The very first time I had seen photos of the Köln cathedral and the Hohenzollern bridge, I knew that I would want to see it in person. It took me a long time to get there, but the vision of the scene kept me focused.
This is true not only of photography, but other aspects of life as well. As long as the vision is concrete, and the path is clear, the objective can be achieved. The one thing to keep in mind is one has to enjoy the journey, or process, of getting there.
I truly enjoyed the contrast in culture and scenery I had experienced in my journey through Germany. For my young mind, it truly felt like I was in a land very distant from home.
Köln
North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany
Watered Down
I was quite surprised when I learnt that the state of Washington may have the largest number of waterfalls in the lower 48, including this icy falls near Snoqualmie Pass, but I reckon that the most beautiful falls in the Pacific Northwest reside in the state of Oregon. Between the multitude of falls that tumble down the walls of the Columbia Gorge, and those scattered across its state parks, Oregon has no dearth of falls. And thanks to the volcanic basalt rocks that frame many of the falls in this state, Oregon offers photographers a bounty of photogenic falls to capture.
Here are a couple from that state, which while similar to each other, are still unique in their own way.
Pacific Northwest
A Blissful State
I always build time into my hike for a moment of self reflections. Being so high in the mountains, where the air is thin, and views stretch for miles, offers one a wonderful opportunity for slowing down, and evaluating not only oneself, but the life around them. Whether it be spending the moment to take in the scenery and admire nature, or to introspect about your part in the wider community, the moment of zen is critical to appreciating the reason to get outdoors. Even if you are with friends, it pays to take time off to de-stress in nature
Here was a group doing this high in the Cascades.
North Cascades National Park
WA USA
Winterfell
A fresh bout of cold weather hit the Pacific Northwest after an unseasonably long warm winter. Temperatures dropped to freezing, and fresh snowfall added inches to the mountains. While I won't be able to enjoy the winter this year, I can always fall back on my archives of photos from past winters.
Here are a selected few from different Pacific Northwest locations. The reflections of trees in the first is my personal favorite of the three due to the abstract reflections on the wintry pond.
WA USA
Moment of Zen
I live in a land of mountains, and yet I can only enjoy the purity of that experience while on a mountain-top. Up here, the distances shrink, time expands, and silence reverberates. It is meditative and rejuvenating. This is nature's healing hands.
King County
WA USA
Horizon Blues
The thick fog of the cold morning dispersed slowly into the valleys as the sun rose, highlighting the jagged ridges of innumerable ranges. The icy summit of Glacier peak stood alone in the distance, and yet so near I almost could touch it.
Scenes like these are the perks of being able to get here early in the morning. And they far outweigh the effort of waking up and driving in the lonely pitch black night. Here is to hoping I can make it out to these places once again this summer.
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA
Nature's Palette
This crisp fall day out in the Pacific Northwest showcases the best of nature's color palette: blue skies with the right amount of haze, a foreground of vibrant reds amidst lush green vegetation interspersed by the dark green of the conifers and the emerald blues of an alpine lake. The balmy temperatures and the receding scent of a misty morning proved to be the perfect antidote for a stressful week. And even though I was huffing and puffing my way up there, the airy views of the sublime PNW scenery more than made up for it.
North Cascades National Park
WA USA
Summer Blues
Lake Tahoe has two faces: a winter side where skiers congregate from all over to enjoy the soft puffy powder, and a summer side where azure blue waters draw vacationers to an aquatic bliss.
Which face do you enjoy?
Lake Tahoe
CA USA
Summer in Rainier
Summer hiking in Mount Rainier can take one from lush old-growth lowland forests to subalpine wildflower meadows and to the high alpine reaches strewn with old volcanic debris. It is one of the few places in the world where you can experience the varied ecology of all the three life zones within just a few miles. No wonder crowds of tourists throng the Park in the summer.
It was for this reason that the Park instituted a reservation system to control the visitation numbers, and ensure that the fragile ecology is preserved for a long time to come.
Reservations open up 3 months in advance. Make sure to snag one to capture the beauty of summer in Mount Rainier. Read more about it here.
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA
Guatemala for the Adventure Seeker
From standing close enough to erupting volcanoes where you can feel the earth shudder with every eruption, to being high in the mountains above a cloudforest, I found so many choices for adventure travel in Guatemala. And complementing the travel options was the variety of food options to satisfy every gourmand's palate.
This was truly a destination that rewards the curious explorer.
Guatemala