Early morning, late snow on Mt. Rainier

Unusually cool weather in the Pacific Northwest has delayed the snowmelt on the flanks of Mt. Rainier (a.k.a. Mt. Tahoma).  I left home in Seattle at 3am, only to find both upper and lower Tipsoo Lakes still covered in snow. Still, the sunrise was lovely.

Sunrise on Mt. Rainier, looking out over lower Tipsoo Lake
Canon 450D w/Tamron 17-50mm lens @33mm

The lure of the lighthouse

Lighthouses are a favorite subject of photographers, and I'm no exception. Even though I've photographed this lighthouse before (click here to see an earlier image), the ever-changing seasons and weather always open up fresh possibilities. Click on the image for a larger view.

West Point Lighthouse, Discovery Park, Seattle
Canon 450D w/Tamron 17-50mm lens@41mm

A uniquely scenic, but little-known place

In a corner of eastern Washington state, spilling over into Idaho, is the wheat-farming area known as the Palouse. This relatively unknown area of rolling hills covers hundreds, if not thousands, of square miles, and is a delight to the photographer. I recently spent a few days there, and the photos below give a taste of what the region is like. Click on the images for a larger view.

Wheat fields and grain elevator, Palouse region, Washington state
Canon 450D w/Canon 400mm lens

Lonely barn, Palouse region, Washington state
Canon 450D w/Canon 400mm lens

Old barn in early morning light, Palouse region, Washington state
Canon 450D w/Canon 70-200mm lens @91mm

Wheat fields, Palouse region of Washington state
Canon 450D w/Canon 70-200mm lens @200mm

Another "secret" vantage point

A less well-known shooting location in Seattle is to be found at the water tower in Volunteer Park. It's a little tricky to shoot through the protective steel grate that covers the openings, but it is possible. Wherever you live, you may also be able to find "secret" locations from which you may obtain compelling, alternate views of commonly photographed sights. Click on the image for a larger version.

Crescent moon over Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington
Canon 450D w/Canon 70-200mm lens @200mm

Skagit Valley tulips

April is tulip time here in Washington state, and my friend Mahesh and I left Seattle at 4:30am on a recent morning to catch the sunrise over the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley.

Misty Sunrise Over Skagit Valley Tulip Field,  Canon 450D w/Tamron 17-50mm lens @26mm

An ancient city cast in stone

I recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, including a visit to Petra, Jordan, the ancient Nabataean city hewn and chiseled out of the solid rock cliffs. Although wind, rain, and mother nature have taken their toll over the centuries, the city is still an amazing sight.  Here are a few images from this awe-inspiring place.

Tomb with a View, Petra, Jordan
Canon 60D w/Tamron 17-50mm lens @25mm

High Place of Sacrifice, Petra, Jordan
Canon 60D w/Tamron 11-16mm lens @ 11mm

Covered Parking, Petra, Jordan
Canon 60D w/Tamron 17-50mm lens @50mm

El Khazneh (The Treasury), Petra, Jordan
Canon 60D, Tamron 17-50mm lens @35mm

It pays to get more than one opinion on the weather...

My friend Mahesh called me up late in the afternoon on a recent dismally overcast day and said,  "The weather report says there'll be a break in the clouds around sunset and we may be able to get some good light."  I looked on the internet, and my weather report predicted solid overcast skies for the foreseeable future.  Although still perfectly cloudy outside, we hopped in the car anyway and headed for the Magnolia area of Seattle, where there's a marina at the base of the bluffs.  His weather report was better than mine, as you may see in the photo below.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Stormy Sunset Over Elliot Bay, Marina at Smith Cove , Seattle
Canon 450D w/ Tamron 17-50mm lens @17mm

A real-life Hogwarts

Well, not exactly. The tables have been turned around for one thing.  But doesn't this stunning Gothic-style setting at the University of Washington in Seattle remind you of the main hall of Harry Potter's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Click on the images for a larger view.

Suzzallo Library Reading Room, University of Washington, Sony a55 w/ Sigma 8-16mm lens @ 8mm

Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Sony a55 w'Sigma 8-16mm lens @8mm

Sunset at Picnic Point

I'm always looking for "secret" locations in my local (Seattle) area for photography.  So, yesterday, as it appeared form the weather forecast that there was the possibility of a nice sunset, I googled a map of the Puget Sound region and looked for some west-facing park near Seattle that I had never visited. I spotted Picnic Point Park (which I had never heard of before) on the shore of Puget Sound in Edmonds, a bit north of Seattle, and the photo below is the result of that little excursion. So if you're looking for new shooting locations in your local area, breaking out a map is very helpful in finding some less-visited places that might yield some nice images.

Sunset at Picnic Point, Edmonds, Washington; Sony a55 w/Zeiss 16-80mm lens @ 16mm
(click on the image for a larger view)

A new angle on the Seattle Public Library

I went into downtown Seattle yesterday, armed with a new ultra-wide angle lens. The weather was rather dismal (big surprise), but I managed to get off a few shots at the public library, a rather bizarre structure, both inside and out.  The perspective distortion caused by the upward-pointing lens may make the building's exterior appear either more or less odd, depending upon your taste in architecture. Click on the image for a larger view.

Seattle Public Library, Sony a55 with Sigma 8-16mm lens @ 8mm

Going to the Next Level, Seattle Public Library, Sony a55 with Sigma 8-16mm lens @ 8mm

Faux sunset created by city lights

Lights from the city of Seattle reflect off clouds during a time exposure, creating a false sunset for the camera to record. The photo was taken well after sunset, when it was fully dark.

False Sunset Over Juanita Bay on Lake Washington
Canon 450D with Tamron 17-50mm lens @ 17mm