2021 was the year of the COVID vaccine which was received with mixed acceptance. I don’t think anyone could have expected the twists and turns related to the pandemic in 2021.

Likewise, my year of photography in 2021 took many unpredictable twists and turns, not always in the direction I wanted. More times than not, my original ideas for a capture totally changed once I was at my destination. Or I was surprised that what I ended up photographing was so different from my typical inspirations.

I found myself deviating from my usual style and also learned many new editing techniques that led me to experiment during post processing with illuminating specific areas in an image to create a “flow” of light. The time I spent learning new post processing techniques distracted me somewhat from focusing on subject, composition and style.

After a year of practicing these new post processing techniques, I’m hopeful they became “muscle memory” and I will be able to easily multitask, thinking more about vision and style without spending so much time in the post processing “learning curve”.

As usual, the subjects of sunsets and the Puget Sound are prominent in my photography, however their “look” (style) is a little different.

If you asked me to sum up my photos from 2021, I'd probably say "all over the board", but in reality as I review them there is a natural progression through the seasons and an evolution and experimentation with personal style.  

Here are some of my favorites from 2021:

"Reaching Out" - The lower branches of this iconic tree seem to be reaching out as if to embrace people who pass by. As well, the heron in the next tree is reaching out its neck looking for its next meal. The tree is reaching inward and the heron reaching outward.

"Stillness" - A heron stands still as he eyes the calm waters for evening prey.

Like many of my captures in 2021, "Stillness" was an unexpected surprise. I took this photo during a photo workshop at Deception Pass State Park. We had finished photographing the scene from a nearby bluff during sunset. We packed up and walked toward the beach to catch the trail to the parking lot to leave thinking that we saw the best of the light. The instructor, Erwin Buske, noticed that the colors of the sunset were still strong so we walked to the beach. The water was calm and all was quiet. The only movement was a heron quietly hunting. It was dark so this was a long exposure and my tripod was not steady in the sand and I couldn't see my settings very well so I wasn't confident I was going to be able to capture the moment as I experienced it. Now when I look at this photo I'm reminded of the amazing peacefulness and calm I felt standing in the moment.

"Following the Lupine Light" - Lupines at Harborview Park in Everett.

 

"Following the Lupine Light" took another twist that added to my mixed bag of 2021 photos. My intent was to capture a Mother's Day sunset, however the sunset composition I had visualized didn't work because the sun was setting too far south to get a good composition. Since I was already at the location, I decided to capture the evening sun shining on the pink Lupines i the grass instead. I sat by the Lupines and watched as the light changed. As the evening shadows took over, I had to move around in order to following the light on the Lupines. To my delight as the sun was close to the horizon, the Lupines provided the edge needed to create a sun star. Below is also another view of the Lupines before the light was low on the horizon.

 

"Happy Mother's Day Lupines"

 

In 2021 people were starved to get out after the "lock downs" in 2020 and crowds were large at outdoor venues so I tried to avoid the crowds by going to the daffodil fields in the Skagit Valley at the very beginning of the bloom season. The fields were muddy and only a few fields were in bloom. I found this tractor resting in the mud. Since I was purposely looking for something different than the typical daffodil festival image, I decided to use the tractor as a foreground with the daffodil fields in the background. Even though this was a different perspective, I didn't expect it to be so different. It was a post processing challenge and I chalked this up to another mixed bag of results and moved on. By the way, most of my Dad's career he worked for the International Harvester Company (which went out of business) and this is an International Harvester tractor.

 

"Red Tractor in the Daffodil Fields"

 

"Pink Wild Roses in Edmonds" - Sunset Avenue in Edmonds lined with wild roses in the late Spring.

 

With the image "Pink Roses in Edmonds", my intention was to take a photo of the sunset, however that vision didn't materialize. Warm Spring evenings during the pandemic attracted such crowds along Sunset Avenue that setting up a tripod for a sunset photo was too difficult. Instead, I used my phone to take some close up photos of the bright pink wild roses that lined the walkway. I was a bit disappointed, but this was another opportunity to practice my newly learned post processing skills. 

 

The following three photos were all taken on the Summer Solstice at the Everett Marina and Grand Avenue Park. The sunset put on a long, beautiful show and all I had to do was click.  

 

"Sunset over Everett Marina" - from Grand Avenue Park on the Summer Solstice 2021.

"Blazing Summer Solstice Sunset" - The Summer Solstice sunset this year was one of those sunsets that started out yellow, then turned pink after the sun went below the horizon with the finale turning a bright red. There was something to see long after the sun had set as the colors were constantly changing and reflected in the calm water.

 

 

Grand Avenue Bridge at Night

"Summer Solstice Light" - Bright colorful light from the sun reflecting off clouds in the sky as well as the lighted bridge that crosses from the Marina to the park.

 

The following photo is another one to add to my mixed bag for 2021, although this photo does falls in line with one of my recent gallery themes - water reflections.

 

Snohomish River Reflections

 

"Snohomish River Reflections" - I was seeking out a short hike for my grandchildren and stumbled upon a peaceful wildlife refuge near the Snohomish River. No pets, no drones, no horses, no bikes, no camping, no hunting allowed - nothing but walking/hiking and fishing from the bank of the river allowed.

 

A Calm Center, Everett Marina

"A Calm Center" - Late Summer sunset.

 

What was fascinating about the above late Summer scene is that between the two boats on either side of the entrance of the channel, the water is crystal clear like a mirror, everywhere else there are ripples from a small breeze. In addition, the reflection of the sun is almost absent in this calm area.

 

Also in late Summer, the mini sunflowers that my grandson and I planted in my garden in early Spring started to bloom. The blooms presented in a variety of colors. Below is one of the rust orange variety.

 

"Sunflower Face Down" - The sun shines on the backside of this sunflower. It's bent over not showing its face. Even the underside has a lot of character.

 

Mixed with sunflower photos, I also returned to my mainstay of sunsets and the Puget Sound. One September evening I ventured to the Edmonds marina and saw and elderly gentleman sitting on the seat on his walker watching the sunset. I decided to set up my tripod and camera with the view point he was seeing. The resulting image is below:

 

Calm Sunset, Edmonds Marina

"Calm at Sunset" - There was a lot of commotion at the Marina Beach Park at sunset, so I moved to up to the boardwalk and explored the marina instead. All was calm up on the boardwalk, including the water.

 

On the Autumn Equinox I captured another sunset in Everett. This photo includes the dock for the Jetty Island ferry with Jetty Island in the background.

 

Autumnal Equinox Sunset

"Autumnal Equinox Sunset" - To witness the seasons pass into Fall on the Autumnal Equinox, I went to a new spot on the Everett waterfront to view the sunset. The trees silhouetted in the background reside on Jetty Island, a 2.5 mile long man made island.

