Week 30 | Mt. Diablo Oaks

Mt. Diablo (Mt. Diablo State Park in California) captured my imagination in the late 1980s when I first saw a few photographs by the landscape photographer Carr Clifton. It took me about 20 years to finally visit this park, and it was even more spectacular than I had imagined! The oaks were everywhere on the hillsides, and were so full or character my head was practically spinning with excitement. I would like to return here again, in hopefully less than another 20 years….

Mt. Diablo Oaks, Mt. Diablo State Park, California | Slavomir Dzieciatkowski

I keep returning to this forest along the Stillaguamish River in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It is simply beautiful, fragrant, resounding with birdsong, and has every shade of green imaginable. This July day was cool and drizzly, but eventually the sun bathed the landscape in its soft light when I made this composition.

Emerald Forest, Washington | Slavomir Dzieciatkowski

After departing from Capitol Reef National Park, Fish Lake was to be the last location to visit before heading back home. The area was mostly deserted and quiet. Although some color remained on a few of the numerous aspen groves, this leafless grove grabbed my attention. The brilliant white of the boles and electric clear blue sky made me actually think of the approaching winter, but I was pleased that the sun’s warmth could still be felt on this day.

I really like how the aspens on the left are almost mirrored on the right, with those on the right bathed in light but not those on the left…

Aspen Sky, Utah | Slavomir Dzieciatkowski

After many years since our last trip, we were able to return to Utah and revisit a few favorite locations. Although the colors were not as glorious as during our previous trips, this particular grove caught my attention. The soft sunlight was filtering through the canopy giving the leaves a beautiful glow…and I really liked how the branches appear to be reaching out from the glowing boles. I can still remember the sweet aspen aromas and the crisp autumn mountain air.

Luminous Aspens, Utah | Slavomir Dzieciatkowski

Utah is a place of dream-like formations, unlike anything a person can imagine. It has been many years since our last explorations here, and it was great to be back! The mesas on the edge of Capitol Reef National Park caught my imagination back in 1999, during my first excursion to the region, but I was unable to capture the mood.

We spent the day exploring, watching the light change, the ravens circle. This image, composed at dusk, is one of my favorites. The landscape carved by wind and water, yet so silent at this moment at the edge of night.

Cainville Mesa at Dusk, Utah | Slavomir Dzieciatkowski

The Mountain Loop Highway is a place I never tire of exploring. It is close enough to where we live and that allows us to head over there even if we only have a few hours. This was such a day. Drizzle, fog, fresh air. I was attracted to this composition by the beginnings of autumn and the twisty trunk of this vine maple.

Autumn Tapestry, Washington

On our return trip from Zumwalt Prairie in north-eastern Oregon we decided to hurriedly pass through part of Washington’s Palouse region. It was fantastic! The day was beautiful and sunny so meandering through the endless sea of fields felt like a great way to close an already fantastic trip.

This composition was made in the warm afternoon light on the western edge of the Palouse.

Early Summer Wheat Field, Washington

Autumn arrives very quickly, lingers for a moment, and vanishes without hesitation. We were able to time it just right on this particular trip. The day was gorgeous and sunny, filled with the crisp aroma of changing seasons. We were fortunate to see a mother bear with her year-old cub near by as they were preparing for the oncoming winter….

Paradise Valley Autumn, Mt. Rainier NP, Washington

I usually attempt to make a couple annual journeys to Seattle’s arboretum – in the spring and then again in the fall. This time we only managed one trip for just a brief few moments. The day was rainy at times, but that was a good thing…the colors were vibrant and saturated from the moisture.

In this composition I was attracted to the beautiful color layers of these Japanese maples. Sometimes even the briefest visit to a photogenic location may be rewarding; this was such a day.

Autumn Japanese Maples, Seattle, Washington

During the brief mountain summer, Paradise is renowned for breathtaking wildflower displays. Over quite a few years, I have explored many meadows and found some truly amazing displays of flowers. But each year is different and requires miles of hiking. On this particular day I was rambling through some of my favorite locations when I came across this magnificent bouquet of pink monkeyflowers and yellow mountain monkeyflowers growing in the moist banks of this little stream.

Years later, I can still smell the intoxicating aroma of all the wildflowers and hear the burbling of this stream. How I wish I could be sitting there right now…

Pink Monkeyflowers & Stream, Washington