Quarterly-ish Update, April 2024

Hello friends. Welcome to Spring.

As I write this, I’m busy preparing for TWO presentations at the Nature Photographer’s of the Pacific Northwest spring meeting (NPPNW.org). I will be presenting a talk on personal photography projects and then a talk about photographing forests. I’m nervous, but have wanted to be on the main stage of a photo conference for years. Practice will help calm my nerves. 

It's been a busy winter into spring for me. I spent a weekend in Port Angeles during the polar freeze. After driving through snow and ice, I arrived at little cottage I had rented for the weekend. Took me 5 hours to drive what normally takes me about 45 minutes. YIKES! Glorious and frigid days during the weekend leant to beautiful winter images. After that chill, there wasn’t much snowfall -I never got to use my new cross-country skis or snowshoes once this year. Leaves me open for more adventures next year and with my trusty Sam the Subaru, I’ll be ready for them.  The beginning of March found me on a road trip kinda for work. 

I drove to San Francisco for our trade conference, but had decided that my drive would be used for my business and did some portfolio building in the Redwoods and along Highway 1. Let me tell you, I have driven Highway 1 on numerous occasions and I am still blown away by the beauty - and a little taken aback by the fact that people drive this road at 50+ miles per hour. There were a couple of curves that put my heart into my throat and I pulled aside to try to breathe normally again. My stay in the Redwoods was inspiring and began planning a return trip for next spring as I watched elk graze in the meadow across from my tent - luckily not as close as the elk got to my tent in the Hoh campground several years ago. While camping, I even bumped into a co-worker who was on a road trip with a friend. Neither of us knew the other would be at that campground but so happy I ran into him. Chatting with him and his friend made the night less cold.

No sooner did I return then my spring activiies started. First on the agenda was  a solo backpack trip on the Ozette Triangle. Good little shake down trip where I forgot my headlamp and charger for my handheld video camera. I also broke down with a good ugly cry in the middle of the beach. I had chatted with a young woman who was also doing a solo trip (I got to talk to Katie much longer the second night and she is quite an inspiration) and felt sorry for my younger self who was too afraid and anxious to do anything like this. In fact, this was only my 3rd solo backpack. About 20 years ago I attempted to backpack the Ozette Triangle - I showed up at camp, set up my tent, walked the beach, tore down camp, and went home without even staying one night. So they were also ugly tears of happiness that I was able to make the decision to hike it by myself.

The Othello Sandhill Crane festival was the next weekend. Three days of birding. I came home 1,165 photos and have been able to narrow them down to about 150. WHEW! Through the cursory editing process, I have several that I’m proud of. After the presentations, a trip to Bryce Canyon with friends is in the works. Coming up is a season of camping trips, both front-country and backcountry.

Your photo tip of the season. This is something I’m sharing with the NPPNW attendees - how to show scale when photographing large trees. I love big trees and will often point my camera at them and their grandeur. But with so many grandiose subject, showing the the immense power of the subject can be difficult especially on a small phone screen. Try to add a known element, often man-made, to help demonstrate the size. In the photos above, a car and a road help to show that these trees in the Redwoods are grand beyond our knowledge. Next time you’re confronted with showing the grandeur of a subject or scene, try adding a known human element.

As we enter the season of longer days, I have tons of photos and videos to edit. Keep stopping by the socials to see how that’s going. If you’re wondering how the show went in February, it was a smashing success. Thank you everyone who showed up during the month and especially to those who bought a print or more. You made a dream come true a dream indeed.

Good bye and I will see you on the next adventure.

Quarterly Update, December 2023

The International Kitteh

Welcome back to the adventure, my friends. The year is winding down to a close and I’m looking back over the year and the photos created on adventures to new and familiar places. This time of year also brings the desire to plan for the coming year. I don’t have any big adventures planned yet, I mostly want to pay off the credit card from the previous adventures, so I will be staying closer to home. My other big goal is to make progress on my state parks project. More about 2024 later - let’s chat about the last quarter of 2023.

If you read last quarter’s newsletter, you might be wondering if I figured out who my father might be. I did. It turns out that the man who raised me, truly was my biological father and that the people who raised him weren’t his biological parents. How he came into their care, we don’t know yet - that investigation is still ongoing. We found grandma, a woman named Charlotte Lockett who was taken from England to Canada by Dr. Barnardo after her father died and the family was plunged into poverty. She was sent to Hazelbrea House in Ontario and then placed in homes to work and “build her character.” We don’t know what happened between Hazelbrea and her first marriage, but she had one son who she abandoned when she left her husband. My father was born after she left her first husband and before she was noted on the census as a tenant in another man’s house (with no mention of dad). The investigation is still ongoing and I’m not feeling so lost anymore. This is a journey I am happy to walk.

My new little car, Sam, is a dream. I’ve been able to go on a few little adventures with him. The first was to the Palouse area of Washington to photograph with my friends Kelly Chung and Chris Phillips on the last leg of their journey to the Rocky Mountains and back. They wanted to make a stop in the Palouse and invited me to hang out with them. It was such a fabulous feeling being with and exploring the countryside with fellow photographers. We photographed barns, wheat fields, and sunsets. At dinner the only restaurant open after sunset in Colfax was Eddy’s Chinese & American. I think all three of us had dietary restrictions, but “Eddy” made sure we had good meals. After we parted ways, I drove to Walla Walla and visited Whitman Mission. I had no idea that Whitman Mission was such a draw for birders. I ran into a group of birders searching for a rare hawk that had been spotted the previous week. One member took me under her wing and we meandered a trail near the creek looking for the Great Horned Owl that had taken up residence at the park. We heard him, but never saw him. We did however see several other birds flitting around.

