4 Minutes At Larrabee

4 minute exposure at Larrabee State Park, Washington

Sunday was a big day for me...my 50th birthday. I'd like to say I made the transition into my next decade gracefully but, truth be told, I was a moody SOB for most of December. As the month rolled on, I accomplished less and less. I gave up shooting new images, I gave up processing images, and finally gave up posting images as well. What I did do really well was to drive my wife and son crazy with my unpredictable outbursts.

The dreaded day finally arrived and I suddenly didn't feel so crappy anymore. I wouldn't say I felt great, but more....sort of relieved...and surprisingly focused. I'm really looking forward to the next ten years. Several great ideas have been swirling around in my head and I'm planning on devoting this stretch of my life to getting those projects done...and sharing them with everyone when they get under way. Hopefully some ideas will work and probably some will fail but I'm not leaving my 50s without trying each and every one of them.

I captured this image on Sunday while the Hawks were playing. No hating on me please...I listened to the 2nd half on the radio.

Foss River

Foss River flowing through the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington

The Foss River Road is pretty heavily driven by hikers heading to the trailheads but there is plenty to see alongside the road before you get there.

All prints and canvases on my website are 20% off through December 8th. Just use coupon code JLPSALE at checkout.


Stop by at www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

Mist In The Foothills

A pair of images from a misty morning in Skagit County, Washington. I was heading to the mountains when I saw this scene from the side of the road...I definitely had to turn the car around !!

Icicle Creek

Evening at Icicle Creek, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. I could sit by this creek for an entire day and be perfectly happy :)

Picnic Point Revisited

Another image from last week at Picnic Point along the Puget Sound. I am sooooooo fortunate to live just a hop, skip, and a jump from here...well not literally, but you know what I mean.

The Local Beach

 

Had a great time shooting sunset down at my neighborhood beach last night with local photogs Mirwais Azami and Darin Speed.

Sunset over the Puget Sound at Picnic Point, Washington

Blue Lake

Blue Lake in the Hoover Wilderness, Toiyabe National Forest, California by Jim Lundgren

Mount Si

Another image from the clearing storm over Mount Si last week. Hope everyone has a great week!!

North Bend, Washington

Clearing Storm

Happy New Year!!! I want to say thanks to everyone who has followed and supported my work over the last year. It is amazing to get so much feedback over all the social media sites. Let's have a great 2014!!!

Clearing storm on the slopes of Mount Si a couple of days ago.

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

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...

A Big Sandbox

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

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.

Summer Cascades on Denny Creek

Denny Creek, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Cold Cascade

"Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it." -Lao Tzu

Icicle Creek, Washington

Close To Home

My son and I made a last minute dash down to Picnic Point after he decided he would rather go to the beach and see sunset than watch a storm chasing video together (both pretty good options in my mind anyway). Who should come strolling across the beach and join us at the last minute but Michael Riffle, a local photographer I know. The sunset never exploded but clouds in the sky were cool and it was great talking to Michael and trading ideas about locations in the area.

Picnic Point County Park, Snohomish County, Washington

Cape Meares

When we were living in Portland, one of favorite photo strategies was to try to catch sunset as a storm was clearing. I would watch the radar all day and if the trailing cold front was approaching offshore, I would hop in the car and make a dash for the coast. The front and I would usually meet with a heavy downpour somewhere over the Coast Range and the driving would get dicey but the results were often worth the effort.

Sunset after a storm a long time ago at Cape Meares, Oregon

Panic Bag

I keep a panic bag in my office...not the kind to stave off impending social collapse or world doom but packed with goodies to take advantage of any last minute light. It is a small bag, easily stuffed into a backpack, filled with only the essentials, and designed to travel light and fast. Inside are my Nikon body, two zoom lenses, a couple of graduated neutral density filters, polarizing filter, remote release, and a backup battery. Everything I need to create something out of nearly every situation. So now, when conditions start to improve without any warning, we can gulp down our dinner, leave the dishes on the table, and be out the door in minutes. That is assuming my son is not dragging his heels ;)  Do you have a "photo panic" bag always packed and what is in yours?

Sunset over the Puget Sound at Picnic Point County Park, Snohomish County, Washington