Wild Winter Waterfalls - Mt. Rainier National Park

 

The tumbling torrents that pour from the glaciated heights of Mt. Rainier plunge through secret tunnels in the snow only to burst out in joyful abandon to fall with fierce joy to the stones below. Here in the grand high country of the Pacific Northwest, in the mountain kingdom of Mt. Rainier National Park, reigning monarch of the Cascade Mountains, the waterfalls are the great organ from which springs a sonorous song played unending from time immemorial.

Waltz of the Wild Woods - The Last Days of Autumn

The end of autumn has descended upon the Cascade Foothills in a fury of wind and rain, and in this turbulence the trees of the wild woods dance a frantic waltz as the last leaves of fall flutter and careen upon the gale. November is a wild season in the Pacific Northwest, a time of cold and storms and buckets of rain.

Termination Dust - The End of Autumn

Termination Dust is the snow that heralds the end of Summer and the coming of winter. A white blanket descends as the temperature plummets and clouds race across the autumn sky. Ice frosts the alpine forest and silence descends as the woodland realm that so recently hummed with the intensity of summer now slumbers and waits for spring.

Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S Review

Nikon has been working on expanding their lineup of professional grade lenses for their mirrorless Z system over the past few years, and the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S is a vital component of the “Holy Trinity” of professional zoom lenses. This new 70-200 both equals its illustrious predecessors and in some respects exceeds them, with the end result being a lens that not only outshines those that came before, but also perhaps its contemporaries from other brands.

Vote for Public Lands in Election 2020

I cannot stress how important public lands are for me, and not just for the obvious reason of recreation. If I were never to visit a park again I would still take comfort and joy in the knowledge that the wild places I love are still wild and pristine. Public land is owned by us all; it is the common ground we all can share, and America would not be the same country without its parks and forests. However, all that is under threat, and the fate of our public lands may well be decided this year.

Autumn Walk by the River with the Nikon 70-200 S

 

The Autumn leaves are settling on quiet forest paths, and the sun is falling quicker in the sky as October draws to a close. The river runs cool and quickly, not at flood, but neither at its low murmuring summer state, the side channels lively and laughing once again, the watery giggles heralding the coming monsoons that will fill the rivers with the floods of winter.

The Glory Days of Fall - Nikon Z 70-200 Sample Images

Autumn days are the golden swan song of summer, when leaves of amber hue tumble from the trees through rippling curtains of mist lit by the filtered rays of a waning sun that hovers timidly in the South. The ethereal stalks of mushrooms, the chipmunks hoarding their winter stores, and the frost silvering the morning grass of green fields are the harbingers of the dark winter hours to follow this last curtain call of warmth and busy life that soon shall sleep till spring.

Nikon Z 70-200 f/2.8 VR S Sample Photos and Unboxing Video

This week I finally got my hands on the new Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR S lens, and it is truly an amazing photographic tool. In this video I take unbox this lens and take it out for a photo shoot on my farm to grab some candid portraits of goats. I love the images this lens produces, and the experience of shooting with it is incredible.

I'm currently working on a review of the lens, which I hope to have ready to publish this Friday, so stay tuned!

Fall in the Pacific Northwest - Aerial and Astro Photography

The fog and mist of autumn lie heavy on the low hills of Southwest Washington. The clouds run like rivers of cotton candy down the slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range to pool in quiet valleys, cloaking farms and forests in a quieting hush of somber silence. The fog creates different worlds, the spooky haunted land of evening when it flickers like a living thing through the marsh grasses, the moonlit grandeur of its rise skyward in the night, and the seldom seen fairlyland that lives so briefly in the hours of dawn, glimpsed only by airplanes, drone pilots, and a few lucky hikers on mountain peaks. Autumn fog is a magical thing indeed.

High Tide in the Salish Sea - Underwater Wildlife

Below the waters of the Salish Sea, in the long fjords of Puget sound, may be found a vibrant and diverse ecosystem of bizarre and mysterious creatures hidden in plain sight from the metropolis that lines the narrow channels and wide bays of this glacial landscape. Crabs, pipefish, anemones, jellyfish and many other creatures call this subterranean realm home, and at high tide they crawl from the depths and from hidden crevasses to feed and journey across the ocean floor, their fins and shells and carapaces lit in the shimmering patterns of the refracted sun beaming down through clear salt water.

