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Water Damage:

I lifted my camera out of a puddle at the bottom of my tent and drops of rain water dripped off, tinged brown with chemical.

We were perched next to a glacier in the North Cascades. The microsystem of this glacier and its surrounding peaks had commanded an unexpected storm that ragged through the night. Rain flew sideways, somehow making its way into the tent. The wind smashed the tent flat against us three, packed together like sardines after the stakes to Nick’s shelter had blown.

I tried not to beat myself up for forgetting to put my camera back in my waterproof pack. I tried not to be sad. The roll of film was left over from a different trip, the last ski tour of the year. Back in the city, I dropped off the water damaged film with low expectations, and what came back was the best surprise. Something different, a little trippy, one of a kind.

A Weekend in Port Townsend:

Time in Port Townsend always includes a wander through the boat haven to see what’s new. I’m rarely there mid-day when shipwrights are bustling, owners are projecting, residence of the harbor are doing chores, and the sun is blazing.

There is light that most believe creates a superior photograph, like the golden angular light of morning and evening. However, I have been challenging myself to go out and take photographs when conditions are not what I believe to be perfect. Since doing this, I have been proven utterly wrong, as exemplified above. The colors of these photographs are to die for, and the reason film is so exciting to work with.

Gothic Basin:

I needed to take my new, old truck on a maiden voyage, to shake things out and get acquainted. Somewhere far enough to grow some trust in the old truck, but close enough to be towed if things went wrong - my previous car left me with some serious car angst. Gothic Basin was an ideal destination, accessed by the beautiful and paved Mountainloop Road.

The basin is beautiful, an oasis of lakes, running streams and well hydrated greens. I pushed up to Foggy Lake to find a place to spend the night. There were already four groups up there, but I found a nice spot right on the lake, chowed down a cheese and pickle sandwich and then jumped into the cold lake. As evening unfolded an Osprey began fishing at the far end of the lake, and a group of Californians invited me to watch the sunset with them.

Lake Ingalls:

I hiked through the early morning and reached the lake in time for sunrise. I brewed some coffee and was half way through before an unexpected swarm of skeeters killed the vibe. Lingering snow suggested it was winter, but the biting mosquitoes reminded that it was mid July. I began circumnavigation the lake, trying to shake off the swarm, but they followed relentlessly. Suddenly, and the moment I had been waiting for, the sun’s light finally illuminated the surrounding peaks, one by one. The bitting mosquitoes were forgotten for a few moments as I watched golden light leap from rock to rock.

canon ae-1 program // portra 400

A little bit of everything:

Sometimes the thoughtfulness of film photography means a roll of film comprises of two months worth of adventures. The latest roll of film I had developed included photographs of Winthrop and the Methow Valley, a ski trip with my dad, and of course, more boats.

canon ae-1 program // portra 400

Long Lost Loowit:

I took a roll of film to get developed, expecting it to be the final roll of film from a trip to Mazama, WA. What I got back was a collection of long lost photographs from climbing Loowit almost exactly one year ago.

canon ae-1 program // portra 400