
Michael Riffle
Photographer. Scientist. Caffeine aficionado.
Occupation: Landscape Photographer and Scientist
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Latest postings

2013-05-24 15:46:05 (15 comments, 6 reshares, 165 +1s)
Sol Duc Falls
Olympic National Park, Washington
Taken last weekend out at Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park in Washington State. The falls were absolutely raging from recent rain and snow melt. This was a pretty fun vantage point to shoot from, what with the precipitous drop, raging torrent, and wet rocks.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/8, 0.4 sec.
+FlowingWaterFriday curated by +Rolf Hicker +Kate Church #FlowingWaterFriday , +Forest Friday curated by +Rudolf Vlček #ForestFriday , +#PacificNWfriday curated by +Bob Harbison #PacificNWFriday , #landscapephotography +Landscape Photography


2013-05-22 15:55:38 (23 comments, 15 reshares, 292 +1s)
Here Be Dragons...
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
This is the entrance to Oneonta Gorge taken on a recent trip down to the Columbia River Gorge this Spring. It requires a bit of wading to get to this spot, but it's well worth it. On this wet, misty morning, I had the entire place to myself and spent quite some time here just watching the light play in the canyon.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 78 mm, f/11, 0.5 s
#landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), +Wet Wednesday curated by +Jen Baptist #WetWednesday


2013-05-21 15:28:57 (39 comments, 23 reshares, 211 +1s)
Seattle Waterfront Panorama
Seattle, WA
Made the trip up to Kerry Park recently on an exceptionally clear evening to capture the Seattle skyline, waterfront, and Mt. Rainier at sunset. It was a great night, and I really enjoyed meeting and chatting with a few out-of-town photographers who think Seattle always looks like this. ;)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 78 mm, f/11, 1/6 s
+My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday , #seattle , #panorama

2013-05-20 23:24:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)
Oh, yes. As you've undoubtedly heard, Flickr just went live today with a massive update. You get a terabyte (yeah, that's right, a terabyte) free... and Flickr's redesign looks amazing. Check it out and you have an account over there, let's connect: http://www.flickr.com/bluememe/


2013-05-19 19:30:15 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 123 +1s)
Was a wet nasty foggy day yesterday out at Olympic National Park... perfect for shooting stuff like this! Here's an iPhone shot of Sol Duc Falls, they're really raging right now.


2013-05-15 15:56:51 (7 comments, 7 reshares, 80 +1s)
Misty Metlako Falls
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Recently hiked up the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge on a particularly rainy Spring weekday. The usually-packed parking lot had 3 other cars in it and I never saw a soul on the whole hike... definitely the best way to enjoy this trail. On the way to Punchbowl Falls, I took the little side trip to the Metlako Falls overlook and spent some quality time under my umbrella--just me, my camera, and this magical view--listening to the pitter patter of rain in the forest and waiting for some nice mist to drift over the falls
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 85 mm, f/11, 0.8s
+Wet Wednesday curated by +Jen Baptist #WetWednesday , #waterfallwednesday (+Eric Leslie, +Leon Turnb... more »


2013-05-14 14:45:34 (10 comments, 6 reshares, 52 +1s)
The Overlook
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Ahhh... The Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint... A name filled with majesty and beauty... All kidding aside, this unassuming name belongs to one of the most spectacular overlooks I've ever seen. If you're in the area, you must check it out. On this particular day, the weather was extremely unstable with rain showers and roiling storm clouds being replaced by bright sunshine from minute to minute. I had the good fortune of ruining my knee hiking the day before, or I would have missed this scene altogether. (I would have been hiking in the woods instead!)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 75 mm, f/11, multiple exposures


2013-05-09 15:27:22 (20 comments, 9 reshares, 108 +1s)
Wahkeena Falls
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Here's a shot of Wahkeena Falls from a very recent trip down to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington to visit the Columbia River Gorge for a few days. This was near the end of a very full day of hiking through the gorge (easily 8 hours worth), and it was nice to pause, rest my legs, and spend quality time with these falls.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1 sec.
#landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), #ThirstyThursday
(+Mark Esguerra and +Giuseppe Basile)


2013-05-07 15:06:48 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 65 +1s)
Classic Seattle
Seattle, WA
This is from a trip up to Kerry Park to catch sunset last night. It was the end of a beautiful and very hot day (by Seattle standards), and the park was filled with tourists and locals--some of whom even brought a portable stove and cooked dinner while watching the sun set on the city and Mt. Rainier. The clarity of Mt. Rainier was phenomenal, as it has been the past couple of days, and pictures of that will be forthcoming. Although the mountain isn't in this shot, I really enjoyed this composition in this light.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 185 mm, f/11, 1/15 sec
+My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday

2013-05-05 03:33:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)
Added photos to Seattle Photowalk - Seattle Center Edition.


