Lowland prairie on a quiet winter day

 

In the mysteriously lumpy prairies of Western Washington, winter is a quiet and subdued season. Oak trees stand with twisted branches bare against the faltering light of January, and the marshes concealed beneath high water. Shadows race over the open plain and through the dense forests which so closely border it as low clouds scud quickly overhead.

The Razors Edge of Winter

 

The fine line between resplendent green foothills and snow laden alpine peaks is but a razors edge delineating the kodachrome world of color and the monochrome world of the mountain winterscape. In this thin limbo between snow and sleeping emerald forest, nature holds its breath, unsure of whether to wake or sleep, it waits for the battle between the warmth of the slumbering valley and the resolute chill of the sky to duke it out and settle the their differences. The war of the snowline rages on till spring brings reinforcements from the south to drive the winter the highest peaks to nurse its wounds and rally its forces for the inevitable turning of the earth to bring about its downward march once again.

Severe Flooding in the Pacific Northwest

Severe weather brought major flooding to the lowlands of Southwest Washington in the Pacific Northwest this week. Many roads were underwater, including a long stretch of the I-5 freeway. Towns such as Centralia, Chehalis, and Kelso were seriously affected. This natural disaster is the second of its kind to hit the region within the last few months, and such disasters are only likely to grow more devastating and frequent as climate change alters our global and regional weather patterns.

Aerial segments of this video were all filmed with the Mavic 3. The Nikon Z6 +70-200mm 2.8 S was used to film the clips captured from the ground. I really appreciated having the 7x optical zoom on the Mavic 3, as it was often impossible to get close to the flooding due to road closures and generally hazardous conditions.

Haida Anti-Fog Lens Belt Review & Test + Christmas Lights & Astrophotography!

I just received this lens belt as a Christmas gift, and the last few nights I've been glad I had it during the huge winter snow storm we're currently experiencing here in the Pacific Northwest. I've found the lens belt to be highly effective. It's a pretty simple device, so I feel comfortable recommending it after only a couple of photo shoots with it.

Foggy winter afternoon in Mosslandia

In the deep heart of winter, dense fog settles on the muddy, sleeping rainforest of the Pacifc Northwest. Mosslandia is quiet, a quiescent landscape of dark evergreens and leafless maples, these solemn hues of fog and dormant trees contrasting sharply with the emerald blanket of moss that coats every surface in vivid hues of glorious green.

Soaring over the Snow Frosted Mountains

 

Winter has finally arrived in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and with is the delicate frosting of snow that settles over forests, peaks, and valleys. As the sun lances through the temporary retreat of the storm clouds that so filigreed the subalpine landscape, the snow melts where the light touches revealing the shimmering green hidden beneath the monochrome veil that so concealed it mere moments prior.

This video and the following gallery of photos serve as something of a documentation of how beautiful this area is right now. Sadly it's all owned by private timber companies, and within the next few years will be butchered and made unrecognizable by clearcuts. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has in the past proposed acquiring part of this land as a wildlife area, but little progress has been made in that direction. Please write to them and ask them to expedite the expansion of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area, and to include in that project the land on either side of the highway to protect the scenic canyon of Hoffstadt Creek, as well as the hills and mountains rising above it:  lands@dfw.wa.gov

The Toutle Mountains across the valley are owned by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and are also in danger of logging. Ask the WaDNR to set the Toutle Mountains aside for conservation and recreation: ampd@dnr.wa.gov

DJI Mavic 3 Low Light Test - Christmas Edition!

With its large, micro 4/3 sensor the DJI Mavic 3 is potentially one of the best drones ever made for filming in low light conditions. In this video we see how the camera of the Mavic performs in highly challenging conditions filming Christmas lights at night! I also filmed the intro with the DJI Action 2, so this is also really a low light test for that as well.