It was only a few days ago that I went for an early morning hike. I wanted to be back in the parking lot before the temperature rose too high. The forecast called for clear weather with temperatures reaching up to 31 degrees Celsius. I’m a fan of cooler weather hiking but need to keep my legs in shape for fall weather hikes. Being a morning person, it was pretty easy to start the hike just before sunrise. I was looking forward to seeing the glacier lilies and perhaps coming back with a few good images. This past winter, we did not get our normal snowpack, but during spring, it snowed a number of times at higher elevations. Snow was still lingering in shaded areas, including at the Healy Pass I was hiking to. With cooler temperatures, bugs were not a problem. It was still cool in the open, and I ended up spending about 45 minutes taking pictures of the wildflowers, going up and down the trail looking for opportunities. Being up there early, I wasn't getting in anyone’s way. I had the whole beautiful place to myself until I made my way down. I think I missed the prime time for the glacier lilies by a few days; I would have rated what I saw six out of ten chocolate bars. That's still a lot of chocolate. When I got back to my car, the temperature had just reached 24 degrees Celsius. I spent the rest of the day taking it easy and going over the flower pictures while eating chocolate ice cream.
Paintbrush Flowers
I wanted some quiet time on my day off. So, I left home early in the morning and decided it was going to be flower day. I found a place away from it all, surrounded by nature, with no planes circling overhead and most of all no cell coverage. Calls and texts from work had to wait until midday. With flowers, I wanted each image to be simple, it was just about the flower and the background. Seeing variations of the paintbrush flowers, they became the main subject. Looking at each flower from all directions, sometimes I was on my feet, other times on the ground. It all depended on the flower and what was around and behind it. When I was hiking in, I scouted the area where I wanted to stop to take the pictures. On my way back, with the camera in my hands, I took the pictures. Since the flowers were not moving, there was no hurry. Each picture was taken after I decided it was the best one of the flowers I was looking at. Calm comes over me whenever I look at the images taken that morning.
Fireweed
One by one the wildflower colours are fading into memories as we move into cooler weather.
Wild Sunflower
Flowers that are left, their days are numbered as cool weather moves in. A few weeks back on a hot sunny day I was out taking pictures of wild sunflowers. Moving back and forth to get a few good pictures of the flowers and a background to complement them.
Brown-eyed Susan
I came across these flowers on the way to work. They popped from their surroundings thanks to the sunlight. I had my camera with me, it only took couple of seconds to get the picture.
Wood Lily
I got an early start to the day, getting to watch the sunrise from the road and even stopped to take few pictures. I wanted a head start for a hike before the rain storm that was forecasted for the middle of the day moved in. I had made it to the end of the trail quickly, but the dark clouds moved in quickly as well and were soon followed by rain and thunder. I located a partial shelter from the rain that was getting heaver and heaver in volume and the clouds were filled with the sound of thunder. With the wind picking up I was still mostly dry as I listened to the lightning ripping through the sky every few minutes. After about forty-five minutes the storm had moved on, I was half way back to the trail head when a light rain started coming down. It was light enough for me to walk through, but I decided I wanted to take a picture of wet wood lilies I had seen on my way into the hike. It was time to take cover again. Ten minutes later the sky opened up and I headed for my car, stopping only when I came across wet wood lilies.
Brown-eyed Susan
It was raining much of the morning, once it stopped I got out to take pictures of the flowers. It's a good way to relax, picking a flower to take pictures of and then moving around it to get the right background.
Round Leaved Orchid
Among the grass growing the beautiful round leaved orchids.
Prickly Wild Rose
More and more flowers are coming out, colour is showing up all over the place. In the last few days the prickly wild roses started to bloom. It's a good time to be out there as a nature photographer, landscapes, wildlife and flora is available as subjects.
Sunflower
The warm sunny weather is producing lot of colour in the forms of flowers. In this case it's the wild sunflower, beautiful yellow colour standing out in the sunlight. With the very warm weather we are having, it's hard to imagine it will start changing as we get closer to the end go August.
Wood Lily
More summer colours in the form of wildflower, another picture of wood lily.
Wood Lily
It's great time to be taking pictures out there. Landscapes, wildlife and various colours in the form of flowers are all for the taking. For the wood lilies I was out there on a hot sunny day, taking pictures of the various wood lilies from various positions.
Wild Rose
The flowers are coming out every where now, the remaining snow is melting and ground is becoming soft. Ground received lot of moisture in the form of snow and rain, now with war warm weather the ground is getting lot of colour.
Red Paintbrush
Making an effort to spend more time looking at and taking pictures of wild flowers. Paintbrushes are out and can be seen at many areas in the mountains and more to come as weather gets warmer. Right now this flower is bringing colour to the floor of the valley and then will be found in the meadows at higher elevations.
Prairie Crocus
The prairie crocus is the first flower seen in the mountains after winter, with the warm weather more flowers are not far behind. Each spring I try to make goal of taking more pictures of wild flowers, but there is so much to take pictures of. From landscapes, mammals, birds and lot more. I guess in the end it's good to just get out and take pictures.
Until next moment,
Amar
Sunflower
I enjoy taking pictures of flowers and insects and when possible of both together. In this case I was taking pictures of wild sunflowers and the bees that were busy getting food and pollinating. It was not a bad way to spend some time on a beautiful afternoon. I just had to find the flowers with a clean background and then wait for the bees to fly in and out.
Until next moment,
Amar
Wood Lily
I was back at it again looking at the wood lilies, along the road in the ditch. Trying to figure out how I was going to take pictures of them this summer, I walked back and forth taking pictures from different angles of different lilies. At the same time I was searching for one or two of the rare yellow ones, no luck. I finally decided I wanted the Sun to be in the picture, I would focus on the flower and not the Sun, better for my eyes. I was on all four, my behind sticking toward the sky and face on the ground to get the images. I'm sure I had the better view then those seeing my picture taking pose that morning.
Until next moment,
Amar
Columbine Flower
The summer is full on, the flowers are popping out everywhere from the bottom of the valley to the meadows high up. Here's a picture of a Columbine, spotted along a trail while spending some time on 93 North.
Until next moment,
Amar
Prairie Crocus
In the mountains prairie crocus is the first wild flowers I tend to take pictures of in the spring, and this year it was no different. Beautiful little flower, providing little bit of colour before the warmer weather brings more.
Until next moment,
Amar
Fireweed and a Bumble Bee
It was a good way to spend the morning, taking pictures of insects around the flowers. This one of the bumble bee approaching a flower of a fireweed was the best one from the morning.
Until next moment,
Amar
