Skagit Valley Tulip and Daffodil Photo Tours

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Andy Porter

Skagit Valley Tulip and Daffodil Festival Photo Tours

Daffodil Photo Tours start next week, Feb 21! Here is the link with the details!

Every spring the fields of the Skagit Valley explode with colors.

First the daffodils arrive, spilling yellow and green paint buckets over the browns and grays left over from winter.

: Skagit Valley Daffodils

: Daffodil Sunset

Depending upon the weather this happens any where between late February and early March. In 2015 we had full fields of daffodils abloom in the third week of Feb. and it looks like we may see the same this year.

Skagit Valley Tulip and Daffodil Photo Tours get info on registering here.
Tulips arrive 3 to 4 weeks later, anywhere from mid to late March into April. fields upon fields of tulips of all shapes and colors spread across the valley their quilt like pattern changing each year with the annual field rotations.

The valleys main tulip grower, Roozengaarde updates their Bloom Map each day or so, showing where the fields are and when they are in bloom.

What is a Photo Tour? A Photo Tour is a guided tour specifically for anyone who would like to capture stunning images. Each sprint I spend time reconnoitering the fields, noting where are the best views and backdrops. I can offer advice for not only the best locations but also tips on exposure and composition as well as post editing so that you come away with fantastic images.

I also offer North Cascades Photo Tours and Night Sky Imaging Photo Tours as well.

: Skagit Valley Tulips

: Skagit Valley Tulips

: Skagit Valley Tulips

: Tulips Photo Tour

Fir Island Barn and Snow Geese

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Andy Porter

Fir Island is part of the Skagit River delta. Farms, barns and many types of migratory birds visit.

Here are several images of geese and a barn.

Prints are for sale here.

Information about Skagit Valley and North Cascades Photo Tours information is here!

New Year Sale: 50% OFF ALL PRINTS AND WRAPS

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Andy Porter

NEW YEAR 50% OFF SALE! 2 DAYS ONLY!

Sale ends on Tuesday, January 19th at midnight!
Visit the Gallery Page here. Browse for your favorite images and select your format and size. When you get to Checkout, use Coupon Code: New Year and receive 50% off your order.

Photography classes are available! Find your location and sign up here.

Interested in a Washington State Guided Photo Tour? Find out more.

Diablo Overlook Night Sky

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Andy Porter

Last night I was leading a Night Sky Photography Class at the North Cascades Institute.

The class went very well, due in major part to the clear skies we were lucky enough to have.

I spent most of my time advising and helping people get their settings right and compose images, but I did manage to get a few cool images as well.

This image is of Diablo Lake and Ross Dam. The snow in the foreground adds a nice balance to the image.

As I awaited the students to return to the vans for the ride back to NCI I wandered out towards the highway and saw a sign for the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway.

This and the road and starry sky presented a wonderful opportunity.

I lead Night Sky Photo Tours each month, when there is no moon. This link gives the dates for each month this year (through September) as well as other details and a way to register for your own adventure!

Night Sky and North Cascades Photo Tours are available for anyone. We can arrange to do a Drive-In tour, where we stop along the North Cascades Highway of the Mount Baker Highway to capture images, OR we can arrange hiking tours (both day hikes and overnights) to more remote locations in the North Cascades as well.

And lastly, spring is not too far off! Book your self a Skagit Valley Tulip Photo Tour!

Photography Classes in Burlington

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Andy Porter

Andy Porter Photography Classes in Burlington

Beginning in January, 2016 I will be teaching a series of Photo Classes in Burlington, Washington.

All the details for the Burlington Photo Classes are below.

I am also teaching much the same classes in Bellingham, Marysville, Anacortes and Friday Harbor! See details for these at the bottom of the page.

Better Pictures with your DSLR Camera-Level 1 (3 hr class)
Instructor: Andy Porter
Saturday, January 23 (10am-1pm)
Thursday, February 11 (6-9pm)
Saturday, March 12 (10am-1pm)
Fee: $40
Is your DSLR always set on auto? Quality images start with understanding manual exposure. Cover bracketing, polarizers, and the benefits of capturing images in the RAW format and more. Lots of time for hand-on instructor and Q & A. Learn to use your camera to create the image you want. Come with your camera and owner’s manual.
Location: Burlington Parks and Recreation Center 900 E. Fairhaven Ave
Register one week ahead! 360-755-9649 (Visa/MC ok over phone)

Better Pictures with your DSLR Camera-Level 2 (3 hr class)
Instructor: Andy Porter
Saturday, February 20 (10-1pm)
Thursday, March 17 (6pm-9pm)
Fee: $40
This class is for anyone who has completed the DSLR Basics Class or someone that has a firm grasp of shooting images in the manual mode. Learn about different lenses, how to use them effectively, delve deep into aperture, depth of field, and shutter speed. Learn how to master these settings and create stunning, unique images. Class will also cover advanced details of focusing, use of a tripod, and tips on how to capture images at night.
Location: Burlington Parks and Recreation Center 900 E. Fairhaven Ave
Register one week ahead! 360-755-9649 (Visa/MC ok over phone)