2013-05-02 16:17:55 (15 comments, 4 reshares, 101 +1s)
Stop and Rest Awhile...
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Nature is well on its way to reclaiming this bench at Fairy Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Hiking here during the Spring is a revitalizing experience; the lush sights, melodic sounds, and sweet smells of the Gorge all full of life and promise for the new year to come. If you're feeling a little wilted or ground by the grind, try a walk in the woods.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 19 mm, f/8, multiple exposures.
#landscapephotography +Landscape Photography, #columbiarivergorge


2013-04-30 15:23:10 (20 comments, 12 reshares, 183 +1s)
A Pretty Sunset
Mukilteo, Washington
It doesn't get much fresher than this--shot last night and processed this morning! This is a shot of the sunset we had last night down in Mukilteo at Picnic Point County Park in Washington State. After a mad dash to get there in time for sunset, was originally surprised to find the beach deserted. But, after experiencing a few minutes of shivering in the freezing gale force winds, the surprise waned a bit. But I think the show was worth it.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/18, multiple exposures.
+My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday , +Sea Tuesday curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou #SeaTuesday , #landscapephotography +Landscape Photograp... more »

2013-04-29 15:34:48 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)
Spring has sprung, and it's time to get out and get shooting! Join +Jake Johnson, +Jacob Lucas, and +Michael Riffle at the Seattle Center for the first +Seattle Photowalk of the year!
We'll meet at the International Fountain for a group photo at 3 PM, and from there walk around chatting and shooting the sights of the center--including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, and the EMP. Afterwards (around 6ish) we can go out for food and drink, and the die hards can meet up at Kerry Park for sunset.
All skill levels are welcome! Come out and meet some of your fellow plussers, and put some faces to those +Names. :)


2013-04-26 15:47:11 (26 comments, 13 reshares, 146 +1s)
Springtime Elowah Falls
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
This shot brought to you by great personal risk to my camera... Elowah Falls and McCord Creek were absolutely raging from 3 straight days of rain combined with snow melt in the upper regions of the Columbia River Gorge. Venturing out into the creek to find compositions was pretty much impossible and the lone accessible spot I could find was splashing quite a bit, as you can see in this frame. It was time to get patient about wiping off the lens, relaxed about gear getting wet, and creative with composing and focusing with not much room to work with. Happy to have come away with a view of the falls I like.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/8, 0.3 sec.
+Forest Friday c... more »

2013-04-24 15:01:16 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)
Spring has sprung, and it's time to get out and get shooting! Join +Jake Johnson, +Jacob Lucas, and +Michael Riffle at the Seattle Center for the first +Seattle Photowalk of the year!
We'll meet at the International Fountain for a group photo at 3 PM, and from there walk around chatting and shooting the sights of the center--including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, and the EMP. Afterwards (around 6ish) we can go out for food and drink, and the die hards can meet up at Kerry Park for sunset.
All skill levels are welcome! Come out and meet some of your fellow plussers, and put some faces to those +Names. :)


2013-04-24 02:02:49 (14 comments, 7 reshares, 141 +1s)
On the Way Home
Seattle, WA
Returned Sunday from a four-day marathon photography road trip to the Columbia River Gorge. On the way back I noticed the clouds were setting up for a pretty nice sunset and I was having a fierce internal debate about whether or not to stop somewhere to shoot it. On one hand, I had just hiked over 20 miles and taken about 2,000 images of creeks, waterfalls, and vistas. On the other hand, if I don't stop I'll cry like a baby as the best sunset ever unfolds out of my car window. So, with a tire-screeching, last-minute swerve onto the exit ramp, I decided to stop at this location just south of downtown Seattle--the only one I could get to in time to shoot the sunset. I was glad I did!
This brings up an interesting question--when you have 2,000 images from a recent trip, how do you pick which ones to process first? For me, I chose this one... more »


