Mount Shuksan with Clouds

Mt. Shuksan is an iconic subject in Washington. It has a wonderful pond that serves as a reflection pool for the tall Cascade peak.

 

The road to the Mt. Baker ski area and this pond was closed most of the day because a Pacific storm had blown giant cedars over, blocking the road.

 

The road finally opened again in the late afternoon and I arrived at dusk. The pond was still wind-streaked and the reflection was not very clear. I decided to try a long exposure to see if I could bring out the reflection from the random noise of the ripples and waves. The aquatic vegetation in one part of the pond helped quiet the waves somewhat so I composed the photo there.

 

The reflection was there; hidden by the ripples and the time exposure "stacked" the image amplifying reflection compared to the random noise of the ripples and waves.

 

The clouds streaking past the peak never cleared. The upslope wind on the peak insured that it remained wreathed in a cloud.

 

I returned the next day after the storm cleared and took the iconic image.

 

By the way, the name of the pond? Picture Lake, of course...

 

S0A8406

Done