Winchester Mountain Lookout

Composition: How to take Awesome Photos with ANY Camera (3 hr class)
Instructor: Andy Porter
Wednesday, Feb 17 (6pm-9pm)
Saturday, March 5 (10am-1pm)
Fee: $40
Having an “eye” for photography is an acquired skill. This class covers the basics of composition that can be used with ANY camera-point and shoot or DSLR.
Learn subject placement, use of the horizon, reflections, leading lines, the Rule of Thirds, framing and more!
Location: Burlington Parks and Recreation Center 900 E. Fairhaven Ave
Register one week ahead! 360-755-9649 (Visa/MC ok over phone)

Photo Editing: Learn the Basics and Software Conversations (3 hr class)
Instructor: Andy Porter
Thursday, March 10 (6pm-9pm)
Fee: $40
Ever try to capture a fantastic scene, only to be disappointed with the results? To create an image that looks just like what you saw, especially in low light situations, you are going to have to edit the image. Discussion will include different types of editing software, edit student’s images in class, learn tips and tools for you to use in your journey into this new, exciting world.
Location: Burlington Parks and Recreation Center 900 E. Fairhaven Ave
Register one week ahead! 360-755-9649 (Visa/MC ok over phone)

I am also teaching much the same classes in Bellingham, Marysville, Anacortes and Friday Harbor!

Here is a link to the calendar and schedule of classes. Find the month you’d like to attend, click on a class and you’ll see the time, cost and location details and a link to register.

Photo Tours
Would you like to get photo training out in the field? I offer Photography Tours as well. These tours are for anyone who is interested to take their imaging skills to the next level. Small groups (1 to 4 people) intimate knowledge of the area and lots of advice on setting exposure, composing images and more make these trips a wonderful experience. North Cascades Photo Tours, Tulip Festival Photo Tours, Night Sky Imaging Tours and more. Find out more about Washington Photo Tours here.

: Winchester Mountain Lookout

: Sahale Camp, North Cascades National Park

: Baker River

: Skyline Divide

: Mount Logan

: Tulips Photo Tour

: Tulip Festival Photo Tour

: Tulip Festival Photo Tour

: Tulip Photo Class

: Winchester Mountain Photo Tour

: Night Sky Photo Tour

: Park Butte Lookout

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Andy Porter

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Not long ago I got lucky. I made a reservation to ride the ferry from Coupeville (on Whidbey Island) to Port Townsend (on the Olympic Peninsula).

My final destination was Olympic National Park and I wanted to catch the earliest ferry in the morning to allow me more time frolicking on the beach.

I arose at 5am and made a beeline for the ferry. My arrival at the ferry terminal was just before sunrise. The dissolving darkness progressed from a solely black and white light show to Technicolor.

Its amazing how fast the colors materialize…and disappear. I managed to get a few shots of purple, violet and magenta clouds as they enveloped the world.

So wrapped up in the orgy of color was I that the ferry was almost missed!

Dashing to board at the last second my dream morning of orange, yellow, pink, blue (oh, what blues!) and countless shades of wonder beckoned me, and I followed.

Wandering about the ship, through the cabins, onto the decks, down the stairs, back and forth and through.

It was a wondrous adventure of sky and sea, colors and textures, a very magical moment.

Longest Night of the Year

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Andy Porter

Palouse Falls

Longest Night of the Year

Tonight is the longest night of the year (assuming you live on the northern hemisphere)

The creeping darkness has reached its apex.

Mount Baker from Park Butte Lookout

Tomorrow the days begin to lengthen.

For now, night rules.

But who ever said that darkness was a bad thing?

It provides the opportunity to observe the starry heavens and witness, with awe, the strip of the Milky Way.

Gazing in towards the center of our galaxy one can imagine its black hole, there at the core, consuming light .

And then you remember (in case you ever forgot) that it’s awesome to be alive.

: Baker River

: Crystal Ski Resort

: Diablo Overlook

: Diablo Overlook

: Glacier Peak

: Sahale Camp, North Cascades National Park

: Baker River

: Mount Adama, Goat Rocks Wilderness

: Liberty Bell, North Cascades Highway

: Baker River

: Liberty Bell, North Cascades Highway

: Baker River

: Samish Overlook

: Park Butte Lookout

: Palouse Falls

: Mount Rainier

: Zion National Park

: Sahale Camp, North Cascades National Park

: Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park

: Mount Shuksan, North Cascades

: Park Butte Lookout

: Winchester Mountain Lookout

: Winchester Mountain Lookout

: Diablo Lake

: Winchester Mountain Lookout

: Winchester Mountain Lookout

Like the images? Here is the gallery to purchase canvas wraps and prints.

Would you like to learn how to capture images like these? Sign up for a Night Sky Photo Tour!

Happy Solstice!

North Fork Bridge Creek

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Andy Porter

The North Fork Bridge Creek Trail is one of the most scenic trails in the North Cascades National Park.

Goode Mountain, North Cascades National Park

Winding its way up the valley towards North Fork Meadows you will see fantastic views of Goode Mountain, the highest peak in the North Cascades National Park at 9,220 feet, rising over 6,000 feet from its footings, and almost 7,000 feet from the bottom of Bridge creek valley.

The often brushy trail is 7 miles long and gains about 1,700 feet from start to end. To get there hike 10 miles south on the Pacific Crest Trail from Highway 20 .

You’ll ford Grizzly Creek and then break out into the open with views like this one. To purchase prints of these images (as well as other stunning images of the North Cascades, visit our Photo Gallery.