This Week on Instagram: 5/26/17 - LotsaSmiles Photography

I’m always amazed by the actual reactions each week to my photos versus my expectations. Most of the time, the Instaverse simply doesn’t like the same pictures I do. It gives me some very interesting insight to my photography. Am I viewing a picture better than it actually is? Or was it simply poor timing, poor hashtags, poor algorithm? Who can know, for sure?

Either way, I’ll continue to put my photos out there. These are the ones I like, at least.

This first one was actually from a hike last year – Silver Star Mountain. That was an arduous trek straight up a creek bed (we took the hard way; apparently there’s also an easy way). The views were amazing, though I lamented the harsh sunlight. We saw this little butterfly (or is it a moth?) on our way up, just sunning himself on the rock.

This is one of my favorites from our trip to the Palouse. We caught an amazing sunrise at this old barn, and this rusty truck has so much character! I’m sure it’s been photographed hundreds of times.

This was from my post this week on Opal Creek. I’m fascinated my decaying structures; they’re so photogenic!

And this was my favorite from our hike to Abiqua Falls. It’s an adventure every time we go! That road’s a doozy, and the muddy slope down to the water’s edge isn’t much better, but the waterfall is worth it!

Ah, Crater Lake. I never get tired of seeing pictures from this magnificent park (Oregon’s only national park, you know). See the tiny moon there?

The pictures from Yosemite always get a lot of love. That’s ok – I love them too! Sunset on Half Dome from “the swamp.” Such a stunning place.

And the top photo from this week is a simple one. There’s nothing quite like the rolling hills of the Palouse, especially from Steptoe Butte. I’m so used to the lush greenery near home, so I wouldn’t have thought this would be so accessible to us. It’s a beautiful place.