 

In October, the larches were turning golden in the North Cascades. I took a wonderful road trip to the North Cascades to hike among the larches which were peaking in all their glory. It snowed lightly the day before the hike but the sun was out during the day. There was a transition from Fall to Winter taking place. The images below depict the peak of Autumn and the transition to Winter in the North Cascades.

 

North Cascades

"Glowing Larches" - A dusting of snow during the night, then the sun came out the next morning and illuminated the golden larches against a blue bird sky.

 

North Cascades

"Transition" - Looking down from the trail into an avalanche chute, the fall colors glowed in the sunlight. Deeper into the shadows at the bottom, the dusting of snow from the night before had not melted. Where the warmth from the sun had touched the ground the snow was melted. This is where I saw a transition from fall to winter. Soon the valley will be covered in snow and the mountain side will rest and take a break from humans.

 

As Fall turned to Winter and the colorful leaves fell off the trees, I turned to photographing bare trees. This is a subject I started to become interested in a few Winters ago. I created a gallery on my website dedicated to this subject. You can view this gallery here: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/p13271513 

 

Fallen Tree

"Fallen Tree" - When I first saw the tree that recently fell over into the water because its roots had been eroded away by waves of the higher tides of the last few years, my first thought was "victim of global warming". Then as I watched the waves crash over it, I realized that no one had attempted to move it off the beach and it would soon be washed to sea by the high tide becoming another piece of driftwood - just part the cycle of nature.

 

There was snow on the ground and I was bundled up in my snow clothes when I took my last sunset photo of 2021. Saying good-bye to 2021 and hello to 2022 filled with more photography adventures.

"Winter Sunset" - Yesterday evening, the clouds were rippled throughout the sky overhead as a bright sunset on the horizon reflected off the calm Puget Sound and the snow covered Olympic Mountains in the background created this magical winter sunset scene.

 

If you'd like to see more of my images you can view them on my website here: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/f1024169279

 

2021 lacked a clear focus or direction for my photography endeavors.  Usually, I have goals related to skills or styles I want to develop or subjects I want to explore in depth. However, this year I meandered, a bit lost and distracted.

It seemed each time I attempted to move in a direction, it dead-ended more often than not. Don’t get me wrong, I had a few creations I was pleased with but there were many times I felt like I was going down a trail that suddenly came to a stop and had to turn around and go back without reaching the planned destination.

Looking back, I think there were two factors involved in “losing my way”. First, there is creative momentum, and second, there is my new Samsung S20 phone camera.

Spending most of 2021 as a vaccinated person, yet still in a pandemic, was a new experience and took time to understand. In the beginning I rushed out of the gate to do all the things I had not done for 2 years and “made up for lost time”. Experiences were my primary focus. With my new Samsung S20 in hand, I spend lots of time capturing the world around me using my phone’s camera and spent an equal amount of time trying to edit the photos from my phone, attempting to turn them into quality images.

Samsung S20 Phone Images vs SLR Images

Can phone images turn into wonderful quality images? Of course, they can. Some people exclusively use phone images to make up their portfolio. However, after months of trying to integrate the “workflow” for my phone images into my SLR photography workflow on my computer, I could not find a middle ground that worked for both. My conclusion is that you should keep your phone photo post-processing workflow on your phone, editing phone images using tools on your phone and keep your SLR photography post-processing workflow on your computer, keeping them separate. Or ... keep all your images and editing programs "in the cloud" which still requires additional storage costs and moving the images to the location where you can edit them, moving from one cloud provider and platform to another. If you keep them all with one vendor/provider they rarely offer all the options you need to complete your post-processing workflow in one place at a reasonable price.  

I have yet to perfect the post-processing workflow for my phone images using post-processing tools on the phone. And frankly, I don’t have time to put together a portfolio using separate platforms. Even though my phone camera is wonderful and has incredible capabilities, it has become a distraction unless my goal is to take a "snapshot" with it.

I feel like I “betrayed” my SLR this year. My new emphasis is to reacquaint myself with my SLR equipment. When I go on a photo shoot my phone can come along, however the only reason I will pull it out of the bag is to take a “snapshot” or if my SLR just won’t work in the situation.

Samsung S20 Phone Images

A positive result of spending so much time trying to edit photos taken with my phone was that my editing skills improved because I spent so much time trying to optimize low resolution images that had very little room for error in the editing process and at times required "destructive" editing.

Below are a few of the images taken with my Samsung S20 phone in PRO mode then post-processed on my computer using Lightroom and Photoshop. In PRO mode the Samsung saves a RAW image as a .DNG file. In most cases, I uploaded the .DNG files from my phone to my computer into Lightroom where I did basic exposure and color adjustments, then imported the images into Photoshop for more refined adjustments using layers.

Sky on Fire

"Fire in the Sky": I was late arriving to this sunset and did not have time to setup my SLR camera so took this shot with my phone. Because of the intensity of the sunset the image did not require much post-processing. In fact, since the PRO option on the Samsung phone does not allow "zoom", this image was saved as a .JPG and edited in Lightroom for cropping and noise reduction. Other than that, it was "right out of the phone".

"Pink Wild Roses in Edmonds": This image was taken in PRO mode on my Samsung S20. My phone was inches away from the foreground rose in order to keep the foreground rose in focus. I was trying to simulate a "focus stacked" foreground shot, however the rest of the image is out of focus because it's not a real focus stack. This is a single image processed using "layers" in Photoshop.

Grand Avenue Bridge at Night

"Grand Avenue Park Bridge at Night": This photo was taken during the summer solstice sunset. I had put away my SLR and tripod and as I walked toward the bridge the sky started to brighten with more vivid color so I pulled out my phone to capture the moment.

Walk this Way

"Walk This Way": This photo of the Edmonds ferry from Sunset Avenue was taken in PRO mode with my phone. The RAW .DNG file was uploaded to Lightroom, then edited in Photoshop.

Popular Images from SLR Cameras 

I have consolidated my most popular images into a gallery on my website. 95% of these images were taken with my SLR cameras, not my phone. After looking at these images, I've decided to return to primarily using my SLR equipment to create images for my portfolio despite the fact that a backpack of equipment is required rather than a device that fits in the palm of my hand. But kudos to phone manufactures that make it difficult to tell if an image came from a phone camera or SLR camera.

Below is the link to my "Popular Images" gallery. Wall art or paper photos of any of the images can be purchased by clicking on the image and selecting the product of your choice on the right hand side of the image.

 Popular Images Gallery: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/p357923438

I have read that "The year 2020 will be remembered as a turnaround point in human history". Most have not lived through such times, unlike an older generation that lived through World Wars, the 1918 flu pandemic or other equal global crisis.

During such times, individuals, relationships and society changes. We look for better ways forward, we learn from making difficult choices and find creative ways to reinvent our lives and our society.