The next adventure was heading to Montana for Thanksgiving. I spent several days in Conrad on the eastern slopes of the Rockies with Shelba and Tom. Tom had located a couple of old schoolhouses for me to photograph, then he discovered my love of old cars and took me to the shop of a friend of his to photograph a yard filled with old International trucks. As the light dimmed, I giggled with glee ignoring my frozen fingers to photograph the rustic details of his truck collection. That is where the lead photograph, International Kitteh, came from. We also visited a couple of state parks, one at sunset with gorgeous skies and interesting rock formations. The other of historically cultural significance. I recorded a video of the First People’s Buffalo Jump State Park, an area where native peoples ran herds of buffalo off a cliff to harvest. It is a fascinating history and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you. After Thanksgiving, I drove back over the Rockies to visit with Cyndy and her family. On that visit, we drove down to the Bison Refuge managed by the peoples of the Flathead Reservation. I had visited the refuge many years ago but was happy to see it again. I love photographing these big animals. We didn’t see many, but there’s always next time. Refuges are great places to hone your wildlife photography skills.

Am I going to talk about wildlife photography for our quarterly lesson? Nah. I want to talk to you about scouting new locations. I recently “found” a new park close to where I meet a writing group on Sundays. I had been driving by for a few weeks and there was always a bank of fog in the area. Curious, I checked the maps and found the Snohomish River curves near the highway and there’s a park with a walking trail along the river - Lowell Riverside Trail. The next week, I grabbed my camera and drove down to the park after my writing group not knowing what I would find. I did find a lot of wonderful subjects to photograph and made notes for future visits.

See the video here.

My tips for scouting a new location:

1. Take notes on whatever device or method you find best. I have friends who geotag within their camera to help them ID locations. Others take notes either verbal or typed into their phones. Another still has a little notebook in his back pocket.

2. Be aware from the start. As I drove into the parking lot, I noted a photo I would have to create. As I started walking to that location, I saw another composition in the other direction. Pull those blinders off.

3. Take your time. Go slow. Scouting works best when you have time to explore. Although I have quickly stopped by a location and made a few notes then drove on to an appointment. But I do find taking time to explore helps me understand the location better.

4. Create snapshots. Snapshots help you know what you can find in the location. Make photos even if the light is “poor” and make notes on the type of conditions that will help you create the image you imagine.

5. Make notes on non-photo essentials: where to park, fees needed, hours of operation, toilets, trail length, type of trail, website (for alerts). All of these will help you plan your return trip better and let others know who might be joining you.

So, what are my plans for the new year? Well, the big news is that I have been invited to show my work at Zeitgeist Coffee in Pioneer Square, Seattle for the month of February. Opening day is February 1st and I’ll be there to talk about my work from 5pm on. Would love to see you there if possible. Get the details from my website. I’m also planning another trip to Utah with friends in April. Mostly a hiking trip, but there will be plenty of time for photos. As for backpacking trips - those are still in the planning stages but you can always keep up to date on my adventures if you follow my socials: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Have a wonderful New Year and I will see you on the next adventure.

Quarterly Update, September 2023

Canoe Journey 2023, Alki Landing

What’s the old adage about best laid plans? Yeah, that can truly explain my summer. My spring was spectacular both photographically and adventures. It looked as though my summer would be as good if not better. But as I sit here with the leaves beginning to turn golden with a chilly nip in the breeze, I look back at the summer and wonder what happened. So many plans - nights sleeping under the stars, trails to explore, photographs to be created - and not much actually happened. In fact, a few things took a turn for the weird.

My sister’s and my annual July trip had to make a few last minute changes. We were to complete a loop hike I had been dreaming of for years, but the lingering snow made us change our plans for a thru hike from the Solduc to the Bogachiel and out Rugged Ridge. Hot days, dry creeks, new medication, and a couple of nasty bee stings made the hike a little unpleasant. On top of that, the day before we left, I had to say good-bye to my beloved Zillah who was 16 and started having seizures. I had hoped the days hiking under the trees would help my healing - maybe it did or maybe the hurt from losing Zillah cast a pall over the trip.

Then, the day I return from that trip, I find out through a DNA test that the man who raised me is not my father. I always had a strained relationship with my father. He was the man who taught me to love photography. He was also the man who taught me to hate myself. I’ve come a long way in reconciling my feelings for myself but not him. Although so much of my childhood can be seen with a new light, what he did to me and what he said to me is unforgivable. I am looking for clues who my biological father is - what I really want though is the story behind my mother and him. For mom, her secret died with her 35 years ago.

To be honest, I keep saying I’m ok, but I don’t think I am. The rest of my summer seemed to dim after that. My sis and I attempted a 10-day backpack only to decide to head out early when we realized the trip may be too ambitious, especially after Kristi hurt herself on the trip in July. I did create a video on that trip and our decision to come out early. Our Labor Day trip was canceled for fire danger, weather, and health reasons. My weekends not adventuring felt like a bust as my car was totaled after an accident in December. 

One bright light was renting a car to watch the canoes land along the north coast of the Olympics, the home of the Elwha, for Canoe Journey 2023. Canoe Journey takes place as members of the coastal tribes (and even some inland tribes) journey from their home waters to the waters of the hosting tribe. This year the final landing was hosted by the Muckleshoot with the landing at Alki. All of the journey is completed in mostly traditional canoes. The above image was made at Alki. The canoe was pulled by an all woman crew while the captain was the man who hand carved the canoe. I was touched by their strength and beauty - you can see the pride for their heritage in their eyes. The red handprints are for remembrance and justice for missing and murdered indigenous women.

This brings me to our photo lesson of the quarter. While photographing events like this one, it is always expected that you treat your subjects with respect. We look for emotional scenes. Subjects that show emotion or their interaction tells an emotional story. This allows your viewer to make a connection with your subjects and their story. Sometimes we find people in a very vulnerable state, a state that shows a lot of emotion. This is where we have to ask ourselves, why are we creating this image? Is it for social media likes? Is it to take advantage of the people in the vulnerable state? Is it to ridicule or demean? If you say yes to any of these, then please put the camera away. Your only answer is to uplift the person and their story. Becoming a student in their story will help connect your viewer to who your subjects are and why their story is told.

