Revisiting Glacier National Park

Yesterday was a 'travel' day from Kalispell to Coeur d'Alene.  We took some road shots but Tom does not feel  they are 'share worthy'.  The day off allowed us to go back and revisit some earlier photos.  Tom really wanted to make something of the ones he shot coming down the mountain from Hidden Lake.  We both shot, but man oh man, the beauty around us was tough to capture.  Tom always brackets his shots so he can work with the dynamic range that is not easily captured. I seldom bracket so I missed some opportunities to do something with my shots.  Plus, most of his shots were taken at 15mm with his fish-eye lens and that offers a huge array of editing options in post.

Oh, and mom did get back on the blue glacial water!  I read through all of her references and will summarize it as follows: glacial ice is compressed and that changes how it reflects color.  Melted glacial water must maintain at least some of that compression.  There is, of course, much more to it than that and you can pursue that question to your heart's content.  One thing for sure, glacial water is different.  Thanks so much mom.

Enjoy these photos.  For those who do not like post processing beyond cropping and a couple of basic edits . . . just check back tomorrow.

The fisheye lens, like most wide angle lens, creates the illusion of the object being very far away.  The mountain in this image is not really as far back as it appears.

I went back to one image that I really wanted to capture just as it was.  Well, not quite, but you get the idea of the mountain ranges behind the lake.  The challenge is that the sky is blown out.  Of the ten images I took trying, this one is the best.

I also really wanted to show the green rock with water coming down the side.  Next to the mountain in the back it as just gorgeous.  Problem with the late evening shot is that to capture the detail in the rock I blew out the sky . . . again.  I had another shot where the sky was just perfect but the rock and water were nothing but silhouetts. Tom showed me how to blend the two images leaving the sky from one and adding the lower part of the other.  Now it looks like the way I saw it. This approach is quite different than HDR and in this case it salvaged a photo without taking it into HDR processing.

Tom loves to try different ways of looking at an image.  That most likely contributes to him being a much better photographer as he can easily see post editing options as he takes the photo.  Here is one image he played around with and I like it.

This morning we are in Coeur d'Alene and headed to Palouse, WA.  It is cloudy here and the weather in Palouse is forecast to be cloudy and rainy for the next several days. Nothing unusual for us!!

Wish you the best week ahead.  Miss friends and family but know that you are there cheering us on.  We are having fun and wish to share.

We Found Hidden Lake

What a spectacular day!!!  We hiked up to Hidden Lake within the Glacier National Park.  Uphill, with all our gear! We took our time (had no choice) and shot along the trail. Once we arrived at the lookout we went further as everyone told us the view was better just down the trail. You know the drill . . . look back and you are much further than you thought you had moved as you chase that illusive lifetime shot!!  When we realized how late it was getting and that we really should head back to the car, we spotted Bighorn Sheep. Well, there goes that idea!!  We made it back safely and just in time to enjoy the last shadows of a great park  We arrived back at our hotel after dinner.  It was 10:30pm.

We hope that you enjoy these photos.

All day long people had been asking each other if anyone had seen any wildlife. Nope!!  But such teasers these Bighorn sheep.  As mentioned, we were supposed to leave.  Then I spotted one below us.  Later, a squeal from a child behind us.  He was excited to see the Bighorn.  That was a better opportunity for us because they were closer. Here are a few of our better ones . . . and we took a lot of not so good to bad ones!  You can see the very golden hour effect on their bodies.  Hard not to get them totally blown out, especially as we were facing the sun.

The Bighorn seemed to like something on the rock as they took turns licking the sides and top.  

Then a big male jumped up on the rock.  Whatever the good taste was, it must be better from the very top!

Steady boy!!

Today we head to Couer d'Alene, ID.

Wishing each of you a great weekend.  It can only be that if it means you have some contact with your camera!!  Bet the leaves are 'fall beautiful' in Oak Creek Canyon.

Glacier National Park

Good news!!  It was not raining as we left for Glacier National Park.  Tough to believe how foggy it was when we got there.  OK, we are good in rain so we can learn fog!  We drove up Going to the Sun Highway which takes you up to Logan's Pass and beyond.  We did not do beyond.  That is quite a drive!!  There are lots of pull-out places and eveyone was polite and patient with each other.  If only there had been more sunlight . . .

I got a bit closer at the next pull-out.

Streams and waterfalls were the most fun to shoot . . . and the most difficult in flat gray light!

We were suprised to see blue in the water, much like we saw in Iceland.  Must be the glacier ice as it melts. It is much more pronounced with any sunlight hitting it.  I don't know how that works or why it is so . . . my mom might look it up for me. Hint, hint . . . mom!

We have not seen bears or bison.  We have seen some deer and elk.  Ducks flew into the pond above. It was a treat to see them swim in water so clear that you can see the rocks in the bottom of the creek.

We spotted this young deer by the road and Tom had seconds to grab this one.  From the right seat window.

One of the striking characteristics of the area is the amount of land that still shows the impact of forest fires in the area.  In some ways it gives a sense of hope.  New growth is evident . . . and slow!!  In another way it is sobering to see what the consequence of such forces are on the landscape.

McDonald Lake figures prominently in the landscape.  Photographing it in the light we had was challenging. Tom got close and personal with it!! The angle and composition enabled him to minimize the effect of the fog. I shot it later in the day with different light.

We are headed back to the park in just minutes.  We have given Mother Nature time to lift early morning fog and hopefully today we will see mountain peaks and the grandeur that this park is known for. This time we are driving straight up to Logan's Pass and to try a 1.5 mile hike to look for Hidden Lake. It is a HUGE commitment to pass by sites we liked yesterday if the light were just a bit better. If we find Hidden Lake we will share photos.

Hope your weekend is shaping up just as you would like and that it includes photography.  If nothing else, stay home and clean your gear!