A year ago when I was writing the blog "Patti's Nature Photography 2019 Favorites" I imagined that I would be writing about my favorites every year. However this year I am going to write about my journey with photography in 2020 and how the events of the year have inspired me to explore new artistic expression through photography, rather than talk about my favorites.

The Journey

2020 Photography Goals

Like most years I started 2020 off with some specifically photography goals. My goal was to create a "signature look" and "niche subject" and redo my photo website to feature only photos in that genre.

I was going to focus on sunsets, Puget Sound waterways and expand into sun stars, flowing water and water reflections and was starting to define a "style".

2020 started off with a trip to Plain Washington and finding a wonderful location for three of the subject matter, flowing water, water reflections and a sun star along the Chiwawa River. Little did I know I would return home to the beginning of a full blown pandemic.

Chiwawa River, WA

Chiwawa River Sun Star - This was an icy cold day yet the sun was out. The angle of the sun behind the patch of evergreen trees created a sun star with far reaching sun rays that touched the river below. Perhaps symbolic of what was to come in the year ahead.

Close to Home in Spring

In early spring 2020 the first wave of the  pandemic hit and stay at home orders were issued in Washington State and many other areas of the United States as well as other countries.

With state and county parks and trails temporarily closed I realized that that my original photography goals were going to have to change and a photography apprenticeship I had recently signed up for would look different without in-person  photo workshops. The most difficult adjustment for me was not having access to parks near the Puget Sound where I took sunset photos. I realized that I took for grated public access to the water front.

Several things lead me to rethink the way I would practice photography during the "shutdown". Even though the restlessness and anxiety of staying home in a pandemic was present, the signs of spring in my own yard cheered me up every day. I decided I would try to capture my bitter-sweet "close to home" moments in photographs while practicing and perfecting some of my newly learned post-processing skills, then share my photos online. My thought was that perhaps others would like to see the emerging spring and find joy in it as I did. As I shared my images and thoughts, I realized that although I was isolated at home, I wasn't alone in working though the daily challenges of living in a pandemic and discovering a new appreciation for things once taken for granted. These are some of the images I shared.

Tribute

Tribute - As I was walking one day I found this wilted bouquet that appeared to be either a tribute or remembrance. I  thought it illustrated the bitter-sweet atmosphere of the pandemic. The kindness of someone paying tribute with beautiful flowers, yet they were also wilting.

Sun on My Side

Sun on My Side - Right before the stay at home orders, my grandson and I chose several daffodil and tulip starts and planted them. They were a joy to watch bloom, especially on sunny mornings.

Well into Spring, I realized how much I missed taking photos of the Puget Sound. One night I laid awake racking my brain wondering how I was going to find a "body of water" while parks were closed. It finally dawned on me that almost every day I walk by this beautiful peaceful lake I just didn't stop. The next day I took my camera with me on my walk and so  I could capture the peace and beauty of sitting by the lake on a sunny spring day.

Serene Lake Serene Serene Lake Serene - I stood on the shore of this peaceful. beautiful, easily taken for granted lake, and felt such joy in looking at the blue sky reflected in the water and the patterns of the wind on the surface, observing the ecosystems that were in tact as nature intended them and bringing new life with them in the Spring.

By late Spring I came to the realization that their was a dualism in my feelings of sadness and inspiration and that even thought they were opposite, they emerged from the same realm.

Emerging LIght Emerging Light - As the pandemic continued through late Spring I began to understand that sadness and joy were two sides of the same coin.

In Taosim there is the concept of yin-yang in which there are complementary but opposite forces (dualism) - Yin: earth, darkness, passivity, absorption and Yang: heaven, light, activity, penetration.

With yin-yang forces there is a continual waxing and waning of both forces, although they are interconnected because they are created from a coherent fabric of nature which is exhibited in all of existence and part of the "Supreme Ultimate" (taiji).

In yin-yang, as one force increases, the other force decreases, working in harmony to give birth to new things.

I found I was living this dualism.

Sunset Warmth in the Summer

Spring moved into Summer and my Mother passed away in mid-July. Again, I saw the forces of yin-yang take shape. I tried to create images that would express my changing outlook on life, but most of these attempts failed. At this point I was able to re-entered my photography apprenticeship and adapt with a "remote learning" model, having my photos reviewed via electronic communication. This helped me learn why I was struggling to create the images I was envisioning.

In late Spring parks and trails opened up once again so I decided to go back to my original "niche" of sunsets and focused on sunset photography during the summer months applying the knowledge from my apprenticeship. Below are some of the sunset images I created during my Summer sunset period.

Red Ruby July Sunset - The red hot colors of the sunset matching the the hot weather we experienced in July 2020.

Swirling

Swirling - This swirling cloud is symbolic of the many thoughts and emotions swirling in my head surrounding the experiences of 2020.

Interisland Ferry at Night

Inter-Island Ferry at Night - A peaceful night, the ferries are running and things almost seem "normal". 

Sky on Fire

Sky on Fire - Remembering that the everlasting forces of nature continue to move on as the sun sets each evening.

Thin Veil of Rain

Thin Veil of Rain - A thin veil of rain between me and the sunset. Symbolic of the thin line that separates yin-yang.

Paint the Sky

Paint the Sky - Nature giving us the gift of joyful color.

Puget Sound in the Autumn

In the early Autumn months we benefited from a reduction in COVID cases following the summer months so I was able to participate in an in-person photo workshop.  I decided to switch to a Puget Sound theme. Below are some Puget Sound images I created in early Autumn:

Passing Through the Reflection - Still waters can create an almost perfect reflection until something disturbs the calm. A lone duck passes through the reflection unknowingly changing it. Symbolic of the pandemic passing through our society and changing everything in our lives.

Fall Colors in the Sky, Evertt Marina

Fall Colors in the Sky - Taken in October as Autumn ushers in and the sunset showing off some Fall colors.

Last Look

Last Look - I packed up my gear, called it done, then turned around for a last look and saw I had to return. Symbolic of looking back to summer and wanting to hold it tight, hoping that the predictions of a second wave in the Fall and Winter don't materialize (but they did).

In October I was able to go on a couple last minute outdoor adventures. I decided I would have no planned vision for my images and would look for a vision to "spontaneously emerge" from the experience. Below are the images from those adventures.

Foggy Path - Walking in Discovery Park in Seattle during a classic October day in Washington, fog horns and spider webs were part of this journey.

Blue Lake, North Cascades

Autumn Reflections - A visit to the North Cascades to see the golden Larches for the first time in my life. Conditions were perfect for a good reflection. The timing was perfect because it snowed the next day. Patience and luck prevailed on this trip. As soon as I saw the lake for the first time the vision for the image was clear.

