rainforests of the Olympic peninsula rather wet and moist.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
