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Tag Archives: Washington State

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Window seat please – photographing volcanoes and the northern lights

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023

Flying back from Portland to Reykjavik on Iceland Air was an experience.  Having a window seat on a clear day provided uninterrupted coverage of the Pacific Northwest landscape.  As the pilot turned the plane north eastwards, we were able to view the snow-capped peaks of Mount St Helens, Rainier and Adams.  We were on the wrong side of the plane for Mount Hood but caught glances of the mountain.  The highlight of the flypast was crossing over Mount Adams with Rainier in the background. The light was clear and bright.  It is possible to distinguish the features in the mountain and where previous lava flows had occurred.  All three are active volcanoes with Mount St Helens erupting in 1980.  

Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
Flying over Mount Adams.
Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
Mount Rainier
Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
Mount St Helens
Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
Rainier and Helens

Eventually the night came and we entered Canadian air space.  There was one more exciting view to see on our flight.  As we crossed over the North West Territories we saw the Northern Lights flickering above the clouds.  Taking pictures of the Lights is interesting as to the naked eye there is a faint glow.  I then pressed my iPhone15 against the window to remove reflections.  Fortunately the cabin lights were dimmed.  The long exposure coupled with the sensitivity of the iPhone reveals the green colours of the lights as shown in the pictures.  The lights lasted for about 10 minutes and then slowly faded.  This was a memorable flight for sightseeing.

Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
The Northern lights seen out of the window.
Flight over volcanoes and northern lights, Portland to Reykjavík, Iceland Air, Nov 2023
More Northern Lights.
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Thanksgiving 2023-visiting the Evergreen State-Washington-USA

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023

Thanksgiving is a special time in America.  Having enjoyed our visit to Washington State, we made the decision to repeat our time there this year.  Last year, we stayed in a Cabin on the foothills of Mount Rainier but my in-laws have now moved south to an area around Riffe lake.  Their house is idyllic nestled into the deep evergreen forest of Washington.  The house is equal distance between Mount Rainier and St Helens. The nearest town, Mossyrock, is 20 minutes away and further provisions require another 20-to-30-minute journey.  Their residence is adjacent to Riffe Lake a large reservoir which curves around the valley.  The reservoir was created in the 1960’s by Tacoma Power and there are several submerged villages under the water.  

Riffe Lake, Northern Lookout, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
The View of Riffe Lake from the road view point near to Mossyrock
Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
Deep in the Evergreen forest around Riffe lake.

The area has many features that are brilliant for photography.  In 2017, the authorities lowered the reservoir level by 30 feet as there were worries that a seismic event in an area with several active volcanoes could lead to catastrophic flooding.  Consequently the shoreline has exposed many trees that were cut down to make way for the original reservoir.  The remnants of the tree trunks are stripped down and the roots are exposed.  When exploring the shoreline these cut down trees look like alien beings which are ready to walk away.  The word triffids comes to mind as one moves around the lake shore getting close up to these tree trunks.

Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
Walking down to the Lake Shore.
Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
The exposed roots and tree trunks on the shores of Riffe Lake.
Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
This tree and roots looks like it is on the move!
Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
The landscape is eerie and looks very strange.
Riffe and Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
Walking around the tree trunks.
Riffe and Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
This provides a sense of scale of the trees.
Riffe and Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
Overlooking Riffe lake

Adjacent to Riffe Lack is Swofford Pond which is an oasis for fishing and wildlife.  The road passes the shores of the pond and provides a scenic view of the area.  On one side there is a bank from the start of green mountain and forms a scenic border to the surrounds of the pond. Everyday I passed by Swofford Pond and everyday I grew to love the area even more.

Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
Swofford Pond is adjacent to Riffe Lake.
Swofford Pond next to Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
An autumnal tree looks out over Swofford Pond.
Swofford Pond next to Riffe Lake, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
A storm passing through the area of Swofford Pond.

Riffe lake feeds into Mayfield Lake which in turn is another reservoir.  This lake has several camping areas and the main boating town of Mayfield is at the southern head of the water.  Whilst a popular boating resort in the summer months, during the winter the place is deserted which adds a degree of charm with the piers empty of boats.  In Mayfield there is an island providing views up the lake with a miniature lighthouse that must be popular in the summer months.

Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
A view over Mayfield Lake.
Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
Empty jetties waiting for the summer months.
Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
A lighthouse on the lake island at Mayfield island.
Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
A very quiet, Mayfield village during the winter months.
Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
Another view over the lake.

The reservoirs and the pond around Mossybank are picturesque and there are many trails to explore. I will be back again to enjoy another view of the area. Whilst I was visiting, there were many residents that I came across whilst I was traveling around the area.

Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
A Texas Longhorn we met on our daily commute. Love those horns.
Mayfield Lake, Washington State, USA, November 2023.
An inquisitive song sparrow.

This is my second visit to Washington for Thanksgiving and I post a picture of my sister and brother in law together with Sandy enjoying our Turkey dinner.

Thanksgiving, Washington State, USA, Nov 2023
Happy Thanksgiving 2023

If you are interested to read about my previous visit to Washington on 2022 then please follow the link below.