Solutions to preventing overcrowding in Mt Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is a landscape near and dear to my heart, a place of endless wonder and adventure. The awe I experience upon gazing at the majesty of this icy monarch of the Cascade Mountains never dwindles or mellows with the passing of time. Whether wandering through deep forest, striding through alpine meadows, or clambering through the moonscape of the glacial moraines, I never tire of the experience of visiting what is without a doubt my favorite National Park.

Flying over Centralia Community College

Centralia College is a shining beacon of education set in the rural landscape of forests and farm fields that blanket the rolling hills and valleys of Southwest Washington. I had the opportunity to film this video during this past summer after the campus had been closed and I could safely fly overhead.

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f3.5 Lens Review

Putting together this review of the Vivitar series 1 70-210 f/3.5 lens was way more difficult and time consuming than a review of a 50 year old vintage lens has any right to be. It took me a long time to really get the hang of using it and to figure out how it worked best with my Nikon Z6, so I ended up re-shooting the video review multiple times as my opinions changed. My second problem was the general chaos that 2020 keeps throwing our way. For two weeks in September firestorms threatened to annihilate the entire Pacific Northwest, and the landscape was engulfed in toxic smoke, which really made it tough to film an outdoor lens review in my usual style. Anyway, It’s finally complete, so let's dig into the review.

Bridges in the Smoke - Mt. St. Helens Aerial Panoramas

 

The mountains lie hidden beneath a choking veil of toxic smoke that cloaks Mt. St. Helens as it does the entire West Coast of the United States. The dark forests and silent valleys are thick with the stench of millions of acres vanished in flame and burning ash. Even so many miles from the blazes that have torched Oregon, California, and Washington State the smog of these infernos has consumed the Pacific Northwest in its entirety. I flew my drone through this sickly stillness, driving ever higher into the mountains and launching from lofty viewpoints, but never could I rise above the haze and murk. I returned home stinking of smoke, having documented this historic catastrophe.

Summer Vegetable Garden

Fresh food from your own garden is a wonderful thing, not only is it more delicious than what you get from the store, but there is immense satisfaction is eating something that you have grown from a seed. This is our garden back in August, the early fall weather since I filmed this video has not been kind to it, but there are still peas and tomatoes to munch on.

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Smoke

Catastrophic wildfires have transformed the normally clear blue skies of the Pacific Northwest into an landscape wreathed in dense smoke from the the forest fires that are raging in Oregon, Washington, and California. The entire West Coast has gone up in flames, and I filmed this video to document the awful air quality and fear that I and millions of other people in the Pacific Northwest are dealing with right now. It is unhealthy even to go outside, as the air has become more polluted than anywhere else on Earth.

 

Rode Wireless Go Review

The Rode Wireless Go is an easy way to get professional sounding audio on a small budget. It is both remarkably simple and customizeable at the same time so that it can be both a quick recording solution and a versatile component of a more complex recording setup. For me, being able to setup and record quickly and easily is absolutely essential, and the Rode Wireless Go makes recording in loud environments a non-issue. Overall, the Rode Wireless Go is one of the best wireless microphone systems out there.

Summer Flowers

Dahlias, Gladiolas, Roses, Snapdragons and other summer flowers fill my garden in a rainbow profusion of life and natural splendor. Building and maintaining a garden is difficult labor of love, and the blossoms that swarm with hummingbirds and honeybees through the heady flower scented air are the fruits of that labor.

Leech Lake

The green hues of Leech Lake mirror a blue sky streaked with summer clouds here in the crest of the Cascade Mountains at White Pass, the dividing line between the Western rainforests and the arid lands of Eastern Washington. The snubbed cones of ancient volcanoes rise imperiously overhead, and emerald forests team with secret life here in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Johnston RIdge Sunset Hike - Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

On Johnston Ridge in Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument the sunset glow of August turns the hills and ridges of the blast zone an amber hue in the waning hours of a summers day. Indian Paintbrush and Lupine still grace the rolling crest of the ridge and shine with a glorious inner light. The distant crater looms over the young meadows, grown to a splendid glory since that fateful day in 1984.

