This has become one of my go-to places for sunsets…the way the sun hits the horizon illuminating the water and boats is sumptuous.
One advice is to scour your neck of the woods and find vantage points for sunrise and sunset. Ideally they would be no more than 20 minutes drive from your home. When the sky is beginning to look crazy grab your gear and head out.
I am always on the lookout for more spots like this. There is not much worse than seeing an incredible sky and not having a spot to make for. Well, actually there is a LOT worse than that, but you get the idea.
This first shot really does it for me, and to be perfectly honest I did not even see the light shining into the boat cabin until I got home! 
The thing that I love about this image is the markings on the deck of the boat. I am guessing that they are from ropes which had been coiled there. 
This last shot…what to say? The abandoned boat in the foreground has been pictured by me many times…and yet I am sure to return! 
Oh, and by the way, this location is on the Bayview-Edison Road, Here is the map.
Category Archives: Skagit County
Skagit Valley Greening Cards for Sale!
I have updated the cost of the cards and locations where you can purchase them!
Skagit Valley Greening Cards for Sale!
The 10 images below are now printed on 5.5″ x 8″ thick linen finish paper. They have a luxurious feel to them and the colors are magnificent. One side is the image an the other side has the name and location of the image. They can be send as post cards, but come individually sealed in a plastic sleeve with an envelope.
Price is $3.50 each; a bundle of one of each (10 cards) for $25.
Wholesale pricing available!
The shipping cost varies based on the number of cards you’d like, email me for prices
AndyPorterPhotography@gmail.com
Send in your payments (checks or money orders only, please!) to:
Andy Porter
440 Nelson Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
The cards will ship out within 24 hours of your order being received.
Here is a list of locations where you can purchase the cards:
In Mount Vernon
• Skagit Valley Hospital Main Pharmacy, in the Skagit Regional Clinic Building
• Skagit Valley Hospital at their new River Bend Facility Pharmacy
In Sedro-Woolley
• Simply Silver and More located on Metcalf Street in Downtown Sedro Woolley
• Hoagland Pharmacy on Highway 20
• Sedro Woolley Auto Licensing and Chamber of Commerce office on Metcalf Street
In La Conner
Caffe Jubilee on First Street
Skagit Valley Tulips
Sahale Glacier Camp, North Cascades National Park
Sedro-Woolley Carnival
Orange Sky, Pink Tulips @ Skagit Valley
Mount Baker
Sahale Arm Trail, North Cascades National Park
Light and Tulips
Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park
Indian Creek Waterfall, North Cascades National Park
Arches National Park
Skagit Valley Tulips: 2014
There are 3 good reasons that I take so many pictures of the Tulip Festival each year:
1. Tulips are incredibly colorful!
2. They are very close by!
3. The mountains are still covered with snow!
So, here is a sampling of my favorite images of the Tulips (and Daffodils!) from this year!
Samish Overlook: First Days of Spring!
These are a few images from last evening’s sunset. Overlooking Skagit Valley, things are starting to get green!
Samish River Clouds
The Samish River meanders through the flats of the Skagit Valley. The old wreck was once a racing tugboat, long since abandoned. The confluence of water and clouds is always a draw for me.
Tulips of Skagit Valley
March has arrived and it’s not too long now (hopefully!) until it gets a little warmer and the flowers start to arrive.
Rows of Reds, Reflected
This months issue of NW Travel Mag with one of my images on the cover!
I live in Skagit County, named after the Skagit Indians and Skagit River) in the NW corner of Washington State. And among its other striking features such as the North Cascades and Puget Sound we have the Tulip Festival every April. 
Yellows at sunset
I understand that outside of Holland there are more tulips grown here than anywhere. The valley floor has a wide expanse of fertile, flat farmland and near the towns of Mount Vernon and La Conner there are fields and fields of bright tulips. 
Infinite Pinks
Each year the bloom times change, but generally its mid April when they are at their height of color.
This is a web site that has a link for a map showing exactly where the fields are and when they are abloom.
Rows and people
Every Saturday and Sunday the roads are crammed with cars forming long lines. This is not a good time to come! If you do come on the weekend make sure to arrive for either sunrise or sunset. I am often out for the sunrise and the fields are bright a crisp, a few workers and photographers are there, and that’s about it.
Weekdays are the best, plan to arrive about 5 or 6. The tulipy stores are closed and the manicured gardens. But the huge expansive fields are alive with the hue of low light and alive with vibrance!
Yellowy mud!
Make sure to dress for mud, and bring your tripod and polarizer!
Reds and a dramatic sky
If you decide to make the trip for a sunrise or sunset and want a tour guide, make sure to let me know! I am always happy to have company!
Sunrise over Skagit Valley
My never ending search for fine, scenic viewpoints from which to capture images led me to the Samish Overlook.
Arriving before sunrise the moon was still visible.
Clouds filled the valley and the mountain on the horizon was clear.
As the sun came up the low clouds started to burn off.
It was quite a sight!
Skagit Valley Tulip Images
These two images are from 2012, I was reviewing folders for a submission and found these two backlit shots.
And some Daffodil shots with nice lighting. 
All four are early morning shots. You just can’t beat the sky, and details from light at a low angle.
Skagit Valley Tulip: RAW vs. JPEG
These images are from 2012. I recently revisited these images with new found skills using Photoshop Camera RAW.
If you are not capturing your images as RAW, you really should start! Even of you don’t have PS or know how to use it, some day you may…and when that day comes and you see all that you can do you will be most happy that you have your “old” images stored somewhere as RAW files… 
Here are the original files of the images above.
Barn Project
The generally dull, gray and wet winter months do not afford as many colorful photogenic opportunities as the other three seasons prompting me to come up with a new idea of what to capture.
Recently I had posted a few images of old barns and several people commented that they just loved them and wanted to see more and so the Barn Project was born.
A simple search turned up a Skagit County Heritage Barn web site, complete with images, descriptions and directions to each barn.
I am just getting started but here are a few images of Barns of Skagit County!
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 