Lake O’Hara Fall Colors Camping

For the second year in a row, I decided to head to Lake O’Hara for some camping and fall colors photography.  I love this place.  Alongside awesome scenery including towering peaks and golden larches, access is restricted so its not too crowded.  Two ways to overnight at the lake:  Camping in the campground or staying at the Lodge.

Having no luck with the Lodge waiting list, I decided to camp for a few night and hope for good weather.  After an 11 hour drive from Seattle I was ready for an adventure.  I learned a lot from last year’s Lake O’Hara camping.  First was that it pays to bring real food and cook it at the campground.  Second, bring the warmest gear you have.

In the end, I overpacked a bit and got a lecture from the staff before boarding the schoolbus that takes you up the fire road to Lake O’Hara.

Lots of gear and ready for cold overnight temps

I setup my tent on pad 26 and got situated for the days ahead.  There was a little less snow than last year so people were socializing around the campfire.  I relaxed for the rest of the evening since the skies were cloudy and the light wasn’t good.

My Mountain Hardwear Trango Assault tent at Lake O’Hara

I peeked out of my tent around 5am the next day and saw stars above so it was on.  I geared up and headed for the Opabin Plateau.  Having seen and photographed the view from the Plateau over the lakes, I decided to explore the larches and lakes farther in instead.

I found a winter wonderland of larches, frozen tarns and towering peaks.  A few of these are below.

Almost Frozen Opabin Lake and First Light on Peaks Beyond

Mount Huber Catching First Light

Mount Schaffer Catching Morning Light Above Lake Opabin and Golden Fall Colors

I wandered along the frozen trails for about an hour before the light lost its softness.  then I headed back down to the campground for breakfast and some rest. The lakeside cabins of the Lake O’Hara Lodge were basking in warm morning light.

Lake O’Hara Lodge Cabins Reflection Just After Dawn

Part 2 coming up…

 

Learning To Fly: DJI Inspire Pro and Mavic Pro Drones

My first drone a few years ago was pretty basic by today’s standards.  Low quality camera, a few minutes of battery life.  No object avoidance:  You were truly on your own.  I flew it a few times, then it went in the closet.

Something about the DJI Mavic Pro made me want to check it out.  I got one and took it to Iceland where it flew once.  My mind was elsewhere.  Back home, I flew it up around Mount Baker and down at Mount Rainier.  Drones had clearly come along a way.  Tons of features, compact and easy to fly.  A reasonable camera for the price.

Of course, coming from Sony a7r2 and Zeiss lenses, I wanted more from the camera.  I looked around and realized I needed a DJI Inspire.  What I really wanted was the included X5 camera which allows different lenses and a nice micro 4/3rds sensor.  It comes with a Leica-ish 30mm kit lens and I recently added an Olympus 90mm 1.8 lens as well.

So the journey begins in drone photography and videos.  Here’s a sampling of what I’ve come up with so far.  Honestly, it’s a bit daunting sending that much money up in the air.

Salt Marsh Aerial Photography DJI Mavic Pro

Tideflats Colors Aerial Photography DJI Mavic Pro

Tideflats Colors and Patterns Aerial Photography DJI Mavic Pro

Aerial Photography Drone Rainier White River DJI Mavic Pro

Above the Forest and Road DJI Mavic Pro

Above the Lake Tipsoo and Road at Defrost DJI Mavic Pro

Drone Photography Road Through the Forest Dji Mavic Pro

About to Land through Sunlit Trees DJI Inspire Pro

Drone Photography Rainier at Sunrise DJI Inspire Pro 90mm

Mount Rainier and Yakima Peak at Sunrise DJI Inspire Pro

Aerial Photography Fresh Snow on Peaks in Iceland DJI Mavic Pro

Nooksack River Heads to the Sunset DJI Mavic Pro

Smaller Rivers Lead to Larger Ones DJI Mavic Pro

And finally a video from Rainier this morning

 

Back to Iceland: Round the Ring Road Part 5 Fiery Stokksnes Sunrise

Each morning in Iceland you wonder if the weather is going to turn out.  You’ve looked at the weather reports, talked to locals, checked out TPE and Skyfire.  Everything pointed to a good sunrise so off I went at 3am, heading to Stokksnes.

As I was hiking out to the point, the skies became slowly fiery.  I noticed that the storm the day before had cleaned up many of the footprints (bonus).  I got to where I wanted to be and set up both cameras.  Sony a7r and 16-35 on my smaller tripod Gitzo GT0531 and the Zeiss 28mm Otus on my a7r2 handheld.  I got the a7r going with Sony’s Smooth Reflections app and wandered around capturing other shots with the Otus.

I just watched the sunrise unfold, so glad I had gotten out of bed.

Iceland Stokksnes Sunrise Sony a7r Smooth Reflection app

Iceland Stokksnes Sunrise Sony a7r Smooth Reflection app 16-35mm Lens

Iceland Stokksnes Sunrise Pano Zeiss 28mm Otus

 

Back to Iceland: Round the Ring Road Part 4

I mentioned a weather apocalypse of sorts around Hofn and it hit hard one morning.  Crazy weather is worth venturing into at sunrise or sunset because the potential for great shots is there.  Safety first, of course.  Arcteryx thought enough of my suffering and brand placement that they asked to use this photo in their website promotions.

Iceland Stokksnes Morning Hailstorm

 

Iceland Stokksnes After the Hailstorm

That morning, a beautiful sunrise wasn’t to be.  But venturing east, I found the golden light behind the storm.

