This view of Mount Shuksan in the North Cascades (Washington State, USA) is the most photographed mountain in North America. This is due to its beauty (and Picture Lake!) and the fact that you can drive on a paved road to this very spot!
Here is an image I captured in the fall.
Mount Shuksan
And here is a less common view, an image from last night!
Mount Shuksan and the Milky Way
The New Moon is marked every month on my calendar. As it gets closer I start watching the weather service map, looking for where there will be clear skies. Last month was a complete dud, the 5-night window only saw overcast and rain.
But this weekend the sky was clear. I had three people sign up for my Night Sky Photo Tour on Saturday night.
Officially the New Moon is tonight, June 16th, but if you are close, one or two days plus or minus, you will get the lighting you want.
Camped under the Milky Way
This first shot I have been dreaming of for some time. My son is 10 years old and he likes to go camping with his friends, swimming and being goof balls. Of course they always bring their electronic devices. I made sure to tell them to save some battery life for dark.
The strip of the Milky Way appeared directly over the tent. The exposure to capture the stars is 30 seconds long, but that’s way too long for the light from the I-pad. So I had them sit and turn it on for a second or two and then quickly off.
Then I spent some time circumnavigating the tent. I got a shooting star in this one.
Milky Way and Shooting Star
and then as I faced north I captured this image. The pink glow is actually the Aurora Borealis! How cool is that!
Glow of Aurora Borealis
I had three people sign up for my Night Sky Photo Tour on Saturday night. We visited the Washington Pass Overlook to capture images of Liberty Bell. Between instruction advices I snapped a few images. This image is from a north-facing view. To the naked eye there was NO color.
Needless to say we were all excited to see the Northern Lights there on the horizon!
Northern lights at Washington Pass
This is the tentative plan for backpacking trips in July and August. If you are interested in coming along for any, please let me know!
Amphitheater Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness
Cathedral Lake Trip – 6 days This trip is a 30 mile one way trip, to the eastern Pasayten Wilderness. The trailhead is at 6000+ feet, so its mostly a ridge hike, Lots of solitude and fantastic scenery. Here is a trip report from a July trip 5 years ago. This trip is planned to start right around July 4th (maybe July 2 or 3, or maybe July 5th) and return July 8, 9 or 10. This is one of the coolest hikes in Washington! And although the mileage is somewhat long its not very difficult.
Cathedral Peak, Pasayten Wilderness
Easy Pass – Park Creek Pass – Cascade Pass – 6 days I have had this trip on my radar for a while, the plan is to get dropped off at Easy Pass, hike through one of the more remote parts of North Cascades National Park ending at Cascade Pass, then hitch back to Sedro-Woolley.
Horseshoe basin
I have hiked almost every part of this trip many times, except Fisher Basin. This trip would include a few days of off trail travel and camping. Horseshoe Basin and Park Creek Pass are unbelievable places to visit. Trip planned for July 26- July 31
Spider Meadows – Upper Lyman Lake – 4 days I did this trip last year, its awesome! My plan this year is to hike into Spider Meadows, hike up and through Spider Gap, spend a day in the Upper Lyman Basin and then hike back. Check out the story and pics. Trip planned for Aug. 2 to Aug. 5
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
If you have an interest in coming along on any of these trips, or have any questions, email me at: andyporterphotography@gmail.com
I have several extra backpacks, tents and all that stuff if anyone is lacking.
I accompanied my son’s 5th grade class on an overnight field trip to Fort Worden State Park, in Port Townsend, Washington last week. The kids all had fun, feeding an octopus and dissecting a fish…
And I had fun taking pictures. Lighthouses are, of course, huge magnets for photographers.
The old fort has a maze of concrete tunnels for artillery.
And the flowers were blooming!
So, it was a great time for all.
I have been working with Photoshop for some time. My learning curve has been rather slow and often painful! Slowly I learn new techniques for manipulating light and shadows.
Images of the night sky demand more work than daytime shots. The camera I have, a Canon 6D, and the 14mm lens I use allow me to set the exposure for 30 seconds.
In the unedited images you can see the strip of the Milky Way and in the edited images it pops out and grabs you!
Here is an image I shot a few years ago with a Canon T2i, a 15mm lens at 30 sec. and 800iso. Its a bit dark!
Now the newly edited version.
This next shot is from Zion National Park. I used the Canon 6D with a 14mm lens at 15 sec.
Here is the edited image.
Liberty Bell and the North Cascades Highway, Canon 6D, 14mm lens at 25 sec. Before
And after.
The last shot is of Mount Rainier from Crystal Mountain. Again using the 6D and the 14mm lens at 30 sec.
