A snowy, freezing January along the shore of Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park (Montana)
If you’re thinking of getting out in the parks this winter with mask, hand sanitizer, and camera in hand, then you’ll want to read my annual winter photo column published in today’s edition of the National Parks Traveler. It might be a bit redundant if you read last year’s photo column, but a little winter photography refresher never hurts, right?
The road into the redwoods – Howland Hill Road, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
My monthly photo column is now published in the National Parks Traveler. In it, I talk about how Redwood National and State Parks are the perfect places to capture plenty of vertical shots, with the occasional horizontal thrown in for good measure.
To read the article, click on the photo above.
The image above is of Howland Hill Road, a dirt and gravel road through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which takes the driver to the parking area of Stout Grove. This road was my first introduction to redwoods, and I actually almost got lost trying to find the road. You see, the road runs for about 7 miles and you can enter it either just outside of Crescent City, CA, or a mile or two east of the Haiouchi Visitor Center along CA Highway 199. I opted for the Crescent City approach only to discover that road was closed less than a mile in, for construction work. I was hemmed in by huge construction tractors and had to gingerly make my way back down the hill and onto the highway to get to Howland Hill Road via the Hwy 199 route. The drive was worth it, though, as Stout Grove is a perfect introduction to coastal redwoods.
If you read my previous article published in the National Parks Traveler, then you’ll know how I prepared for my photography trip to Crater Lake National Park during the Coronavirus pandemic. My latest article published by the Traveler is about the photography you can achieve within this park.
To read my photo article, click on the image above.
The view overlooking Kilauea Iki Trail in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The Kilauea Iki Trail in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park provides some of my favorite views for photography in this national park. And I’ve included this with a number of other national park fave spots in this month’s photography column published by National Parks Traveler. Go check out the article to see if my faves are your faves.
To read the article and view the photos, click on the image above.
My photo article has been published on the National Parks Traveler. Usually, my columns are published a little closer to the end of the month, but this one is different in that it deals with what you might see if you happen to visit Mount Rainier National Park anytime soon, since it’s reopened the road from the Nisqually entrance to Paradise.
To read the article, click on the image above.
As for this photo – the rain was pelting down as I got out of the car with my camera. I captured this image handheld because it was a pain to get out the tripod and set it up in the downpour. Even my camera’s rain protection was beginning to get saturated, and my bangs were plastered to my forehead. Yes, I did wear a rainjacket but didn’t pull the hood over my head because water kept dropping from the hood onto the camera. It was a mess and I was lucky to get this shot.
This was using my Nikon D850 and 24-120 lens. This is the lens that I won’t ever use again because out of all the shots I took with it, only this and one other image turned out. I’d read about problems with this lens but didn’t think it would happen to me. I guess sort of like people thinking coronavirus won’t happen to them. I *thought* everything was hunky dory after doing some lens calibration, but apparently not. Live and learn. Better to have this happen with a nearby park trip than next month’s Crater Lake trip.
The beautiful, cold, clear, turquoise water of the Stehekin River winds its final mile through a portion of North Cascades National Park before emptying into the head of Lake Chelan and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. During my visit to the small, isolated community of Stehekin, a favorite place for photography was at High Bridge, the dividing line between the national park and the national recreation area.
You can learn more of my favorite places for national park (and national monument) photography in the latest article published in today’s edition of the National Parks Traveler. Some of these places have partially or completely reopened to visitors, so if you decide to go out with your camera, please do so safely and at a safe distance from others. Who knows? My favorite places might become yours, or my favorite places might already be your favorite places!
To read the article, click on the image above.
Oh, if you use Instagram, go on over to @national_parks_traveler and check out the video I posted of the Stehekin River. Yes, I’m still maintaining and posting to the Traveler’s Instagram site. Show the Traveler some love and start following the account.
A forest fire sunrise at Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, in Montana
You’ve planned months or even a year ahead for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to a particular national park. Your arrival, however, may coincide with smoky landscapes from a forest fire, near or far. Don’t let that deter you from enjoying your stay and using your camera. My latest photography column published in the National Parks Traveler provides ideas to help you get WOW-worthy shots on even the haziest of days.
Dawn at Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
Ok, I know many of you have visited at least one or two national parks in your lifetime, right? Did you take pictures? What were / are your favorite places that you return to time and time again for photography when you visit that park? I have my faves, and the National Parks Traveler has published my latest article about favorite places in some of the national parks I’ve visited. Perhaps my favorite places are yours, too?
To read the article, click on the image above.
A winter view of Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park in Washington state
Capturing the wildlife at Fishercap Lake in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, Montana
Looking out to Shafer Canyon in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Everybody needs some R&R. Most workplaces tell their employees it’s important to get away and recharge their batteries. Those people who work constantly without taking any of their earned vacation time are doing themselves and their company a disservice. With that in mind, if you ever find yourself wanting to take some time to get away from it all and visit the rugged landscape of the North Cascades Complex in Washington State, you’ll want to read the article I wrote in today’s edition of the National Parks Traveler.
To read the article, click on any of the photos above.
While I was in Stehekin, WA, happily photographing away from cell and internet services, my latest Photography In The National Parks article was published in the National Parks Traveler. This article deals with the geometry of nature and how many of you may photograph a scene without really realizing you are doing it because you see and like the natural geometry of a landscape.
All images on these posts are the exclusive property of Rebecca L. Latson and Where The Trails Take You Photography. Please respect my copyright and do not use these images on Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat or any other business, personal or social website, blog site, or other media without my written permission. Thank you.
You can reach me at rebeccalatson@wherethetrailstakeyou.com