Spring in the Eastern Gorge Workshop

After a very wet March, April provided some needed sunshine and great conditions for photography. All the rain and then sun added to a spectacular display of wildflowers in the Columbia Hills and surrounding areas. Of particular beauty was the Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Lupine blooming concurrently.

Suzanne Michalik, ©2016

Under blue skies with some cirrus clouds, we headed directly to Columbia Hills State Park in Washington state, and drove up the lumpy road to the small parking area above the Dalles Mt. Ranch. The oak trees were just starting to leaf out, adding a nice warm color to the opulent flower display.

Setting up along a flower covered hillside

John Camp, ©2016

Carol Enyart, ©2016

We moved to a lower area in late morning, where there were different groupings of flowers and trees. This area also has some nice views of the flower covered Columbia Hills, the Columbia River and Mt. Hood.

Kira Bartlett, 2016

After a very fine lunch at the Baldwin Saloon in The Dalles, we visited the beautiful Horsethief Butte State Park, which adjoins Columbia Hills. There are many subjects to choose from here, with some added clouds and lovely light on the Columbia near sunset. Even the contrails looked pretty good. We also had a nice ring around the sun through the cirrus clouds.

Suzanne Michalik, ©2016

 It was a great day of photography and a full day of capturing some of the beauty found here. If you would like to see more images from this workshop, click here>>

Working to capture the last light on the Butte. Kira Bartlett, ©2016

Mt. Rainier Flowers

Flowers at Mt. Rainier are always a special event. Microclimates here create early season and later season flowers blooming very close to one another. This Spring, especially June, was rainy and overcast. Flowers that normally bloom much earlier were just getting going in late July.

One flower that blooms early and is very short lived is the Western Pasque Flower. The seed heads from this plant are visible throughout the summer, but the bloom is a fleeting event.

The short-lived Western Pasque Flower with a welcome visitor

The delicate Pasque Flower

Jacob's Ladder blooming at Sunrise Point

Another visitor on Avalanche Lily at Tipsoo Lake

Spring in the Columbia Gorge

Rain, rain and more rain has been the theme here in the Northwest. Now that may not come as a surprise to many, but this year has been record setting. Although we don't have much in the way of thunder and lightning on the "west" side of the Cascades (three bolts of lightning is a big deal here) there has been a deluge or two.

All the rain has filled the creeks and rivers with scads of water, with no lack of water in the Gorge last weekend. I headed out a bit later in the day with hopes of storm clouds moving in towards evening (some came), and the landscape photographer's greatest desire; a colorful sunset.

All the rain prompted me to check out one of my faves, beautiful Elowah Falls and the trail beyond. After retrieving my forgotten glasses in the car, I noticed this beautiful Colombian Lily, suspended in mid-air on its stem, right along the trail. Had to sprawl down on the ground to see it properly. Got a few stares from passerbys.

Columbian Lily on the Elowah Falls Trail

Elowah Falls was humming. Lots of everything: noise, rushing water, spray, wind blasting at the base of the falls. First spent some time just absorbing the scene. Took a series of photos to create this composite at one of the usual but best spots. Creek raced by, spray came and went, lots of lens and camera swabbing. It was great.

Elowah Falls and McCord Creek

Now I needed to get over the bridge in front of the falls to continue on the trail. Looked like quite a bit of spray and wind. Donned my rain jacket, but thought I didn't need the rain pants. Not the right decision. It was a sideways cold monsoon on the bridge...soaked to the bone...

The trail was beautiful, covered at times by Salmonberry bushes on both sides. Clearings of heavily moss covered rocks below cliff faces. A nice group of Paintbrush.

Beautiful group of Paintbrush

Now for those storm clouds. Due to the jet stream taking direct aim on Oregon, things are moving through here quickly. Although it looked a bit threatening at times, it stayed dry. Except, of course for having to cross the bridge again by the falls on the way back. Put the rain pants on this time...

Storm clouds gather overhead

Spring in Portland

Moving from the snow of the Midwest and mountains, Spring is here in the Northwest. Although tethered to the city this week, there is plenty of beauty around town.

Although the Pasqueflowers are still buried beneath the snow, their relative Anemone flowers are bright and delicate. They close at night and open with the warmth of the day.

Anemone Blanda

Another Anemone in white

Macro shots highlight the delicate structures

This evening the 2 day old moon makes an appearance behind some thin cirrus clouds in the west.

Two day old "Crow or Lenten Moon"

Spring in Portland

One of the great "features" of Portland are curbside flower gardens. Always on the lookout for an interesting color combination, I spotted these beautiful poppies while riding my bike. Sometimes direct sunlight can work if it's morning light that is not too harsh.

The wind was blowing so I needed a reasonably fast shutter speed with a medium aperture (50mm lens, 1/160 sec, f/6.3).