A Look Back At 2013

Looking back, it has been an interesting year. It seemed like my time behind the camera dropped dramatically but when I added it all up, I managed to sneak in nearly twice the number of shoots I did in 2012...go figure. I succeeded in stepping outside "my box" more and experimenting with different techniques. Most importantly, it was the year my son started taking an interest in what I...change that to we...did. It was difficult paring down the list to my favorite 10 images but here they are....

Sunset at Anacortes, Washington in January. It seems like a lifetime ago but I definitely remember how cold it was that evening. It was also the first sunset my son got really jazzed about.

2013 brought my first experiments with long-exposure photography. This was from the deck of the Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria, Oregon....right after happy hour.

The Falls on Boulder River in Washington have been on my to-do list for a long time. I've been there before with my son but I finally made in back with my camera gear this year.

2013 saw the return of black and white to my repertoire. This mosquito-infested marshy shoreline is at Baker Lake, Washington

I tried to shoot during the midday hours more rather than sitting around and pining for great light. "High Noon" was taken in Edmonds, Washington at ....if you haven't guessed already...noon.

Urban photography surfaced in my work this year. Although I still love being in nature the most, I had a great time wandering around Seattle and Bellevue. Reflections of the Space Needle in the EMP.

My retrospective would just not be complete if I didn't include a shot from Picnic Point just around the corner from my house. If you've followed my work, you know I'm completely obsessed with this location....mainly because it's right down the street.

I made a promise to explore the neighborhood more and this capture came from just down the street in Lynndale Park. I've lived in this area for 7 years and never knew this scene was just minutes away.

Don't ever fall into the trap of telling yourself you need to travel to create decent images. These leaves were from our yard.

There just might not be a better moment in life than watching twilight slip away over the inland waterways. Hood Canal, Washington

If I impart one thing to my son, I want it to be my love of nature.  Fort Stevens, Oregon

Groovy Space Needle

A groovy retro Space Needle....Far out man !! 

Shady Lane Trail

The bridge has seen better days but the forest is still in pretty good condition. 

Shady Lane Trail, Staircase Area of Olympic National Park, Washington.

Dark And Stormy

This image is from Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon coast earlier in the year. The park is not only known for it's seemingly endless sandy beach, but a shipwreck and an abandoned military defense installation that you can explore as well. Let's just say my son was in no hurry to leave :)

SALE!!

Now is your chance to do your holiday shopping. All prints, framed prints and canvases will be 20% off through December 8th. Use coupon code JLPSALE at checkout

Visit www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

Into The Forest

I've been thinking about an image that I wanted to create for awhile. I would try process a file and always end up tossing the results. Finally I ran across the right composition combined with the right light and managed to figure out the right processing.... and it only took 6 months. Now on to image #2

If you've been thinking about purchasing a print or canvas, this is your lucky week. All prints, framed prints, and canvases on my website will be 20% off starting Friday 11/29 and lasting through Sunday 12/8. Use coupon code JLPSALE at checkout.

Shipping to the continental US is free!! If you live outside the US, contact me for details.

Visit: www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

Sunset On The Sound

I managed to get down to the nearest beach to meet up with a couple of local photographers for sunset yesterday. It was low tide and the stream had recently carved a bend through the sand right as it entered the Puget Sound...something I had never seen there before. I love how you can visit a spot 20 or 30 times and it is never quite the same.

Picnic Point on Puget Sound, Washington

If you've been thinking about purchasing a print or canvas, this just might be your lucky week. All prints, framed prints, and canvases on my website will be 20% off starting Friday 11/29 and lasting through Sunday 12/8. Use coupon code JLPSALE at checkout.

Prints are available at www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

5 Minutes At Picnic Point

The storms were rolling through the Pacific Northwest earlier in the week but I was lucky enough to score a 30 minute dry stretch on Tuesday morning. It was just enough time to squeeze off a few 5 minute exposures of the wind-driven skies and water.

Picnic Point on the Puget Sound, Washington

Lake Cushman

I usually avoid visiting reservoirs late in the year. The water levels are drawn down exposing a muddy dirty shoreline. Lake Cushman on the Olympic Peninsula changed my opinion. The water was low but it revealed a wonderland of gnarled stumps and cool rock formations.