By the way, I have a new car (his name is Sam, a loyal and constant companion to my adventures) and I’m about to head into autumn adventures. I’m still working on myself and the feelings I have around my dad/not-dad and I’m hoping the cool air and some sweet photo adventures will help me through my funk. No more backpacks are planned this year, but I do have a couple of hikes to knock out (one to a lighthouse) and before we know it snow will be coating the mountains. This will be the year I buy skis and now that I have a new adventure vehicle, I expect to get out more often.

Thank you for sticking by me and I’ll see you on the next adventure.

Quarterly Update, June-ish 2023

Horses in the Mist

Hello friends. I hope you have something to sip on close at hand - so much has happened since my last update. What a fun and memorable spring it has been. As I write this, summer solstice is right around the corner and it’s looking bright and sunny. It’s a normal June out the window - the kind of June I grew up with: chilly, wet, and gray. But these days make for some beautiful photographs. The greens are almost too much to bear while the flowers pop in the greenery.

April and May were filled with camping trips and hikes in search of spring wildflowers. I did find them with videos and blog posts forthcoming - it’s been a busy quarter. Trips to Bridgeport State Park, Hungry Horse Hills, Rialto Beach, Ginkgo State Park, Vancouver Island, Eastern Oregon, Ebey's Landing, the Bogachiel, and one rocking weekend in the gorge filled my weekends and at times had my head spinning.

Flower weekends started slow at Ginkgo State Park, but ramped up with a visit to the Hungry Horse Reserve near Wenatchee, where the hills were adorned with Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Lupine, Phlox, and various other flowers. My first backpack of the season was a beach hike with my sister and her friend Chris. We hiked past Hole-In-The-Wall on the north end of Rialto Beach and spent a cool evening sleeping in the driftwood as ocean waves crashed against the rocks on the beach. You can watch the video here.

Mid-May, my boss sent me to Eastern Oregon to assemble display cases and I was able to photograph the image above of horses in the mist as the sun warmed the landscape. To date, this is my favorite image of the year. Then I was off to Vancouver Island for a workshop with Adam Gibbs and Alister Benn, two of my favorite photographers. It was a dream come true and a trip I couldn’t pass up. Four days of photography, learning, exploring, and laughter with other like-minded photographers. One morning, I walked through the woods with Alister and basically had a therapy session where he gave me straight talk and asked me the pertinent questions. Basically, I had been questioning my purpose with my YouTube Channel and trying to reach more people. But Alister reminded me that reaching one person is enough … You are enough, my dear friends. As I left the workshop to meet my friend Barb on the other side of the island, I had renewed lift to my attitude and photography goals. 

Which brings us to a photographic idea. We talked a lot during the workshop about the emotional quality of our photographs. The choices we make in color tone and aspect ratio can carry an emotional weight. I challenge you, the next time you are out with your camera (phone, point & shoot, mirrorless …) try different aspect ratios. Try a horizontal image, then a vertical one. How do you connect with the different viewpoints? Play with the warming and cooling filters in your phone or photo-processing software. Are there any changes in your perception of the photo as you change color tones? I’d love to hear about your results.

As we come to a close, the summer is filled with possibility. I have a couple of long backpacks coming and a few shorter ones. I had hoped to get a bucket-list hike finished this July, but the snows are still a little too thick in the upper elevations of the Olympics. Summer is the time to play outside and I hope you have plans to get out and explore. Check back on my website and socials to keep up with the adventure and possible classes. 

As always, be kind to yourself and I hope you are able to see yourself as those who love you see you.

Quarterly Update, March 2023

A water spout from a Grey Whale in front of Mt Baker.

Snow and frost are melting from the landscape in the Pacific Northwest but the wind still blows cold in the morning that my scarf is wrapped thick around my neck. Leafless branches rattle in the breeze as songbirds stretch their necks to belt out songs of springtime love. In the forest, pink salmonberry blossoms and white tassels of the Indian Plum sparkle in against the yellow twigs of willows. Spring is trying to show its force, but winter is holding tight showing us her determination with snow covering the foothills of the Cascades. But the lowlands are showing us warmer days ahead and that is where we’re looking towards.

I do share some regret that my winter adventures didn’t take advantage of the snow this year. I never got the skis out; I only went snowshoeing once even though I bought a new pair of snowshoes. I canceled snow play-days left and right with concerns over snow blowing in the mountains and not having a car built for winter play. Oh, and I can’t forget the fear of not staying warm - that’s a big one. I’ve almost been hypothermic in the past and my obsessive fear about the cold has me paralyzed to go out or do anything to correct my fear. I have plans for this off-winter season to start collecting better apparel and equipment to help assuage my fears. Since winter is slowing down, I don’t want to spend too much time in the world of regret over what I didn’t accomplish but let’s talk about some of the cool things that happened.

I took a trip up to Northern Okanagen for winter photos and to explore the landscape in this often overlooked part of the state. I also went out to the Old Sauk River trail for a little exploratory trip. Both of these trips I had hoped to use my snowshoes, but there were errors. I decided not to dwell on the errors I made, instead I used the errors as teachable moments - primarily to remind myself, and you, to be prepared as you head out. My mistakes were not reading the instructions, checking my surroundings, and in not doing so missed out on adventures and photos. Yet I was still able to salvage those adventures - you can check them out on my YouTube channel.

March found me heading out on 3 birding trips. One trip was a day outing with the Seattle Mountaineers into the Skagit Valley and flats. The opportunity for birding in this area and throughout Puget Sound in Late winter/early spring is spectacular. My other 2 trips were to birding festivals: in Blaine then Othello. While I don’t consider myself a birder, I do enjoy watching the behavior and habits of both the birds and their admirers. I even spotted 4 lifers for me - a merlin, gadwall, white-fronted goose, and tri-colored blackbird. I’m still sorting through the photos and video. The photo of the whale above was taken while on a birding boat trip in Blaine. The whole boat was excited to see this grey whale swim past.

