Here is a link to a description of Artist Point, Washington’s Best Drive.
Along the way you’ll pass Picture Lake and this smashing view of Mount Shuksan, the most photographed mountain in North America.
Mount Shuksan and Picture Lake
Mount Shuksan, North Cascades
North Cascades Photo Tours will take you to photograph these places! Here are the details.
Capturing cool images of the Milky Way is a lot of fun. Adding stars, especially the strip of the Milky Way Galaxy to an image create such an awesome look and feel.
So I am always searching for new elements of coolness for foreground interest. The idea of old, abandoned buildings came to mind, and I began to search for a likely place.
I wanted a wooden structure, old and beaten. It needed to be off, away from any city or town, so that the sky would not be washed out by light pollution.
A google search landed me at the Govan Schoolhouse and I knew right away where the next New Moon would take me.
I called the local city hall, in Wilbur, to check and see if the building was still standing and made my way east along with several night sky photo friends.
The building is located well off the beaten path, though there two farms close by.
As the sky darkened and the Milky Way became visible I made my way inside with several lanterns and lights of various kinds, too illuminate the schoolhouse with a glow.
The next New Moon is July 4th! If you are interested in coming along on the next Night Sky Photo Adventure, here is a link with the details!
Happy Star Shooting!
There is something about an old, weathered wooden barn that captures the imagination. I guess barns in general are cool, but to grab attention the barn needs to be made of wood AND look like its seem a bit too many winters.
That gives it a certain character, a personality. barns re great photo subjects anytime. Autumn is always a wonderful barn season, with the fall colors. But for me, spring is the time! Bright green meadows and fantastically colorful skies make a barn image complete!
There are many barns strewn through the Skagit Valley and I was lucky to catch one of my favorites on a night just right for picture taking!
BTW, if you have an interest in capturing Night Sky Images with old barns and buildings, this coming new moon, June 4th, I am leading a night sky class to Eastern Washington to capture Milky Way images and old abandoned buildings. Here is the link for more info!
A few recent splashes for one of my night sky images.
First Beach Olympic Coast, near La Push Washington
The image won third place in the annual Alaska Airlines Photo comp, winning me 2 free RT tickets! You can see the Alaska web page here.
Another use of the image is from the Sierra Club, on their Daily Ray of Hope page.
The next New Moon is June 4th, here is the link if you would like to come out for a Night Sky Photo Tour!
The Spring Equinox marks the change of seasons, beginning a time of renewal and birth and hope and beginnings.
Here is Skagit Valley it also marks the start of Tulip Season!
I have lived here 11 years now and the tulips seem to start blooming earlier every year…
Yesterday and today I spent time in the tulip fields, leading clients on Tulip Photo Tours.
The tulips in Tulip Town are abloom. This year they have one small field of tulips, maybe 100 rows, 5 rows or so for each color or variety. 
The larger fields, spread through the valley are just starting to bloom now.
Given some more sun, they will all be popping open in the next week or so. Here are two images from this morning at one of the tulip fields first to bloom.
If you would like to find out more about Skagit Valley Tulip Tours, call or email me.
Here is the link with details and registration.
These images are from Saturday morning at sunrise, at the Daffodil Fields.
If you would rather go on a Night Sky Photo Tour here is the link to find out more.
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!
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.
Palouse Falls
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.
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!
I made two trips up to the Winchester Mountain Lookout in September. Both times I spent the night in the lookout.
What an incredible spot!
Just being in any mountain lookout is special. The remoteness, views, air, sky and colors…
Here is the gallery where you can purchase prints.
Here are a few more images from the second trip.
On Wednesday night I made my way up to the Park Butte Lookout for the 5th time this year.
Each trip is different, unique. Skies and clouds, temperature and wind, sun or rain it is always a fantastical place to spend the night.
This trip was no exception, I went with my friend, Sam and her dog River.
The cool October air is comfortable for climbing up with a big back.
Leaving late we arrived at the lookout as the sun set, had dinner and almost immediately after were out capturing images of the Milky Way, blazing above.
I clambered down below the lookout for a new perspective of the lookout and Milky Way.
The yellow lamp I brought created a perfect yellow-golden light inside.
Finally the excitement ended and we hit the sleeping pads, out on the lookout balcony.
The early morning light was wonderful. I popped up quickly and started my circumnavigations of the lookout, searching for the perfect light.
Here is the link to buy prints
and here is the link for Photo Tour details.
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 