A Lovely Summer Evening

Spent part of last evening at Shorelane Park on the edge of Fern Ridge reservoir. I have shot here many times in the past and while not always successful in coming back with reasonably good images I think last night I managed to capture a couple that will give you an idea of how lovely it was. There were clouds scudding across the hills being blown apart a bit by strong winds but creating interesting formations. The setting sun always seems to add interest and drama.

As the sun set the color in the remaining clouds seemed to come up and be reflected in the choppy water.  It was a really nice evening and I hope these images convey some of that to you.  Comments are more than welcome and thanks for looking

Alton Baker Pond

Spent the early morning hours on the banks of a small pond in Alton Baker park here in Eugene. I watched a video on YouTube yesterday – an interview by Alister Benn – one of my favorite photographers – of T. J. Thorne. He has a new ebook out titled “There is No Such Thing as Bad Light”.  I have not purchased it just yet but the interview was heartfelt and informative.  This morning that book title was in the front of me wee brain as the light was rather flat. Got me to slow down and really look as I wandered along. Found this simple welcoming view to the edge of the pond. Spent about an hour down there and it was a very nice way to start the day.

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday and as always comments are more than welcome.

Spring blooms

As I said in a post yesterday I think the Metolius River is one of the prettiest rivers in Oregon and in the spring the banks are full of wild flowers.  Not just the banks but there are small mid-channel bars that are covered with beautiful bouquets.  Below is one example.

South of the town of Sisters are hillsides that were severely burned a few years back.  Those hills are coming back and are covered with ceanothus that are bloom.

Thanks for looking.  Stay healthy as we move into yet another phase of virus protection.

M & M

The title of this post stands for Metolius and McKenzie – not the tasty little multi-colored candy treats.  After meeting my friend Chris at the Camp Sherman store we headed to Wizard Falls.  The Metolius River is one of the prettiest rivers in Oregon in my opinion.  However I also think it is one of the most difficult to photograph in a way that displays the beauty of the river and its environs.  Below is my simple attempt at doing that from this recent outing.  I am sure I will be giving it another go in the future.

One of my favorite things to do while walking the banks of the river is to photograph the detail in the runs and riffles.   Below is one that if found interesting.

Following a stop at the bookstore in Sisters to pick up a copy of Ellen Waterston’s new book “Walking the High Desert” we headed for a spot south of town that on a clear day offers a spectacular view of the 3 Sisters.  However yesterday the mountains were wrapped in clouds.  No view.

The Old Mckenzie Highway Scenic Highway is open and I think always worth the trip and that is where we headed next.   Given the traffic on the main highway I was glad to detour.  We both noticed this wonderful wild white lily growing at the edge of the forest.  It was windy so had to grab an image quickly between gusts.

Clouds and rain filled the hills and made for some very interesting images as we drove up into the old burn area.  Fog and the dark burned ground set off big clumps of beargrass – “You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in”.  Not sure who said that but it seemed to work for the two images below.

This outing was one of the most enjoyable that I have had in sometime and I love sharing the images with y’all.  Please click on each one for a larger screen view and as always I welcome your comments.

Spring on the North Fork

Originally I had intended to go up the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River on Friday but decided to get some work done around the house and thus beat the rain that was predicted for Saturday morning.  No rain this morning but nice overcast sky and a wonderful river and a small tributary that were both filled with spring runoff.

I have photographed the small stream below quite a few times tumbling down what I am sure was at one time a sluice-out but it is so charming that I always stop and do my best to capture the seasonal view.  The white wild iris was just along the side of the road waiting for me as I parked!!  Nice treat from the natural world.

I drove upstream and have a few more images that I will work on and hopefully share but there was one more this morning.  Three bracketed images shot with a 6 stop ND filter.  I personally like the dynamic nature of the flow that resulted.

T’was a fun morning and was restorative after a week of turmoil.  Rain finally came into town here.  Nice to hear it dripping on the driveway.   Love to have your comments.

Oregon Outback

Following an overnight stay in Lakeview after a wonderful image filled first day along the Oregon Outback Scenic Drive I headed out the next morning with the idea of photographing in the Warner Mountains and then over to the Alvord Desert for a quick visit with my friend John Simpkins who lives and paints in the old ghost town of Andrews. http://www.johnsimpkins.net/

About 6 miles north of Lakeview is the junction of Hwy 395 and Hwy 140 which turns and heads east into the Warner Mountains.  I had read in Greg Vaughn’s book Photographing Oregon about aspen being along that route.  That was sure the case and there were lovely pockets of beautiful trees all along the first 10 miles or so of the route. The yellow/green of spring leaves will morph into golden glory in the autumn.  On this trip I was looking for detail and intimate images.   Here are two.  I think I have my new autumn aspen shooting location but would still love to get to Utah and Colorado as well as those big hillside filling swaths seem to be just magical.

It is about 26 miles from the Hwy 140 junction to the map dot of Adel but it took me over 2 hours to travel.  Many stops and lots of unloading and setting up camera gear.  Just west of Adel is Deep Creek Falls.  To me a beautiful and somewhat surprising waterfall (Spring flow volume) in the midst of the high desert.  Please be sure to click on the image below for a larger view – I think it is worth it.

I will stop here and post again the story and images from the Alvord Desert portion of my outing.   Thanks for looking and your comments are always welcome.

Monday Mountain #7

Sunset behind the Sawtooth Mountains and Little Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho.

Hope you are all well and staying healthy.

Monday Mountain #4

Grand Tetons National Park, Mt. Moran from the Oxbow on the Snake River.

This image brings back memories of a great fall trip with my sister, brother-in-law and friends.  Hope to find my way back there this autumn.  (This was the morning when I had a little Oriental woman in a baby blue velour jumpsuit yell at me “You in my frame!”  Memorable!!

Stay well.

Monday Mountain #3

South Sister and Broken Top from the Sparks Lake area

Hope you are all well and prospering in your alone time.

Easter Morning

Found this wonderful flowering tree along the banks of the Mckenzie River this morning in Armitage Park. Developed it while listening to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy – seemed to be just right for an Easter Morning.

Have a day of peace and joy.  All the best to all y’all.