2013-04-22 16:24:07 (14 comments, 7 reshares, 119 +1s)
Earth Day and National Park Week
As you probably know, today is Earth Day. But you may not know that today is also the first day of National Park Week. That means for Monday through Friday, all entrance fees to US National Parks are waived. If you've been on the fence about visiting a park and have some time this week, this would be the perfect opportunity to check out some of our nation's natural treasures.
(Photo: Turret Arch through Window Arch, Arches National Park, Utah)


2013-04-18 14:29:31 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 115 +1s)
Which Flowers Make the Best Kissers?
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Washington State
Continuing my recent theme of "seas of flowers back-lit by the setting sun," here are some tulips at sunset from last Sunday up at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington State. Amazingly, I had this entire field to myself! There's still some time left, so if you're in the area and haven't been--check it out!
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/14, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse.
+Rural Thursday curated by +Nancy Claeys , #landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), #skagitvalleytulipfields , #plusphotoextract
˙ɥnp 'sdıןnʇ :ɹǝʍsuɐ


2013-04-22 03:58:49 (15 comments, 7 reshares, 126 +1s)
Things are Lookin' Up
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Washington State
This is shot with my little Canon PowerShot S100 point and shoot (RAW, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec) up at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington State, about an hour's drive north of Seattle. While it was dark and stormy to the south (in fact, Seattle had a pretty epic hail storm that afternoon), in the Skagit Valley it was all broken puffy white clouds, sunshine, and throngs of visitors. I can only imagine how packed it would have been if were also sunny down in Seattle. I like using the S100 a bit more than the DSLR for shots like this, as it's smaller and more versatile, and I care slightly less if I destroy its sensor by aiming it at the sun. ;)
#landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), +My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday , +S... more »


2013-04-10 16:03:14 (17 comments, 3 reshares, 71 +1s)
It's cold, grey, and miserable here in Seattle as I plan out my next big solo photo tour of southern Utah and northern Arizona for next month. I can not wait to get back to that beautiful light. Here's a shot of Landscape Arch in Arches National Park from one of my previous visits.


2013-04-08 14:54:39 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 98 +1s)
Spring Skies
Picnic Point, Mukilteo, Washington
A shot at sunset from the other night down at Picnic Point County Park in Mukilteo, Washington. It was a nice end to a wet, dreary and stormy Spring day in the Pacific Northwest.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/11, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse
#landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), #naturephotography , #plusphotoextract

2013-04-03 02:36:17 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)
FESTIVAL OF COLORS {The Jarvie Take}
(This is what I see when I think of the festival of colors)
http://youtu.be/1qp7nPQ6xFg
My biggest youtube project yet
2 full days of filming and pictures (first one there last one out)
A day and a half of downloading sorting and selecting
A day+ of editing and retouching
I figure I have at least 40hrs into this video
Do you like?
I hope it's worth a few views... maybe a reshare... or twenty ;)


2013-04-02 16:49:49 (18 comments, 5 reshares, 98 +1s)
Fields of Gold
Skagit Valley, Washington State
A shot of the daffodils in bloom in the Skagit Valley daffodil fields, about an hour north of Seattle. This is similar to one I posted before, but this one is a wider angle and from a higher perspective to try to capture the endless sea of yellow blooms. I believe the daffodils are still in bloom, but won't be much longer... So if you haven't been, go! They will soon be replaced by endless seas of tulips.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 29 mm, f/13, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse
+My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday , +SpringFeverTuesday curated by +Vesna Krnjic #SpringFeverTuesday , #landscapephotography +Landscape Photogra... more »


2013-04-01 15:50:55 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 89 +1s)
Mount Storm King
Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park
Here's a shot from a recent trip to Olympic National Park on a particularly cold and stormy weekend. Mount Storm King at Lake Crescent was blanketed by a Spring snowstorm, and another storm was moving in while I looked on. The tiny buildings you can see at the base of the mountain is Lake Crescent Lodge.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 106 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec. Processed in Lightroom 4 and +Nik Software Silver Efex.
(+Mountain Monday curated by +Michael Russell #mountainmonday ) (+Monochrome Monday curated by +Hans Berendsen +Jerry Johnson +Steve Barge +Dominique Hilbert +David Orr +Martin Heller #MonochromeMonday ) (+Moody Monday curated by +Philip Daly +Carole Buckwalt... more »


2013-04-01 03:17:02 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 56 +1s)
A Walk in the Woods
Wallace Falls State Park, Washington State
It was an absolutely perfect day in the Pacific Northwest today, a very welcome preview of Summer. It was an ideal day for the first hike of the season, so the fam and I headed up to Wallace Falls State Park to kick off what will hopefully be a very active year outdoors. Unsurprisingly the trail was jammed with people who had the same idea, and by the time we left the park, I had never seen so many cars parked in the overflow area for the trail. It pays to set out early.
This was shot while on the trail with the Canon PowerShot S100 point and shoot, with the built in ND filter engaged and captured as RAW.


