Foggy Sunset

The last of the setting sun over Vancouver Island June 28. I was near the entrance to Joseph Whidbey State Park on the west side of Whidbey Island.

Morning Glow

An early morning view from the Anacortes ferry dock.

California Poppy

Winter Olympics from Whidbey Island

A seagull and I enjoyed the view of snowy Olympics in March.

I was at the parking lot of the Sno-Isle Library on the east side of Oak Harbor for this view.

Goldfinch

Rose and Rain

I pass this rose on my daily walk.

Sunflower Bud

Winter Olympics from Ft. Ebey State Park

The view at Fort Ebey State Park on the west side of Whidbey Island on the last day of 2015.

Poppy and Rain

A rainy day in June.

A Gray Cascade Morning

The North Cascades from Oak Harbor in mid-March.

Rose

Rain

A Poppy and Light

Light is a photographer's friend. I decided to experiment with this poppy: light in front, light in back, blossom to the light, blossom away from the light, light from the side.

Olympic Mountains at Sunrise

The Olympic Mountains from Libbey Beach, an Island County Park, in the midst of winter.

Daisies

Maturing daisies quickly lose the geometric swirls at their center.

Mt. Baker Dusk

Mt. Baker from Oak Harbor, late afternoon on February 22, 2016.

Olympic Mountain Glow

The Olympic Mountains, Sunset Beach and Swan Lake at the end of February.

Cascade Dawn

Dawn February 23, 2016. I was on the west side of Oak Harbor to capture this view of Oak Harbor Bay and Marina and the North Cascades.

Mt. Baker Dawn

Dawn view from Oak Harbor on February 23, 2016.

Yosemite: Hetch Hetchy

In the northwestern corner of Yosemite National Park is Hetch Hetchy, the Tuolumne River watershed. It's the "other" scenic valley in the national park.

The National Park, established by Congress in 1890, has a long standing relationship with San Francisco. The O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed in 1922 and provides water and power for the city and county of San Francisco.

The Tueeulala Falls (upper) and Wapama Falls (lower) help fill the reservoir.

Hetch Hetchy Dome is at the center while Kolana Rock is to the right. This valley gives evidence to the debate. Should scenic valleys remain pristine for viewing by the many or should they be used (construct a dam) to provide water for some?

Yosemite: Merced Grove

The Merced Grove at the northwest part of Yosemite National Park has a nice selection of Giant Sequoias. There were fewer people at this grove and we thought the collection of trees was more impressive than Tuolumne Grove. There is more history associated with this grove too.

Yosemite: Crane Flat Lookout

The Crane Flat Lookout and Helibase is a couple of miles from Crane Flat (gas station). The road to it is paved and the public is welcome.

The views of the Sierras were amazing.

As were the views to the north.

The need for a fire lookout was all to evident on the path we took from the parking lot to the lookout.

Yosemite: Tuolumne Grove

Mariposa Grove at the south end of the park was closed so we went to the two groves at the north. We went to the Tuolumne Grove first, shown here. We would later go to the Merced Grove which we liked much better. There were fewer people and more giant sequoias. 

Unfortunately, this giant had burned.

My sister (above) and niece (below) give a sense of the size of the trees.

Yosemite: Half Dome View on Big Oak Flat Road

A clever sculpture along the Big Oak Flat Road.

Yosemite: Big Oak Flat Road

Our time in Yosemite Valley was over so we drove north on Big Oak Flat Road. The Mariposa Grove was closed so we headed to the groves at the north end of the park. This is a view south of the Merced River and Bridalveil Fall from the road.

The Cascades along the road.