Reflections | December 2015

I apologize for the delay in getting my December Reflections posted  I had been without a computer since December 23, 2015.  My old workhorse has been retired and since it was holiday season, delivery was delayed.   The new computer finally arrived on January 5th and it's taken me time to get it setup and configured properly  There is never a good time to be without a computer when you're running a portrait business, but it could have been far worse if this happened during the busy season-- so for that, I'm grateful.

On one of the frosty mornings in December where it was 23 degrees at my house I was looking toward the back of my property where I saw something white that looked like one of those styrofoam egg cartons.  My first thought was a bear got into my neighbors garbage toter and dragged his garbage onto my property (it's happened before.).

I ran for my binoculars and went to the window for a second look.  I could see it wasn't an egg carton, but what was it?  And then it hit me, could it be?  I wondered if what I was seeing could possibly be the rare elusive ice flowers?  I ran for my camera and out the door in my jammies and sure enough, there they were.  For me it felt like Christmas all over again!

I found the the one that I was seeing from the house, I hurried to take pictures (they melt quickly--as soon as the sun hits them.) I took a moment to look around and it felt magical. There were several and many were hard to access for a picture, but I did my best,  After a few minutes I realized that I didn't feel the cold. I was filled with excitement!

Photo of the Month - October 2013

You may recall I posted a photograph of Snoqualmie Falls last winter when the walls along side of the falls were frozen.  This is a similar image, only it was taken a couple weeks ago around sunset.  It's interesting to see the same image taken throughout the seasons, you can see the warmth in this image below as compared to this frozen view taken back in January.

Every now and then I enjoy getting out and shooting personal work and one of the things I enjoy are shooting the same location throughout the four seasons.  Shooting personal work in between client's photography sessions gets me out into nature and I'm always location scouting, especially this time of year with the Fall colors.

Photo of the Month - I've waited 16 years for this day...

It's been 16 years, four months and 23 days to be exact.

I get quite a bit of wildlife on my property and having photographed nature and wildlife for 20+ years, I have waited and waited... and waited a very long time to see a bear on my property.  Not the evidence of a bear, not a picture from a neighbors cell phone, or bear scat at the back of my property, or paw prints on my window, or another broken feeder demolished by a bear, but with my own eyes that I could capture with my camera.    Today was that day and it was magnificent!

I've always wondered how they take down these relatively high hanging feeders and walk away with them?  I saw how they do it...

They stand on their hind legs and they "yank" with no effort whatsoever!

Several years ago I replaced the wall of glass in my office with double pane clear glass so that I could photograph wildlife passing by unobstructed.  Since the window installation my office has become a bit more crowded.  There's Finn's cat tree (so he can watch all the animals too) a second monitor I use for editing client images, all of which slightly block my view.  Finn was sitting on the windowsill, which is low to the ground watching and I was in such awe, (almost disbelief for a nanosecond)  but not so awestruck that I didn't have the camera in my hand in 3 seconds flat!

Suddenly the bear stood up on his hind legs and Finn vanished!  I mean "yabba dabba doo" style, I swear, it was like he vaporized!  (I laughed about this later.)   I must say it was a very swift and impressive move by our visitor.  It startled me too, especially when he was leaning on the window and all I wanted to do was capture the moment I've waited so long to do without scaring him away before I could land a few shots.  I was able to get outside, yet remain at safe distance for one image.  

It's better than I imagined it...  I am so blessed to see all wildlife I have the privilege of seeing in my own backyard.  

I am so very thankful.  

(and just as put the period on thankful, he has just come back...)

Snoqualmie Falls | Bellevue Photographer

The other day while on my winter photo stroll, I went up to the falls since I was in the area.  Everything within view was frozen.  All the leaves and trees around me were coated with a thick layer of ice.  You could  peel the half inch of ice coating the leaves if you are careful and hold in your hand nature's ice sculpture of the leaf impression.  Pretty amazing!

I normally don't hold photo sessions in the rain, unless it's a session I've conceptualized with the client, or from a "Day in the Life" photo session and it's been a while since I got so wet photographing.  The splash back from the falls left my down jacket soaked and caused my lens to hunt for focus.  I was able to capture one wide angle image, which shows the rock wall to the left covered in ice from the spray.

Winter | Northwest Nature Photography

Getting outside of the studio and photographing nature is one of my favorite things to do.  This past weekend, I went out with a couple friends and photographed the things I pass by every day and wouldn't give a second thought about, until you see the frost on them.  Suddenly they become these gorgeous bits of nature.

The moss that clings and hangs from trees like dark creatures accompanying you as you walk deeper into a forest, or the river that has iced over the branches and trees in it's path.  And of course the light...  Photographers live for the light, follow the light and create around the light.  This was a fun (and cold) outing and one I look forward to doing again soon!

Bellevue Portrait Photographer | Morning visitor

Woke up this morning to snow, which didn't stick around long.  I was sitting in my office editing when I saw some antlers poking right above my monitor.  I grabbed my camera and was thrilled to see this buck.  He doesn't come around as much as the other wildlife I get here and he sure doesn't pose for portrait either!  He just sauntered through.  Like I always say, "I am blessed" to live where I do!

Bellevue Photographer | Wildlife tales...

June was a big month for wildlife in my yard.  I chose not to post the hawk swooping down right in front of me last Friday taking the baby bunny that brought me so much joy.  As with every scene in nature there's the pleasant and unpleasant, they all have their young to feed.  It was sad to see, but I'm pleased to share the other side of the circle of life below.

I noticed this little guy looking rather lost, looking left and then right with that pouty little beak and his downy feathers.  Then suddenly mom swooped in to feed him.  He couldn't fly, he would just try to follow her and keep up, then he'd fall behind again and she'd come back and redirect him. This is the sweet side of wildlife that I enjoy capturing!

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