A visit to Artist Point

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I have visited Artist Point in Mount Baker National Forest several times for both sunrise and sunset, but I have always been foiled by low clouds and obscured views. On my way up this time I couldn't help but think to myself, "not again!" And as I arrived at the parking area my thick low lying cloud nemesis had already begun to obscure the views of Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker. However, I have been burned one too many times over the years after turning around too early and not giving the weather a chance to clear. So I grabbed my gear and headed out onto the trails around Artist' Point to scope out the situation. I knew that out west where the sun was setting the skies were clear and that if the clouds right on top of the area I was in broke up at all, I would be in for a treat. Needless to say, they did start to break up, and as the sun began to set in the distance, the clouds lit up with wonderfully beautiful light. And on top of that, the clouds continued to disperse and allowed for some awesome milky way shots later in the night.

Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take" and that quote can be just as apt at describing photography as it can hockey. Although you may not be successful on many occasions, the more chances you give yourself, the more likely you'll come away with a goal(or in this case, an image). 

I ran into another pair of photographers who were arriving at the same time as I was, the husband and wife duo of Susan and Ron(www.susanholtphotography.com). They have a beautiful portfolio of incredible images and Susan offers awesome workshops in Yosemite. It was a pleasure to talk and shoot with them and help distract from the 30 degree temperatures! Definitely check them out if you get the chance! 

Here are the photos from the evening in chronological order, with decreasing clouds all the way through. 

Looking north east from the Artist Point area in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Looking east across a pond as the sun lights up the sky at sunset near Artist Point.

Mount Baker appears from behind the clouds after sunset near Artist Point. The moon rises to the right of the mountain before dipping back below the clouds. 

Mount Baker is consumed by twilight. The sun still illuminates the horizon in the distance.

Mount Shuksan during blue hour, reflected in a pond near Arist Point. 

The distant Mount Baker towers over the landscape as the Milky Way streaks across the sky. The distant city lights of the greater Seattle area glow on the horizon. 

Moonrise over Seattle

On the 25th of January, 2013 I was lucky enough to see a perfectly timed sunset and moonrise over Seattle, WA. Taken from Alki Beach, the sun was setting directly behind me which allowed some beautiful reflections to form over the water while the moon slowly rose overhead. I had no previous knowledge that this was going to occur, and I had only driven into Seattle that day on a whim.

This is a prime example of one of the best pieces of advice I can give a struggling or aspiring photographer. Get out there and shoot as often as you can. You wont know what you are missing until you are there to see it.

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Moonrise over Seattle, WA. 

25 second exposure at F/16 and ISO 100

Canon 5D Mark III

EF 24-105 F/4L IS USM