After months of gray skies and dreary weather, the sight of daffodils and tulips popping up in gardens, fields and farms is a delight here in the Pacific Northwest. The colorful flowers are fabulous for photography, and several of the biggest bulb growers in Washington and Oregon open their fields for photographers. Tulips start to show their color in March and the blossoming continues into May, with the big fields usually in their prime around the second and third weeks [read more ...]
It’s cherry blossom time and the trees are blooming all over the country. In Washington State, Seattle residents and visitors look forward each spring to the beautiful sight of big old cherry trees covered in delicate pink flowers on the University of Washington campus. The annual bloom is certainly an event for photography, and on a sunny, spring day there will be many people at the campus Quad, almost all with cameras, using everything from a cell phone to a [read more ...]
Washington State Parks – Images by Greg Vaughn Washington State Parks celebrate their centennial this year. Created in 1913, the system now includes over 100 state parks. Many of these parks are fantastic for nature and landscape photography. Among my favorites as photo destinations are Cape Disappointment, Steptoe Butte, Palouse Falls, Columbia Hills, Steamboat Rock and Deception Pass. As part of the centennial celebration, all Washington State Parks will have free admission on March 30th. There are also events scheduled [read more ...]
It’s always great to have the cover of a magazine feature your photo, but even more so when that publication is one of your personal favorites and always a cover-to-cover read. So it is with the March 2013 issue of Backpacker Magazine, with my photo of hikers on the Sahale Arm Trail in Washington’s Cascade Mountains. Sahale Arm Trail is an extension of Cascade Pass Trail, one of the most popular trails in North Cascades National Park. If you’ve [read more ...]
The Skagit River in northwestern Washington state vies with Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge on the Oregon-California border for the highest concentration bald eagles in the lower 48 states. A few eagles inhabit the area year round, but each winter, hundreds of these magnificent raptors come to the Skagit River to feed on the salmon that swim upstream to spawn. The eagles (and the salmon) arrive in late November and stay through January, with peak numbers from Christmas until mid-January. [read more ...]
Washington may be The Evergreen State, but it also has some wonderful deciduous trees with leaves that turn glorious shades of yellow, orange and red each autumn. Great fall color can be found in every region of the state, from the coast to the Idaho border and from the Columbia River Gorge to Canada. Here, in no particular order, is a selection of some of the best places to view and photograph fall foliage in Washington. 1. Washington Park Arboretum [read more ...]
I am very pleased to announce that I won both Bronze and Gold awards in the Society of American Travel Writers annual Bill Muster Photo Competition. The Muster Awards honor the very best in travel photography, and I’m happy to be a winner again this year. Laceleaf Maple tree in Autumn This photo of a Laceleaf Maple tree in brilliant fall color won the Gold Award in the Natural Scenic category of the Muster contest. The photograph was taken in [read more ...]
Early May is the prime time for wildflower displays in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. There are a number of locations on both the Oregon and Washington side of the river that are great for finding and photographing wildflowers. Here are three of the best places for getting photos with masses of color. Tom McCall Preserve, pictured above, is a Nature Conservancy holding at Rowena on the Oregon side of the River. An easy stroll just a few [read more ...]
The folks at HostelBookers.com came up with a great idea for sharing stories and photos, and one of my online friends, travel blogger Kathryn of TravelWithKat.com encouraged me to join in the fun. So, here I am taking part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots. 1. A photo that takes my breath away: The Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai is truly spectacular. Fly along the coast on a helicopter tour, take a Zodiac or kayak into coves and caves, hike [read more ...]
The Seattle, Washington area is home to several beautiful Japanese Gardens, and right now they are at their very best. The fall color is at peak and the maple trees are brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Best known of the Seattle area gardens is the Japanese Garden at Washington Park Arboretum. This garden, part of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, is a photographer’s delight most any time of year, but especially in fall. The ornamental maple trees [read more ...]