Second Wave and Bare Trees in the Winter

As Winter approached so did a "second wave" of the pandemic. This was predicted, however many, including myself, were not mentally prepared for the "pandemic fatigue" that had set in. I admit I lost much of my inspiration for photography and as the dark days of November took over I was was feeling the yin side of yin-yang. At this point I was ready to set aside my photography for the Winter, until my mentor for my photography apprenticeship wrote a news letter addressing "Staying Inspired during the Winter Months" and his suggestions helped me remember that yin-yang are complementary forces and for all the darkness there is also light. He addressed finding new subject matter in the Winter months, as well as how to incorporate themes such as surprise and flow with these Winter time subjects.

I decided to abandon my comfortable photography genres and try a completely new subject for the Winter, bare trees. I combined bare trees, sunsets and sun stars and created the following bare tree images in November and December.

Last Leaves in the Trees

Last Leaves on the Trees - The trees are transitioning to Winter as the days get darker and sunset comes earlier.

Moon Rising

Moon Rise - In late November the full moon, the Beaver Full Moon, rises as the bare trees framing its path. This was an extremely cold Winter night as the wind was blowing off of the Puget Sound to the inland.

Sky on Fire

Sky on Fire - Bare trees frame a bright and beautiful long lasting sunset over the Olympic Mountains with the Puget Sound in the foreground.

Rainbow Sky in the Winter

Rainbow Sky in Winter - Another late November sunset with a variant of colors behind bare trees.

Sun Star in Bare Trees - In early December in the late afternoon the sun peeks through the bare trees at a perfect angle to create a sun star. This is almost full circle from the time I started last Winter's quest to add sun stars into my photos before the pandemic began and this one is right before the approval of the first vaccine.

Winter Solstice

As we experience the darkest day of the 2020 on the Winter Solstice, my thoughts are with my Father who is 92 years old and the many others so deeply affected by the isolation and restrictions during the pandemic. Below is a photo I dedicate to my Dad who is currently in hospice care. He has an adventurous spirit and I can see him sitting here admiring the view and planning his next trip.

With two vaccines now approved, light may be on the horizon for 2021.

Looking Beyond the Horizon Looking Beyond the Horizon - Look beyond the horizon of 2020 WE wonder what the year of 2021 will bring.

You can find more photos in the "Sunsets", "Puget Sound", "Reflections in Water" and "Bare Trees" galleries on my photo website here:  https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography

A Review of Summer Sunsets in 2020

As fall approaches the mornings are chilly and the trees are beginning to turn colors. There is less daylight and the sun sets earlier each day.

Although I look forward to the beauty of fall colors, it is with melancholy I look back on my summer sunset photographs.   

With the pandemic still part of our reality, travel is limited and many people retreat to spaces in nature – beaches, parks, hiking trails, vacation cabins and campgrounds. Almost everywhere there are beautiful summer sunsets.

For me, the summer of 2020 was full of memorable sunsets. They were memorable for several reasons, 1) of course for phenomenal color (some enhanced by the wildfires), 2) for the length of the sunset and the ever changing sky, 3) for the circumstantial significance and 4) for the memory of a time and place.

Phenomenal Color

When the beaches and parks re-opened again after the "stay at home order" during the pandemic, I began frequenting various spots I knew I could watch the sunset from the beach or from a viewing park along the water. i clearly remember the vibrant pink colors in the sky while photographing the first sunset from the beach after the "stay at home order" was lifted in late spring 2020. This was the beginning of my fascination with sunset watching that extended all summer long. 

Sunset from the Beach (Spring 2020)

Sunset from the Beach

In late July and August 2020, haze from wildfires in Siberia and Canada occasionally sat on the horizon which enhanced the orange and yellow colors of the summer sunsets in Washington state. This created some phenomenal colors as the sun was setting. Below, "Siberian Haze" and "Paint the Sky" are examples of the colors the Siberian wildfire haze brought to the sunset.

Siberian Haze

Siberian Wildfire Haze I

Paint the Sky Paint the Sky

"Below, Sky on Fire" is an example of phenomenal summer sunset colors that are not enhanced by haze from wildfires. The bright colors glowing in the sky in this photo are pure natural beauty. This photo was taken in July before the wildfires began. The glow on the horizon is a reflection of the sun off the thin clouds above the horizon and the thicker heavy blanket of clouds higher in the sky as well as openings in between the two layers of clouds that reflected various levels of the golden light of the "golden hour".   

Sky on Fire

Sky on Fire

Ever Changing Sky

This summer I witnessed several long lasting sunsets where the sky constantly changed colors before, during and after the sunset. One of the most memorable sunsets of the summer occurred in August on the hottest day of the year. The entire day the sky was blue without a cloud in sight, however about an hour before sunset storm clouds blew in and the cloud formations continued to change during the sunset. The wildfire haze from the Siberia wildfires mixed with the storm clouds made for a dramatic sky.

The sky went from violet and yellow hues before the sunset, to orange and pink during the sunset then darkened into a deeper red. The sky continued to change and show off different colors and cloud formations for over an hour after the sun set.

Storm Clouds

Storm Clouds

In early September we also saw the beginning of wildfire haze blowing in from eastern Washington on another very hot day. As in August, the skies were clear and blue all day until about an hour before sunset. The wildfire haze settled into a thin layer of clouds above the horizon as the sun set. During the sunset a bright orange and yellow glow could be seen on the horizon. After calling it "a wrap" and putting away all my photo equipment, one last look at the sky revealed an intense pink glow behind the masts on the horizon and the reflection of the sunset in the water began to spread inward toward the shore, After walking a few steps I pulled out my tripod again to take a photo of the last look. It had to be captured.

Last Look

Last Look

Circumstantial Significance

Sometimes I remember a sunset because of an unique circumstance surrounding the photograph. On the 4th of July of 2020 all professional fireworks displays were shutdown because of the crowds they would attract during the pandemic. A friend of mine who was out of town on the 4th of July invited me to use her deck to view the fireworks on Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula. With my naked eye I could see the larger personal fireworks displays. However since I was photographing the sunset with a wide angle lens most of the displays were barely visible through the lens. There were a couple large fireworks that by change did show up in one of my images positioned right at the end of the tree branch, as if the branch was pointing to it. 

Fireworks in the Sky

Fireworks in the Sky

On August 16th, 2020 we experienced the hottest day in 11 years in western Washington. The day was clear but when clouds started to build on the horizon I decided to check out one of my little known sunset viewing locations. It's a small viewing park with only 4 parking spots. Surprisingly, there was one parking spot left when I arrived about 45 minutes before sunset. This sunset was so amazing I didn't leave until it was pitch dark. The entire time was filled with a spectacular, unforgettable sunset colors that were seen all over western Washington. Close to the finale you could see lightning to the north and a thin veil of rain came out of the clouds. It was so hot outside that most of the rain evaporated before reaching any surface. My car window had only a few drops on it but I could feel a mist in the air.

