These first three images were taken along Cook Road, just east of I-5. There is a barn here, with no house nearby and the views are expansive. Of course landscapes and skies are always better with stuff in the foreground! 
This next set of three images was taken 2 nights later, out along the Bayview-Edison Road, just west of Edison. That’s the Samish River there.
Photomegre is one of the multitude of Photoshop Tools. It is a system of merging 2 or more images into a panorama.
Here are two original jpeg images from Sahale Glacier Camp. I took these with the thought in mind to later merge them. using a tripod I captured one image and carefully swung the camera on the tripod and lined up the second one. It wasn’t any fancy movement, I made note in my mind of where the frame’s edge was and pointed the camera in the approximate place to take up where the first image left off, planning for some overlap. I was using a 24 mm lens. I set my image quality when capturing the images so that I would have both a RAW file and a jpeg of the shots.
Once back home I opened both of the raw files together in Photoshop CS6 and synchronized them so that what ever changes I made to one were duplicated on the other. I worked to lighten the foreground and darken the sky. Using the sliders for highlights, shadows, exposure, clarity, whites and contrast I played around until I liked the result.
I also used the brush tool on the foreground to bring out more details on the rocks.
I saved the images as jpeg files. Here they are. 
Once this was done and images saved I went to Photomerge, selected the two modified images and let Photoshop work its magic. 
Opening the panorama as a jpeg image I filled in the corners using the clone stamp tool and tweaked the levels settings a bit, and Viola! Here is the final image.
I have printed the image as a 40″ x 15″ canvas print and it is very stunning.
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!
These are a few images from last evening’s sunset. Overlooking Skagit Valley, things are starting to get green!
I had the good fortune to make it to the Upper Cathedral Lakes Basin twice in one year! The views of Cathedral Peak and Amphitheater Mountain are stunning. When I visited in summer I noted the abundance of larch and so returned in fall to see the color explosion. Here are some images showcasing the changes between July 14th and October 2nd.
These last two images were both taken while on the October trip, the first on the way in and the second, from the same spot, on the way home!
Reflections can add greatly to any photograph. There is something striking about reflections, they add depth, color, scale, texture and sort of pull you into the image.
Mount Shuksan
Cypress Island
One item you’ll need to capture reflections is a polarizer. Try to position yourself at a 45 degree to the light for best results and as you rotate the polarizer you’ll see the reflection pop out. Be prepared to get low, maybe on your belly to get the shot!
Pond along Reiter Road
Boats along Samish Bay
I am always on the hunt for any size body of water.
Balloon reflected in a artificial “pond”
Sunset Through an Open Window
Small puddles work great!
Liberty Bell from Washington Pass Overlook along the North Cascades Highway
The water does not have to be clear!
Tulips Reflected
Mud Puddle Reflection
Even wet surfaces can create wonderful reflections.
Reflections in Sand
Everytime you see any standing water, try for a reflection!
Amphitheater Mountain Reflected, Pasayten Wilderness
Squalicum Bay
Sunset and Muddy Water
There are many barns here in Skagit County, here are a few images from my neck of the woods…
Sunset from Copper Ridge
The trek started at the Hannegan Pass trail head. We arrived Friday morning to a full parking lot and sunny skies ready to tackle a hard 5-day loop through the North Cascades. Weather reports for the area called for dicey weather, partly sunny/cloudy with a high percentage of thundershowers. But like most fools I told myself that this forecast did not by some magical, mystical way, apply to me.
Actually the story started 7 years ago when I hiked the Copper Ridge trail forded the Chilliwack River and made acquaintance with a bunch of spawning salmon. The image of all those bright red salmon in the pristine waters, deep in the wilderness just pulled me back, that and the lure of making it to Tapto Lakes, above Whatcom Pass.
The first days hike took us up to Hannegan Pass and then, entering the North Cascades National Park, up to Selesia Camp on Copper Ridge. This is easily on my list of top 3 or 4 camp sites in the park, the views of Mount Shuksan, Ruth Mountain, Whatcom Peak and the Picket Range and many more are just breathtaking.
The Picket Range under Storm Clouds
Mount Shuksan from Selesia Camp
The night brought lightening and thunder and rain but the morning, to our surprise was clearing. We headed up to the Copper Ridge Lookout, at 6,600 ft the highest point along the trail. The park ranger was there to greet us and we toured the lookout while she pointed out the names of all the peak surrounding us. The trail ascending to the lookout from the north meanders through a bright green meadow in a sinuous s-curve just below the lookout. Years ago I captured a wonderful shot of a hiker climbing out of the abyss…
Out of the abyss, Copper Ridge, North Cascades – 2006
Hiker Approaching the Copper Ridge Lookout – 2013
Tanya, the Park Ranger commented that a lone hiker was approaching from Copper Lake and so now another chance was upon me to see about capturing again the silhouette against the backdrop of deep valleys.
