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
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
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
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
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
Winter Layers
Mount Tahoma in Washington State is one of the tallest peaks in the lower 48 states of the US. With such a high prominence, this perennially snow-capped volcano dwarfs everything around it. Only when climbing upon it does one get to appreciate the layers of mountain ranges that stretch in every direction. Especially in the winter, when all these ranges get a white sheen of snow.
This was from one such winter trip to the National Park. A snowshoe up a popular slope of Mount Rainier yielded this stellar view of the multiple layers of ranges dominated by the snow-covered summit of Mount St Helens in the distant background.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Thanks for following my posts so far.
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA
On the rocks
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
Winter Blues
Even though this image looks like an late season adventure, this was actually taken early in the season last year. In Nov and Dec 2023, early winter storms dumped plenty of snow in the Cascades, but there was never a sustained subzero temperature to freeze the water. I was fortunate to visit during one of the gaps in the winter storms and capture the icy blue hues of a Cascade winter.
Find this image and more in my 2025 calendar available at this link.
Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA
Framed by Gold
The showstealer for fall in the PNW northwest is undoubtedly the golden larches. That is probably why I try to squeeze one trip every calendar year. This year was the only exception. Between travel, work, and recovery from a knee surgery, backpacking to the higher slopes of the Cascades during the one weekend of peak color was just out of the question.
Thankfully I had plenty of archival content from prior years that I could utilize for my 2025 calendar, which I feel would be incomplete without a landscape featuring larches. This specific photo caught my eye due to the elegant framing provided by the backlit larches, which, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to capture fall foliage. See this large in my 2025 calendar, available for purchase at this link.
Okanogan National Forest
WA USA
Snowdrifts
Looking back at this scene brings sharp memories of the freezing conditions I endured to catch sunrise atop this windswept knoll. I still remember fiddling with my camera with cold numb hands, shivering despite wearing multiple layers, feeling nauseated from the lack of sleep the prior night, and most importantly, of being disappointed after the predicted sunrise did not pan out.
Sometimes these are part and parcel of the experience of the photographer. Even after putting the best effort into getting everything right, it is impossible to predict factors that lie beyond the photographer's control. I have faced many such disappointments, but persevere and shoot despite that.
And on this day, I was glad I continued shooting even after the sunrise didn't pan out, because I allowed me to enjoy the peaceful winter solitude for just a little bit longer.
Mount Tahoma State Forest
WA USA