Many people posted their sunset photos on social media that night and I was no exception. There were as many sunset photographs posted that night as some of the other significant celestial events such as comet neowise, which is rare for a sunset.

Thin Veil of Rain

Thin Veil of Rain

A Memory of Time and Place

Usually a photograph brings back a memory of a time in our life or place we visited. I find this also true for sunset photographs. Even though a sunset photograph is primarily aimed at displaying the beauty of the sunset, it can also bring back a memory of a time or place.

"Swirling" is a photo that reminds me of how I felt during my first getaway during the pandemic to one of my favorite locations, Lopez Island. After being close to home for many months, I was able to take in the beauty of nature in a remote location where I could watch the sunset from the beach each night. On the first day, as I waited for the sunset to "develop" (without my photography equipment beside me) the sun began to dip into an oval cloud. I could tell it would shortly position itself in the middle of the cloud. I made a mad dash for my photography equipment and just in time I was able to capture the sun "inside" the cloud. At the same time the reflection from the sun extended between the gap of the hills in the background to the shoreline.

Swirling

Swirling

"Interisland Ferry at Night" is also a photograph of a memory of a time and place. As with other summer sunsets, I had ended capturing the sunset and put away my equipment. I was merely watching the dusk turn to dark when I saw the ferry lights on the distant horizon. I knew I had to be quick to capture the ferry before it was out of sight. I thought about how to freeze the motion of the ferry, yet let in enough light to record the colors in the sky. Some quick thinking led me to the image below. If I had looked at the ferry schedule and planned for this image I would have had time to use more advanced techniques, however this was truly an "in the moment" decision. Over time I've been able to appreciate the image because when I look at it I remember with fondness the fun times I have watched this ferry cross this channel at night.

Interisland Ferry at Night

Interisland Ferry at Night

Another memory of a time, actually still occurring now in September 2020, is the occurrence of record number of wildfires on the west coast of the United States, including Washington state.  The image "Golden Glow" was taken on the first evening the smoke from the wildfires started to blow into western Washington.   

Golden Glow

A few days after the image "Golden Glow" was taken, smoke from the wildfires in Oregon and California also blew into western Washington. The image "Sinking into Smoke" was taken the first evening the smoke began to blow in. For the next few days, up to and including today, the air quality has been so hazardous that there is a "stay inside" order for most of Washington state. Although this is not a happy memory, it is indicative of the current time and place.

Sinking into Smoke

You can find the entire "Sunsets" gallery here on my photo website: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/p505922840

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography

(Photography During the COVID-19 Pandemic)

Beginning the Journey

Even though we watched the affect the Coronavirus was having on other parts of the world, I don’t think we ever expected the sudden change it would bring to Washington State when the first case emerged in Everett Washington, not far from where I live, then Kirkland Washington becoming the first epicenter in the United States.

The sudden change the virus brought to our lives was immense and I believe some of the change will be long lasting. We experienced much of society coming to a halt, restrictions on travel, school closing, changes in our job status and changes with how we interact with one another.

A few days before the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order went into effect in Washington State, I headed up to the daffodil fields in the Skagit Valley to photograph the tail end of the bloom. What was normally a packed to capacity parking lot was filled to only 20%. I pondered if I should even get out of my car and walk through the fields. I didn’t see much opportunity for the photo I had envisioned because a strong wind prevented me from being able to do near-far focus stack photography. I walked the perimeter of the fields in the mud checking out all of the angles and saw the reflection of daffodils in the muddy water between the rows. Reflections seemed like a poignant subject considering what was happening with the COVID-19 outbreak. I was in a reflective mood.

This photo is titled "Muddy Reflections". Like any other spring I went to photograph the daffodils in the Skagit Valley (before the stay safe, stay at home order). I knew it would be different this year. The reflections and shadows of daffodils in the mud drew me in. I knelt over my tripod for quite a while adjusting it and looking at the reflections. A couple days after I took this photo the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley closed for the year which was a total loss to the industry. I took for granted that with every spring came the daffodil and tulip fields. This spring although nature is still moving forward as it does every year, daily life is unfolding differently all around us.

On March 23, 2020 the governor of Washington declared a stay health, stay at home order which mandated that everyone in the state remain at home unless they were an essential worker or had essential travel. All non-essential businesses were closed and traffic congestion came to a halt.  This was the beginning of a change in the way we live that no one could have imagined.

As I begin to work from home and take long walks to try to maintain an exercise routine, I noticed some tributes placed along my route. Essential front line workers and healthcare heroes were being honored throughout the country.

As I continued to take walks, I became more aware of my community and the outreach between neighbors and the importance of our local businesses as well as the beauty and peace of nature around me.

Tribute

This photo is titled "Tribute". As I took my usual walk, I found several bouquets scattered along my route. I wondered if they were placed as a tribute. Everything about the scene, the placement of the flowers, the bright colors of the blooms yet their wilted nature told me the story of the bitter sweet times we are living in.

Community

This photo is titled "Community". I've become more appreciative of the community within walking and biking distance of my home. As in many communities there are distinct landmarks and In my community a statue of a goat has become a local landmark. The goat showed up about a year ago and is decorated differently for various holidays and other events. Sometimes people leave tributes near the goat. Right now the goat appropriately wears a mask and displays a message of hope.

Hitting Home

The impact of how “small” my world had become hit me when I discovered local county parks had closed and I could  no longer go to my favorite beach to take sunset photographs. This caused me to rethink my photographic vision. After quite a period of introspection I decided there was therapeutic value in trying to capture the simple peaceful scenes I was seeing around me such as the first emerging morning light casting long shadows, I decided I would share the photos I was taking on Facebook in case they could also bring others a welcome diversion from this time of an unknown future.

This photo is titled "Morning Light". Each morning before starting my work from home, I sat near my font window and watched the morning light fill the western sky and cast long shadows on the spring scene were leaves and blossoms were popping out on the trees and the early spring flowers were blooming.

Spring Unfolding Close to Home

Although anxiety was high as a world pandemic was declared, the usual busy activity of daily life turned into more basic living and a simplicity and gentle quiet was evident.  

Simplicity

This photo is titled "Simplicity". During these times of staying at home many of us are finding beauty in simple things we may have overlooked when our time was filled with more hustle and bustle going here and there. A few mornings ago I was in my yard practicing macro flower photography and many of the flowers I photographed were exciting and complex in full bloom. However this simple, lone budding tulip struck a deep chord with me because of its simplicity.

As the month of March turned into April and then May, Spring continued to unfold in my yard and neighborhood and I continued to take my camera with me on my walks.

