Creativity Lesson

Try this for a creativity challenge - a Scavenger Hunt.

I've participated in scavenger hunts since a I was a kid. Who didn't enjoy teaming up with friends to figure out clues to get to the final prize. Even an introvert like me enjoyed the game because I was allowed to work out puzzles and apply the results.

A few years ago I participated in my first photo scavenger hunt while at a retreat on the northern Olympic Peninsula. It was fun, but seemed more clinical - take a photo of a deer, take a picture of lavender. Each could be construed in a creative manner according to the photographer, but I was really just collecting images to try & win. I participated in a few after that, but never really felt challenged to explore my creativity.

This past weekend, I partook in another photo scavenger hunt. For this one we were given destinations and were told to photograph the area keeping in mind to look for images that show the area as a tourist destination. We again hit the peninsula but traveled with specific destinations. Each photographic team arrived at each destination about the same time but we each had to create our own vision withing the parameters of the task.

Here are a few of my images from the day.

Tacoma Dome Station, Tacoma WA

Gig Harbor, WA 

Port Orchard, WA

 Chief Sealth's Gravesite, Suquamish, WA

 Story Wall, Bainbridge Island, WA

A Second Look

I shoot a lot while hiking. While I enjoy looking for that scene I might have in my mind, setting up the shot and waiting for the light sometimes I just need to shoot and run. Something about a scene grab my attention and I "grab and go."

This type of photography doesn't always lend itself to a carefully shot image. Or to working a scene - taking images from different angles, shutter speeds and apertures for the best composition.

Nor am I able to set up the tripod and take multiple exposures to blend together later in HDR software.

I also will apply this "grab and go" style to editing my images. If it grabs me as I sift through the images, it gets to stay. If not, then into the trash bin it goes.

But every now & then an image deserves a second look. The two images here have different stories, but each was given a second chance much to my appreciation.

1. On Gold Creek Pond, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

While hiking through what was left of an early season snow around Gold Creek Pond, located near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, I meandered down by the lake shore. It wasn't a particularly spectacular day for landscapes as the clouds were thick in the trees just above the trees. I was primarily shooting intimate nature portraits in the even light. There were a lot of opportunities for colorful leaves with a dusting of snow. I almost didn't take this picture as the light was flat - no features in the low clouds beyond. But the shape made by the near perfect reflection was attractive. Later as I processed the image I let the sky go white to highlight the shape of the reflection in the water.

2. Grassy Log in Nada Lake, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

On my trip to the Enchantments this past October, my friends & I stayed at Nada Lake on our way in. In the morning light fell on this log out in the lake but the hill behind was still in shadow. It was such an interesting log with grass and shrubbery growing on it. I knew there was a picture in there somewhere so I took a few shots as did my companions. But as I looked at it on my computer I wasn't as thrilled as I had been when I first saw the log in the morning light. But I hesitated when I highlighted the image to throw away. I decided to crop it and darken the background enough to lose the shadowy detail that had been captured.

Every now and then, an image or a scene is worth taking a second, third or even fourth look. You might find magic in there.

Top 10 Images 2012

I'm not normally one to follow the crowd. Yet as I read articles and blogs looking back at what transpired over the past year, I started to think about my year. I set out to work on my photography business - Focus on Photography is what I called it. And I worked on the business, made progress and feel more comfortable with where I stand.

I believe I have a good solid base to reach out to the journey ahead.

This past year I started out on the Oregon Coast & ended up in the Enchantments. I tackled a fear and practiced my portraiture. Entered a couple of contests and won a few, even having an image printed in a calendar. A new camera came into my life to help me explore my creativity. I hiked new trails & visited some old faves and explored the wondrous world around me.

To look back on my year, I see more accomplishments than set-backs which says I had a pretty good year. Finding just 10 images was extremely hard.

So here are my favorite images from 2012. What were yours?

1. Cafe Campagne, Post Alley, Seattle, WA

2. Seaweed, Cape Alava, Olympic National Park, WA

3. Justin, Portrait 

4. Prusik Peak in Gnome Tarn, The Enchantments, Wenatchee-Okanagen National Forest, WA

5. Agnes Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

6. Canoe, Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park, Alberta

7. Winter Solitude, Gifford Pinchot National Park, WA

8. Forest Trail in the Fog, Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, WA

9. Radishes and Green Onions, Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA

10. Snowy Owl, Boundary Bay, BC

I look forward to sharing an adventurous 2013 through words & images.

Christmas Eve Disappointments?

Wow! Talk about disheartening. I decided to take Christmas Eve off so I could explore the waterfalls of southern Washington, along the Lewis River and beyond. I would camp near the river but the campgrounds in the area were already closed for the season. I checked the road on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest site and there were no updates. However several descriptions said the trails I wanted are accessible throughout the winter. And there are private campgrounds in the area. Worst case, I could always just sleep on the side of the road. I had done my research and was looking forward to a weekend of photography.

Sunday morning, I picked up my dog and set off along I-5 to Vancouver. My first stop was 40 miles east of Vancouver for a collection of falls that I had been wanting to visit since the spring. I saw them in my head with traces of snow and knew they'd be gorgeous. Were they? I don't know. I will have to wait for another trip for there was far too much snow to drive any further and with the fast approaching darkness and more snow falling I decided to not chance the drive or the hike along 5 miles of road. I turned around and started back to Vancouver and continued to Woodland. The rain mixed with snow proved too much for me after the long and unproductive day. Time for a cheap motel that would accept Zillah.

