Sweet Creek Falls

There is something very intimate about walking in a Pacific NW Old Growth forest on a rainy day.  Such was this morning as I hiked along the trail leading to Sweet Creek Falls.  Pouring rain, alder and vine maple bursting bud, the first of the year trillium blooms and a wonderful stream dancing its way to join the Siuslaw River all quieted my mind and made me glad for where I was.

I parked at the upper trail head which made for an easier walk to the falls but I was soaked when I got there.  Luckily I had a rain shield for my camera which while rather clumsy to use it kept the rain off while walking.

I think this waterfall is one of my favorites and the soft morning light and moderate flows help to set it off in its little grotto.

Comments are always welcome and appreciated.  Click for a larger view

 

 

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Back to the Row

There was a bit of mental tug-o-war going on for me this morning – head to the mountains or the gym.  The mountains won.  I was perusing The Waterfall Lovers Guide book the other night and realized that there was a complete set of waterfalls up the Row River that I had never seen let alone photographed.  With those in mind I left early hoping for morning light.

The recent snow storms caused a lot of damage to the timber stands along the road and Brice Creek itself.  The Forest Service has done an admirable job in clearing the road but only got as far as Champion Creek and where I wanted to go was well beyond the barricade set up at the bridge.

I had noticed a number of interesting cascades and chutes on the way up so decided to make the most of what was available to me and set about shooting my way down stream

First stop (above) was below Hobo Camp.  Nice little cascade.

Went to the next big pullout/access point and found two images.  One was of a still bare bit of brush standing against the turmoil of the flow….

… and the second was looking downstream – as you can see the spring flows are filling the channel.  Click for larger views.

Had a great morning in a wonderful watershed.

 

Shooting the Moonlight

Noted and commented on the near full moon (98.6%) yesterday morning to a friend at the gym and realized that I needed to be out early to take in the morning moonlight.  Went out to Shore Acres on the banks of Fern Ridge reservoir and the moon was settling into a mix of clouds and reflecting off the water.  Rain on the way for the next few days so this was the time to be there.

What a nice way to start a day and glad to be here to enjoy it.  Been a month since I had my heart attack as I am one grateful guy to still be here to gather in the beauty of this world.

Comments more than welcome.

 

Up the Creek

Spent part of this frosty morning on Shotgun Creek just north of Marcola.  I love exploring these small streams and I got there in time to have a bright morning sun come thru the frozen riparian zone.  {Lots of damage to the trees along the road and the stream from the recent storms}

So nice to be back behind the lens feeling somewhat competent.

I spent some time just wandering the banks and found what I and many others have come to call an intimate landscape.  Caught in the flow.

Comments are more than welcome and you can always get a larger view on your monitor by clicking on an image.

Row River wandering

I found that if one maintains a curious and creative mind, there are infinite compositions still waiting to be discovered.  Charlotte Gibb

I have photographed in the Row River watershed on many past occasions and the images are always different and pleasing in their own way.  Seasons, light and streamflow all contribute to unique compositions and today was no different.

It was still dark when I left home and the Valley was filled with dense fog.  At times fog can really add to compositions so I was hopeful for some shots that were highlighted with fog but as I drove up the Row River road the fog began to clear.  The image below was just along the highway near the town of Dorena.  First light just coming onto the river – silver flow.

Heading upriver I parked at the Cedar Creek CG and took the footbridge to the far side of the river and headed upstream on the river trail.  The trail has a lot of viewpoints and some big rock outcrops that allow you to get out for some – what I hope – good compositions.

The light was just beginning to fill up the canyon – I like to think it was great timing on my part but I am pretty sure luck and persistence had more to do with it.

I went up a little further for the next shot and managed to catch a bit of light on some hardwoods.

I hiked quite a bit further up the trail and have a few more images that seem to hold some promise so if they play out I will post them in a day or so.  I think another trip this autumn is called for – low water level and lots of color.   Click for a larger view on your screen.  Comments as always are more than welcome.

