In search of Lighthouses....

My wife and I recently took a little trip with the kids over to the shore. As usual, I'm always trying to balance family trips with how much shoot time I can get in before my wife yells at me and makes me stay at the cabin. We decided on a cabin over near the Cape Disappointment State Park and anytime I'm over that way I'm gunnin' for the two lighthouses that reside in that park.

The light on this trip wasn't the most ideal, but that didn't stop me from getting some great shots. I love this area because it's located right at the mouth of the Columbia River, on the Oregon border. After all the flooding we've had this past few years the driftwood has really built up. It amazing how these gigantic trees get uprooted a hundred miles or more inland and find their way to the mouth of the river where the ocean tides turn them right around and deposit them on all of the area beaches. Its really quite a sight.

It certainly makes for great photography.

Night Falls on Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

A path through the Driftwood leads to the Ocean
Cape Disappointment State Park, WA

A fence line protects the beach from erosion

Cape Disappointment State Park, WA

North Head Light

Cape Disappointment State park, WA

North Head Light
Cape Disappointment State Park, WA

Cape Disappointment, named for the explorer who became
disappointed after not being able to find the mouth of the Columbia.

The Jeanie O

Long Beach, WA

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the bluff at North Head
Cape Disappointment State park, WA

The oyster boat "Hero"
Willapa Bay, WA

A Morning Worth A Million Words

The light this morning was astonishing. I've spent a lot of mornings out in the cold wishing and waiting for the kind of light that met me this morning. All the elements... temperature, humidity, dew point, time of day, time of year, all came together producing conditions as rare as they were beautiful. And it didn't last, maybe Ten minutes at most, and then it was gone again, leaving as quick as it came.

This morning found me wishing I could freeze time. What better way to capture still photographs than in a still universe. How wonderful that would be. I will be out again tomorrow, waiting... hoping that lightning will strike twice, even though I know it wont. One of the harsher realities of photography is the fact that no matter how hard you try, you cannot duplicate a photograph. The light will never be the same. It might, if the stars align, be as good, but it will never be the same.

Great light is fleeting, as it should be I guess.

Recent Favorites

I haven't posted in a little while but have been shooting a lot. (as usual) I thought I would just post some of my recent favorites.

Snoqualmie Pass

With all of the recent rains, I thought it would be a great idea to throw the kids in the car and go up to Snoqualmie Falls. I had been up recently the last time the river was high so I figured this time would be even better. Well I was mistaken. (and a bit surprised) It seems we were a day or two too late, the river had already crested and was on it's way back down to normal levels. The kids were still blown away by the falls but I admit I was a bit disappointed. We didn't stay long and were soon back in the car heading home when Ian said that it was a shame that we came all this way to not stay so long. I said well, we could go up to the pass and look for snow. They both agreed so we were on our way.

The Snaoqualmie Pass is the route you take across the Cascades on I90. Similar to the mountain crossing in Virginia, the elevation is high and the weather is most times bad during Winter months. I knew there was some weather in the area so I was cautious to insure that we would not get stuck on the pass with out traction tires or chains. As we climbed the mountain sure enough as I predicted, the temperature quickly dropped to freezing and the rain quickly changed to snow. the road was still wet so we decided to try to make it to the top. As we got higher the snow got deeper along the sides of the road. I remember Brandon remarking on how the snow wasn't really that deep, it was just pushed up along the sides of the road. He was right but I knew we were in for a real treat.

As we reached the top we pulled off on the exit for the ski resort and made our way toward someplace to park. The boys about peed themselves when they realized how deep the snow was. I would imagine it was about 5 or 6 feet deep with drifts up to 10 to 15 feet. Definitely more snow than they'd ever seen. Needless to say they couldn't get out of the car fast enough. My only concern was the fact that they weren't really dressed for the snow but kids don't seem to really care I guess.

We found a great river and I took some shots as the kids played. What a treat that was for all of us. I had been up on the pass many times but never really had a chance to get out and look around. It was a true winter wonderland with the snow falling. I will not soon forget that little side trip...neither will the boys I think.