Cedar Creek Grist Mill

Cedar Creek Grist Mill is a historical, water-powered grain-grinding mill built 144 years ago in 1876. It is still in operation today as a working museum, with volunteers producing fresh-milled flour and cornmeal. This is a spectacular living piece of Washington State history in a gorgeous natural setting.

Flying over the Newaukum River

The Newaukum River tumbles from green mountains to even greener fields to meet the Chehalis River near the town of the same name. Before this confluence it passes through Stan Hedwall Park and under the rail bridge turned bike trail that marks the start of the long and rugged Willapa Hills Trail that crossed these low mountains and finds its distant terminus on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Bear Grass

In the early days of summer in the  alpine woods and meadow ridges of the Pacific Northwest intrepid hikers will find the ubiquitous and beautiful stalks of Bear Grass rising isolated or in glorious groves of pale splendor from the green shoots of spring. These spectacular wildflowers put on a display as stunning as it is fleeting.

 

Nighthawks

The mysterious bug catchers of the night, Nighthawks spend their days secluded in the dense forest. These beautiful big eyed birds are rarely seen save as streamlined silhouettes cavorting among the stars in the night sky. I was lucky enough to stumble upon several of them resting on tree branches and moss covered boulders while I was out hiking through the woods.

 

Comet Neowise

Once every 6800 years the night sky of Planet Earth is lit by the ethereal spectacle of Comet Neowise, the stunning arc of its tail fanning out across of the star speckled sky. For a few brief weeks this cosmic wanderer traverses the heavens before its tail dims and it fades once more into the black oblivion of the outer solar system.

Tidepool Life in Olympic National Park

The amazing Olympic Wilderness Coast teams with life, with every shallow pool playing host to a miniature world. Even as the chaotic breakers crash down upon the ragged rocks the creatures that dwell in the crannies and crevices go about their secret lives. The constant ebb and flow of tides bring the nutrients all these animals depend on, making this tidepool ecosystem one of the richest and most diverse on Earth. Olympic National Park is truly a diverse and fantastic place.

Hoh Rainforest - Olympic National Park

The Hoh Rainforest is a stunning paradise of giant trees and abundant life tucked deep within the sheltering arms of the Olympic Mountain. Here in one of the Pacific Northwests last grand natural cathedrals one may find peace among the ancient sentinels of the forest, on the banks of the glacier fed Hoh River, and travel deep into untamed wilderness.

Scatter Creek Wildlife Area

Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is on of Washington's last remaining expanses of native prairie land. Though the sound of the freeway is near at hand, bird song fills the air and wind wooshes through the flowers and tall grasses of summer on this wide lowland plain. Sunset turns the gently waving fields to and amber ocean, the white heads of daisies like foam upon a stormy sea, and long shadows are cast cross lonely meadows as the evening hurries to a close.

Sunset over Puget Sound at Boston Harbor

The calm waters of Puget Sound ripple with subtle colors as the blazing sunset lights the quaint waterfront of Boston Harbor on the shores of the Salish Sea. Swifts dart across the deep evening sky, and paddlers too come home to roost at the marina. Flying over this idyllic aquatic scenery I could see down Budd Inlet to the distant white dome of the  Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia, as well as west to the far larger dome of mighty Mt. Rainier, still clothed even in summer in a winter coat of white, now lit by amber alpenglow.

Moonrise - Fourth of July Buck Moon

The full buck moon rose in epic splendor on 4th of July 2020. It sailed with grace and silent dignity as independence day fireworks split the sky with deafening explosions. Emerging from the depths of the forest hills like some great moth shining with unparalleled iridescence it climbed high into the darkling sky, shedding pale radiance over the landscape. Though due to my location I was not able to capture more than a faint penumbra of the eclipse, the ascending moon was still a spectacular sight to behold.

 

Journey of the Stink Bug

Through thickets of ferns and fallen leaves the humble stink bug winds its weary way across the jumbled alien landscape of the Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest. Here in this miniature world every stalk of grass is a soaring tower, and every tree a mountain.

Nikon 24mm F/2.8 AI-S lens Review

The Nikon 24mm F/2.8 AI-S was first introduced back in the 1980s, and is still produced today. There's a reason this lens is still sold today, it's really a remarkable piece of glass, and it's frequently found a place in my camera bag over the past few years.

