Winter still clings to the North Cascades as clouds unravel over Mt. Shuksan’s jagged face. Captured from Picture Lake, this black-and-white image highlights the drama in the ridgelines and the quiet stillness below.
Waves crash below a rocky outcrop along the Oregon coast, framed by a narrow gap between cliffs. A waterfall spills down a moss-covered wall, while the Heceta Head Lighthouse stands in the distance, perched above the Pacific on a forested bluff.
Weathered driftwood stands on the quiet shore of Lake Michigan as the sun sets on the horizon. The sky glows in bands of orange, pink, and purple, while footprints in the sand trace a path along the fading light of the beach.
A winding highway cuts through the eroded landscape of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Viewed from ground level, the yellow centerlines lead into a backdrop of striped buttes, rolling formations, and a wide-open prairie sky.
A clear mountain river carves its way through mossy boulders and old-growth forest in Washington’s backcountry. Midday sun filters through the canopy, spotlighting the vibrant greens and blues of this peaceful stretch of wilderness.
Snow-dusted peaks rise beyond the rolling tundra of interior Alaska, where scattered spruce dot the autumn landscape. This quiet moment captures the vastness and solitude of the Alaskan wilderness as clouds drift above the distant mountains.
Low tide along the rugged coast of Fidalgo Island reveals tide-slicked rocks and windswept pines. A moody sky hangs over this quiet pocket of the Salish Sea.
The frozen shoreline of Lake Michigan catches the last light of day as the sun dips behind the cloud bank. Rays of sunlight break through gaps in the clouds, casting dramatic beams over snow-covered dunes and wind-swept ice formations along the lake’s edge.
Sahalie Falls roars through a narrow gap in the McKenzie River, sending mist over the surrounding mossy rocks and forest floor. This view from the trail reveals the power of the falls as they crash into the pool below, framed by dense Douglas firs and vibrant undergrowth.
Looking up through towering evergreens at Big Four Mountain, where spring sunlight meets lingering snow. A perfect blend of forest serenity and alpine grandeur in Washington’s Cascades.
Massive granite formations rise from the edge of Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, their surfaces mirrored in the still water below. Surrounded by Ponderosa pine forest and open shoreline, the lake is a popular spot in South Dakota’s Black Hills for hiking, paddling, and photography.
A driftwood log rests near a bright yellow bloom of Scotch broom overlooking the shoreline at Deception Pass State Park. The overcast sky casts even light on the rocky coast, forested bluffs, and sheltered coves of Fidalgo Island in northwest Washington.
Roughlock Falls spills over a series of mossy ledges in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota. The spring-fed stream flows through layered rock and grassy outcrops, framed by bare branches and the rugged canyon walls typical of the Black Hills.
Steam rises from the tiered formations of Mammoth Hot Springs as the first light of day cuts across the terraces. Silhouetted trees and shallow reflective pools line the foreground, while the backdrop of hills emphasizes the stark geothermal landscape.
Storm waves slam into the pier at the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. The lighthouse stands against a backdrop of heavy clouds and rough water, while the metal catwalk above the pier adds to the industrial texture of the scene.
Late evening light breaks through a piece of driftwood on the shore of Lake Michigan, casting long shadows across the sand. The warm glow of sunset filters through scattered clouds, bringing soft highlights to the lake and beach.
The Jenny Lake footbridge crosses a rocky creek at the base of the Teton Range in Grand Teton National Park. Fall colors accent the forested lower slopes while sharp granite peaks rise in the distance, setting the scene along one of the park’s most iconic trails.
A quiet stretch of river in the Pacific Northwest, lined with smooth glacial stones and old-growth timber. Captured in Washington state using a wide-angle lens to emphasize depth and texture.
Mt. Shuksan rises into shifting clouds, its upper ridges and glacier fields rendered in stark contrast. The monochrome treatment highlights the texture of the snow, rock, and atmospheric movement across the summit.
The vivid bands of orange, yellow, green, and blue at Grand Prismatic Spring stretch across the landscape in Yellowstone National Park. Steam rises from the surface of the hot spring, and the surrounding pine-covered hills frame the scene under a clear blue sky.
The icy beach of Lake Michigan reflects the last light of day as the sun sets behind a ridge of frozen dunes. Deep blue textures in the foreground contrast with the vivid orange sky, capturing the stark beauty of winter along the lakeshore.
Mount Shuksan rises through low clouds in Washington’s North Cascades, its rugged, glacier-covered face contrasting with the autumn colors of the subalpine slopes below. Foreground rocks and weathered vegetation mark the transition between seasons in this high mountain landscape.
Viewed from the rocky base, Devils Tower rises sharply against the sky as the sun breaks through a pine tree on the slope. The vertical columns of this geologic landmark dominate the frame, casting long shadows across the boulder field below.
Late afternoon sun lights the sculpted terrain of Badlands National Park, emphasizing the ridges and valleys carved into the earth. Bands of red, tan, and purple soil sweep through the landscape, with golden grasses tracing the low points between the hills.
A clear mountain stream winds through a rocky alpine valley in Washington’s North Cascades. The early signs of fall color dot the slopes, while towering cliffs and low clouds frame the scene with dramatic scale and texture.
Caught along the shores of Lake Superior, this rare fogbow appeared just long enough to feel imagined. Unlike a rainbow, fogbows form from tiny water droplets in mist or fog, scattering light into a ghostly arc. A quiet reward for early risers near the big lake.
A rugged sea stack rises from the Pacific surf on the Washington coast, its jagged profile lit by the soft evening light. Caught mid-crash, the waves lend motion to this moment from Olympic National Park’s dramatic shoreline.
Mount Shuksan towers above a glacial valley in Washington’s North Cascades, its rugged face and persistent snowfields rising beyond alpine ridges. A small tarn reflects the surrounding cliffs at the valley floor, while layers of ridgelines stretch toward the horizon.
Mist rises through the evergreens of Mount Rainier National Park, wrapping the treetops in a veil of fog. A quiet alpine lake reflects the subdued light, capturing the stillness and mystery of a Pacific Northwest morning.
A slender waterfall plunges into a quiet pool, framed by mossy cliffs and dense greenery. Hidden within an Oregon forest, this lush gorge captures the cool, damp beauty of the Pacific Northwest’s waterfall country.
Autumn in Alaska is brief but breathtaking—this scene captures the last burst of color before winter tightens its grip. The alpine tundra turns vivid shades of rust and crimson, set against the raw contrast of the first snowfall on the peaks. A fleeting palette that vanishes almost as soon as it arrives.
A narrow rocky ridge juts through the mist high in Washington’s Cascades, catching a break in the clouds. The surrounding slopes fade into a foggy backdrop, adding to the sense of elevation and exposure along this alpine trail.
The jagged peaks of Washington’s Cascade Range catch the afternoon light as clouds drift overhead. Below, layers of dense evergreen forest stretch across the foothills, creating a rich mosaic of green across the rugged landscape.
A sea stack rises just offshore at Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, its forested top silhouetted in this black and white composition. Waves wash over the smooth sand as tide pools and barnacle-covered rocks dot the foreground.
A solitary bison grazes in the grasslands beneath Devils Tower, the towering igneous formation that dominates the northeastern Wyoming landscape. The columnar rock rises sharply from the surrounding prairie, offering a striking backdrop to the scene’s quiet simplicity.
Tucked within South Dakota’s scenic Spearfish Canyon, this waterfall plunges gracefully from a limestone ledge, its silky flow carving through the quiet stillness of early spring. A hidden gem that rewards those who wander just off the road.
Warm morning light brushes across the striped buttes of Badlands National Park, revealing layers of sedimentary rock built over millions of years. Grassy plains in the foreground contrast with the rugged formations that define this South Dakota landscape.
Driftwood and wildflowers along the shoreline of Fidalgo Island, Washington. The overcast light brought out the muted tones and coastal textures of this Puget Sound landscape.