I watched this American Coot through my camera as our boat approached and was ready when it started to fly.

*TRY THIS*

This leads me to a photo idea you can try when observing and photographing birds. Mount your camera to a tripod and zoom in on some birds. Watch them through the viewfinder. Just watch, but keep your finger on the shutter. Keep the head of the tripod loose so you can move the camera freely to follow your group of birds. At some point, the birds you’re following will do something exciting - stretch, bicker, or even begin to fly. If you have been watching them, ready but waiting, you will be able to capture the action. You will also begin to see and recognize telling behaviors of different birds so in the future you will know better when to relax and watch and when to be prepared for some interesting activity.

*LOOKING FORWARD*

April will be all about wildflowers and stewardship. Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Lupine season on the east side is just around the corner and I will be in the Wenatchee area looking for signs of these beautiful flowers as well as the more delicate flowers of the season. Earth Day weekend will again find me on the wilderness coast of the Olympic Peninsula participating in the Washington Coastal Cleanup with several other Mountaineers. I’ve been heading out to the coast for over 20 years working to pull marine litter off the beach. 

I hope April will bring you adventure and beauty. Make sure you follow me on my socials to reconnect with nature and, in a way, yourself.

Learning from My Mistakes

Practice at home with your gear to get ready for your next outing.

Like jewels glittering in the forest, raindrops quivered on their tenuousness of a leafless berry bush. They were stunning. Stunning enough to make me stop and contemplate their sparkling light in an otherwise lightless forest.

The scene was too good to pass up. I hadn’t been able to use my new macro lens with much success and the opportunity to give it a run further excited me. After examining the raindrops and branches and comparing angles and backgrounds, I decided on a couple of luscious drops composed against a dark background to help them sparkle more. Out came the tripod and I began to extend the legs to the length needed.

But, YIKES!

In my excitement, I extended my tripod right into the berry bush. I had neglected to step away from the bush and prepare my tripod before bringing it back to where I saw my composition. The tripod legs knocked and rattled against the bush knocking many of the ripest raindrops to the ground. I stared at the bush in disbelief. 

Did I really just do that?

I stopped to look at the remaining droplets. Maybe, one or two were salvageable. Maybe, I could make this work. I checked out a droplet or two then stepped away to finish setting up my tripod. Now it was time to put the macro lens on the camera and get back to finding a composition with the droplets. I shifted left. I shifted right. I moved in and stepped away. Nothing was coming together. No composition. The focus wasn’t working. I had a vision in my head but I was struggling with my new lens. I grew frustrated and again stepped away from the bush.

With the camera and lens in my hand dropped at my side, I looked at the bush. Maybe, this wasn’t the time for photography but a time for teaching. You see, I made some mistakes. And you can learn from my mistakes - and hopefully I can too.

Lesson number 1 - Get to know your gear at home. When you buy a new piece of equipment, read the manual and test it out at home. Trying to figure it out on the trail will only lead to frustration. Instead of photographing the pretties you see along the way, you’ll fumble with the gear and decide the photo just isn’t worth it. That’s when you might commit the unphotographable sin - packing your camera in your pack where it might not come out until you get home. But if you take the time at home to figure out the gear and test it, your chances of success on the trail multiply.

Lesson number 2 - watch where the legs of your tripod are going. Awareness of your surroundings and how you interact with them will save you some heartache here. Step away from fragile areas and subjects. And watch out for other hikers. 

Take it from me, make your mistakes at home when you are learning new equipment, or settings, or anything. Take the time at home to become proficient with your gear and you will enjoy exploring the trails with your camera more.

What Does This Button Do?

Knowing your camera and setting will help you capture fleeting moments like the sun lighting the forest floor.

What does that button do?

Have you ever looked at your camera and asked this question? How about a computer program like photoshop? It’s a common question filled with curiosity.

What does this do?

This question, this thirst to know more, this curiosity often reminds me of my friend Karen. An avid hiker, Karen would stroll down the trail with camera in hand gazing at all the wonders. We would wait for her at junctions as she investigated one plant after another. When she joined us she would ask which way we were headed, then stare down the opposite trail and ask “I wonder where that goes.” She would stretch her neck up and to the side as if she could see the destination just by stretching her neck far enough. After a moment, she would turn away to continue the original hike stating she would check the map when she got home.

Maps are amazing. On a flat piece of paper are depicted the shaped and sizes of the country: distance, elevation, steepness. When you get familiar enough with reading the contours on a map, you can envision what the scenery looks like. 

Often when planning an adventure, I start with the map. I look for my destination, then my starting point. I’ll trace my finger along the route, imagine what the terrain will look like as I go. As I approach my adventure, I’ll double check my route to make sure I have an expectation of what will happen on the trip. While I’m hiking I refer to my map and my understanding of the route often. I check in to make sure everything is going as expected and if not, I have a reference to help me adjust.

What does this have to do with cameras, gadget buttons, and Photoshop? Everything.

Pull out your manual and place it next to a map. They are both guides for your adventure. Think of your manual as your map to your gear.

What is your destination? Likely, it’s to become proficient with using your new price of equipment or software. Define your destination. 

You also know where you are starting from - where you are right now - looking at your new gear in wonder and maybe a bit of fear.

Open up your manual, grab your new gear, and begin charting your adventure. Refer to the manual often to make sure you are on the right track. When something doesn’t look right or go as planned, come back to the manual. Start with the basics and expand, then come back to the basics to keep building on your tautological foundations.

Going back to your manual once in a while helps you make your destination. When confronted with something new, heading back to your manual can shed light on the landscape of your photography.

