nature

Biweekly Wow: Mt. Adams in Fall

Guess what, folks??  It’s autumn!  Have I mentioned before that this is my favorite season?  I love the colors and the coolness in the air, the smells and the squash.  Of course, this is the prime time to get outside for some hikes in the gorgeous weather and to let loose the shutter to capture all of the fiery beauty of nature.  It was the promise of this very season that guided our decision to visit Japan in the fall.  Tokyo was a bit early (at the beginning of November), but we were just in time in Kyoto!

A copse of trees in full autumn color in front of Mt. Adams just before sunset | LotsaSmiles Photography

We ventured out this past weekend in search of fall color, and I’m thrilled to report we found some.

Autumn leaves in the sunshine | LotsaSmiles Photography Continue reading →

Soggy Sakura

When we were planning our trip to Japan, we only briefly considered the cliche cherry blossom spring season. Sure, the beauty is unparalleled, and it’s classic Japan. But it’s also what everyone does (and we all know I like to stand out whenever possible), it’s crazy crowded – with tourists and locals, alike – and we have our very own sakura right here in our own back yard.

Benches under sakura trees in the pre-dawn morning | LotsaSmiles Photography

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TWOI: 11/24/17

Greetings all!  Another Friday, another week on Instagram.  Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the States – a day of friends, family, and much feasting (and of course I had my camera close by).  I had only one reasonable plate, but I still managed to eat too much.  It’s tough with so much amazing food!

A very happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there; I’m thankful to have so many people see my photography every week.

As for the photos this week, this first grid photo was from this week’s photo challenge, “experimental.”  I tried something new, that I’ve always been curious to try – focus stacking.  Read all about it and see the final result here.

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Arches: The Most Amazing Day

Our first day in Arches wowed us with nature’s splendor and the phenomenal discovery of these gravity-defying works of natural art.

Our second day revealed to us the remarkable playground of the Fiery Furnace and saw us delve deeper into the park.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2016

But the third day?  The adage says “third time’s the charm,” but that assumes prior failure.  While that might have been somewhat true in our quest for sunrise, the remainder of our days were anything but disappointing.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2016

Nevertheless, our last day in Arches was absolutely the most incredible, by far.  Who knew each day could just get progressively better?  But somehow, it did.

And as much as I love the English language, I struggle to confine this truly remarkable experience to inadequate, paltry words.

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Hiking Season

I used to hate hiking.  Perhaps it was too grueling for someone out of shape.  Perhaps I didn’t like always being left behind because I walked slowly.  Perhaps it was because a “hike” meant an arduous vertical ascent for two thousand feet, collapsing at the top with water that tastes like plastic and a squashed sandwich somewhat reminiscent of ham and cheese (though tasting like a gourmet meal to my starving stomach), enjoying the lofty view for a short time, then racing down the mountain (trying to not kill myself on the scree) before the ominous thunderstorms hit. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Lingering Autumn

My photo this week is actually a preview of next Tuesday’s main post.  We were finally able to get out for the season’s first real hike, and we made a full day out of it, capturing all the beauty the location had to offer.

I have previously made my love for autumn quite clear.  Now that we’re amidst the explosion of spring, fall is a distant memory.  Despite this, I still see evidence of its presence.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2016

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