Those nights before Christmas

Well, it looks as if Christmas has once again, come and gone. I have always been of the understanding that time goes by faster as we age. That does make sense because I remember as a kid that it always took forever for Christmas to arrive. I have such fond memories of Christmas growing up. I was lucky to grow up in a house where all of the expected traditions of the season were astutely followed. The candles in the windows seemed to always warm the house with their soft glow. Of course, the Christmas classics were always on the old record player and the cookies in the oven were never complete without their coating of icing colored in red and green and don't forget the sprinkles. There seemed to always be time for everything. Maybe that was just my perception as a child but it seemed there was always enough time for family and friends. I remember sleeping under the window as a child and of course the night before was always spent peering out the window just sure I would see Santa as he arrived in his sleigh. I never went to bed on Christmas eve before the annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas." What would Christmas be without that wonderful story.

Christmas morning would finally come and my sister and I would be forced to wait atop the stairs not able to come down until everything was just perfect. I remember sitting at the top of those stairs just wanting to burst with all of the excitement that the day would bring. My parents seemed to always purposely take their time relishing in the knowledge that we were so hardly able to contain our excitement. And then the words would come..."alright, you can come down!" Those were the best five words a boy could ever hear. Springing from our perch my sister and I would quickly race down the stairs and dive into our presents. My mother was always so organized having the presents all in their order and of course we all had to take turns opening. It was so hard to wait for my turn but that's what made Christmas so great.

We all knew that as soon as the presents were all opened and breakfast was eaten, it was in the car and off to Grandmas. We always had Christmas on both sides of the family and I remember always having so many people in the house. The women would cook and visit while the men would all congregate in the living room around a football game or whatever might be on the TV. Dinner was always full of great food and family. It was just the best and ironically I never appreciated the whole thing as a young boy. Of course, all I was interested in was whatever new toys I had received. Looking back now though, it was great to have so much family around.

There were a lot of great things that surrounded Christmas as I grew up. I love my parents for working so hard to create all of the magic that was Christmas in my house. I have grown now and things seem different. The family is spread from one side of the country to the other and I've gone too many Christmas's now without being home with the family I love so much. I have my family here and that is good but I miss home and all of the traditions that used to be. There seems to be no time these days and I hope that as a parent, I am at least partially providing that magic that is Christmas. I wonder if that is the case. It is one of life's tragedies that we cannot all retain the feelings of Christmas we once had. With all of the hustle and bustle and fuss, it seems we all just do what needs to be done and are glad when it's finally over for yet another year. That's just part of growing up I guess. But I miss those nights before Christmas, lying warm in my bed, sleepless from all the excitement and looking out of that window above my bed, convinced that Santa would once again come to town.

Happy Holidays!


We actually had a white Christmas this year. We ended up with about 10 inches of the white stuff which is extremely unusual for these parts. I got a chance to get out with the camera and captured a few shots downtown as the snow fell.

A fresh coating of snow blankets the town

The rare snowfall creates havoc for the unprepared drivers

A wonderful Winter scene at the Wagon Shop in downtown Steilacoom

A closer view of the Wagon Shop

Field grass encased in ice struggles to remain upright

A train barrels past the old train station in downtown Steilacoom

Happy Holidays

We finally got the Christmas tree up last night. We have snow on the ground here which is such an unusual treat, especially here at Christmas. Looks like we might have a white Christmas with more snow on the way. Couldn't resist putting together a little Christmas card.

Here's hoping everyone has a great holiday! Merry Christmas from all of us!

Light Station Mukilteo

I recently got a chance to get up north of Seattle to the small town of Mukilteo to shoot a lighthouse I've been wanting to shoot. I've always seen pictures of this lighthouse and have always loved the fact that the ferry to Clinton leaves from that same location, so you always get the play between the lighthouse and the ferries coming and going. It's a beautiful location. Here's a few of the better shots I got that morning.