Quarterly Update, December 2022

Winter storm clouds above the Rocky Mountains

It’s December, 2022 (insert your favorite cliche adage of time here). For me it’s the end of an eventful year filled with adventures, photos, obstructions, successes, and a realization that seemed to change my world. So where do I stand at the end of this year? Taking the lessons I learned in 2022 to apply them to my life in 2023. So what lessons are those? Let’s look at some of them.

1. I can be successful, but it’s going to take work and boundaries. I love volunteering my time with the Mountaineers and will continue to do so - but on my terms. I come first, then my photography and writing aspirations. Volunteering comes somewhere after that. This past year I have seen an increase in visitors to my YouTube channel plus a growing following on the socials and my dear friends reading this newsletter. In the coming year, I’ll be bringing out my podcast, short photography lessons, and the books I promised this year. Oh and the books I’ve been working on for several years.

2. I have a voice that people hear and listen to. The classes I taught with the Mountaineers showed me that. Viewers tuned into my YouTube videos. Friends asked for my advice. That’s why I decided to try my hand at a podcast.

3. Trust my gut. At the end of October, I stopped at one of my favorite birding locations: Billy Frank Jr Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. I was recovering from COVID and decided to only take my one camera and my new lens with me on my walk. Something in me said to take the camera bag, but I didn’t as I only expected to walk a short way. After an hour and a half I came back to my car to find an empty place where the camera bag had been. Trust your gut. But not just the apprehensive messages. I know when things are right and I can’t push myself before I am ready. I thought I wanted to get a few projects done before the end of the year, in reality I just wasn’t ready to take any of those tasks on. (In case you are wondering, between insurance and donations, I’ve been able to recover most of what I lost in the theft.)

4. As for trust, this past year I wanted to get my backpacking gear lighter. The most vivid memory of when I fell last year was the weight of my pack shifting and pulling me over the cliff. My thought was to lighten my gear and hopefully stay stable on the trail. Some of the new lightweight gear worked perfectly. Some did not. I never learned to trust my tent and when it broke during the 11 day trip through the Olympics, I was done with ultra-light tents.

5. I like me. I have lived with depression for much of my life. After years of therapy, I learned to look in the mirror and remind myself that I love me. But I still suffered from horrifying bouts of disgust towards myself and often became lost in a world where I believed I had messed up my life beyond repair. I loved me, but I didn’t like me. While working on a video, I realized that I actually do like me and want to be my friend. That is the realization that changed my world. You can love someone without liking them, but if you love them AND like them - it makes all the difference. It made all the difference for me. Since that realization I have not had a single despondent moment - even after my camera bag was stolen. This is not a cure-all for everyone and I’m not recommending to anyone with depression that they should throw away their treatments, but so far it has worked for me. My plan is to move forward because I want the friend I have in myself to be a success.

Those are the biggest lessons I have learned over the past year. Because the end of the year is a time for reflection, I invite you to join me on my Instagram as I look back on some of my favorite photos of 2022 and the stories of how they came about.

If my crazy idea wall is any indication, 2023 is going to be amazing so stay tuned for the adventure.

My last parting thought. My holiday wish for you is that you are able to see yourself the way those who love you see you.

Quarterly Update: September 2022

A Puffin takes a running start with a mouthful of fish.

What a difference just a few months can make. All the adventures, the things seen, experiences had, and decisions made. Good things are happening on the HIWalkerPhoto front.

Had an amazing experience photographing puffins from a boat. So much fun that for my birthday, my credit card bought me the 200-600mm lens. The desire to be a wildlife photographer was re-awakened as my friends and I explored the wetlands in the Skagit Valley then hopped on a boat captained by a naturalist and photographer. My only issue is that I am a bit attention deficit so sitting and waiting for wildlife is difficult. Something I need to work on. Don’t worry though, my love of the forest and wildflowers has not changed one bit and I will still be exploring and photographing the woods and meadows of the Pacific Northwest.

Both of my long backpacks went off without a hitch or a fall. They weren’t perfect. We were turned around before reaching Honeymoon Meadows over the 4th of July. The August trip was hot, buggy, and my tent broke. However, on both trips I was able to explore parts of Olympic National Park I hadn’t yet visited - and I loved it. I’m looking at the possibility of doing 1 backpacking trip per month in 2023. Winter months will likely be spent on the wilderness beaches.

I am way behind on editing videos, but I do have some new ones up on my channel. You can check them out here. I realized the other week that there are a couple of videos from last year that I never put together. Plus all the videos from my trip to Utah in March. Not to mention that big backpacking trip - 11 days in the Olympic Wilderness. Speaking of that long trip, we hiked past the area where I fell last year. I am so thankful that I survived. The dropoff and terrain are a lot scarier than I remembered. My essay about the experience was published in the Mountaineer Magazine and well worth the read - if I do say so myself.

Now, summer has faded into fall and the leaves are turning gold. They sparkle on trees and scatter across trails. It’s a wonderful time to pull out your camera and photograph everything that is luscious about the season. I put together a quick blog to help you get out and photograph the colors and activities. I’m sorry to see summer and its adventures go, but there are so many adventures ahead.

Oct 1-2: Backpacking with my friend Ushani to Chain Lakes in the Mt Baker Wilderness

Oct 9-15 : I’ll be in Oregon for the Out of Oregon photo workshop and spending time with my good friend Barb Livieri - she’s from Florida and has never experienced the Oregon Coast. What an amazing time she’ll have.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I’m heading to Montana to visit good friends.

I’m also planning a few field trips and workshops for the Mountaineers.

I’m working on updating my website. While I have added new work in recent months, I still need to add a workshops page and a products page.

Speaking of products, I am currently working on my 2023 calendar and still have plenty of notecards available. Message me for more information until I get the products page up and running.

One last bit of news. When I hike, or walk, ideas percolate in my brain. Hold onto your hats folks. The new idea that came up while hiking through the Olympic Wilderness is … get ready for it … The Hiking Photographer’s Podcast. Yep, this girl with a speech impediment is starting a podcast! I’ll explore gear, trails, ethics, stewardship, and becoming the hiker and photographer you want to be. Episode 1 will be coming to you soon.

Until the next adventure, bye!

Photographing Autumn Color

The crisp blue sky compliments bright yellow leaves of Big Leaf Maples.

Our days are getting cooler and with the crisp air we find the green leaves of summer turning gold, red, and orange. Pumpkins are ripening, apples are a burnished red, and children’s cheeks are rosy from autumn’s breezy caress. We turn from a rainbow of green to the vivid warmth of autumn colors. It amuses me that when the earth cools down, it is when the colors bring the vision of warmth. These sunny colors that mark the end of summer are a favorite for many photographers to photograph including me. In this article, I’ll give you some ideas on making the most of the photographic potential this season offers.

First let’s make a plan. You don’t have to go to New England for fall color - while New England is famous for their vibrant hillsides of orange and red, you can find fall color in your backyard. A few years ago, I traveled to Oklahoma for the turning of the leaves and was not in the least disappointed. You can stay in your own backyard if you’re unable to travel. Keep your eye on what’s happening out your window so you can hop out with your camera at a moment’s notice. This handy map will tell you when the colors in your area are expected to peak. But don’t just wait until peak, head out when the colors are just starting or are patchy. The contrast between the warm tones of turned leaves and the leaves still holding onto their summer greens make beautiful images.

Raindrops add a touch of autumn weather to your small scenes

Think about the time of day you want to go out: early morning, mid-day, late afternoon, golden hour. Each of these time frames offer a different lighting perspective for your images. During the early morning and late afternoon, sunlight slants through the atmosphere and forest to create a glowing light over the land. Leaves take on a translucent feel, like stained glass in a church. Shadows emphasize highlighted leaves to spotlight colors and textures. Mid-day shouldn’t be shunned. We often think that midday light is too harsh for photography, but not in the fall. The sun is a little lower in the sky and gives a more even look to the forest. Photograph with the sun to your back and place the colorful leaves against the blue sky. You might be surprised by the playful color tones. Of course golden hour is as wonderful in the fall as any other time of the year. You want gold tone on your leaves, well the golden hour will give those to you - in abundance. Once last idea to think about with timing is sunrise and sunset. As the sky lights up in brilliant hues of pink and purple, your yellow and gold trees will add an even more dramatic flare.

While we’ve been talking about sunny days, should you stay home when the weather turns gray? Oh, heck no! Even on rainy days, you need to grab your camera and head outside. Gray days are brightened by the color in the trees that can add drama to stormy skies. Rain on leaves make the trees look like they’re adorned with sparkling jewels. Make sure you ring your polarizing filter to help cut the glare on wet leaves - even on cloudy days, leaves can have a bit of glare on them. If you wake up to fog, then heading out into your local woods is an absolute must. Forest scenes are simplified in the fog, Colors stand out in the fog. Stately trees are isolated beauties in the fog. I encourage you to head out any day in the fall to photograph the colors.

Don’t forget to photograph all the essential elements that make this season enjoyable.

While you’re walking through the autumn-kissed forest surrounded by all the beauty, remember to look for the small scenes. We love those grand views filled with color, but autumn can be pictured with small details. Look for groupings of leaves on the ground or in puddles. Photograph the textures for a gourd at your local farmer’s market. Follow your children as they run through leaves. Be creative and find different ways to convey the season beyond the beautiful tree with colorful leaves. With any luck, you’ll pass the day away without even regretting that summer is gone.

While autumn colors only last for a few weeks, there is no reason to sit at home wondering what to photograph now. Head outside and enjoy the photographic bounty the season offers.

Quarterly Update Spring 2022

Wow! Is it June already? It still feels like spring here in the Pacific Northwest. We have had one of the wettest springs on record and it has interfered with outdoor adventures. By mid-May, I was tired of being wet so didn't head out on a couple of trips. Memorial Day and the first weekend in June were spent editing photos, videos, and adding new images to the website. I'm wondering if I should have a gallery just for new images that gets updated each quarter. Just a thought - tell me what you think. Also, please let me know how frequently you would like to hear from me with these newsletters.

Other than bailing on a couple of trips, my spring went mostly to plan and then some. The backpacks have been glorious - lots of green, flowers, and wildlife. I haven't seen any bears yet, but the season is still young. If you haven't caught up on my videos, here's the link to my YouTube channel.

My classes on Street Photography and Forest Photography went better than I could have planned. In fact, I've decided to complete two booklets on each topic. Not too sure how I will sell them, but they are in the works with friends offering to proof each. This opens up an idea to create the same type of short books on other subjects. Plus, I've been encouraged to create a photo zine or two in the coming year. The first will be a love letter to my favorite tree - the bigleaf maple. The state parks book has taken a backseat after a couple of disappointments, so I was thinking of getting the excitement back by doing a video series on the parks featuring the subjects I want to talk about in the book.

My story about coming home was published on the Writing Class Radio podcast. This was a surprise from a few years ago. I had entered a writing competition with an essay about why I returned home to rainy Seattle from sunnier climates. I didn't win, but two of the judges host a podcast about writing and asked if they could use it on air. That was two years ago. In April, they sent me an email letting me know that they are ready to air my story. They sent along instructions with their final edits. A couple of weeks later I had tears streaming down my face as I heard my words read back to me. You can find the podcast here and my reaction here.

June through September has weeks planned out and weeks that may be used as down-time or will be filled up with more adventures. 

June 17-20 - Heading to the Oregon Coast with Kristi and our two big dogs.