Twilight Over Hood Canal

My son and I hung out yesterday along Hood Canal. We logged over 12 hours on the road, 250 miles in the car, 10 photo stops, a couple of short hikes, a ferry ride home, and the obligatory pancake dinner. Not once did he utter a single complaint (pretty amazing for a 6 year old). We scored some beautiful still water and a steely blue sky at the last stop. It would have been the perfect way to end the day but what he said as day slid into night was even better, "Dad....Best road trip...EVER!" I'm a happy papa right now :)

Scenic Beach State Park on Hood Canal, Washington

Fog In The Desert

Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park, California

If you haven't had a chance to see my new overhauled website, come on by and take a look: http://www.jimlundgrenphotography.com/#/page/home/

Endless Expanse

"Endless Expanse"

Autumn is here, winter is around the corner and the storms in the Pacific Northwest are frequent visitors now. Some may prefer to spend the next 6 months enjoying inside pursuits, but I look forward to heading to the beach and wandering the empty shorelines.

Earlier in the year at Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

"Northwest Light" features 13 of my favorite images in an large format calendar for 2014. It would make a great gift for friends and is available at....

Heading Home

"Heading Home"

Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve in the Snohomish River Valley.

You can get your copy of my 2014 calendar "Northwest Light" at Lulu.com

Overhaul Of Website...And Some Leaves

I have some great news but first I should talk about the photo...

Autumn leaves....enough said...now onto the best stuff...

After way too many hours in front of the monitor, I have finally finished overhauling my website. Gone is the use of flash (so it should run better on Apple products) and I think the site is a little easier to navigate. Feel free to drop by and take a look

http://www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

2014 Calendar Now On Sale

I am extremely happy to let you know my 2014 calendar is now on sale. Northwest Light features 13 of my favorite photographs from Oregon and Washington in a very large 13.5" by 19" format. It looks great hanging on the wall (in my highly biased opinion) or as a gift for friends and family members. You can purchase your copy today at...

Are You Kidding Me???

I recently checked the stats on one of my images that had been shared like crazy over on G+ and I was really stunned. I actually had to count the digits several times to make sure I had it correct...

30 million views...

Are you kidding me?

It is incredibly humbling to know that one of my images has made an impression on so many people. Thanks to everyone who follows my work across all the social media sites. I appreciate every single like, +1, favorite, or comment you leave. Have a great week!!

A Big Sandbox

A big sandbox for your Friday. Sunset over the Imperial Sand Dunes, California.

A Walk In The Woods

It was another beautiful, misty, and downright foggy morning again this morning. The perfect opportunity for a walk in the woods.

Lynndale Park in Lynnwood, Washington

Icicle Creek

Icicle Creek in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington.

Rocks On A Beach

Rocks On A Beach 

Yep...that pretty much sums it up. 

Camano Island State Park, Washington

Lake Serene

If you've ever been in Washington, driven Hwy 2 through Index, stared up at the granite peaks towering above the roadway and wondered what's up there....this is it :)

Lake Serene, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington

Goodbye To Summer

Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January.

--Hal Borland

Marshy Meadow at Baker Lake

Marshy meadow on the shore of Baker Lake, Washington

Sunset And A Party

My son and I got a chance to spend the evening on the beach with some amazing local photographers along with spouses and kids. It was fantastic to hang around the fire with some great people. Sometime near sunset, a few of us scrambled along the seawall down to the Ferry terminal for a quick shoot. The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when I turned in my camera for a marshmallow on a stick. You have to have your priorities.....

Rubeckia

This is one of those images I fiddled with for nearly an hour before it dawned on me that it might just work in black & white. There is now a sticky note on the side of my computer screen reminding me to try that option a little sooner

Rubeckia in downtown Bellevue, Washington

Boulder River

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”― John Muir

Boulder River Wilderness, Washington

Sunset Over The Sound

Sunset over the Puget Sound at Picnic Point, Washington (doesn't he ever go anywhere else???)

Picnic Point

Another image of the sunset over the Puget Sound on Sunday evening. Thank goodness it was summer since I had to stand in a couple of feet of water to get this composition :)

 Picnic Point, Snohomish County, Washington.

Dancing Waters

Dancing waters of the Ohanapecosh River, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Intuition

I scored some nice light over the Puget Sound with fellow photographer Keith Morgan. I can never explain it but there are days when I just know it's going to be good. Maybe it's experience, maybe it's intuition, or maybe it's just plain luck. Regardless, I've learned over the years to pay attention to that feeling. More often than not it leads me to something pretty awesome !

Picnic Point, Snohomish County, Washington

Summer Cascades on Denny Creek

Denny Creek, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington