A slice of Seattle history
Steel and concrete
2021 Independence Day Fireworks
July 4th, 2021 fireworks in Edmonds, Washington: Shot handheld with an iPhone
End of spring
Second spring amidst a global pandemic but with less unknowns and variables compared to the last one, pushed me to revisit places I’ve not seen for a long time, places that would have otherwise been on the B list.
Here’s to the end of spring, brace yourself for long and warm days ahead.
June 2021 - Camping (Ohanapecosh CG)
Remnants from the Ice Age
This drumlin field extends across US highway two past the city of Waterville. The arrangement of these flat top hills hints of the movement of glacial ice crawling over the rocks and dirt millions of years ago.
The invisible fence
We were at the top of the canyon trail looking over a bend in Rio Grande separating Mexico from the US, waiting for the sunset when a horse rider appeared on the American side of the river slowly making his way to the trailhead below us.
It turned out he was an artist from the other side who had left his creations in several spots across the border, where visitors can buy with cash, and was making rounds to collect the money. As he passed us on the trail as he came up I waved at him and said “hi” with a smile and he smiled back and waved. I wanted to have a conversation with him if he was not in a hurry although he might not even speak English. I was curious and interested to know his daily life making rounds across the invisible fence making a living by selling creative artifacts to American tourists.
An unfinished story I would love to finish someday, perhaps.
A petrified face
When I stared at this suspiciously human like face carved into new earth (from a volcanic eruption 1.5 million years ago), did not think of the probability it might have been carved by man.
Beached boat
Springtime in the northwest enabling me discovering new places and things to photograph
Ducks and a river
The rain felt awkwardly strange as if it was rare for there were very few people on the trail.
The successful search for the Sun
This weekend’s weather forecast for western Wash was not out of place nor extraordinary: overcast with chance of rain and storm likely to continue through next week. But we were determined to find the sun, and shoot timelapse videos.
Tangerine
Limestone towers (Tufa)
Two hours past noon I wasn’t sure if I wanted to drive two and half hours south for a sunset. But if you know me well and have heard about adventures (and misadventures) from years of traveling, you might have guessed this was an easy decision…
Besides a somewhat dangerous slippery road down the hill to the lakeside, the day was immensely enjoyable. Patience is key when waiting for vermillion skies after sunset: if you are early it’s too bright and if you missed the peak, the clouds might have turned into silhouettes. While these two photographed (taken with an iPhone) does not present the best example of patience it was nonetheless a beautiful sunset over the tufas on the south rim of Mono Lake today.
Back in the wide open desert
High elevation, dry air with a hint of salt and long straight highways. Here’s day one of a week in the desert, in search for inspiration for the next project and a break from the insanity called quarantine.
First snow of 2021
We always get more than we wished for, and then stop enjoying it about halfway through the winter storm. But the first day after first snowfall in the season (well, technically this was second in the season but the first one didn’t see daylight) is charming, sometimes carries its appeal to the second day. These photos were taken in my neighborhood with my cellphone while enjoying the calm after the storm.
Winter day in the sun
The silence of the snow
Symptoms of the universe
Sunlight bleeding through atmospheric water
Rain
Winter rain droplets on the sunroof, and an uncanny streetlight bleeding through it…
Deception Pass
Empty branches and dramatic sky
While warm winter weather does not warranty snow, it brings rain. When there’s rain there is a chance the sun could crack through western sky and if you’re in the right place at the right time might witness vivid colors in the sky. With so many variables one could think vermillion sunsets are rare. In fact, they are when you live in the Pacific Northwest but somehow 2021 with only a little over a week in has presented more brilliant sunsets than usual.
And yet I have not been very lucky, but looking forward to get the real camera out one of these days.