June 24-26 - I'm helping manage the camp for the Seattle Mountaineers Conditioning Hiking Series for their Olympic Peninsula campout

July 1-4 - Backpacking to Honeymoon Meadows in the Olympics

July 20th - Helping teach a night photography course for the Mountaineers

July 24th - a private birding trip (guess who is going to rent the big lens again)

July 29-30 - Staying at the Mountaineers' Mt Baker Lodge for flowers and night photography

Aug 12-22 - Our epic adventure in the Olympics (we will likely see bears)

As you can see, there are a lot of weekends that can still be filled with adventures. I want to fit in a few more backpacks such as Hannegan Pass in the North Cascades, Wallace Lake (book research), and the Loowit Trail (Sept?). I’ve also been enjoying planning adventures further out like a week on the Oregon Coast in October with the Out of Oregon workshop featuring Alistar Benn, Adam Gibbs, Charlotte Gibb and Jennifer Renwick plus so many other photographers I admire. My friend Barb and I are also planning a trip to Vancouver Island next spring.

Until the next adventure, bye.

Feeling Beautiful

Me about 9 sitting in camp on a family trip.

My baby pictures show a round little ball of giggles. Creases at my knees, elbows, wrists show that I was well insulated from the cold. My toothless grin always makes me smile when I look at the pictures - an infectious smile filled with joy. To top off my ruffled dress, a bow was taped to my bald head. I was an adorable baby who grew into a cute kid and an uncoordinated teenager with braces. In all my life, I have never used the word beautiful to describe myself. Other people do, and that's ok - it makes me happy that they think so.

During these statements, I am reminded of the Roseanna Arquette character in the movie Silverado. Several of the male characters referred to her as beautiful and her statement was that she knew people believed it, but she didn't pay them much attention. She had bigger goals such as building a farming community. One day she wouldn't be beautiful, but her land would be. That statement always touched me. Your beauty fades, changes, but if you create something beautiful - that will remain beautiful for a very long time.

I've tried to remind myself of my true beauty from time to time - I may not be society's idea of beautiful, but I make beautiful photos and I write beautiful prose. I feel good when I see an image or story I've created in print. This morning, I listened to myself on the podcast Writing Class Radio. I was reading a story about coming home on a podcast about writing. As I listened, knowing these were my words, this was my voice, I realized I had never felt more beautiful until then.

Quarterly Update 2022

Welcome to the first HIWalkerPhoto newsletter!

In these quarterly newsletters you will find fun stories, random thoughts, photo tutorials, and updates in my quest to photograph our beautiful world and all who live in it.

The big news since the 1st of the year was my attendance at the Outsiders Photography Conference in Kanab, Utah. I had attended last year in April and had so much fun visiting the orange cliffs of southern Utah that when they opened registration for this year, I jumped at the chance to go again. During my trip last year, I explored Capitol Reef National Park. On my first ever trip to the Southwest, Capitol Reef was the 1st park I visited, and it continues to hold a special place in my heart. During my first visit I felt the solitude of the place. Last year was so different partially from the crowds and overlooks to the snow falling on me while hiking.

You can check out the video from the trip here.

This year’s trip included Bryce Canyon National Park. Another park I had visited before that also holds a special place in my heart (Yes, they all do). My goal this year was to hike into the canyon before sunrise to catch the morning glow on the hoodoos and canyon walls. I chose the trail – the Two Bridges Trail – so I wouldn’t be searching for a place in the dark, and boy, does it get dark in southern Utah. Imagine showing up to a dark parking lot and looking for a dark trailhead. Then imagine hiking down switchbacks into an even darker dark. Add ice and trauma from falling off a cliff just 8 months before and you have a shaking and frightened Heidi. Thankfully I remembered my Microspikes! Once I got those on my boots, I felt more comfortable – that and the sky was lightning up. I made it to my destination just as the cliffs began to lighten up.

Bryce Canyon at Sunrise

I spent the rest of the day exploring more of Bryce Canyon before heading to Kanab for the conference. The seminars were interesting, intriguing, and inspiring. The conference had barely started when I felt the itch to try new techniques and to comb through old photos for new possibilities. Now just to find the time as I keep creating new images.

Back home in Washington, I began gearing up for the backpacking season. First, by completing my physical therapy for my shoulder surgery. After my fall last July, I decided to try and lighten my backpack a bit – so picked up a lightweight jacket and an ultra-light tent. Thanks to my sister, I even scored a new lightweight backpack. I started hiking as much as possible to get into some semblance of condition - and yes, I took my camera to photograph the adventures and recorded video. The last weekend of March found me on the trail with some of my new gear for a trial run. I am happy to report the new tent and jacket worked perfectly – I will find out about the backpack later in April.

On the photography front, I have found a printer to work with – Coho Prints in Sammamish. I’m looking forward to getting prints to customers.

How’s the book you ask? Well, we’re not talking about that right now.

Upcoming Events:

April 16 – Teaching a street photography workshop through the Mountaineers. This is a new format for me where we meet on location and we work together in the field.

April 23-24 – My sister’s birthday backpack. We’ll be heading to a favorite location where I spent my birthday in 2020.

April 30-May 1 – A trip to the Columbia Gorge to research the Klickitat Trail for the book with a visit to the Portland Art Museum to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit.

May 6-8 – A backpacking trip up the Hoh River.

May 14 – Teaching a Forest Photography workshop for the Mountaineers. Again, the class meets in the field for a day of instruction.

May 21-22 – Co-leading a beginning Backpack in the North Cascades for the Mountaineers.

May 28-30 – A backpacking trip in the Olympics with my sister and friends.

June is still pretty open, but I am planning a backpacking trip to Wallace Lake for more book research.

Environmental Bird Photography

Recently I was at a local park photographing a rare bird with a group of like-minded photographers. You know the type – someone says “Hey! Wanna go photograph something cool?” and the rest of us ask when and where without even caring what it might be. Then we show up with all of our gear, ready for any possibility. This time it was a rare duck that has been seen hanging out with the mallards and gulls in the north end of Lake Washington. Mandy the Mandarin Duck had taken up residence in the Seattle area – they are not a breed of duck that hangs out in Washington.