2013-03-31 01:16:40 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 63 +1s)
Fishy Daffodils
Here's a full-blown laying-on-the-stomach change-of-perspective circular fisheye shot of some daffodils in the midday sun at a daffodil farm in the Skagit Valley in Washington State. Sometimes it's fun to attach a creative and challenging lens, like the circular fisheye, and just refuse to take it off all day. It really forces you to hunt for creative compositions and really look at scenes differently than you normally would.


2013-03-28 15:24:50 (0 comments, 4 reshares, 79 +1s)
Emerald City Sunrise
The warmer and fairer weather is slowly starting to return to Seattle. Glimpses of Spring are starting to show in the streets, with flowers beginning to bloom and the days getting longer. That seemingly permanent cloud bank that perches itself over Seattle for the winter is starting to fade away. It’s still coming and going, but when it’s gone the days are simply wonderful to experience.
More on my blog: http://www.jflphotography.com/2013/03/28/emerald-city-sunrise/
#Seattle #Sunrise #Photography


2013-03-26 16:24:25 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 120 +1s)
Frosty Beach
Picnic Point County Park, Mukilteo, Washington
This was shot during a very cold day in January, so cold that ice had formed all over the beach. In fact, the white areas on these foreground logs is frost. This was my first-ever visit to Picnic Point, courtesy of a meetup with +Jake Johnson, +Jim Lundgren, and +Keith Morgan. I was shocked to have not even heard of this location, as it's a very short drive from my house. Thanks for the heads up guys, and yeah, I'm just now processing shots from January. :)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 16 mm, f/11, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse.
+Sea Tuesday curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou #SeaTuesday , +My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie ... more »


2013-03-24 18:15:29 (15 comments, 5 reshares, 127 +1s)
Daffodils at Sunset
Skagit Valley, Washington State
It was a gorgeous day yesterday, up here in the Pacific Northwest. The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and the daffodils are at peak bloom up in the Skagit Valley (a nice opening act for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival coming next month). The fam and I spent a wonderful afternoon driving from field to field, taking in the sight of acres and acres of pure yellow blooms. And they were even gracious enough to let me scope out a spot and stick around for sunset later in the day. :)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 35 mm, f/22, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse
#skagitvalley #skagitvalleytulipfields #landscapephotography


2013-03-21 16:20:07 (18 comments, 10 reshares, 119 +1s)
Here's a shot of the sunset over downtown Seattle last night. Some very unstable (and very cold) air in the area was producing some nice potential for some cloud drama at sunset, so decided to head to an iconic vantage point and see what happened. It didn't disappoint.

2013-03-21 15:21:26 (18 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)
Close to pulling the trigger on this bad boy...


2013-03-19 15:11:02 (6 comments, 7 reshares, 114 +1s)
A Break in the Rain
Picnic Point County Park, Mukilteo, Washington
The bright side of daylight saving time (pun intended) is that it's far easier to actually make it somewhere in time to shoot sunset. This was certainly the case last night, when I made it just in time to shoot this image down at Picnic Point County Park in Mukilteo. Ran into +Jim Lundgren and had a good time chatting with him and picking up some composition tips from the master of this location. :)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 17 mm, f/22, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse
#landscapephotography (+Landscape Photography), #naturephotography , +My Town Tuesday curated by +Melanie Kintz +Jamie Furlong #mytowntuesday , +Sea Tuesday curated... more »

2013-03-14 15:18:36 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)
Photo Contest: Textures and Patterns in Nature
Hey, we're having a little photo contest over in the Landscape Photography Community. The prize? A free copy of Perfect Suite courtesy of +onOne Software! The catch? Only that you must be a member of the Landscape Photography or Photo Tips communities to enter. And you must enter by March 17th.
To enter, be sure you belong one of these communities and post a photo to the event here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c36k2a2g8lp4dlph2ma1nrn6u48
Be sure to read the rules in the event description (such as one post per person, and posting technical details of your photo) so that your entry can be counted!
Enjoy and have fun!
#contest #photocontest


