The Columbia River Gorge

The pink Vista

Vista House on Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, is illuminated by the pink sky of a cloud-hidden morning sunrise. Sunrise began at 5:35 am. This photograph from the Women's Forum overlook off the Historic Columbia River Highway was taken at 5:41 am, 7 minutes after astronomical sunrise. It benefits from the soft pink and peach color in the cloud breaks outside of the frame. Notice how Vista House rhymes the shape of Beacon Rock behind it on the Washington side of the Columbia River. While the Columbia is an obvious line leading to Vista House, there is also a leading S-curve starting in the lower righthand corner with the forested cliff and leading to Vista House and then the vashing point of the Coumbia. Finally, folding the image on a diagonal along the Columbia reveals a rough symmetry between the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia that includes the Vista House and Beacon Rock similarity. Rotating the image upside down also suggests a rough symmetry. This image was captured on July 14th, 2012.

Full harvest moonrise over Crown Point

An orange full moon rises over Vista House on Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge just after sunset

Harvest moonrise over Crown Point

An orange full moon rises over Vista House on Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge just after sunset

Afterglow at Viento

After the sunset, the sky still glowed a vibrant orange along the rocky shore of the Columbia River. The last day of March ended with a beautiful twilight display at Viento State Park's beach in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge. Best viewed from the dark beach.

Twilight comes to the Columbia

From the high on wall of the Columbia River Gorge along the Tom McCall Trail on Rowena Crest, twilight decends on the Columbia in September.

The Hood River bridge crosses from Oregon to Washington's White Salmon.

Double rainbow rise from the Columbia

Rainbows abound in Oregon, but this double rainbow rising up out of the Columbia River against a dark and stormy October sky was special. The rocky shore is in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area at Rock Creek, Moiser, Oregon.

Pre-dawn lights balsamroot, lupine and Mt. Hood's tip under a full moon

The full super moon shines behind clouds while the pre-dawn sky lights balsamroot, lupine and Mt. Hood. Shot on Rowena Crest at Tom McCall Nature Preserve, Oregon. Arising in Beaverton at 3 am, I arrived at 5 to a shining full moon, 37F and rapidly forming clouds. Clicked before sunrise, this snap still shows the blue sky of night. Most balsamroot were past their peak and work best in shots with many flowers. If you look closely, you'll find an old barn that's a roost for bats. Does the trail lead to the mountain? The complex image suggests many story tellig possibilities.

Blue moon illuminates the Rowena loops

The August 31, 2012, blue moon illuminates a curve on the Columbia River Historic Highway near Rowena Crest in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The Rowena curves are a set of hairpin turns that zigzag their way from riverside to the spectacular viewpoint Rowena Crest at 700 feet above. There are two definitions for a blue moon. The easy, modern one is the second full moon in a month. The traditional definition is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. A season (3 months) usually has only three full moons. Of course, it is still the night sky that is blue while the moon remains golden white.

Douglas firs stand sentry straight awaiting the full moonrise

Like the firs on the distant wall of the Columbia River Gorge, we stood on a Rowena Crest cliff awaiting the full moonrise. This shot taken at astronomical sunset was about 20 minutes after the sun disappeared behind the north wall of The Gorge. At iso 100, the exposure was 1/13th at f11. And yes, the sky was French mauve, only the tone curve was manipulated to create the silhouette.

Gorge cherries are in blossom

At the end of March, late afternoon light illuminates blossoming cherry trees in the orchards east of Mosier along the Historic Columbia River Highway US30 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area.

Sunburst through cherry blossoms

Long afternoon shadows reach toward us as the low sun bursts through the cherry blossoms along the Historic Columbia River Highway east of Moiser, Oregon.

Sunrise on Rowena Crest

A soft sunrise illuminates the balsam root, lupine and barn at Tom McCall Nature Preserve, Rowena Crest, Oregon.

Balsamroot on Rowena Crest lit by dawn while the moon sets beneath clouds

The full super moon sets beneath the clouds while the dawn sky lights the balsamroot and lupine on Rowena Crest at Tom McCall Nature Preserve, Oregon. Arising in Beaverton at 3 am, I arrived at 5 to a shining full moon and rapidly forming clouds. Clicked minutes before official sunrise, this snap was still long before the sun would clear the north cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge. I was fortunate to find a near garden perfect balsamroot in front of lupine. Most were past their sell-by date. The flower even has visiting wildlife. The complex image suggests many story tellig possibilities.

May this balsam root refresh your day

Balsam root blooms in the cooler Spring weather of March atop Rowena Crest in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. In our July heatwave, I hope It's bright yellow refreshes your spirits as it does mine.

Autumn beauty in Tom McCall Nature Preserve

The trail at Tom McCall Nature Preserve on Rowena Crest, Oregon in autumn late afternoon light. The preserve is owned by the Nature Conservancy and a hot spot for Spring time wildflowers. It's late summer and autumn beauty is mostly appreciated by a small herd of Columbia black-tailed deer that graze here. Best viewed in a black frame.

Oasis on Rowena Plateau

Rowena pond creates a summertime oasis as it retains water through the arid summer. The dry plateau on Rowena Crest is east of the Cascade Mountain ridgeline and approachs the high plains desert. In the summer, the ground is dry and the grass is parched except near depressions in the basalt where water collected in the winter and lasts trhough the summer. Small circular wetlands survive the summer as oases for wildlife. In this cloudy afternoon October image, the oaks are changing colors.