Looking Up

This photo is called "Looking Up". On my way to the mailbox I admired the new pink wild cherry blossoms all the way from the end of the street. I was under the tree looking up. When I looked up I saw only beautiful blossoms and nothing else.

Cherry Blossom Carpet

This photo is titled "Cherry Blossom Carpet". Yesterday I saw this lush cherry blossom carpet. Today it is gone, washed away by yesterday's rain.

Pink Rhododendron

This photo is called " Pink Rhododendron" You know it's May in Washington when you see these huge pink Rhododendron bushes in bloom that have almost grown into trees.

Finding Creativity

As the days of working from home and the impact of not seeing my grandchildren, my 91 year old father and my friends started to take its toll, I was drawn closer to the nature and community I had neglected to see right in front of me. Sometimes I laid awake at night thinking about where I could photograph a sunset over the Puget Sound like I used to.

After some exploring I found a vacant parking lot on a ridge in Mukilteo with a spectacular view of the Puget Sound and the tip of Whidbey Island. With the ability to once again watch a sunset over Puget Sound I felt a sense of creativity and connection to something “normal”.

Emerging LIght

This photo is titled " Emerging Light" I found a place (a vacant parking lot) not too far from my home where I can watch the sunset over the sound. Last night there was a cloud cover but the sun emerged from under the clouds right before it set.

Nature Dancing (Social Distancing)

I call this photo " Social Distance". As I looked at the human like shape of these trees the first thought that popped into my mind was - they are social distancing!

Even after finding a spot to view the sunset I still felt I wanted to once again be by the water’s edge. I spent time brainstorming where I could find the nearest place still allowing access to the water’s edge. After tossing and turning one night the thought came to me that I live only a couple miles from a lake that I walk by almost daily. I brought my camera to the edge of the lake so I could capture the serenity. I felt a greater calm knowing I could walk to the water's edge and look at the reflections in the water any time I wanted to clear my mind.

Serene Lake Serene

The title of this photo is "Serene Lake Serene". A couple nights ago I lay awake wondering where I could walk to from my house, or ride my bike to, to take photos of a "body of water". It dawned on me that I live a few miles from Lake Serene and lately I've been walking by the lake at least 3 times a week. I'm not used to thinking of it as a "body of water" but it is a peaceful, beautiful, easily taken for granted lake.

Opening

Although the Stay at Home order in Washington is currently still in place, state and local parks as well as some hiking trails have re-opened as long as social distancing and safe guidelines are followed.

On a very warm evening I packed up my photography gear and mask and headed to the beach exited for my first sunset photo shoot on the beach. However, to my dismay the parking lot and beach were too crowded for proper social distancing so I returned home.

Some friends advised me that in the morning there would be a minus tide. So the next morning I headed to the beach, once again with photography equipment in hand. The smell of the salt water, sights of seals swimming along the shore and seagulls fighting for shellfish greeted me at the water’s edge.  I was less focused on photography and more on letting the experience of walking on the beach fill my senses. I took a few shots but I knew this was one case where a two dimensional photo could not portray the overwhelming beauty of the experience without adding smell and sound. I did take a few photos for memory sake. 

It's a Wonderful World

This photo is called "It's a Wonderful World". "I see trees of green ... I see skies of blue ... the bright blessed day ... And I think to myself. What a wonderful world."

Sunset from the Beach

On an evening when it was mostly cloudy but warm and the tide was low I returned to the beach for my first sunset photo from the beach since the county parks had been closed. The beach was not crowded so I setup my shot behind some old pilings sitting in a large tide pool. When the sun emerged from the clouds I practiced capturing sun stars on the edge of the clouds but I could tell the real magic would happen when the sun was below the horizon.

As the sun was about to set my neighbors walked around the bend. They asked me, “Are you waiting for the perfect moment?” I said, "Yes, I'm always waiting for that moment." Then they said, “Things are getting back to normal.”

Although I doubt things will ever get completely "back to the normal" as they were before the COVID-19 outbreak I think we are learning to adapt and are learning what is most important to us and how to continue to pursue those things in our lives.

Sunset from the Beach

This photo is titled " Sunset from the Beach" I was fortunate the conditions were favorable for a colorful sunset when I returned to the beach to photograph my first sunset since Snohomish Parks reopened. I attempted to return right after the park re-opened, however the weather was too hot and the tide was high and the crowds were not maintaining social distance so I left. This time I waited for a mostly cloudy day and a low tide which made for less crowds and more space on the beach for social distancing. I was able to sit and patiently wait as the sun dipped below the horizon and its light covered the clouds with a pink glow.

You can find the entire "Close to Home" gallery here on my photo website: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/p917789186

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography

Is Sunset Photography Easy?

At first glance sunset photography seems easy. Just point the camera in the direction of the beautiful sunset and there you have it. And sometimes that works - you are in the right place at the right time and don't have a fancy camera and you can still get a stunning sunset image using your smartphone or compact camera. However if you want to purposefully and consistently create a collection of professional sunset images that display a specific style or photographic vision you must work with the following challenges: 1) the ability to predict weather conditions that create dramatic sunsets, 2) decide what equipment and camera settings to use and have the flexibility to adjust as conditions change, 3) understand quickly changing light conditions and 3) be able to create interesting compositions.

Predicting Weather Conditions

Some people call meteorologists "weather guessers" and sometimes predicting weather can involve a bit of guessing based on experience. Even though there is science involved in predicting what conditions create a dramatic sunset, conditions can change rapidly and are unpredictable so some guess work is inevitable.

Predicting Drama

At the time of sunset, the sun is at a low angle in the sky which allows the longer wave lengths of yellow and red to be more pronounced. In order to anticipate the degree of red and yellow that will be reflected in the sky you can use some general guidelines.  1) A sunset is usually more dramatic after a storm or raining day. 2) Thin high and mid-level clouds reflect color, while low thick clouds obscure the sun. A 30 - 60% cloud cover of broken clouds is ideal. 3) Vivid colors can travel longer distances through the lower atmosphere when the air is very clean, such as after a rain storm or in a tropical area, so clean air makes for more vivid sunsets. (Note: that a hazy or smokey sky can also create interesting effects.)  4) Wind is a factor to take into consideration. Wind can create interesting cloud patterns or blow in unwanted thick clouds. 5) Weather apps and sunset predictor apps can help predict weather conditions or sunset quality but are not always as accurate. Watching the sky in the late afternoon and noting the conditions mentioned in guidelines 1-4 may yield better results.

Fire in the Sky in Mexico

The above image from Cobo, Mexico is an example of vivid colors traveling through the lower atmosphere in a tropical region with clear air. Although there are low thick clouds on the horizon, the red light is still very visible because the air is so clean.