2013-03-13 15:27:09 (14 comments, 3 reshares, 105 +1s)
Sunrise over Bunch Creek
Quinault Rain Forest, Olympic National Park
This is Bunch Creek Falls, located in the Quinault Rain Forest just inside the boundary of Olympic National Park in a wet and rugged part of Washington State. While there shooting the falls, the sun crested over the Olympic Mountains perfectly aligned with the creek valley and a clearing in the clouds, peaking through some tree branches above the creek and producing a nice sun star. Obviously not the shot I had in mind, but it was a nice gift to receive this particular morning. Finally, I was standing there with all of my gear set up and ready to go when something like this happens. :)
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, +Really Right Stuff TVC-23 and BH-40, +f-stop Guru bag, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 18 mm, f/18, multiple exposures blended with LR/... more »


2013-03-12 14:59:40 (16 comments, 3 reshares, 103 +1s)
Picnic Point Sunset
Mukilteo, Washington
Took a run down to Picnic Point Park in Mukilteo, Washington the other night to catch sunset. To my great surprise, the tide was also extremely low. I've never seen these wooden pylons completely out of the water before! This is shot looking northwest across Puget Sound towards Whidbey Island.
Shot Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, B+W Circular Polarizer, RAW, ISO 100, 20 mm, f/8, multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse
#mytowntuesday #seatuesday

2013-03-10 18:42:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)
Added photos to Best Mountain Photos Contest | March 2013 | by Mountain Photos Theme Page.


2013-03-08 16:27:50 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 77 +1s)
Steamy Trees
Quinault, Washington
It rained all day and all night. Not too surprising for March when you're on the doorstep of a temperate rain forest on the west side of the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. But the next morning was surprisingly clear. Decided to take advantage of this lack of precipitation and head back into the rain forest to get some more shots (after breakfast at Lake Quinault Lodge, of course).
While driving out there, I was passing by these farms just as the sun was rising above the Olympic Mountains. The result of clear cold crisp morning, a super saturated landscape, and warm rays of sunlight? Steam. Lots and lots of steam. This field in particular was so amazing-looking that I had to pull over and start shooting immediately. The steam show only lasted for about two or three minutes and I am very glad to have been driving by at the right t... more »

2013-03-08 16:04:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)
Added photos to SmugMug Cover Photo Submissions For April.

2013-03-07 16:16:00 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 4 +1s)
Photo Contest: Textures and Patterns in Nature
Hey, we're having a little photo contest over in the Landscape Photography Community. The prize? A free copy of Perfect Suite courtesy of +onOne Software! The catch? Only that you must be a member of the Landscape Photography or Photo Tips communities to enter. And you must enter by March 17th.
To enter, be sure you belong one of these communities and post a photo to the event here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/c36k2a2g8lp4dlph2ma1nrn6u48
Be sure to read the rules in the event description (such as one post per person, and posting technical details of your photo) so that your entry can be counted!
Enjoy and have fun!
#contest #photocontest


2013-03-04 16:08:32 (16 comments, 2 reshares, 116 +1s)
Hidden Treasure
Picnic Point Park, Mukilteo, Washington
After spending the last three days hiking in the rain hunting for waterfalls, creeks, and generally damp forest-y-type compositions in the the Olympic Peninsula, I was beat. On the long drive home, the clouds started breaking up and were shaping up to pretty interesting. The first thing I thought of was, "The sun. It burnses us, precious... Why does it burnses us?" The second thing was, "Where can I be for sunset and can I make it in time?"
Well, thanks to +Jake Johnson, +Jim Lundgren (who's stream is particularly filled with beautiful shots of this location), and +Keith Morgan, I was recently introduced to this great little beach very close to my house--which I had never even heard of! Thought this was possibly a good time to capitalize on this new-found knowledge--so dropped the fam off at h... more »


2013-03-01 17:12:42 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 103 +1s)
A Weekend in the Woods
I'm off to spend a few days in the wet, cold and damp woods of southwest Olympic National Park hunting for lush green scenery, idyllic woodland creeks (like this one), and some hidden waterfalls. Hopefully I don't stumble across too many hungry cougars in the process, but if I do, the camera they find will be holding some killer shots.


