This past weekend I ventured to Dwelley (Concrete), Darrington, and Cama Beach. There were a lot of sights to see, but I don’t think I was up to my usual standard with getting as much out of it as I could. I could see a lot, but couldn’t keep my eyes on the right subjects at the right speeds. On review, I think I don’t quite have the handling of handhlding a 200mm down just yet: Some of my pictures are too compressed from big apertures, others too blurry from too slow of a shutter.
Saturday is when I went to Dwelley and Darrington. Dwelley is where I started. I seemed to be relatively confident here, though it may have to do with me going for wider lenses much of the time. In the 100mm’s absence, I am starting to appreciate 35mm. (The 100mm should be back soon. It’s waiting for me to pick it up from the shop, but work will keep me away for a few days.)
Here’s what the 200mm can do here without cropping:
This was followed by Darrington. The mountains were more than out, but the star of the show was a lilac growing over the sidewalks.
My personal favorite shot from this weekend is this junco on the back trails of Cama Beach. Cama Beach itself oddly didn’t interest me very much, but the back trails provided surprises I wasn’t expecting.
Further up those trails is Cranberry Lake, effectively a beaver marsh. Eagles, blackbirds, frogs, ducklings, damsels, and dragons (okay, damselflies and dragonflies) were all over the place. However, it was tricky just maintaining aim and focus.
Bugs were in season, no doubts about that. Every other flower was being tended to, and unfortunately I got a few bites as well.
Joe R. Stead 