Time of Year

Spring and summer are always fun times to photograph sunsets because the days are warm and the clouds are not obscuring the sun. However even if the sun is not visible as much in the autumn and winter months there are often more dramatic sunsets this time of year because of the low angle of the sun on the horizon and the lower humidity which scatters color. 

Sunstar Over Bellingham Bay

This image was taken on an autumn evening when the cloud cover was ideal. The cloud cover was about 30% with broken clouds high above the horizon. Since the angle of the sun was lower to the horizon in the autumn months, the color from the golden rays of the sun were more intense and also accentuated by the contrast of the silhouette of the tree.

Equipment and Camera Settings

As with any form of photography practice and patience is required to find the right mix of equipment and camera settings that accentuate your style or vision. During a sunset photo shoot the conditions change quickly and it is often necessary to change out equipment and quickly change camera settings.

Tripod

An important piece of equipment for sunset photography is a tripod. A tripod is used for long exposures in the low light that disappears quickly as the sun sets below the horizon. It is also easier to review images and settings if the camera is mounted on a tripod while the light constantly changes. Because you will also want to carry the tripod from place to place to change your viewpoint, it is important to have a light, easy to carry tripod that is stable and easy to adjust. If you take many of your sunset photos from a beach you will want to use a tripod that is resistant to water and sand damage. To help maintain image sharpness you will also want to use a remote shutter release with your camera.

This image was taken at Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island in Washington State. In the shadows in the foreground you can see my camera securely mounted on my tripod waiting for a long exposure shot.

Lens and Filters

A wide-angle zoom lens with focal lengths shorter than 24mm or 28mm is ideal for capturing sunsets because it can encompass a vast landscape or seascape scene. A wide-angle lens can also create a superior starburst effect. You can experiment with which focal length is best by zooming in and out of the scene, then review the composition and choose the one you like best.

As with many photographic techniques the use of lens filters for sunset photography is debated. Some say that using a filter adds additional "glass" in front of the lens leading to more lens flare or that using filters on your lens will add vignetting around the edges of an image at the widest zoom of a wide-angle zoom lens.

I have experienced both of these phenomenon at times and removed my filters. However at other times using a Neutral Density (ND) filter or Circular Polarizer (CPL) filter has helped me achieve the results I desire. Neutral Density filters are useful to use before the sunset to hold back some of the light and allow for long exposures that will create motion in the clouds or smooth out water. Circular Polarizer filters are helpful to reduce glare from reflective surfaces in bright light. A 3-stop Neutral Density filter is effective for reducing light. I have also experimented with a 10-stop ND filter which reduces the light by 1000 times, however this tends to be overkill.

Bright Smokey Sunset

I used a wide-angle lens to create this sunset image because it emcompassed the foreground, water, islands, horizon and sky all in one scene.

Camera Settings

A few easy guidelines for camera settings for good sunset photos include: 1) Shoot in aperture mode with aperture f/11 or f/16. Note that setting your f-stop to a number larger than f/16 can reduce the sharpness of your image. 2) Set your focus point for about one third into the scene.  3) Generally an ISO of 100 to 200 will reduce the amount of noise in the image, however if you want to blur waves in the foreground you can increase the ISO to reduce the shutter speed in order to "soften" the motion of the waves (or as mentioned above, use a neutral density filter).

Pink Reflection

The camera settings for the above image were aperture f/16 with a shutter speed of 2 seconds (a long exposure) in order to blur the motion of the waves in the foreground and create a silky effect.

Lighting and High Dynamic Range

During a sunset the sun provides the light but what's important is how the light illuminates the scene.

High Dynamic Range photography involves bracketing the same shot at different exposures to capture the lowest light values and highest light values then combines the images using "blending software" to produce one image that has a wider range of shadows and highlights. Exposure variations can be set using a camera's automatic bracketing feature or in some cases some smartphones (or cameras) have HDR modes or apps for creating an HDR image "in camera".

Mirror Mirror on the Water

This photo was created by blending two images taken at different exposure values in order to capture a greater dynamic range of lighting that can better represent what was seen by the human eye at the time.

Interesting Compositions

When composing sunset photographs one thing is almost always certain - there will be a horizon where the earth meets the sky. Another thing that is quite certain is that placement of the horizon in the composition is a personal preference.  Some like to use the "rule of thirds" and place the horizon on the bottom third of the image and some prefer the horizon in the middle of the composition. Personally I like to change up where I place the horizon based on what elements of the scene I want to emphasize.

Finding an interesting foreground or items that can be silhouetted can also make a sunset composition interesting. Changing your orientation to the direction of the light can make for a unique composition. It is always good to "look behind you" (or to the side) for a fresh perspective.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row

This sunset composition is unique because rather than placing the horizon on the lower third of the image, it is placed in the upper third of the image. This draws your eyes to the horizontal lines of the water in the foreground. The birds traveling through the water in a horizontal line also add interest and the beautiful colors of sunset reflected in the cloud formations in the sky are still a strong part of the composition.

Conclusion

Sunset photography is enjoyable and you can make it as technical as you want by experimenting with all of the guidelines offered in this blog post or you can make it as simple as you want by simply pressing the shutter button on your camera or smartphone to see what you get. Like Forest Gump said, "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography

Emotional Responses to Sunset Photography

I don’t think any type of photography elicits more emotion than sunset photography. Be it while taking a sunset photograph, viewing one or discussing the subject of sunset photography.

Let’s start with the subject of sunset photography. Is sunset photography “the biggest cliché” or is it a “spiritual expression”?  Some renowned photographers say that there is an overabundant supply of sunset photographs that contributes to their reputation as “corny” rather than artist. Others say that they are “sentimental visual confectionery indicative of limited aesthetic vision and undeveloped practice; as childlike pleasures.”

Despite this view, there are thousands more images of sunsets than any other popular photography subject. Perhaps this is because viewing a sunset is an emotional experience which is accessible to everyone. Any time the sun is setting you can be sure that someone is taking a photograph of it wanting to share what they are seeing.

Why are people drawn to photographing a sunset? Sunsets are dynamic and dramatic. There is always a variety of changing colors in a sunset and many of the colors are warm colors. The light and color in every sunset is unique, no one sunset looks like another, a little like human personalities. Also, sunset images can have a calming and soothing effect.

Why do I embrace sunset photography and feature it in my portfolio? It is ultimately creative and challenging. Below I will discuss a few of the elements I find most creative.

Creativity in Sunset Photography

Ever changing Light

During a sunset there is really a lot going on. As in any scene the light is constantly changing, however during a sunset the changes in lighting conditions are more dramatic. The changing light creates vibrant colors and shifting shades.

Walk on the Beach

When I captured this image the sky had a broken cloud cover and with every degree the sun moved lower on the horizon the reflection of sunlight on the clouds changed, as did the colors in the sky. In addition, sunbeams broke through the clouds and with a low tide, the tidal pool reflected the various colors of the sky. People standing at the edge of the shore watching the sunset gives some perspective to the scene as does the bird flying in front of the sunbeams.