 

UPS Waterfall Garden Park

Deep in the heart of Seattle is a tiny slice of artificial wilderness, a grotto full of the noise not of traffic and the cacophony of the big city, but of falling water. The UPS Waterfall Garden Park is a refuge from the rush and bustle of urban life.

Barred Owl

In the early morning hours the Barred Owl comes back to his quiet roost to sleep after a long night of patrolling the midnight skies, hunting the sleeping forest for the small rodents that skitter amongst the ferns. However, it can be a trial for these silent hunters to get a good days sleep when the neighborhood robins don't want them around!

 

Lions Mane Jellyfish in Puget Sound

The dark green depths of Puget Sound hide many mysterious and beautiful creatures, and one of the most spectacular of these aquatic wonders is the Lions Mane Jellyfish, a creature that is as lovely as it is deadly. Flying on translucent wings above the sand, through the kelp fronds and past the drowned towers and sunken canyons of the Salish Sea, the Lions Mane is the unseeing predator of the deeps.

Lewis River Waterfalls and Ancient Forest Forest

The ancient trees tower over the clear water of the Lewis River, deep in the heart of Washington's South Cascade Mountains. Here bright falls tumble into deep and mysterious pools that throng with fish and where American Dippers plunge into the perpetual spray of the riffled rocky river bottom to hunt for the snails that patrol the laughing waters here in the Pacific Northwest.

Bainbridge and Back - A Puget Sound Ferry Adventure

I captured these photos and video last year while visiting Seattle. We decided one day to take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island to see the Bainbridge Island Art Museum, as well as the nearby history museum. It was a beautiful day with puffy clouds hanging over the towering skyscrapers of the Seattle skyline and reflecting in the calm waters of Puget Sound.

Cotton in the Wind - A Snowstorm of Seeds

Cotton swirls in the fitful breeze of late spring in the pastoral hills of Western Washington. Here amongst the marshes and the swamps tower imposing Cottonwood trees, and every spring their seed pour fourth in profusion to fill the air like snow and carpet the ground in translucent feathery beauty.

Wildlife and Woodlands at Woodard Bay

The grand forest of Woodard Bay towers over tranquil waters, and both shadowed woodland groves and the silver green water of Puget Sound teem with life. From the ethereal call of the Pacific Forest Wren to the guttural honking of seals and cormorants, the air is loud with the voices of birds and beasts alike. Gulls crack clams on shoreline boulders, and kingfishers dive for shoals of fish that throng beneath the riffled waters.

Priest Point Park and a Double Rainbow

The lush green of spring clothes every inch of the deep woodland realm of Priest Point Park. A bastion of tall trees and an emerald tapestry on the shores of Puget Sound, the park is a refuge from the hustle and bustle of Olympia, Washington State's capitol city.

Spring Lightning Storm

I awoke this morning to the snarling peal of thunder cracking the air over the farm, bolts of lightning curling through the sky in a cacophony of boiling fury. I quickly threw on my boots and ran out to photograph the raw spectacle of nature that swirled overhead. Though I only managed to capture a few strikes it was an exhilarating way to start the day!

Sunset at Mima Mounds

The strange alien landscape of Mima Mounds glows in the afternoon light of spring, the translucent sea of grass and flowers shining with the glory of the golden hour. Whether dug by ancient gophers or laid down by the retreat of an ancient ice sheet, the Mima Mounds Prairie is an incredible natural wonder brimming with life.

Washington Memorial Gardens - Priest Point Park

A stunning bouquet of flowers provides a dazzling display in spring at the Washington Memorial Garden, a hidden paradise of blossoming trees and shrubs with quiet paths winding through the lush foliage and bright green lawns. This is one of many idyllic gems to be found in Priest Point Park on the shores of Puget Sound.

 

May Flowers in the Temperate Rainforest

Every day of spring in the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest brings new wonders as life surges with the turning of the seasons. New flowers appear, bloom and subside into the cascading torrent of fresh green leaves so that from day to day the forest floor changes with shocking alacrity. Here in the deep and cool woodland realm the sound of birds mingles with the susurration of a warm breeze that heralds summer, and the soft patter of misty rain that brings such ebullient life. May is a magical time to experience the temperate rainforest.

