The Change of Seasons

As the Pacific Northwest settles into its annual dance with autumn, my internal clock begins to slow, preparing for the quieter rhythm of winter. It's a season that invites me to catch up with the march of time, reconnect with family and friends, rekindle old relationships, and savor life's simplest moments, like watching the gentle rain while sipping a warm cup of coffee

This scene from Mount Rainier was a reminder that the shift to winter was coming. During a single day on the mountain, I witnessed the transition from fall to winter, an ode to the passage of time.

Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA

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Colors in my backyard

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One of the great ironies of landscape photography is how easy it is to overlook what's closest to home.

I've traveled thousands of miles to photograph autumn colors across the Continent, from New England's maples to Colorado's aspens and Washington's alpine larches. Yet in more than a decade, I'd never taken the time to explore the fall colors just beyond my doorstep.

This weekend was a reminder of what I'd been missing. What began as a gray, chilly morning unfolded into a stunning display of color. Hillsides glowed gold, evergreens stood in contrast to brilliant aspens, and every bend in the road revealed another palette of yellow, green, orange and red. From sweeping vistas to intimate details, the entire forest seemed determined to put on a show.


Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

WA USA

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Havasupai

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Havasupai feels almost unreal.

Hidden within a side canyon of the Grand Canyon, its famous turquoise waters owe their color to the high concentration of dissolved minerals, creating a striking contrast against the deep red canyon walls. For landscape photographers, it is nothing short of paradise.


The real challenge, however, was not finding the scene. It was finding the solitude.

With hundreds of visitors passing through each day, capturing these iconic waterfalls without people in the frame can be nearly impossible. Fortunately, a stretch of cloudy, chilly weather worked in my favor. The cold water and lack of sunshine kept most swimmers away, leaving brief moments of stillness among the cascades.

Those quiet hours allowed me to capture both classic compositions and fresh perspectives of Havasupai's azure waterfalls, where silky blue water tumbles through limestone travertine pools carved over centuries.

Havasupai Indian Reservation
AZ USA

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From Fall to Winter

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In the Cascades, autumn doesn't arrive on a set date—it descends from the peaks.

Long before lower valleys turn, September coats the high alpine brush in striking scarlets and ambers. Golden larches shine for a brief, glorious moment, and then—almost overnight—the first snow of the season dusts the upper slopes.

There is something profoundly special about this transitional period where late fall meets early winter around Mount Rainier and the North Cascades.

Washington, USA

The Cascading Larches

Often times, the larch march in early October in the Pacific Northwest has felt like a maddening rush to capture the best of the colors. And everyone seems to have the same idea, leading to overcrowding on trails and trailheads (one trailhead had cars parked for an entire mile along the road on both sides).

So this trip focused on a more remote location in the North Cascades National Park. While it was not the crowning glory of larch colors, the region still presented many unique larch perspectives for photography which I really enjoyed. And I could count the number of souls I met on the trail on 2 hands!

North Cascades National Park
WA USA

March of the Larches

Its already October. For many, that signifies the long march towards winter. Out here in the Pacific Northwest, it represents peak fall colors, savoring hot soups, drinking pumpkin-spice everything, and catching up on life. The first week, however, is perhaps well known for the golden colors displayed by the larches. 

Over the last several years, I have had the pleasant opportunity to explore many of the classic locations to view larches in the Cascades backcountry. And although I can't tell one larch in full gold from another larch, seeing the collective glow from a grove of larches is something else. Especially when backlit or sidelit against a dusting of fresh snow.

Here is my tribute to larches. Hope they shine gold forever.

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
WA USA

Glimpses of Summer

And just like that, summer has come to an end in the Pacific Northwest. With temperatures already plunging to the low 40s (~10C), and a series of weather patterns bringing much needed moisture to the mountains, the 'nice' weather window in the higher reaches of the Cascades will be over in a couple of weeks. While not the best year in terms of wildfire and precipitation, every day and every month in the mountains is a treasure-trove of next sights, sounds and experiences.

Here is one from a summer backpack this year to a region I had last visited more than 15 years ago. It was refreshing to experience this beautiful region when I am in a different place in life. And while this was many weeks ago, I still remember the trip like it was yesterday.

Olympic National Forest
WA USA

Sunset on the bar

On our penultimate day of the multi-day trek to the Alaskan Arctic, all that was left to do was to gather around a peaceful sandbar, set up a campfire, and settle down in stories and memories around the warmth of the fire, with a few choice tipples for company. The sun slowly angled its way along the horizon, never fully setting for a very long time. The fire kept the mosquitoes away, and the light kept sleep away.

I don't know when I stood up to go to bed that evening, but I eventually did. Not before admiring the colorful vegetation around the sandbar.

Gates of the Arctic National Park
AK USA

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Fall in the High Divide

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Fall has certainly arrived early in the North Cascades this year. The high alpine bushes, typically blueberry and other small shrubs are teh first to turn, signaling the end of summer. The spots where I previously used to see the transition of color in mid-September are now changing their shade much earlier. was it due to the cooler than average summer, or the lower than average precipitation - I am not sure.

However, the colors did make for a very photogenic hike through the higher sub-alpine terrain of the North Cascades. A little bit of disturbance in the atmosphere also added a bit of drama and depth to the scene. The easy access to so many dreamy vistas is why I keep coming back month after month to the same location.

Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA

Twisted Lines

AI or real?

At first glance, these photos might seem like the machinations of a image model under the watchful eyes of a prompt writer. 

But these seemingly psychadelic colors and patterns are not the outcome of a 'high' artist or an AI model under duress. They are just plain old reflections of bright neon lights of Seattle's famous waterfront ferris wheel twisted by the undulations of the water.

While normally the water surface is ruffled due to the wind, on this particular night, the ripples were just the right intensity to create these surreal reflections.

Seattle
WA USA