Birch Bay State Park

Stormy Afternoon at Birch Bay State Park, Washington.

I wandered up the shoreline last Sunday to Birch Bay. It was my first time in the area and it won't be my last...I was pretty impressed with the photo opportunities. The sky was dull and featureless for most of the day but late in the afternoon the haze dissipated and the clouds began to show definition. I was already in love with the scene but when a little hole in the clouds allowed a pop of brightness to seep through, well that was the icing on the cake.

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.

Cascading Waters

Cascades on Boulder Creek in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington.

My son and I took off for an "Adventure Day" up into the Cascades on Sunday. We saw the washout on the Index-Galena Road, scored a couple of trains rolling through Skykomish and tossed some snowballs at Jack Pass on Beckler Road. On the way back, we stopped to check out this little cascade alongside the road. All-in-all, a pretty awesome day.

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 !!

Washington Pass

If you've never been over Washington Pass on the North Cascades Highway, you've been missing something. Just park your car alongside the road at the pass and look up

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

Coming Back To Picnic Point Again And Again

Picnic Point.....

If you've been following my photography for more than a month, you probably realize that Picnic Point on the Puget Sound is my favorite location due to its amazing shoreline and, to be perfectly honest, the fact that it's less than a ten minute drive from my house.

I sometimes worry that I will tire of shooting there, but I never fail to come back with something new. So the question has to be asked...is it better to wander the world and come away with a few choice images from each area or should a photographer concentrate on a few locations and explore them deeply?

Luckily, I don't have the luxury to ponder that question, I have to get dinner on the table for my family every evening and that means you haven't seen the last of Picnic Point

If you want to see more of my favorite photo spot, I've included 30 images in a themed gallery on my website. I really enjoyed seeing them all together and I hope you do to.

http://www.jimlundgrenphotography.com/#/gallery/featured-theme-returning-to-picnic-point-on-the-puget-sound

Mossy Forest

Is there anything better than a mossy old-growth forest on a cool damp day?  I think not :)

In the valley of the North Fork Skokomish River, Olympic National Park, Washington.

The Trip

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us"
-John Steinbeck

Bridge over the North Fork Skokomish River, Olympic National Park, Washington

Evening in Edmonds

The sunny summer days were nice but this is weather that makes you feel ALIVE!!

The evening was looking pretty interesting last night so I rushed through homework with my son, cooked up a quick and elegant early dinner (OK...it was hot dogs and beans but don't judge) and flew out the door with dishes in the sink (OK...strewn all over the counter top but luckily my wife is away for the week.)

We were fortunate to be sandwiched between storm cells to the east and this one to the west. The storm slowly moved out over the Puget Sound and finally got close as it started to get dark. As the light faded, I put the camera down and snuggled with my son on a bench watching the mini wall cloud as it rolled over the beach. We braced ourselves against the gust front and only left when the rain drops started to pelt us. On the drive home, we were treated to a lightning show...a pretty rare occurrence up here in the Pacific Northwest.

All in all, my son seemed to think it was a pretty awesome way to spend an evening. Beats watching the Lego Movie for the millionth time.

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 :)

Afternoon At Picnic Point

I found a couple more files that I wanted to work up from a shoot at Picnic Point a couple of weeks ago. One of the best things about digital photography is the ability to convert to black and white after the fact....it's like opening up a candy box.

Picnic Point on the Puget Sound, Washington

Goodbye To Summer

The days still feel like summer up here in the Pacific Northwest but when the sun starts to sink, you can feel that autumn is not far away. The sunset is earlier, the evening temperatures are colder and the water is starting to get a little chilly for wading.

I picked my son up from school the other day and went out hunting for a sunset. We didn't find any amazing color but we did bag a couple of ferries up at Mukilteo.

Quiet Evening At Mayo Cove

I spent last weekend on a quick overnight camping trip with my son at Penrose Point State Park. We wandered the beaches, made smores, and stayed up late to look at the stars....oh, and I got a little photography done too.

Quiet evening at Mayo Cove, Penrose Point State Park, Washington.

20 second exposure for those who are curious.

Another Image From Picnic Point

One more from Picnic Point on the Puget Sound...I promise this will be the last one for a while

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.

Evening on the Puget Sound

Stuff In The Water.....I've never been very good at naming images

Picnic Point, Washington

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

More Tulips

Continuing to add to the deluge of springtime tulip photos crossing your screen

Tulips in the Skagit River Valley, Washington

For information about purchasing prints or arranging licensing, visit www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

More Bloomin' Fields

A bloomin' field of daffodils last week in the Skagit River Valley, Washington

For information about purchasing prints or arranging licensing, visit www.jimlundgrenphotography.com

Thanks to RoozenGaarde for such amazing fields you can check out their website for info on blooms at www.tulips.com.