Memories of Washington State
Categories blog

RBSA exhibition 2023

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Alder Lake, Washington State, November 2022

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) organise a Photographic competition every 2 years. This is a very prestigious photographic exhibition, and the judging is very competitive.  Two years ago one of my Lockdown photographs was selected and I was very pleased to have been selected.  This year my picture of Alder Lake in Washington State, USA was selected.  The picture was also given a good “hang” meaning it was in the centre of the room and therefore more accessible for viewing.  Although I did not make the final prize selection, just being selected means a great deal.  I am only now, at a late stage in my life, making the most of my photography and I am enjoying every moment.  There were several other photographers and friends that I knew at the private view in the gallery which made the evening more enjoyable as well.

A selfie in front of my picture

You can learn more about the work of the RBSA on their website.

Home

More pictures from my time in Washington State that include the picture are included in a previous blog entry.

Memories of Washington State

Looking back, my last entry in the RBSA competition was ‘Mystery in the Fog’. The photograph was one of several photographs that did well in 2021.

2021 – A Successful Year
Categories blog

Memories of Washington State

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Memories of Washington State, Nov 2022

I loved Washington State and there were many memorable moments.  Here are a few photographs which summarise my visit and I hope at the same time that you may find them amazing.

Firstly, on clear nights we had so many stars to view.  The area was light pollution free and as these pictures show there are starry skies.  A wonderful place for stargazing.

Looking up to the stars on the road outside our log cabin.

Second, the reservoirs around Mount Rainier were very low.  A low water mark is normal at this time of year as they generally fill up in the spring when the snow melts and runs down the mountain.  However this year, the levels were very low.  In the Alder reservoir, the remains of the towns that were submerged were becoming visible again.  However, this one of the tree stumps was quite sensational and almost alien like in its appearance.

The low levels of Alder lake reservoir reveal an ancient forest.

Thirdly, there was smoke around the mountains, some of it from log burning cabins.  Smoke clouds from smouldering fires that were still burning from the summer months lingered over the landscape. 

The harsh beauty of Riffe Lake
Deadwood overlooks the lake.

My first view of Mount Rainier which is to the far left of the following picture, was exciting. What caught my attention is the amazing cloud fornatiion as shown here. I had never seen lenticular cloud formation before and this is caused by the heat of the mountains. They are dormant volcanoes and so the thermal currents produce interesting cloud formations.

Lenticular cloud formation over the mountains.

The final pictures show the warmth of the log cabin both outside and inside.  The cabins were warm and cosy.  The bright lights contrast with the dark of the forest.  Inside the cabins are ready for a long time of celebration, starting with Thanksgiving and moving onto Christmas.

The warmth of the log cabin during the blue hour.

Thanksgiving is all about family and we had a lot of fun during our week in Ashford near to Mount Rainier National Park as this picture shows!!

Thanksgiving is all about family.
Categories blog

The Museum of Flight

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.

The rain falls a lot in Washington so when such a day is a washout the locals head to the museums.  A popular venue is the Museum of Flight just south of Seattle.  The museum is claims to be the largest independent air and space museum in the world and has its beginnings with a group of enthusiasts who began to collect and preserve the planes and other memorabilia of historical importance. The site is impressive with over 175 aircraft housed in several large hangers.  There are some of the earliest known airplanes including a very well-illustrated WWI and II display.  Not only was the Battle of Britain covered but there is much more detail on the pacific war as befits an American Flight Museum.  The impressive Great Gallery included early manned space craft and a wide range of iconic aircraft.  

Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
The distinctive Lockheed Model 10-E Electra
Lockheed Blackbird M-21, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Lockheed Blackbird M-21 (Blackbird). The fastest plane ever built.
Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
Two excited visitors at the Museum.
Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
Space the final frontier.
Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Selfie in the Lockheed Model 10-E Electra metal work.
Great Gallery, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Racing to see the McDonnell F-4C (F-110A) Phantom II.
Battle of the Jets, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk. 6 lining up against its opposite number the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis
A few pictures from the Great Gallery at the Museum
William E. Boeing Red Barn, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Reproduction of how the first aircraft were manufactured at the Boeing factory in the Red Barn area.

An overhead walkway leads onto the Aviation Pavilion which is covered but open on the sides.  Here there is a British Airways Concorde in pristine condition, the Air Force One Boeing, and the prototype Jumbo Jet. 

Concorde is a glamorous looking supersonic jet.  The inside offered luxurious comforts with a journey of a few hours giving a fast trip across the Atlantic.  The Concorde in the museum was known as Alpha Golf due to its registration code G-BOAG.  

Concorde, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
All aboard Concorde.
Concorde, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Concorde rear view.
Concorde, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
The cramped conditions of the flight deck on Concorde.

The Air force one was a specially built Boeing 707-153, and is known as SAM (Special Air Mission) 970.  Four presidents flew on the plane including Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.  Johnson was sworn into office on board the plane immediately after the assignation of JFK.  