2013-02-17 18:50:14 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 86 +1s)
Marymere Falls
Olympic National Park
Another shot of Marymere Falls--a relatively short hike from the Mount Storm King Ranger Station near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Conditions were perfect for shooting waterfalls this day--cloudy, misty, and threatening to rain at any moment. These falls are pretty impressive, nearly 90 feet high, and the flow was very high. While scenic, this kicked up massive amounts of spray making shooting them pretty difficult. There are a couple of shots taken down lower, off trail, where the footing was extremely precarious and where the spray was much worse: https://plus.google.com/u/0/112617127041903537004/posts/ZdN6M6QLpez and https://plus.google.com/u/0/112617127041903537004/posts/Xkr4Qvc4vQ1. This shot was taken in relative comfort from much higher up. Also note the log sticking out of the top of the falls, wonder if it'll spear the ... more »

2013-02-17 06:16:13 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 46 +1s)
Added photos to Win some LOVE! Well… some SmugMug LOVE!.


2013-02-11 23:11:34 (10 comments, 4 reshares, 29 +1s)
Photographers At Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
Getting a good spot at Mesa Arch can be tricky and require a lack of sleep. Here, photographers are lined up for the classic 'front-on' shot of the arch 1.5 hours before sunset. Some play with light painting while waiting for the sun. Can you find +Michael Riffle in the image?
Nikon D800E
Nikon 14-24mm
ISO 2000
14mm
f/2.8
5 seconds


2013-02-06 01:53:31 (12 comments, 3 reshares, 57 +1s)
Greasy oil slicks in parking lots aren't usually my thing, but I could not believe the colors on display in these beaded up pools of rain water. Looking down and seeing this touch of beauty was quite unexpected, and softened the blow of having just paid for car repairs a bit...


2013-02-05 16:22:17 (16 comments, 9 reshares, 125 +1s)
Golden Hour Moonrise
Seattle, WA
A shot of the nearly-full moon rising last February over downtown Seattle, taken from Alki in West Seattle. Obviously the sun hasn't set yet, and the skyline is bathed in a nice rich golden light from the setting sun. This arrangement really helps control dynamic range in the scene, really simplifying the task of getting the moon and skyline properly exposed.
Shot Details:
Camera Body: Canon 50D
Lens: EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
Filter: B+W Circular Polarizing
RAW, ISO 100, 169mm, f/5.6, 1/640s, 1/320s, 1/160s
Multiple exposures blended with LR/Enfuse.


2013-01-19 19:54:22 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 46 +1s)
Salty, salty. Fishy, fishy.
To my left, I had +Matt Kloskowski and +Brian Bonham shooting. Behind me, +Ricardo Lagos and +Amy Heiden were doing their things. We were all running around, lying prone, contorting tripods - everything possible to put our own respective stamps on the same scene. As far as I'm concerned, one of my favorite ways to get a different shot is to simply slap on my Canon 15mm Fisheye. It is, undoubtedly, my favorite lens that I own. While its practical uses are limited, its creative uses know no bounds.
Google Maps Location Info
36.34454, -116.86541
In terms of processing
In order to bring out the details of the foreground while also retaining the sunburst, I had to tone-map this image using Photomatix Pro.
I added some warmth to the image using Magic Sunset and added a really nice contrast boost using a ref... more »


2013-01-13 19:43:40 (24 comments, 2 reshares, 91 +1s)
Ice Sprouts
My Yard
Seattle is experiencing some unusually cold and humid conditions, and I noticed something this morning in my front yard that I've never noticed before. The dirt and rocks all along the ground were pushed up from below--almost puffed up or inflated. Walking on it is a seriously crunchy experience. Upon closer examination, it looks as though ice crystal grew up from the ground in long narrow filaments, pushing up dirt and rocks along the way. Some grew up very high, carrying rather large objects and have fallen over sideways.
They almost looks like mineral fibers, I've never seen anything like it. Does anyone know what this phenomenon is called?
Update: Thanks to +Jordan Oram for pointing out this is called "needle ice": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_ice

2013-01-07 16:29:03 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)
Landscape Photography Community Moderators - Thank You!!
As we approach 50,000 member I wanted to take some time to thank the fantastic team of moderators who work very hard to to keep the community organized. They are also coming up with new ideas on how to keep the community active and take the interaction to the next level.
So THANK YOU +Bill Wood, +David Pilasky, +David Heath Williams, +Michael Riffle, +Margaret Tompkins, +Jim Warthman
And by the way they are all very very interactive on G+ and terrific photographers...I would highly recommend having them in your circles. And NO you cant have them as moderators...I have to draw the line somewhere. ;)))
Enjoy & Share.
___________

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