At the beginning of each year I look back on my previous year’s work and select a small number of images that serve as milestones along my photographic journey. In 2021 I continued to emphasize black and white processing of both color and infrared (IR) images. Here is a collection of twelve images from the past year, presented in chronological order. I’ve also included a thirteenth bonus image for those who manage to read all the way to the end of this post.
1. Frosted
The rising sun provides momentary back-lightning for thick frost on a stand of evergreens. One freezing cold morning in February we drove up to Hope Valley (Sierra Nevada), CA. We noticed this stand of trees and immediately turned around to photograph it before the sun melted the coating of frost.
2. In the Land of the Giants
A May camping trip on the northern California coast provided an opportunity to photograph the majestic stands of coastal redwoods in the Redwoods National and State Parks. On this morning we were blessed with rays of sunlight breaking through a thick fog. I photographed this scene with both my color and IR-converted cameras, and I decided I liked this IR version best.
3. Rhododendron
We planned our visit to the redwoods to coincide with the likely bloom period for the rhododendrons that grow profusely in the understory of these forests. Unfortunately, drought conditions in California greatly reduced the rhododendron bloom. With the help of other photographers we were able to find at least one plant in full bloom.
4. The Way Through the Woods
One of the challenges of photographing in a forest or woodland is the need to simplify the inherent visual chaos. Here, I was able to find an isolated fern set between a redwood tree and a path as a focal point. The bright fern foliage, as seen in IR, makes a strong contrast to the surrounding forest.
5. In the Flow
We spent a few days in June photographing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. This image of Latourell Falls is my favorite from that trip. I was sitting on a rock with my feet and tripod legs in the water to get a low camera position -- I was definitely "in the flow" both literally and metaphorically.
6. Impact
I love waterfalls, and I love photographing them. However, it is surprisingly difficult to find artistic compositions of many waterfalls. This photograph of Wahclella Falls in the Columbia River Gorge focuses on the impact of the falling water on the plunge pool below. The delicate texture of the outflow in the plunge pool is not visible to the human eye but becomes evident in a long exposure image.
7. Morning Fog
In September I spent several days prowling Whidbey Island in Washington with my IR camera while Carol taught a fiber arts workshop at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville. Thick fog on this particular morning added depth and mystery to this avenue of trees on a back road.
8. Resilience
This lone cypress tree on Whidbey Island stands firm against the prevailing westerly wind. I have photographed it before, but on this particular afternoon the light and the clouds made for a special image. This is my single favorite photograph of the entire year.
9. Introvert
I saw this solitary tree when I was in the Alabama Hills, on the east side of California’s SierraNevada mountains, more than a year ago, but I only got around to photographing it during a return trip in October. I am intrigued by the fact that its personal space has not been invaded by other trees. Perhaps it is, like me, an introvert.
10. Postcard from Yosemite
I spent a couple of days in early November photographing in Yosemite. There was still plenty of fall color, and the waterfalls and Merced River were full (very unusual for this time of year) due to an "atmospheric river" storm the previous week. The weather was beautiful -- too beautiful for dramatic photography! -- giving me no option other than making mostly "postcard pictures." Just being in that place, which I grew up visiting as a child, was magic.
11. El Capitan Dawn
Everyone from Ansel Adams onward has photographed Yosemite from Tunnel View. There I was, at the overlook amid the tripod forest before sunrise with no hope of interesting clouds, trying to make a photograph that was a bit out of the ordinary. I chose to focus on the face of El Capitan as it picked up the first light coming over the south rim of the valley.
12. Morning Walk
Cold, clear autumn nights make for mists above the Merced River in the meadows of Yosemite Valley. At this hour of the morning I had this view of lower Yosemite Falls all to myself.
13. Silence (bonus image)
This is not really a 2021 image. I took this photograph in 2014 and it sat, neglected, since then until a few months ago. At the time I was drawn strongly to the simplicity of the composition and the isolating, moody effect of the fog but my processing efforts then didn't do it justice. When I encountered the image again in a scroll through my catalog I immediately said "This is a black and white image!" Moral of the story: no digital image is ever truly finished.