It was 1981. I was fishing on the American River in Sacramento, California. As the first light of dawn began to shimmer on the surface of the river, a ray of golden morning sunlight illuminated a solitary Great Blue Heron in the mist. That was the day I traded my fishing rod for a camera and my passion for bird …
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Light & Shadow: Winter in the Mt. Baker Backcountry
The Mount Baker backcountry is magical in black and white. Ever-changing light and shadows continually transform mountain peaks and slopes, highlighting the power and the allure of nature. The backcountry in winter reveals the quiet solitude, the delicate texture of the snow, roiling mountain storms and the infinite sky. The clear air, angle of the light, tonal contrast, shapes …
Read More »Autumn in the North Cascades
In 1976 I planned my first trip to the Pacific Northwest. With two friends, I hitchhiked from Eastern Pennsylvania to Cascade Locks in Oregon and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) south to Crater Lake. I borrowed a friend’s Nikkormat camera for the trip and tried hard to capture the look and feel of what I saw. Since that first …
Read More »Summer in Paradise
Mount Rainier towers over the Pacific Northwest, an iconic volcano that embodies the drama and majesty that define this special part of the country. The mountain stands at 14,411 ft and is the tallest mountain in Washington and the Cascade Range. The summer months between late-July and August are the most popular months to visit Rainier due to its extensive …
Read More »Light on the Palouse
The Palouse, located just south of Spokane is a rich farming area of some 3,000 square miles. After I retired, I had a list of places I wanted to photograph. The Palouse was at the top of the list. Since 2008, I have been to the Palouse at least five times. I am attracted to the rolling, asymmetrical hills, and …
Read More »The Art of the Landscape
Washington State is a magnificent land of dynamic contrasts. It is a land born of fire, sculpted by ice and molded by the forces of time. It’s a landscape of diverse microclimates and geological features and expressions that arrest the senses. It is a living painting unfolding before our very eyes. The extraordinary beauty of our state is often close …
Read More »Autumn’s Reminder
Fall is perhaps my favorite season to photograph nature. The sun hangs lower in the sky, casting long shadows and sweet light across a tapestry of leaves and foliage that changes colors day by day. I love the smells too and the crisp feeling in the air that reminds me to soak up the last of the warm days before …
Read More »Wild Nooksack: Celebrating a Free-flowing Beauty
The sound of rushing water and songs of an ouzel draw me closer to the river. For years, drawn to the high mountains, I passed by the Nooksack River on my way to the North Cascades. Now, having cultivated a deep appreciation for the beauty and serenity of this beautiful watercourse, I stop and linger on its banks to soak …
Read More »Magic Hours on the Olympic Coast
My husband and I venture out to the wild and lonely Olympic Coast as often as we can. I’m always amazed by the quality and the angle of the light at the ocean’s edge. The sun often rises and sets through thick, opaque mist. Then the fog clears, revealing the drama of waves relentlessly pounding the sea stacks and islands. …
Read More »Vladimir Kostka’s Grace Notes
Growing up in Czechoslovakia, I received my first camera at a very early age. Viewing the world through the lens of the camera and creating black and white prints became my first love. Before moving to Canada, I found inspiration and honed my eye on travels to over 50 countries around the globe. I think of myself as a composer, …
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