Most of the forest in western Washington is Doug Fir and Hemlock … they typically have a pretty vertical growth pattern. On the other hand, is the Pacific Madrone, winding its limbs in sinuous patterns. Maybe that’s why they attract my attention.
This is one of the trails (and maintenance roads) at Fort Worden State Park here in Port Townsend. It is only a mile or two from my house, but the weather changes rapidly across the area – here on a peninsula sticking out into salt water (Admiralty Inlet on Puget Sound). At home there was still an inch of icy snow on the street (a cul-de-sac … so not much traffic).
Late fall has the madrone around Fort Worden losing their bark (well, they are losing something all year round, it seems). It adds some variation in the colors.
Images shot on Kodak Portra 400 with a Nikon F100.
Dappled light is charming, but getting the exposure right can be a challenge. There is quite a range of exposure values. Adobe Lightroom Classic is the program I use for ‘post-processing’. It’s a great tool for photographers … although there is a bit of learning curve.
The autumn brings a quieter experience to many trails and parks. The summer crowds are gone and one can find relative solitude even in parks that are heavily used.
