Sunrise Through the Mist
Some friends and I had come to Reflection Lake to wait for a colorful sunrise. We were certain the sun would rise, but not certain about the colors. What we got instead was a gorgeous scene of mist rising from the lake and the forest occasionally peeking through. I used an graduated ND 4 filter on the top half of this this shot because the sun was beginning to really brighten the mist.
Reflections at Gold Creek Pond
Gold Creek Pond is a man-made lake, sort of; nature has been working on this place for many years. During construction of the I-90 highway through the Snoqualmie Pass in the early 80's, gravel was mined from this area. Once the road was complete the area was restored to as natural a state as possible, the lake filled up and nature has done the rest in the last 20+ years. Snow has dusted the mountains in the distance and ice extends from the edge on this side where the sun warms the center of the lake. On the southern end of the lake where the mountain shadow keeps the sun off the water, the ice is thick and strong enough to walk on.
Pier into the Sunrise
Far in the distance, the Johnny Mercer Pier extends out from the black silhouettes of the buldings toward the sunrise colors in this view down the beach at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
Magical Mountains (Left)
The colors and mist on the distant mountains are enhanced by the golden light from the sunset and set apart from the darker and slightly foreboding foreground. The land beyond looks like a fairytale place, a magical place, perhaps like the mountains of heaven, and the viewer feels the desire to get past the darkness in front and soar over the beauty beyond.
This photo is processed with an artistic editing touch that uses available colors in the original image and enhances them to create this magical and other worldly scene.
Magical Mountains (Right)
The colors and mist on the distant mountains are enhanced by the golden light from the sunset and set apart from the darker and slightly foreboding foreground. The land beyond looks like a fairytale place, a magical place, perhaps like the mountains of heaven, and the viewer feels the desire to get past the darkness in front and soar over the beauty beyond.
This photo is processed with an artistic editing touch that uses available colors in the original image and enhances them to create this magical and other worldly scene.
Talapus Lake View
On a perfectly still afternoon, by the perfectly glassy Talapus Lake, relaxing after a perfectly PNW hike, these gnarly logs spoke to me. I had to stop and listen. You are a witness.
Ollalie LakeSabbath hikeTalapus LakeTalapus Lake Trailbrian xavierbrian xavier photographybxavierbxfotobxfoto.combxphotohikinginstagramprintsnatureoptoutsidepacific northwestphotographic artsphotographypnwtrails
Silky Waters
On the way up to Pratt Lake the trail passes by several jubilent streams. The water dances and dashes over the rocks. I had to stop and capture this magical, silky, jubilent water. :-)
Pratt Lake TrailTalapus Lake Trailbeautiful outdoorsbrian xavierbrian xavier photographybxavierbxfotobxfoto.combxphotolandscapegallerylong exposurenatureno tripodoptoutsidepacific northwestphotographic artsphotographypnwrunning watersilky watersteamwet rocks
Fall Colors on Mount index
On the flanks of Mount Index, on the way to Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene, on a normal PNW kind of day, I saw this. Fall in Washington.
Bridal Veil FallsIndex WashingtonLake Serene TrailWaterfallsbrian xavierbrian xavier photographybxavierbxfotobxfoto.combxphotohikinginstagraminstagramprintsoptoutsidepacific northwestphotographic artsphotography
East End of Rattlesnakek Lake
The sun is setting behind me and casting some beautiful orange light onto the top of Mt Si. If all this looks cold, it was!