Before the pictures get too old and the mountains erode down to nubs, I thought I’d honor the promise I made July 31 to publish a gallery of photos from our trip to Mount Rainier National Park near Seattle.
I always feel self-conscious about shooting photos in famous national parks because they have been photographed so many times. I hardly took a frame when I took a trip to Yosemite in the late 90. I kept saying to myself, “Do you REALLY think Ansel Adams hasn’t done that better?”
So, to avoid competition, I find myself focusing (pun intended) on the human landscape when it’s available. At least I can be pretty sure nobody else has shot it before, not will they be able to shoot it later.
I look for non-touristy details
Everybody shoots the mountains, and I have to admit to getting in a few frames of them if only to prove I was there, but I like to concentrate on the details that I hope other tourists will overlook.
Black and white photography depends on subtle tones of black, white and gray to convey a message. As a black & white shooter at heart, it’s taking me a while to learn how to add subtle color shadings to the mix. That’s why you’ll see that many of my images are primarily monochromatic photos with a splash of color here or there.
Mount Rainer Photo Gallery
Not all of these photos are spectacular, but if you’ve been considering a trip to Mount Rainier, they’ll give you an idea of what you might see. Click on any image to make it larger, then click on the left or right side to move through the gallery.
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos with us.
I’ll never get there, so thanks for sharing with us. Between your blog and the 50’s Tiger News I am continually amazed and very proud of all the talent that came out of Central High School. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent. I think the Sadler and Reed team would be proud of your writing abilities also.
Ansel Adams would have been proud to call you a friend and colleague. I look forward to each days entre.
Amazing pictures, Ken! Almost like being there.
Awesome Photos Ken.. I was in that area in 1969 but I never got as close as you did. Great shots !!!
Having lived there for a year as a ranger in ’69, I can say you captured the essence of it, Ken. As I was raised in MO. with deciduous trees and changing seasons, I found the evergreen Cascades massive and somewhat foreign. I also was not a billy goat, which seemingly was a requirement of National Park Service rangers back in the day. So, was happy to be transfered back east!
These shots that you took,would all be beautiful mounted in frames. What a collection! WOW!
Very nice Ken, as always. You never disappoint with your photos. Many of these shots are breath-taking and yet some appeal to the minute detail – I was especially intrigued with the little brown squirrel that blended in with the stones so well that I almost didn’t see him. That reminded me of the I Spy books that my kids just loved when they were growing up. Thank you for your posts.
Ranger Larry Points or someone else can probably confirm this, but I think the little guy is a chipmunk, not a squirrel.
He was well-fed.
Actually, Darla is correct. The rodent in the seventh photo is a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-Mantled_Ground_Squirrel,_Mount_Rainier,_July_2006.jpg
Chipmunks are shorter in length and smaller overall, and have the characteristic stripes on their backs and across the eyes.
I stand corrected. That’s what I get for being specific.
My apologies to Miz Darla, Mam, for doubting her.
I missed getting the Chipmunk link in my last post;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tamias_minimus.jpg
I really enjoyed these photographs. Thanks!!!!
Ken: You really have a gift in photography and a way of making everyday things look really great. I enjoy looking at and reading your newsletter. You show the beauty of things and remind us of memories that we sometimes forget. Thank You for the fantastic photos and memories!!!! You do a fantastic job.
Lyndel Revelle
P.S. One place that maybe you have been (and a place I think is a neat place to visit) is “The Garden of the gods” outside of Harrisburg Illinois. It has some great rock formations and is very beautiful when the leaves change color.
Thanks for sharing your truly breath-taking photos of Mt. Rainier. I grew up in Cape, but have lived near Portland, OR for the last 15 years and have yet to make the trip to Rainier. It’s always been on our wish list, just haven’t made it there yet. I’m a humble amateur photographer and your photos make want to move that trip up a notch on our list, and makes me wish I had more time to hone my craft!
Thank you, Ken. Always appreciate your commentary on how you see things.