We showed up to join the rest of the crowd of photographers, artists, birders, and feeders (these are the folks who show up with inappropriate food, or rarely actual duck food, and feed the ducks). Most of the crowd of photographers had very long lenses of the 400mm to 600mm variety – the perfect lens for capturing an amazing portrait of birds far off in the distance. Only problem was Mandy hung out close to shore; he was so used to people feeding him that he’d become habituated to all the hub-bub in the park. Now, I’m not saying these photographers came unprepared, I’m sure they were able to get the images they were hoping for – beautiful portraits of a beautiful bird.

I have my fair share of beautiful portraits of Mandy. Darn right I do. I came home from that outing with over 400 photos of him. But not all of them were portraits where your subject, in this case Mandy, takes up most of the frame as with the 1st photo in the series above. At least half of the photos were like this though – ok, ok, more than half – more like three quarters of the photos were portraits. Mandy swimming left. Mandy swimming right. Mandy straight on. Mandy napping. Mandy in shadowed water swimming left, then right again, then straight on, then napping. I have plenty of portraits of Mandy.

I showed up with my Sony a6000 mirrorless camera and the lens I have for that camera is the Tamron 18-300mm all-in-one zoom lens. I LOVE THIS LENS. It’s the perfect get up and go lens. There’s no switching lenses between different types of scenes. I could get portraits of Mandy and his friends (there was no shortage of ducks, gulls and other swimming birds at the park) at the longer end of the zoom and still create environmental images of the ducks at the wider end of the zoom. I’m not writing this to tell you that you need to buy this lens. I’m writing this for the exact opposite. Even if you don’t have one of these grand lenses toted by me and other photographers, you can still show up and create beautiful, and more importantly, interesting images of wildlife.

Back when I was taking photojournalism courses, we had an assignment for make portraits of business people. The assignment was very specific in the types of portraits – we were to create a headshot (head and shoulders), a mid-length portrait (upper body with an essential of their profession), then an environmental portrait where we see them interacting with their surroundings and the people there. As an example, we might be creating images of a mechanic. We’d get the headshot which tells us very little of who the person is and what they do – you might have some clues from their apparel. Then we’d step back a few steps and create another image – this time you’ll see more such as the manner of their attire, maybe they’re leaning against a car and you can see grease on their hands and maybe a rag hanging out of their pocket. You start to get the idea that this person is a mechanic. Finally, step back a few more feet and photograph them looking at a car engine, the walls behind them filled with tires, timing belts and cans of oil. You still see the mechanic, but you see them in their environment which tells so much more of the story than just the headshot. (Not knocking headshots, there is an art and skill to get good headshots.)

You can take this same assignment and apply it to your wildlife images. If you can, get the headshot or detail image of the animal. It takes skill and sometimes great equipment to get these (think 600mm lens). But if you don’t have that lens, go for the mid portrait where we see more of the animal with a bit of environment, such as the 1st image above. You can get these types of images with a 70-200mm zoom which most photographers have – or a good zoom on your camera phone. Especially if the animal is close. Then zoom out, get your subject in its environment. A majestic elk standing tall on a ridge with the mountains falling behind. A lovely duck swimming among his mallard friends and rocks near the shore of a lake. We then know so much more about the story of the animal. It’s a story that tells itself in environmental portraits.

Even if you don’t have the best lens for wildlife photography, you can still create beautiful environmental portraits that speak to you. The next time you hear that there’s a cool animal to photograph, grab whatever equipment you have and tell their story.

In A Moment

On my walks from my office to my physical therapist’s office, I pass by a short, squat, slate grey building. Sandwiched between historic brick apartments and shiny new condos, this little building looks more like an out of place relic than a structure of use. There was once a use for this building - not much more than a shed. I don’t remember what it was used for - maybe outreach for the homeless in the area, a place to get a sandwich and coffee to reduce the sting of hunger and abandonment. Now this little shack is empty and abandoned; its windows boarded up, the door locked.

To be honest, I never really thought much of it as I strode up the hill. I am usually in a hurry not to miss my appointment.

But on a cool October day with the sun reflecting off the glistening towers nearby, I stopped. I was across the street from the little shack and something stopped me mid-stride. I turned and looked at the lonely building, boring and grey.

Two trees stood on either side of the building. The trees had begun to turn yellow as trees often do in the fall. I was struck by the improbable beauty of the scene. As light reflected down to the street, the trees glowed. And the little shack was shadowed be the trees on either side remained grey. There was something there though- a story of life and death, of value and disgrace, of beauty in every moment.

I knew that I’d need to bring my camera back that weekend before the storms whipped through the city and shook the trees bare. I even created a little video. I watched through the winter as the leaves fell and thought “this too might be a good photo.” But it was not to be.

As with much of modern life and development, heavy machinery rolled onto the street to begin new construction. The beautiful trees protecting their little grey shack were sacrificed for the growth of the city. The shack is still there , for now, but seems even more lonely and sad than before.

I am not sure what will happen to this little building, but I am happy I was able to capture a moment in the landscape of Seattle.

Welcome to the New Website!

Please let me extend a hearty welcome to my new website. The old one was due to retire. It served its purpose well but with a re-imagining of my self, my writing, and my photography, a new website is needed.

What will you find on this new version?

As always, you will find galleries of images from my adventures; selected not only for their photographic excellence but also their storytelling ability to connect with you.

You will find this blog. Stories of my adventures, ideas, accomplishments, and life will be shared here – always accompanied by a photo that exemplifies the written word.

If you want to follow me on my adventures, then be sure to check out the link to my YouTube channel. And of course, like and subscribe while you’re there.

While here on the website, peruse my workshop offerings and products. Prints will always be available for purchase, and make sure you check in for calendars and seasonal cards. Is there a product you’d like to purchase but don’t see it offered? Drop me a note with your suggestion.

And finally, keep up to date with my offerings, products and adventures by subscribing to my newsletter. I promise not to spam you as newsletters come out once a month.

Again, welcome. Enjoy your time spent here and come back often.

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