Iceland Ring Road Hailstorm Sunrays

Which in turn lit up the surrounding peaks nicely.

Iceland Ring Road Morning Golden Light On Dusted Peaks

Iceland Ring Road Snow Capped Peaks Reflection

At that point, the light was on the wane so I headed back to Hofn for a nap and breakfast.  Time to rest and rejuvenate for afternoon at Jokulsarlon.  On this visit, there wasn’t much ice on the beach as it was still cold and frozen at the glacier. But wandering the beaches along the lagoon is always a pleasure.  Its interesting to see how the ice arranges itself, changing each day.

Iceland Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon Sculptures

Later on back at Hotel Hofn, I learned of their happy hour and 20% off meals for guests. this lead to more relaxing and planning for the morning.  Hopefully without the hailstorms

Back to Iceland: Round the Ring Road Part 3

Much of the story of my trip around Iceland can be told in the rows of images on my screen here as I type.  Time spent in the North.  Time spent in the East Fjords. Much time spent in and around Hofn, and from there to places like Jokulsarlon, the Ice Lagoon, or Stokksnes.  Then back to Hofn each night after sunset.  I had found a nice hotel in the town and craving a shower and solid bed, I stayed there for three nights.

One evening, I came out to find one of my tires flat.  I was irritated but grateful it wasn’t on some side road in the night, raining all around me.  I made some calls and found the local car shop which fixes tires.

Iceland Hofn Tire Repair

Patched up, I visited a place called Stokksnes three time in the next few days.  I got ok weather, awful weather, and lastly amazing weather.  Stokksnes is the place where the landowner charges about 8$usd to visit his land.  Once you see the view from out along the beach, you’d pay almost any price.

Iceland Stokksnes Beach Sunrise

Later on that morning, heading back to the camper and watching for great reflections in the smooth-as-glass tideflats.

Iceland Stokksnes Sunrise Dramatic Tideflats Reflection

All this while also watching for sunstar opportunities on the black sand dunes.

Iceland Stokksnes Black Sands Dunes Sunstar Sunrise

Iceland Stokksnes Sunrise Wave Spray Zeiss 16-35/4

I had a great first visit to Stokksnes with the light and sunrise.  I knew I would be back on this visit, but didn’t know I would have to go through a weather apocalypse of sorts before I got another amazing sunrise.  Once done here each morning, I would head out east or west for as much good light as I could get.

Iceland Clouds on the Move

Iceland seems to be a lot about the scenery but also about the wind.  It’s constantly going.  I got in the habit of opening the door, and holding onto it as it opened.  I was happy to have brought quite a bit of Windstopper gear. My camper was my travelling photo taking operation.  This was great not only to have everything you need with you, but also for impromptu napping.

GOCampers Iceland Mobile Photographer and Napping Space

Being based around Hofn, I had to stop in at Pakkhus for my one splurge meal.  Langoustine (lobster), fresh off the boat, baked in butter, garlic and other secret herbs and spices.  I had a nice pint of  a local beer called Wee Heavy, which reminded me of the old Hales Brewing Wee Heavy.

Iceland Pakkhus Hofn Lobster Langoustine Feast

Back on the road for more early morning scenery. Sunrise was about 330am, so it made for an early start this time in May.

Iceland Southeast Morning Symmetry

More from Hofn here shortly, and then moving west again.

 

Back to Iceland: Round the Ring Road Part 2

One of my highlights of this second trip of mine to Iceland was discovering Seydisfjordur along the Eastern Coast.  I had read about the photogenic Blue Church and decided to head there one morning since I was in the area on the Ring Road.   I descended into the town, nestled into a cozy fjord at sunrise:

Iceland Seydisfjordur at Sunrise

The town reveals itself as you work your way down winding roads:

Iceland Seydisfjordur Morning

Iceland Seydisfjordur Blue Church

Morning light was kind to me and I captured the church in a nice reflection.  Sony a7r2 and Zeiss 100-300mm lens.  I also discovered great pizza and coffee in town and had the chance to take a nice nap. I ventured back here later on in my trip for sunset, to discover this is a better sunrise shot.

Navigating the road along the fjords takes time but is one beautiful revelation after another.  In the morning and evening, the birds come out and can be found nestling around the shallow parts of each fjord, or congregating on the meadows.

Iceland EastFjords Snow Capped Peaks

Icelandic horses are out as well in the calm morning light.

Iceland Horses at Pasture Below Towering Peaks

At this time of the year, May, there is still a bit of snow around in the East Fjords area.

Iceland Ring Road May Snow Remnants

So at this point, I am heading down the coast to my base at Hofn.  More to come soon.

Back to Iceland: Round the Ring Road

After last year’s revelations on my first trip to Iceland, it was a matter of time before I returned for another view.  Go Campers Gocampers.is had generously offered me a serious discount on one of their campers in exchange for a selection of my images, which helped considerably with costs.  The Photographers Ephemeris, TPE , and its SkyFire add-in suggested that the good weather, or at least not bad weather was to be found to the north so I headed out that way on the Ring Road.  After stopping at Costco of course 🙂 

Driving along the northern part of Iceland was a great choice.  It was gray and cloudy but the landscape of pastures, fjords and geothermal activity was a lot different than the southern route.

The fjords spoke of an active fishing industry, as well as remnants.

Iceland Older Fishing Boat

I covered most of the northern part of the Ring Road in two days.  In early May, most of the snow was gone, with little ice in the lakes.  I really wanted to see the East Fjords and then the South, where TPE was telling me the weather was improving.