If you would like to attend a Night Sky Photo Tour and learn how to capture such images, here is the link with dates and prices!
And the final version.
For those of you who are already Photoshop savvy, the most useful tutorials and techniques for editing starry night shots I have found are at Dave Morrow Photography.
If you would like personalized Photoshop Lessons with me online, here is the link!
Happy Shooting and Editing!
Here are 5 recent publications of articles I’ve written along with images.
This first link is to an article I wrote for photo students called Elements of Coolness. It was published by the company that does my canvas wrap printing, Canvas on Demand.
Surround Yourself – Canvas on Demand Lifestyle – Elements of Coolness
The Washington National Park Fund is a local non-profit raising money for Washington’s 3 National Parks: Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Park.
Washington’s National Park Fund – Why I love Sahale Glacier Camp
The Nature Conservancy is a well-known organization dedicated to preserving wild lands. I have donated many images to their cause and am happy to be a part of their efforts.
The Nature Conservancy – Enchantments
Colchuck Lake, Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Cascade Loop Magazine is a local travel guide here in Northwest Washington. The loop is a wonderfully Scenic Drive encompassing the North Cascades, Lake Chelan, Skagit Valley and several other picturesque locations. I contribute images each year and was lucky to have an image on the cover of this years magazine.
Cascade Loop Magazine – Cover shot!
Amateur Astrophotography Magazine publishes a e-zine each month and here is an article and images of Night Sky Images.
Park Butte Lookout and Mount Baker
I hope you enjoy the articles and images and thank you for stopping by!
Last August I hiked the Spider Meadow – Buck Creek Pass Loop.
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
What a glorious hike!
We started at Spider Meadows,
And ended the trip at Buck Creek Pass.
Glacier Peak
We arrived at the Pass early in the day and waited for the sun to cool off a bit before we ascended the slopes of Liberty Cap and scouted for a place to camp with a view of Glacier Peak. This image is from that night.
The next morning before sunrise we made our way south along the ridge line, heading for High Pass.
The views of Glacier Peak were magnificent. sumptuous wildflowers and greener than green meadows invited us to relax and breathe in the air.
What is Earth Day all about?
We live on a cool planet.
Mount Rainier
It’s beautiful.
Point of the Arches
There are mountains.
Colchuck Lake, Enchantments
Oceans.
Washington Park, Anacortes
Rivers.
Bridge over Skagit River
Flowers.
Skagit Tulips
Meadows.
Pacific Crest Trail, Pasayten Wilderness
Animals.
Deer at Cascade Pass
People.
Atop Maple Pass
and LOTS more.
Park Butte Lookout
Lets try harder to not fuck it up!
Snow Geese on Fir Island, Skagit Valley
Skagit Valley
Spider Meadows
I went to the tulip and daffodil fields often this year.
Daffodils, Morning Light
Eighteen times to be precise.
Yellow Tulips and a Smile
A new record for visits in one year.
Backlighting, my favorite
The Daffodils started in February.
Stars!
As of today, April 17, the tulips are done.
Beheading
Finished, kaput.
Pink River
Maximus
I am not sorry, I’m relieved.
Tulip Selfie
My Tulip Goal for this year was two-fold: to get an image of a huge double rainbow directly over the blazing tulip fields AND to somehow capture an image of dark skies over the tulips being ripped asunder by searing bolts of lightning.
Converging
The Barn
Mud
Pinks
I failed miserably on both of these counts.
MUD!
All of these image, and many more, are for sale as fine art prints as well as Canvas Wrapped Prints. Here is the place to view and buy!
Love the back lit scene
Reflection
Water in the rows
Loner
Isolation Lake is the first or last lake you visit on your trip into the Enchantment Basin, depending upon which direction you are hiking the loop.
Campers along Isolation’s shore
If you managed to hike up Aasgard Pass (more than 2,000 ft. elevation gain in less that a mile) than its your first.
Camped at Isolation Lake, Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Isolation Lake Panorama
If took the long route past Snowy Lake, then Isolation will be your last lake in the high country before heading down and out.
But either way, its a fantastic place.
Isolation Lake
High above timber line it is a world of rocks and ice.
Isolation Lake, Enchantments
Blue, gray and white are the colors here.
The air is crisp, sharp, clean.
A meadow is nearby with a small copse of larch hiding the toilet.
Isolation Lake
Sunset brings new colors, reds and orange, magenta and violet.
Isolation Lake
Later the stars appear.
Prints are available here!
Camped at Isolation
Dome in a moon scape
Isolation is a world of wonder.
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 