Golden Hour

About an hour before sunset or when the sun is between 4 and 6 degrees above the horizon, the indirect sunlight light is more evenly diffused so the light appears softer and warmer. With the sun lower than the clouds, the reflection of the golden sunlight from the clouds can light up the sky.

This image of a sunset in Cabo Mexico is a good example of the sunlight below the clouds reflecting off the bottom of the clouds to create a warm orange golden glow on the horizon.   

Blue Hour

For about 20 to 30 minutes after the sun dips below the horizon or when the sun is between 4 and 8 degrees below the horizon, the sun’s blue light dominates and a scene takes on a predominately blue shade. During the blue hour the sky can also be tinted yellow, orange, red and blue because the blue light is scattered in the atmosphere so it can reach the surface of the Earth.

In this image of the Edmonds ferry on Christmas eve, the sun is well below the horizon and is casting a bluer shade on the clouds and the water below the ferry.

Staying Longer – Nautical Twilight

I have found that if you can stay even longer at a sunset, up to nautical twilight, when the sun dips as low as 12 degrees below the horizon there are often even more dramatic colors in the sky. Although the naked eye cannot clearly see the horizon at this point, with a long exposure a camera can record light that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

As we sat on the beach at Shi Shi in the Olympic National Park eating dinner and watching the sunset it displayed various colors for over an hour and long after the sun had set below the horizon. The brightest color in the sky appeared about 40 minutes after the actual sunset. This was the longest and most unforgettable outdoor sunset dinner I have had in my life.

The Zen of Sunset Photography

Unlike some skeptics, I believe spectacular sunset photography is an art. In order to capture the subtleties of the ever changing light during a sunset you must constantly adjust your approach as the light changes. To do this you must remain “in the moment” – attentive, letting your next move (camera setting adjustment) be guided by intuition rather than by the conscious effort of recalling the correct photography rule of thumb for a specific situation.

Smokey Skies with Birds

In this image the smoke from the summer wildfires in British Columbia brought a hazy, darkness to the sunset. There was almost a blue hour look to the light even during the golden hour. I was focused on capturing the colors when a flock of geese suddenly flew through the scene. I was able to capture the moment before the geese flew completely out of the scene. I could not wait for the children to leave, nor did I have time to change position so I clicked the image almost without thinking. As it turned out the scene seems to naturally flow from the geese, over the pilings to the children on the opposite side of the image while the sun is centered between the pilings and is just about to touch the horizon. This was an "in the moment" capture.

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography

This year my focus has changed from sharing the content of place and time to refining my style and post processing techniques. Previously my intent was to capture a unique moment in time to share with others. However with the surge of social media and mobile devices, sharing a moment in time or a special place has become ubiquitous. Everyone can share their discovery of a beautiful place in an instant and post it on social media where it is seen around the world. This year my intent was to focus on defining a distinct style and learning advanced post processing techniques to help me improve the quality of my images. Here are 7 of my favorite images from 2019 that reflect my new vision.

#1 Everlasting Sunset

This image showcases a unique and intense shade of color reflected in the water around the boat. The sunset and sky are highlighted above the horizon using a vibrant tone. The dark silhouettes of the dock lead the eye to the almost completely silhouetted boat. The sunset is seen through the upper deck windows of the boat allowing the viewer to see the colors of the sunset behind the boat. Ironically, nobody is watching this beautiful sunset from the boat. I viewed the seemingly everlasting sunset from shore as the colors in the sky continued to intensify for more than an hour after the sun dipped below the horizon.

#2 Unique Perspective

Under the canopy of a Japanese maple tree I experienced a totally new perspective of autumn in the Pacific Northwest. Although away from the waters of the Puget Sound I included water in the image. Disguised in the middle of the image, beyond the dark soil in the foreground, you can see glimpses of the Japanese garden pond. The colors of the pond blend with the colors of the green leaves on the bottom edge of the maple tree and you can see the white pond foam floating in the water. The alive and vibrant colors contrast with the stillness of the fallen leaves.

#3 Mirror Mirror on the Water

Mirror Mirror on the Water

This image is a post processing labor of love combining several newly learned post processing techniques. When the sun is bright on the horizon the lighting appears beautiful and evenly distributed to the human eye, but for the camera the contrast of tones is too high for the light meter to capture the high dynamic range of light in a single image. In this case an underexposed and overexposed image are combined to create an evenly exposed image.  

#4 Transition to Winter

Transition to Winter, Edmonds Ferry

After sunset the skies transition to blue hour then to the darkness of the night sky. November is a time when the seasons transition from the beautiful colors of autumn to the colder and starker winter scenes. In this photo the saturated variations of ice blue hues in the sky and water are a back drop to the Edmonds Ferry where the windows glow with warm lights reminding us that winter is near with cold temperatures outside and warm gatherings of family and friends inside.

#5 New Horizons

Point Colville, New Horizons

I could not resist including this "time and place" image in my favorites collection even though it does not incorporate a new style or new post processing techniques. This is purely a capture of a place and time memory. This was the first time I explored this most southwest end of Lopez Island. There is a great feeling of freedom exploring a place for the first time, especially when you are the only human beings around. You feel like you are the first to stake claim to the land and you share it only with the waves, wind and shore birds. As the sun set upon the new horizon I thought about the new journeys I was about to embark on, including photography.

#6 Crescent Moon and Saturn in November

On Thanksgiving evening as I was bidding my family farewell when I saw the crescent moon from my driveway. It looked especially bright and I knew the planets were in special alignment so I decided to try to capture the wonder the next night right after sunset when Saturn was closest to the moon. As sometimes happens my original vision using my highest telephoto lens did not turn out as visualized.  However right before I could no longer endure the cold of the night, I experimented with a wider angle view that spanned from the water to the moon, knowing the moon would be smaller than I wanted. Yet it was a nice surprise that with this very long exposure I could also see the the dark side of the moon.  

#7 Lone Tree

As I sat alone in front of this bare tree at the end of the daffodil field I wondered how I could portray its majesty amidst a field full of golden daffodils but I felt like the tree had its own special mystic. I sat for a long time smelling the daffodils that surrounded me not wanting to take a photo - maybe afraid a two dimensional photo could not portray the essence of scene. Eventually the sun dropped behind the top section of the tree and the upper half of the tree lit up and warmed my heart then I could not help but take a photo. I went to this location with the intention of featuring spring daffodils but I ended up focusing on a lone tree instead. Sometimes you can expect something to happen that is usually pretty certain but if it doesn't happen as planned and you remain patient and open to a different experience, an unexpected treasure could be be revealed.   

Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography