Meadow near Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park

Canon Digital Rebel, 17-40 f/4/L, ISO: 100, aperture: f/8, shutter: 1/160, tripod: no

Our family vacationed at Mt. Rainier faithfully year after year.  We hiked the trails that meander through the alpine meadows at Paradise, Sunrise and Mowich Lake.  In my early climbing days I ascended the Ingraham Glacier via Camp Muir to summit this 14K giant.  It was an exhausting climb.  Finally, before the kids grew up and left home, we completed the 90+ mile Wonderland trail that circles the mountain.  It was an experience that I still think about 16 years later… I hope the kids do too.

Reflection Lake and Mount Rainier

ISO: 100, aperture: f/22, shutter: 1/2 second, tripod: yes

Reflection Lake is one of those iconic spots where photographers congregate for sunrise.  I got up before first light every day for a week to get into position for this shot.  The mountain creates its own weather so you never know for sure if the clouds will cooperate or if the light you’re looking for will be there.  This day I was lucky.  Well, I learned early on, you have to work for luck in this business.  To maximize depth of field so both flowers and mountain are in focus use a small aperture, f/16 or 22 and focus 1/3 of the way into the scene.