 

The First Last Light

Spent the first evening of the new year at one of my favorite local spots hoping for a sunset.  I got one.  First shot was just as I walked up to the pond along the access path and my first reaction was “Oh Wow!:

The light was dropping and the color in the sky was coming on both over the water and in the adjacent field where the image below developed.

Moving back to the edge of the reservoir I watched the evening light come on.  I stayed until pretty much everything went flat and dull and walked out in the dark.  Love the sounds that come on during those times – bullfrogs and geese.

What a nice way to start a new year and I hope there are many more to come.  Click on the images for a larger view.  Comments are more than welcome.

 

Winter Etchings

“The thin snow now driving from the north and lodging on my coat consists of those beautiful star crystals . . . Nature full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand” 

Henry David Thoreau

The forecast was for another rain front moving in yesterday albeit a bit colder than the preceding one.  On the lookout for snow I headed toward one of my favorite places to photograph – Clear Lake and Fish Lake.  I made an intermediate stop at Olallie CG to photograph in the old growth.  See yesterdays post.  It was spitting snow when I left the campground and headed up river.  When I got to Clear Lake the weather had morphed into a full on snow storm.  I went out on the dock at the resort – seriously snowing and blowing. (I think I could hear Elvis singing Blue Christmas)   Love being coated by snow.

By converting these images to Black and White I can almost get the look of an etching – the branches stark against the storm filled sky and I think it captures the cold really well.  (Not nearly as good as the work I see of print artists like my friends Heather and Mika.)

Four wheel drive on the road up the hill back to the highway and more snow on the road up to Fish Lake near Santiam Junction.  Another black and white winter etching below.

Time in the mountains, in the snow, with my camera is a real gift and yesterday felt like a day late Christmas present.  Click on the images for larger views.

NFMF Willamette River

Time spent on a beautiful river surrounded by the vibrant colors of autumn is always something I enjoy and yesterday was one of those stellar days that make autumn so special, especially for photographers but really for everyone who takes the time to get out there.

The North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River joins the Middle Fork just west of the small town of Westfir.   I picked up my friend and fellow photographer, Tim Giraudier, a Westfir resident and we headed up river looking for photo ops.  We went up the road to what is called The Canyon.   It was early and the light had not come up just yet so we noted places for stops on the way back down the road.  There was one stop that we both were familiar with – a small stream cascading over a what I am sure was a rock slide from a storm event a number of years ago.  The boulders are now covered with moss making for very uneven walking.  The shot below is from that stop – looking upstream.

We both took the time to shoot looking down the small trib.  Not sure which image I like best.

Moving on we found an area that I had shot a number of years ago with Bruce McCammon and Dave Hill.  The colors were so much better than what I remembered – low water and great color.  Decided to call this image Aqua Oro.

Not sure how long the color will last – I think one good storm will take out most of the leaves so if you can get up there I would recommend it.

Click on the image for a larger view on your monitor and as always I welcome your comments.  I do have some more images that I plan to use in another post.

Enjoy

 

 

End of Summer

The last days of summer are upon us.  The days are getting more even and the mornings are chilly and the local apples are ripe and crisp.   Last night I went out to the wetlands, a place I love to photograph.  The sunset was colorful and just filled the sky.  This panorama was shot near official sunset – light dropping fast.  Click on the image for a larger view which I think helps.

Not sure what it is about mud but I found myself stuck in the mud along the bank and once again came home in need of a good rinse.

 

Out of the Smoke

After what was a miserable afternoon yesterday – heat, wind and smoke – the air started to settle toward the last hour before sunset.  I went out to Shorelane Park to see what the sunset would bring.  Sometimes horrible conditions can make for interesting light.  These two images were shot about 30 minutes apart – the 2nd one right before official sunset time.  Came home with a set of lenses that needed cleaning and a nose that needed blowing!!