We awoke the next morning to partial blue skies. All I needed to do was reach one of the trail heads for the Lewis River trail & I'd be set for the day. Excitement for a long deserved winter hike sped me along the road. Not even the gathering clouds & fog were going to put a damper on my day. A sign stated that forest road 90 was open. YES! But then I got to the turn-off. Nope not open. The snows over the past few days hadn't been cleared. If I wasn't alone in a sedan without cell service, I might have tried it, but my first rule when heading out on an adventure is to not become a headline. So I turned the car around. And stopped.

Dang it! I was not going to waste this trip. Zillah hopped out of the car with great joy and ran though the snow into the forest. I pulled out my tripod - the forest was very pretty with the snow & the moss - and extended one leg of the tripod. Next thing I know, I'm standing with the leg of the tripod in one hand, my tripod in the other and bits of plastic in the snow at my feet. F***! After tossing the tripod back into the trunk, I grabbed my camera & shot a few views handheld, including the blur of Zillah running through the snow.

The rest of my trip to my aunt's house for evening celebrations, was spent looking for images. The image above is from a slight causeway above a damn near the town of Cougar.The low clouds in the dark trees, the almost glass-like surface of the water made me stop. I can't tell you how many times I have driven past this area and never bothered to stop. Those other times, the view didn't speak to me. This time it said, stop - all is not lost - let my tranquility soothe your spirits - let me be the image that redefines your trip to marvelous.

Tunnels of Terror 2012

It was a dark & stormy night. Ok, not so stormy, not really all that dark, and night - well we started hiking at 10 am so kinda not really that either. Autumn finally hit the northwest with full force. Heavy rains brought out the water proof shoes and the gortex. We had been expecting rain on our annual Halloween hike, but instead of rain - low hanging clouds. A nice cool foggy hike worth the anticipation.

Our northwest autumns don't hold a colorful candle to the northeast colors, or so I'm told. I love our autumns here - the Vine Maples turning wonderful hues of red beneath the yellow of the Big Leaf Maple. Red Osier Dogwoods and wild blueberries join in to add their warm tones to the symphony of color and I have in front of me a grand chorale of visual harmony. Add a little fog and I squee like a pika.

I immediately started to lag behind the other hikers. While they laughed and chatted, I stared into the leaves, transfixed on the colors and shapes. While they shared the trail with each other, I started taking pictures to share with others. I finally caught up with them at lunch and we dined on delicacies to make our hike a special one.

But I had already been experiencing a special hike in the colors and weather of a northwest autumn.

Learning Something New

My dear friend Dr. Michelle Mazur of Relationally Speaking recently challenged her clients to do something they weren't good at. In her blog, she spoke of her heinous attempt at art and vowed to take an art class. Michelle will be the first one to tell you she hasn't an artistic or crafty bone in her body.

It's just not her strong suit.

I will be the first one to tell you that I can not take portraits.

I have tried. I suck at it. Being an introvert, it is difficult for me to communicate the desired pose and how I hope it will look in the end result. I barely passed Studio class in school. As a result I like to take pictures of flowers, waterfalls and dogs. Portrait photographers hold a very high esteem for me. They are able to do something I could only dream of.

So when she challenged us to do something we suck at, I knew she was telling me to focus my lens on the human face.

I had some practice before. A few years back I challenged myself and joined a Street Photography group.

I had fun. And produced some show worthy work in the process. But there I could hide behind the camera, shoot from a distance, stay invisible.

Actual portraits? That means an interaction and communication, ideas that incite apprehension and at times fear.

Giving Michelle my goal she reacted with joy. Then I asked if I could practice on her.

"Of Course!" she replied.

I would like to say that I overcame my fear & apprehension. Michelle is a good friend of mine after all. But alas, I was tongue-tied and lost in my directions. I asked her to face a glass wall and she made fun of me while trying to comply (she wanted to know her motivation). I wasn't sure what I was looking for but got something. In her frustration with my direction she began to laugh and there she was - the woman I know she is: fun, happy, confident, strong.

Later she said "Dude, you need to make me look at walls more often." She now uses that image in some of her promotional materials. Plus another image when all I could tell her to do is walk between this spot and that spot.

Her tagline is "What is your presentation destination." An image of her walking near a sculpture at the Olympic Sculpture Park exemplifies the journey to the destination perfectly for her.

I may not have overcome my sucking, but there is hope.

Cabin and Flowers

I had been wanting to head to Mt Rainier's Indian Henry's Hunting ground for several year - ever since I had passed through on my trek along the Wonderland Trail and then later saw the amazing meadows and wildflower display. When I had hiked through, the meadows were still under at least a foot of snow.

No flowers. No meadows. Lots a flies in the outhouse but that's a different story.

That 1st trip, my hiking partner & I sat on the deck of the Patrol Cabin not knowing it's history (it is the 1st such cabin to have been built in the park). We admired the view of the mountain rising from the cabin's "back yard", imagined the flowers that would appear later that summer.

Nothing would prepare me for the wildflower images I would see after the hike. Those images inspired me to plan another hike to this wonderland.

When a buddy of mine expressed a desire to be at Indian Henry's for the wildflowers and shoot star trails over the mountain, it gave me the perfect reason to head back up.

We opted to camp at a cross country zone behind the cabin and Mirror Lakes so we'd be close to the area we wanted to photograph, thinking that Devil's Dream Camp was too far from the meadow. Just remember that the hike to the cross country zone was heinous - trail was unmaintained and at points dangerous in the dark.

We set up camp and decided to stay put through sunset and stars. Too tired to explore.

The better time to photograph the historic cabin and the meadows would have been in the afternoon on the way in. The sun would have lit up the cabin set back in the trees and I really wanted to get that image.

On the way out, I stopped to take the shot I had missed on the way in even though I knew the lighting just wasn't what I wanted. The cabin hid from the scene in the shadows of the tree. I started planning on the hike out which Photoshop actions I would use to make the image something reminiscent of the history the cabin has experienced.