My eye frequently first notices the wide open landscape, but sometimes it's the details of frost decorating a leaf, or sculpted snow along windblown drifts that beg for attention.
Best of 2015
Rather than post separate images, this year I've decided to put several of my favorite images of 2015 together into a collection. It's been a wonderful year. I am so thankful for weekends, breaks, and summers to be able to pursue my passion for documenting our amazing corner of the country. So, without more rambling, here are twelve images from the year. I can't say they are my best, but they are at the least nostalgic or emotional for me.
Whenever the moon shows up, I am happy.
Presidents' Day Weekend at Rialto Beach
I used the railing for stability, but still thought this one turned out pretty good! Multnomah Falls sure looks like something from a fairy tale.
Eastern Washington often gets overlooked, but it sure is gorgeous.
I see these all the time in yards and parks, but it's so fun to see them in the wild!
We worked so hard for this lookout. It was open and we went inside. There aren't many of this style still standing, and I love the run down look.
A new hike, and a new favorite, with the girl in the next photo...
Morning at Hidden Lake Lookout with my amazing friend Becca who is always up for an adventure.
Probably my favorite image of the year. I've climbed the mountain twice, and to catch a shooting star (not satellite or airplane) over it was incredibly fortuitous.
I made my husband drive down here. We were staying at Rosario Resort for our anniversary while exploring Orcas Island, and I fell in love with this dock.
We earned this view. We raced up Mount Ellinor to catch this sunset view before hiking and sliding down by light of a few headlamp LEDs.
I straight up love snow on trees.
Shi Shi Beach
A last minute backpacking trip to one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Washington.
Stormy afternoon at Shi Shi
Whale watching
What we were watching... gray whales!
Morning on the beach, complete with seafoam!
Sea star making a comeback!
Camp
Morning rainbow
Anemone!
Loved this little rainbow
A Jaunt Into Oregon
Come these rainy November days I'm finally able to catch up on journal posts. In late August we were able to take a few days to explore parts of beautiful Oregon. The weather wasn't ideal, but it was still an adventure through wildfire smoke and uncooperative light.
Haystack Rock
View from Ecola
Cloudy seascape at Yaquina Head
Crater Lake's smoky sunrise
Mount Hood
Night of the September Lunar Eclipse
We had the privilege of camping and watching the 2016 September lunar eclipse from near Artist Point. It was an amazing place, and I found that the eclipse itself played a very small part in the beauty of the night. Of course, the eclipse helped me capture stars and the moon together, which is not so easy with a bright moon like Earth's!
The Milky Way, Andromeda, and the moon, from left to right, hovering above Mount Shuksan and the North Cascades.
Darin at the campsite
Sunrise, moonset
Glacier Peak in the morning