 

Gentle Waves on the shore of the Salish Sea

The Salish Sea is a quiet place, even at its wildest the winding reaches of Puget Sound shine with a peaceful serenity. To look at this seascape one might well suppose it was but a lake if not for the briny scent and the ceaseless action of the tides. Enjoy a day of gentle waves on its tranquil shores.

Prairies of South Puget Sound - Flying over Mima Mounds, Scatter Creek, and the Glacial Heritage Preserve

The wide prairies that stretch South of Puget Sound burst with bright spring colors, the blue of waving Camas blossoms and the myriad hues of a billion wildflowers. From above, flying the brisk air of evening as the sun sets on the mysterious lumps of Mima Mounds, Scatter creek, and the Glacial Heritage Preserve, these colors blend together with the new and vibrant grass in a tapestry of vivid green.

 

Flowers of the Forest

The spring brings color to the dappled woodland realm of the Pacific Northwest. Trillium spread their delicate fronds and shining petals, while bleeding heart rise like fountains of iridescence from a carpet of emerald foliage. Shy newts hide beneath, concealed by the fallen leaves of the near forgotten autumn. The smell of life and joy rises with heady fragrance into air beneath the shimmering canopy, the trees fresh with pale new leaves and the vigor of youth.

 

Sailboats on Puget Sound

Despite the bustling metropolis built along its shores, the Salish Sea remains a wild place, with quiet nooks and crannies where otters play and sailboats ply the gentle ocean waters of Puget Sound. Anchored in serene bays, or drifting down swirling channels of life infused tidal flow, one may well think that the age of sail never truly left this corner of the world.

 

Sounds of Silence in the Pacific Northwest Forest

Take a moment to listen to the silence of the quiet forest, the rush of a distant river, the call of a Pacific Forest Wren, and the tumbling jubilant of a singing woodland brook. The forests of the Pacific Northwest offer a serene escape for the ears and mind.

Swimming with Poisonous Rough Skinned Newts

Below the waters of even the most murky of woodland ponds dwell one of the worlds most poisonous animals, the Rough Skinned Newt. These Pacific Northwest amphibians have knobbly backs, bright orange bellies, and excrete a poison 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide that is similar to that of the infamous Japanese Puffer Fish or Poison Dart Frogs. So long as you are not so dimwitted as to swallow one, the Rough Skinned Newt is a fascinating and innocuous creature to observe.

A Swarm of Sand Dollars in the Salish Sea

The floor of shallow inlets of the Sallish Sea play host to a spectacle of nature when Sand Dollars gather in their thousands. These odd creatures live as long as 13 years, and feed upon all manner of detritus, cleaning the water of the ocean on an impressive scale. They are a vital part of the aquatic ecosystem.

 

#ThroughMyWindow Video Challenge!

If you're one of the millions of people like me stuck at home in quarantine or practicing social distancing, than also like me you probably need something to take your mind off the pandemic and all the other problems that are facing us in these troubled times.

Join me in making the best of a bad situation by participating in the #ThroughMyWindow video challenge. The rules are simple - film a video entirely from within your home of the world outside.

Barrier Falls on Gnat Creek

In the quiet hills of Northern Oregon the clear waters of Gnat Creek tumble over Barrier Falls on its laughing journey towards the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. This haven of natural splendor thrives with life that throngs to the wild forest and bountiful waters that throng with salmon on their journey to their ancestral spawning grounds.

I captured these photos and video back in September, hopefully they will help satisfy your wanderlust during this time of necessary cabin fever!

Tillamook Creamery Tour

Cheese flows through the great halls of the Tillamook Creamery in a golden river of creamy cheddar, spicy pepper jack, among many other flavors. The Tillamook Creamery is an essential part of any trip to the Oregon Coast - here you can watch the process of cheese production, as well as sample the delicious results. I highly recommend the pizza and ice cream at the cafeteria for a gourmet meal on your way to or from the beach!

Osprey Eating A Fish

What could be more fun than watching an Osprey eat a fish for 5 minutes! These majestic birds are expert fishermen, and I had the opportunity to watch one eating an enormous trout it recently caught from a mountain lake. I filmed the entire process as it struggled to maintain its footing at the top of a radio tower and not drop its precious meal.