Reluctantly departing from the views and company at the lookout we continued our ridge walk, descending to Copper Lake we stopped for lunch and a swim in its azure waters.
Surprisingly the weather held up and as we made the long traverse of the ridge the views were magnificent. Mount Redoubt and Bear Mountain stood out along the way.
Copper Ridge Panorama
Storm clouds over Mount Redoubt
Reaching the end of the ridge we started down the long, seemingly endless series of switch backs towards the ford of the Chilliwack River and Indian Creek. The changes in the flora were dramatic as we descended from a bare forest floor carpeted with pine needles into a real rainforest, lush and green and wet.
The two channels are parallel for a short time here, first crossing the Chilliwack and then a short section of forested river bed we came at last to Indian Creek and behold, the salmon were there, spawning in great numbers. Taking off shoes and socks again we looked for a ideal spot to rest and relax to enjoy the wonder of the place. a gravel bar at the point of confluence between the two streams was a perfect place.
Indian Creek is not a big stream, maybe 80 feet across here as it spreads out along the valley floor and shallow, knee-deep with some nooks where the water is as deep as 3 to 5 feet.
Salmon in the Creek
The salmon were there, just as before. They were not headed anywhere, the group of 70 or so simply treading water, looking happy to finally be back home.
Clambering out along logs and snags I tried to capture shots of the scene. the bright color of the fish is so impressive, they seemed to hover in the sparkling clear waters, the colorful stones looking like the ground far below while the salmon soared through the sky above.
Flying Fish
The place is so remote, the forest envelopes you and it is like having gone back in time. Deep in that valley was like being in a different life, on a different planet.
Indian Creek Salmon
I bounced between standing still in wonder, trying to get some food, wanting to capture images and the strong desire to do something to take care of my aching feet. About 100 feet upstream a large brown/black bear appeared along the shore. we both froze, considering each other. As I started towards the camera a sharp noise frightened him back into the forest, my dreams of imaging the bear snacking on salmon vanished…
Sunset came swiftly. reds and blues and pinks and purples painting the waters with their fantastic hues.
Sunset at Indian Creek
Night brought even harsher weather than the night before. The crashing of thunder now muted by the deepness of our camp in the forest. I was again happily surprised to awaken to clearing skies and spent the next hour or so back in the stream with the salmon. Morning fog made the scene even more ethereal.
Morning fog over Indian Creek
It was a struggle to pull away and start the long slog up to Whatcom Pass.
The suspension bridge above Indian Creek sways as you cross, the views up stream were captivating, the water coursing down in the dark green forest.
Suspension bridge over Indian Creek
Indian Creek Waterfalls
During the days travel we encountered many people: day-hikers and mountaineers, young and old(er), lost and found. I advised one and all to make a point to take the time to go visit the salmon.
As we climbed up along Brush Creek the weather got gloomier and as we made it to the final climb at the valley head rain started. Our goal was Tapto Lakes that night, another hard 1,000 feet above the pass, but when we made it to Whatcom Camp the rains were pounding. Cold and wet we hurriedly set up the tent. Dry clothes, warm sleeping bags and hot food tend to improve the spirits quickly.
That night the storms really pounded. The tent was alight with flashes, the thunder and lightening coming simultaneously. Protected somewhat by the trees and the fact that we were a quarter mile down from the pass we lived through it, and awoke to an almost complete white out.
Mt Challenger lost in clouds
My desire to hike another 1,000 vertical feet evaporated and I headed down the trail, back towards the Chilliwack.
Once back at the junction we’d passed the day before my path turned upstream, headed to Hannegan Pass to complete the loop. Fording the Chilliwack is now a more daunting proposition, the valley steeper and more narrow. Hikers are afforded two choices: to ford the waist-deep waters or to pull yourself across in an aerial cable-car!
Chilliwack Cable Car
That choice was easy1 The cable car is in great shape, holding up to two backpackers (and their gear) the pulley system makes it easy to make the crossing, gliding 100 feet above the river below.
The last nights camp was at the Copper Creek camp, hoping to get a glimpse of meteors above we perched ourselves on the stones with w pie-sliced view of the heavens.
Stars along the Chilliwack River
The last days hike up and over Hannegan Pass and back to the car was completed before lunch, the trails edge bordered with a carpet of herbaceous wildflowers.
As always my feelings are mixed at trips end: relief at the prospect of real food, a warm shower, soft bed and time off my throbbing feet but as we jump in the car for the drive back my heart is already longing for the cool, clear waters of the Chilliwack…
Copper Ridge Panorama
Sauk Mountain rises more than 5,000 feet about the lower reaches of Skagit Valley. It’s nearness to the North Cascades Highway makes it a popular day hike. All of the times I’ve been there before its been partly couldy at best but I saw enough to know that it would afford great views at sunset. So, on Thursday I made my way up and captured these images of the sweet light over the Skagit River and valley…
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 