Boeing VC-137B "Air Force One", Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Boeing VC-137B “Air Force One” with other exhibits in the Aviation Pavilion.
Boeing VC-137B "Air Force One", Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
In the President’s Chair, Boeing VC-137B “Air Force One”
Boeing VC-137B "Air Force One", Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
President Nixon meeting Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai with Air Force One in the background.
Pictures from the Air Force One display

The Jumbo Jet in the Museum is the first 747 ever built, known as RA001.  The inside is cavernous as there are no seats.  This was a test plane and it includes all the necessary surveillance equipment that were used during testing.  The instrument stations do not take up that much space so you can appreciate the interior size of the aircraft. 

Boeing 747-121, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Boeing 747-121, the first Jumbo Jet.
Boeing 747-121, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
The impressive inside of the Jumbo Jet without any seats.

Other highlights included visiting the space shuttle and walking down the payload cargo area. There are so many other aircraft to see and remember there are 175 of them!  So much to see, so little time and definitely a wonderful place to bring your camera for a day out. I took many pictures and I have attempted to label the aircraft correctly. However, enthusiasts my wish to contact me to add further details and let me know and I will correct appropriately. The Museum of Flight web site is well organised and takes you through the online museum step by step although seeing the aircraft up close is a never to be forgotten experience.

Space Gallery, Museum of Flight, 2022
Inside the Cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Trainer
J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX built in Castle Bromwich Birmingham!
J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
Sopwith F.1 Camel (reproduction) with an original Aviatik (Berg) D.I WW1.
J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
This North American P-51D Mustang overlooks the WW2 gallery.
J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022.
Close up of the North American P-51D Mustang in the WW2 gallery.
Boeing B-29, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fought in the Asian Pacific War during WW2. The same type of aircraft dropped the Atomic Bomb.
Boeing 80A-1, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Boeing 809A-1, one of the first commercial airline models.
Aviation Pavilion, Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
The figure of a pilot looks towards a Boeing WB-47E Stratojet with a Douglas DC-2 just to the right.
Museum of Flight, Nov 2022
Mark and Jim watching a plane come in outside the Museum entrance.

If you enjoyed this blog then please read about my visit to the East Midlands Aeroparc. Not on the scale of the Museum of Flight but there are some iconic aircraft to see there as well.

Categories blog

Photographing Mount Rainier

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Mount Rainier from Longmire Nov 2022

Thanksgiving is about expressing gratitude and has its origins in the original settlers and the native Americans giving thanks for the harvest.  Now it is an important national holiday where friends and families gather.  For Thanksgiving 2022, we went to stay with Sandy’s sister in Washington State, USA.  She lives in Ashford which is only a few miles from the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.  

Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park Nov 2022
Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.

The area has stunning landscapes and the dense trees that surround the area are tall and majestic.  The surrounding forest on the approach to Mount Rainier and then from the entrance into the park is comprised of old growth trees. Including Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar.  The trees reach for the sky and block out most of light.  

The road into the Mount Rainier Park. Nov 2022
The road into the Mount Rainier Park.

The sky can be seen as you drive into the park and the road weaves through the forest with occasional stopping places.  During the winter months access to the park can prove difficult not only due to the changeable weather conditions but with staffing shortages preventing many roads from being properly manned.  Therefore the road to Longmire was open but the gate to Paradise was shut.  This was disappointing but in photography you always work with what you have and therefore I looked for other opportunities.  The Nisqually River Entrance is your first stop as you encounter the rangers who let you into the park.  All cars need snow chains before they are allowed to drive through the park.  Before you get to Longmire there is a stop at Kautz Creek Viewpoint. This gives your first glimpse of the mountain in the park. It is a fun shot to take as you can get a good group picture and take a bit of time viewing the mountain.

Mount Rainier from the Kautz Creek Viewpoint Nov 2022
Mount Rainier from the Kautz Creek Viewpoint.
Mount Rainier from the Kautz Creek Viewpoint Nov 2022
Family group photo against the backdrop of Mount Rainier

Longmire is dominated by the National Park Inn that sits looking at the mountain. It was as far as we could travel but I was determined to make the most of the opportunity to be in the park. There are photographs to be taken of the mountain and the Inn. Luckily there was clear visibility of the mountain as my pictures show. The area houses the living quarters of the park rangers and if you drive to the rear of Longmire you arrive at an impressive suspension bridge crossing the Nisqually river. This hidden gem provided several good photographs.

Mount Rainier from Longmire Nov 2022
The Inn at Longmire, Mount Rainier National Park
Longmire, Mount Rainier Park. Nov 2022
Take a seat, have a drink and admire the view.
Suspension Bridge, Longmire, Mount Rainier Park, Nov 2022
Mark looking over the Suspension Bridge, Longmire, Mount Rainier
Suspension Bridge, Longmire, Mount Rainier Park, Nov 2022
Jim looking up on the Longmire side of the suspension bridge.
Suspension Bridge, Longmire, Mount Rainier Park, Nov 2022
Classic view of the Longmire Suspension View.

I had brought a good photograph book called “A landscape photographer’s guide to Mount Rainier written by Anthony Jones. Unfortunately I did not get to do that many photographs as described in the book but maybe next time I will have more chances to see this beautiful National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park, Nov 2022.
The majestic mountain