Total Internal Reflection

This is Hailey looking all bewildered as she considers blowing out her candles at her 2nd birthday party. It wasn't long before the duck had been torn from the lake and the sticky frosting was flying! There was a large crowd staring on so she was a bit nervous at first but managed to blow out the candles with some help from Dad.

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 28-135mm IS
Shutter = 1/100
Aperture = f/5.6
Focal Length = 105mm
Flash = Off
ISO = 200

After a morning of hard climbing I found myself high above Rachel Lake. Looking back down the trail I was amazed at how far I had climbed in such a short amount of time. One of the things I love about hiking is that it allows me to forget about my normal life and gives me a few moments peace. This was definitely one of those types of trips that I look back on and think WOW... that was the most fun I've had all summer. It also makes me thankful that I have my health so I can look forward to doing it all over again next weekend. Life is GOOD!

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 50mm f/1.4
Filter = B+W Cir/Pol
Shutter = 1/125 sec
Aperture = f/5.6
Focal Length = 50mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 200

This is another shot from the Rachel lake hike. High above Rachel, Lilla, and Rampart lakes you can find this view. It's about 6000 feet. Anyone familiar with the area may recognize it as the same area in which the Kendal Katwalk hike can be found. The previous evening, I hiked up to the Rampart lakes (shown) to find paragliders jumping off the crest and shouting with exuberance.

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 50mm f/1.4
Filter = B+W Cir Pol
Shutter = 1/125
Aperture = f/16
Focal Length = 50mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 800

Here's a brief reprieve from my hiking pictures from last weekend. This shot was taken on the bluff above Richmond Beach just north of Seattle, Washington. I took several shots of the sunset but I think this one came out the best. The large band of clouds at the sunrise blocked the sun from adding any strong colors to the clounds after it dipped below the horizon. If you go to Richmond Beach, check out the RIchmond Beach Coffee Company, Dodi and Nathan have just assumed ownership of the coffee shop and it's a cool place.

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 50mm f/1.4
Filter = None
Shutter = 1/60
Aperture = f/18
Focal Length = 50mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 100

On day two of the Rachel Lake hike, it was time to go exploring. Setting off for Lilla lake I ended up on a different trail that was climbing fast. After about an hour I looked back over my shoulder to see the 14000 foot Mt. Rainier looming in the distance; the morning sun beaming off it's east facing slopes. This was taken about half way up the trail.

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 50mm f/1.4
Filter = B+W Cir Pol
Shutter = 1/100
Aperture = f/16
Focal Length = 50mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 800
Post = Raw, Curves, Noise Ninja, Sharpen, Resize, 8Bit
Image Ready, JPEG 82%, Add Metadata

Here's a picture from my hike to Rachel Lake last weekend in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area of Western Washington. This was one of the best hikes I've had. The weather was perfect and the bugs were minimal. There were also girls with freshly made brownies!

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 50mm f/1.4
Filter = B+W Cir Pol
Shutter = 1/125
Aperture = f/16
Focal Length = 50mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 800
Post = Raw, Curves, Noise Ninja, Sharpen, Resize, 8Bit
Image Ready, 76%, Add Metadata

Another shot from my trip to surprise lake. This was taken early in the morning before the sun had dipped into the lake basin. We had to traverse this boulder field the day before to get to our campsite. In retrospect it was a very dangerous situation as the boulders are quite unstable in spots and were moving under our steps. I had visions of being trapped by a fallen rock and having to chew off my leg to save myself!

Camera = Canon 20D
Lens = Canon 17-40mm f/4L
Shutter = 1/13s
Aperture = f/11
Focal Length = 17mm
Flash = Off
ISO Speed = 100