Canopy of Light

 

Canopy of Light

The clouds that settled over Bellingham Bay on Sunday morning began drifting into the Chuckanut Mountains by early afternoon. I was driving south on Chuckanut Drive at the time, through the place where the sunshine met the fog, breathless at the beauty of it and desperate for a place to pull over with my camera.

When I finally found a safe place, I thought, “The only thing that could make this shot better is a subject – a car or a bicyclist, maybe – driving through the light.”

Not even 60 seconds later, a car pulled up and a man said to me, “Great lighting! Do you want to use my girlfriend as a model?”

“Umm…yes…” Even now, with the picture as proof, I can’t believe that really happened.

Sometimes a prayer, a wish, or some seemingly insignificant request whispered up to God, does get answered.

Breathless

I got an email from someone I’ve grown quite fond of this morning who wrote, “life is an adventure and it should leave you  breathless from time to time and wondering what just happened.”   I couldn’t agree more. 

As I drove the winding road up Chuckanut this evening, admiring yet another amazing sunset, I felt at peace about my whirlwind trip to Ireland and anything that may come.

Textures

I was shocked to step outside yesterday afternoon into 80 degree air for a few reasons:  1) the weather app on my phone was incorrect, and 2) it’d been extremely windy, so I assumed it’d be somewhat chilly, and 3) it’d been rainy and miserable all week.  

 To celebrate what was probably the last beautiful day of the year, I decided to take some pictures out at Clayton Beach off Chuckanut Drive.  I first started at Larrabee State Park, but South Whatcom Fire Authority was practicing rope rescue on the cliffs.  Not that rope rescue isn’t interesting, but I’ve already been there/done that – plus they had someone there taking pictures.

Inspired by the leaves in a post last week, I thought I’d search for the first signs of fall here.  This was unsuccessful, but I did find some different subject matter.

Someone must have known I was coming and considerately gathered all of these shells for me to photograph.  I loved the purples, but also the contrasting textures of the course rock surface and the smooth shells.

There’s no shortage of interesting rock formations on Clayton Beach – or anywhere along Chuckanut Drive.

The light filtered through the trees and highlighted the still very green leaves attached to the peeling trunk of a Madrona.

I find these trees so fascinating and beautiful.  One of my favorite Northwest subjects.

Camera:  Canon 40d