Mt. Constitution sits atop Orcas Island and is the highest point in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Views on a clear day are spectacular! Oregon’s Mount Baker is the prominent peak in the upper-right of this photo.
Travel
Scenery and a sandpiper
Alaska, Landscapes, Photography, Travel, WildlifeAbove: The Eastern Alaska Range backdrops the Delta Clear Water, a spring-fed river in Interior Alaska. A small canoe can be seen in the lower third of the photo,
The Delta Clearwater is an Interior Alaska river true to its name: clearwater. An early summer float trip provided astounding views and some small wildlife.
A sandpiper, a small migratory bird, feeds in the Delta Clearwater.
Clear and calm water makes for lovely reflections
Moss on Mt. Rainier
Landscapes, Photography, TravelAbove: A small stream snakes through vibrant green moss on Mt. Rainier in Washington state. The picture reminds me how alive and diverse the mountain is, from the thunderous cracks and groans of enormous glaciers to the smallest bubbling stream sustaining a secluded ecosystem. The picture is a rough scan of color positive film, shot on Hasselblad.
Green Lake with full moon
Landscapes, Photography, Travel, Weekly Photo PostAbove: A full moon and city lights are reflected in Green Lake, a suburb of Seattle. April 13, 2014.
The weekly photo challenge is nighttime. A perfect opportunity to share a serene scene in a Seattle suburb.
Angle Rocks in spring and fall
Alaska, Photography, TravelAbove: Sun shines on a granite tor of Angle Rocks and trees in golden fall colors, to the right the Chena River snakes through a valley cast in shadows. September 11, 2014.
Angle Rocks is almost assuredly the most popular hiking spot near Fairbanks. It’s a 3.5-mile loop in the Chena River State Recreation Area, about 45 miles from Fairbanks, that takes trekkers through and around a variety of tors formed from granite.
The tors were formed hundreds of millions of years ago when magma bubbled up from the Earth’s mantel, but failed break through the ground. They then slowly become revealed as erosion striped the surrounding land, exposing the giant rocks.
I hiked Angle Rocks twice this summer, once in spring and once in fall. Both seasons provided fantastic and vibrant colors. The cool and calm spring greens and the energetic and exciting gold of fall.
Hikers climb and play on one of the many formations at Angle Rocks. May 17, 2014.
Colorful patterns created by shadows, leafs and rocks result in a busy but fascinating scene.
Trek 45 minutes past the main rock attractions to get a panoramic view all the way to the Alaska Range, hundreds of miles south.
Stretching silhouette at Angel Rocks.
Angle Creek trail winds though green spring trees in the valley opposing Angle Rocks. Specks of people can be seen in the lower-right rock formations.
Amsterdam Street Three
Photography, Portraits, Street, Travel
Stealing a kiss on a canal in Amsterdam.
Final installment of Amsterdam street photography. As with the previous two posts canals and bicycles are prominent. Never have I seen the possibilities of street photography as in Amsterdam, The few I’ve shared don’t scratch the surface.
Amsterdam is a young town, with a energy and openness like none other.
Being from a small town I underestimate how fast scenes in cities evolve, many times I should have been using a faster shutter speed.
Bike sharing is incredibly.
Evening boat rides around canals are incredibly popular.
Some boaters passed a serenade.
Amsterdam Street Part Two
Photography, Street, TravelTime to look at more pictures from Amsterdam, one of the best spots to people watch I’ve ever encountered.
Public transport in Amsterdam.
Failed focus in this image. So many layers, but the focus in in the wrong spot. Should be on the boater.
Canal boaters frequently fill boats to max capacity.
Kids on bikes in precarious positions are commonplace in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam street part one
Photography, Street, TravelAbove: Houseboats line one of many canals at sunset in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is a thriving city of diversity with immense cultural importance. Spectacular and somber museums, unique window shopping and an openness to marijuana all make Amsterdam a bit mind bending.
Easily one of the most enjoyable aspects of Amsterdam for me was simple people watching. Unfortunately, like much of my street photography, I struggled with sharp images or misplaced focus. I think the city had a certain hustle, — cars, mopeds, bikes and boats — I had never experienced before, and it took me awhile to catch up.
Though Amsterdam could easily become overwhelming it’s someplace I would like to return.
Perhaps my favorite image from Amsterdam. The family feels timeless — mother and children in motion, an impressive bike. The background is strong with of many micro layers.
A determined mother shuttles children in a large basket on a bicycle.
Juxtapose
Baby on bike with rain and blur.
Far Mountain Traverse
Alaska, Landscapes, Photography, TravelAbove: The view south from the top of Far Mountain, northeast of Fairbanks. Smoke rises far in the distance from a wildfire more than 100 miles south.
Far Mountain Traverse is roughly a 28-mile hike that starts and ends at Chena Hot Springs. The loop has a total elevation gain around 15,000 feet, with a summit of more than 4000 feet — one of the highest peaks in the surrounding area.
In addition to considerable mileage: rock fields, granite tors, smoke clouds from wildfires, mild bushwhacking and a lot of mosquitos. All standard Alaska backcountry.
One thought I had during the hike was to reach Far Mountain, then pack raft out. I found a very in-depth blog post about just such an adventure at Go Play Outside, a fun Alaska excursion blog with extensive information. A hike a raft is doable.
One of the more interesting granite tors.
Strong winds kept mosquitos at bay most of the trip. But when mosquitos mass…
Good morning from the tent.
Belgium, briefly
architecture, Photography, Portraits, Street, TravelAbove: A duo poses for a picture in front of Manneken Pis, a tiny bronze statue of a young boy urinating. I like taking pictures of people taking pictures, this one has a quite comical element. August 10, 2014.
Not an awful lot to say in this post, was only briefly in Belgium. I will say that Manneken Pis, a small statue of a young boy urinating, is far too popular.
The amount of people around and photographing the statue in the heart of Brussels is baffling. I almost feel bad contributing to the hysteria by posting three photos of the statue. I’ll admit, it is kind of cute, and the figure is often dressed in different costumes – which is probably charming. But with that said, I still don’t understand the draw of this little character.
A small girl gets a shoulder ride past the small statue Manneken Pis.
Crazy crowds surround this far-too-popular figure.
Gorgeous turquoise ceiling of a Brussels church.
The Atomium – design to resemble an atom – was built for the World Exposition of 1958.
Far North Light 