Winter photography - My favorite photos from this winter so far..
This winter has sure been off to a slow start. It’s been mild, warm, and rainy. Though we have had some good snow days here and there. A couple of fun days of skiing, a few snow hikes/walks, and plenty of ripping around in the Wolverine side by side.
North Fork Coeur d’Alene River, Idaho. DJI Mavic Air.
I’ve only gotten out a few times to photograph this winter but I have thoroughly enjoyed the few times I have. My favorite day was a spontaneous trip up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. It was a beautiful bluebird day. The sun was bright and the few clouds that were there would rip across the landscape.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington. Nikon Z7 + CaptureOne and Nik Silver Efex.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington. Nikon Z7 + CaptureOne and Nik Silver Efex.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington. Nikon Z7 + CaptureOne and Nik Silver Efex and cyanotype toning.
Last but not least, a set of portraits of my lovely girlfriend, Annie.
And, one more thing after that.. I just listed a few signed metal prints from a gallery show in Spokane. Head over to the print section on my website and pick one up for yourself. They are a one-off set of photographs.
Ice - A New Collection of Photographs
I’ve been sitting on these photographs for almost a year now. I had taken them back in November of last year. Right before it started snowing in the mountains. I was able to get up the lake with minimal gear. AKA I didn’t need snowshoes just yet.
This set of photos was one that I kept coming back to over the months since I shot them. I made countless versions of them and nothing just ever felt quite right to me. As I made those different versions I slowly kept making them a little darker and muted each time. I was listening to one of my favorite albums each time I made this darker series of edits. The album has an overall dark and heavy feeling throughout. Continually listening to the album over and over is what brought me to this final set of photographs.
Camera: Nikon Z7, Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Post Processing: Capture One Pro + Adobe Photoshop.
They escaped the weight of darkness
to forge a path into the marrow of the spirit
They chose to drown in a deeper vacancy
an emptiness that quells the null
a pool for the forgotten
They escaped the weight of darkness
to drown in another...
To Drown - Agalloch
Hazy beach days
As you all know the world is basically on fire. It’s been hard to sit back and watch all the wildfires destroy the forests across North America. My brother and his wife have been stuck inside with the smoke from the Oregon wildfires. We all decided it was time to try and get away from the smoke as much as we could. We all decided to head out to the Washington coast to escape it a little bit. The air quality still wasn’t the best, but the sea air felt so refreshing in comparison to what we had all been in. It was a few days of quality family time, flying kites, running on the beach, and driving on the beach with my love.
Luckily as I am writing this the rain has finally come back to the Pacific North West. It’s been long overdue and much needed.
Stay safe out there.
All photos shot on Nikon Z7 + FTZ Adapter + Nikon 50mm 1.8G. Post processing CaptureOne Pro.
Fall In The West
The fall here in North Idaho has been off to an interesting start. During our first week of fall, we had our first snow of the season. Trust me, I didn’t believe the forecast at all. Even though the die-hard skier in me was hoping it was going to be true. A few days after reading that we woke up and looked out the window to see high up in the mountains the trace of white on the treetops. Seeing the first snow is one of my favorite things. To top it all off Silver Mountain was having their first annual Cidefest in the Mountain Haus. We had the perfect excuse to go up the mountain for Ciderfest, we had to go play in the first snow.
During the brief little bit of time fall has been here the colors have been changing fast. on the daily drive, I see the colors growing more vibrant every single day. Which means I need to head up into the mountains and cover some ground on foot. It’s time to make some new photographs of this fall while I can. We’ve been able to go paddleboarding. Explore some of the gulches around the valley. A little bit of fall car camping, and a few delicious Bloody Marys at Quinns Hot Springs. Until I can get out and photograph more of the fall here are a few photos from this fall so far.
Winter Is Finally Showing
Cold beers after a good day on the mountain.
As I sit here and write this I have spent the last dew days staring at the NOAA.gov forecast for Silver Mountain. You know what? It’s finally looking good. Colder temperatures, and lots of snow falling on the hill. Which is good to see. I’m tired of having to watch where I am skiing. Those little exposed rock and baby trees are getting annoying. That hasn’t stopped my friends and I from getting out there to make some turns.
Last light on the mountain. Skier: Casey Winchel.
Right now Silver Mountain is only running on the weekends, but is going to seven day a week operation here in a few days. Last weekend wasn’t the best up there but it was a great couple days. Waking up late to head up and let the snow warm up on the groomed runs since they were less icy was our excuse to head to the bar before we started skiing. It was nice to start the days off with a Bloody Mary and a cold beer. Though my friend Casey and I have had a patch of bad luck with every time we order a beer we blow a keg. Hey, a partial free beer!
Watching all this snow falling around us is getting us even more excited to get that first deep powder day in. I don’t my friends and I can wait any longer. We looking forward to getting those fat skis and jumping off of everything we can find. With all this new snow falling in our mountains remember to ride with a friend and stay safe. Respect the mountains.
When the snow is the best the sends are much more reserved.
Chair 4, Silver Mountain. Skier: Casey Winchel.
A little something extra on the ride down. Wardner Peak in the distance. Silver Mountain, Idaho.
Deer Park Campground - ONP
Nestled high in the Olympic Mountains is a truly magical place. The Deer Park Campground is a small campground on Blue Mountain, just outside of Port Angeles, Washington. The views from the campground and the summit are incredible. On my last trip there it was slightly different. It was foggy and rainy day. Typically you would see across to Vancouver Island and almost all the way to Seattle. Being up on top of the mountain in the rain was a very welcomed experience. Especially after all of the wildfire smoke that has been sitting across the North West lately.
Foggy days from the summit.
Around 14 sites are at the campground. With a few walk-in sites tucked away by the Three Forks Trail head parking area.
This last trip I took up the mountain was to do a little work for a brand. It was a nice little solo escape for a night. I pulled in around 1 PM and proceeded to set up camp for the night. Well, the little bit I have to set up for camp.
Camp all set up.
This past trip in the rain made me realize I need an awning or a tarp for the rainy days. Probably a tarp..
The rainy days are always a nice change for shooting up there. I was looking forward to that. I've been in a creative rut lately and I felt like being back in one of my favorite places would be just what I needed. When it rains so many of the small plants on the mountain begin to sparkle in the light that casts across them.
Just a short hike out from my campsite is a large open field where you can almost always find a group of deer wandering. I only saw two on my walk to here off in the fog.
Just up from camp is perfect spot to sit and relax. I personally like to sit here and watch the clouds roll by. On a clear night its a perfect spot to stargaze. There is also perfect spots right next to your campsite to set up a hammock and spend the day relaxing.
The fog makes for an incredible time to be at Blue Mountain. There is just something about the quiet stillness of the place that is something I have not experienced anywhere else. I always look forward to my time there. I can't wait to go back there.
In the meantime I have to head over to Spokane as I get ready for this next school year to start. I am heading over a little bit earlier than I normally would. I think it will allow me to take one last little trip before school starts. The tentative plan is to head down into Stanley, Idaho. Stay tuned..
