North Cascades Photography – La Conner Daffodil Festival

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Andy Porter

North Cascades Photography – La Conner Daffodil Festival

The La Connner Daffodil Festival signals the start of spring in the Skagit Valley.

As the dreary winter drags to a close the fields of the Skagit Flats slowly come alive. This years winter was a bit longer than we’re used to, snow was covering the ground only a few weeks ago.

Several warm, sunny spring days is all it took to start this years bloom. Here is a recent image, “Daffodils Under the Moonlight” from March 22, along the La Conner Whitney Road.

Daffodils Under the Moonlight

The bright colors is all it takes to chase away any lingering winter blues!

Each year the daffodils are in different locations, the Bloom Map shows where the fields are located, and when they are in bloom.

Spring is a wonderful time to hit the highway and drive along the Cascade Loop. Skagit Valley is one of many destinations calling you…

Here are a few images from earlier years…

: Daffodil Sunset

: Daffodils and Mud

: Spring Daffodils

: Skagit Valley Daffodils

The La Conner Daffodil Festival starts whenever the daffodils start to bloom, which can be anywhere from late Feb until late March.

There is a Photo Contest as well:

La Conner Daffodil Festival Photo Contest

Photographers get ready for the La Conner Daffodil Festival Photo Contest! All you have to do to be entered to win is take your photos during the La Conner Daffodil Festival and then post to Facebook or Instagram with hashtag #laconnerdaffodils. We will then choose the top 10 photos and have the public vote on the winning photograph! The winner will receive a cash prize and be crowned the La Conner Daffodil Festival Official Photo. The photograph will also be used for publicity for the following La Conner Daffodil Festival!

The best times are sunrise and sunset. Please don’t park your car anywhere you’re not supposed to, and be careful out there!

Here are a few more images from years past.

: Daffodils at Sunrise

: Rows of Daffodils

: Skagit Daffodils at sunrise

: Daffodils, Morning Light

: Skagit Daffodils at sunrise

: Skagit Daffodils at sunrise

: Daffodils Reflected

: Rows of Daffodils

: Skagit Valley Daffodils

: Skagit Valley Daffodils

If you’re interested in a sunrise or sunset Photo Tour of the Tulips or Daffodils, I lead Photo Tours Week nights for sunset and weekends for sunrise. here is the link to sign up! Skagit Tulip Festival Photo Tours

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

Skagit Valley Tulips 2015 – Best Images

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Andy Porter

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.