Advertisement
Advertisement
Read Next
Photo Of The Day By Gary Fua
Today’s Photo Of The Day is...Behind The Shot: Fairy Dancers
Lake Jesup is located in central...The Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM Is A Fast, Premium Prime
Sony today introduced a new prime in...Fall Color Assignment Winner Ross Stone
We received over 600 submissions to our...Advertisement
Featured Articles
Read More
Beyond Visible Light: Color Infrared Photography
For a different look at color photography, try these shooting and processing tips using infrared digital capture.
Read More
Organizing Your Photos, Part 2: Using Keywords
In part two of a four-part series on organizing your photo library, we talk about the importance of using keywords to find photos instantly.
To access this content, you must purchase Outdoor Photographer Membership.
Read More
Moody Landscapes
Depending on where you live, clouds may dominate your skies for 250-plus days of the year. This is more the...
Read More
Camera Settings For Wildlife Photography
How to choose the right combination of exposure settings for the situation.
To access this content, you must purchase Outdoor Photographer Membership.
Read More
Surf Photography: Catching The Wave
How to capture epic surf photography on land and in the water.
Read More
Columbia River Gorge Photo Locations
Waterfalls, wildflowers and stunning mountain backdrops await in the Pacific Northwest.
To access this content, you must purchase Outdoor Photographer Membership.
Life Among the Rubble
Bitterroot Flowers (Lewisia rediviva) Cascade Mountains, WA
Summer has come late this year in the Pacific Northwest. While much of the country has been sweltering, it has been cool and rainy here, well into July when – despite our soggy reputation – it is usually dry and sunny. The snowpack this past winter was enormous and many alpine areas are still a month away from melting out.
Yesterday I ventured up into the mountains near my home to look for one of my favorite flowers – the Bitterroot – which appears every year in late June along a barren rocky ridge top. There were a few flowers, including this handsome cluster, but the peak bloom will probably be another week away, fully three weeks late. (Keep this in mind if you are planning to hit the legendary Mt. Rainier flowers this summer – they are likely to be 3-4 weeks late as well)
I love this spot because the flowers are set into a basalt talus slope that forms a clean, unobtrusive background for the delicate Lewisia blooms. The rocks also tell a story : of life asserting itself even in the most hostile environments. I could have moved in for a close-up, but including more of the background gave a better sense of place, and story.
For once, I didn’t have to worry about carrying a diffuser: it was a misty, windless day in the mountains, perfect for flowers. Maybe the summer sun will arrive one of these days, but today I was happy that it stayed away.
Nikon D3, 60mm macro lens at f22