snow – Sequim Daily Photo

ICM with Alders

A friend and fellow photographer and I took a lengthly drive on Blue Mountain Road a few years ago on a wintery day like today.

Like many other nature photographers, we sought to find inspiration to create unique images from what we found. And if you’ve driven Blue Mountain Road, you’ve may have found some photographic opportunities yourself (beyond the transfer station), e.g., the church, the rusted farm equipment, the Sears house, etc., just as we did.

But this particular day we were feeling creative, and therefore, experimented a bit with in camera movement (ICM) – a technique in which one zooms the lens forward and/or back to convey a sense of depth, and in this case, a bit a mystery as to how it was accomplished.

I hope you enjoy the end result, but if not, feel confident; the church, the rust, the house…they’re coming soon.

‘Sun’ Land?

Although I captured this photo in 2019, apparently, we’re due for our annual snowfall again soon, which brings the photo back to mind.

After arriving in Sequim in September 2018 after 30 years in nearby Renton, seeing over 2.5 feet of snow accumulate in February was a rude awakening – especially after being told “Sequim is so much sunnier than the rest of Puget Sound”; and “Sequim hasn’t gotten much snow in the last 20 years.” by the locals.

So after helping my hubby shovel it for hours and cursing our real estate agent under my breath, I took in on myself to make a statement of my displeasure by snowballing the SunLand sign at the entrance to our neighborhood.

But I did so before I complained to another resident about how surprised I was to see so much SNOW, when she relayed that she had just moved to Sequim from Hawaii – in order to escape the heat!

That’s when my whining stopped and I put myself in her place, but all the while dreaming of Hawaii…

More Snow on the Mountain

Hurricane Ridge on a spectacular winter day…

When a Facebook friend posted video of snow at her house yesterday, I was surprised that we didn’t see it as well. With our temps well into the 30’s I dread that it won’t be long until we’re shoveling the driveway – but I delight in the chance to capture the amazing snowboarders who turned this hillside into such a calligraphic expression of joy!

Lenticular Clouds, Hurricane Ridge

Another image from my day at Hurricane Ridge (with the dreaded snowshoes)…

Not only were the snowdrifts amazing, the sky was getting darker and more intense by the moment. Soon waves of clouds swirled across the mountains threatening even more snow, wind, and COLD.

After removing the snowshoes, I grabbed my sled, headed off to a section of hard packed snow, quickly landed on my butt and captured this shot shortly thereafter. In my world, success comes at a price!

First Winter

This time of year brings back memories of a friend who led us on a snowshoeing field trip to Hurricane Ridge. The drive up from Port Angeles gave no indication of the sight we’d see when we arrived at the Visitors’ Center, which sadly, was destroyed in a fire the next year.

The volume of snow was startling with the trees drooping under its weight. Although the sun was shining overhead and creating beautiful shadows on the drifts, it was extremely cold and one wonders how the birds and wildlife survive it.

I brought a sled, a handy way to transport my tripod and camera gear, and trudged my way through the snow for about 20 feet before questioning my sanity…did I really think I could walk with these things? Being unable to convince my “other half” to pull me on the sled, I resorted to sucking it up and pressing on.

Clearly, I have no appreciation for snowshoes whatsoever, but that view was amazing and I was not going to go home without capturing it, which I did here.