Mount Stuart is the tallest mountain the ruggedly beautiful Stuart Range, the home of the Enchantment Lakes. Many people hike to Navaho Pass and ascend Navaho Peak for views like this.

The price listed is for a 9x12 matted print. Other sizes are available, up to 14x20.

Even with the clouds covering the Cascade mountains below, the view from the top of Mount Rainier is breathtaking. Pictured here are Mount Hood and Mount Adams reaching above the clouds.

The price listed here is for a print matted to 20x16. Other sizes and framing options are available.

While resting up after returning to Camp Muir from the summit of Mount Rainier, I saw some hikers descending far below. The cloud bank and the hikers together helped to highlight both the grand scale of the Muir Snowfield and the majesty of Mount Adams in the distance.

This is a giclee print matted to 16x20 in archival-quality fine art paper.

Since we arrived at the wetland before very many people made their way out there, the elk were still around grazing on water parsley. They didn't seem to mind the few of us who were wandering the trail and taking pictures, though they didn't linger for all that long, either. This young elk was in the group.

The price listed is for a 12x18 print matted to fit a 16x20 frame. Other sizes and framing options are available.

While the other families of huckleberries were putting out new leaves for the spring, the evergreen huckleberry was already showing blossoms.

This is for a 12x18 matted Giclee print.

Having an unexpectedly free afternoon, I grabbed my 500mm lens and biked down to North Creek Park to have a look around. There weren't many flowers blooming and the hummingbirds were getting very scarce, but there were still a couple of red-winged blackbirds singing and posing.

The price listed is for an 8x10 giclee print.

Glacier Peak is Washington's most remote volcano, and the centerpiece of the greatest wilderness in the state. The imposing edifice of rock and ice presides over some incredible scenery.

This is a downloadable version of the image.

Glacier Peak is Washington's least accessible stratovolcano. The centerpiece of Washington's greatest wilderness area is a imposing edifice of ice and rock, presiding over some truly spectacular terrain.

Image Lake is the site of many classic photographs of this lonely, beautifully mountain.

This version is an 8x10 Giclee print.

Glacier Peak is Washington's least accessible stratovolcano. The centerpiece of Washington's greatest wilderness area is a imposing edifice of ice and rock, presiding over some truly spectacular terrain.

Image Lake is the site of many classic photographs of this lonely, beautifully mountain.

The price listed is for a 24x30 Giclee print.

Glacier Peak is Washington's least accessible stratovolcano. The centerpiece of Washington's greatest wilderness area is a imposing edifice of ice and rock, presiding over some truly spectacular terrain.

Image Lake is the site of many classic photographs of this lonely, beautifully mountain.

This version is a 24x30 print on brushed aluminum.

To raise funds for the American Lung Association, I joined the Climb for Clean Air. Have a look at my Climb page, and join in to support clean air!

Though the lake itself wasn't accessible because of the unexpected deep snow, the views were impressive. The clouds rolling in and out over the mountains above the lake were dramatic and framed this particular peak, which I haven't positively identified yet.

There wasn't much color visible in that scene, making it a perfect candidate for a black and white conversion.

The price listed is for a metal print that will fit a 16x20 frame, printed by the master printers at Giclee on Metal.

Though the lake itself wasn't accessible because of the unexpected deep snow, the views were impressive. The clouds rolling in and out over the mountains above the lake were dramatic and framed this particular peak, which I haven't positively identified yet.

There wasn't much color visible in that scene, making it a perfect candidate for a black and white conversion.

This will also be available as a print.

In February of 2011, I went with Enticing Adventures to Africa, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, safari in the Serengeti, and relax in Zanzibar. This is visual journal of that trip.

A coffee table print book will be available also, for those who like to have physical books in their hands.

On a solo backpacking trip in the Cascades, I awoke to a tranquil dawn, surrounded by colorful huckleberry bushes and calm, blue water. The solitude and beauty were were extremely refreshing.

The price listed here is for a 9x12 giclee print.

There are around 20 species of Acacias in the Serengeti. Due to a combination of giraffes and a harsh climate, they have a wind-blown look that frequently reminded me of dancers twirling in the wind. Since giraffes eat acacia leaves, they form these unusual shapes, since the leaves begin where the giraffes' reach ends.

This one was in our camp site, pretty much. One day when we were on our lunch break between safaris, the dramatic sky and the shimmering acacia that dominated our camp site caught my eye.

The price listed here is for a 24x30 drum-scannned giclee print on brushed aluminum printed by the master printers at Giclee on Metal.

This tree caught my eye a number of times while I was exploring the beach and tide pools at Point of the Arches. When the sun started getting low in the sky, this scene came together nicely, with the positive and negative space elegantly framing the solitary tree.

The price listed is for an 8x10 giclee print on paper.

The crabs in the tide pools were very active, and darted under cover as soon as I approached, so they were very difficult to photograph. This one was calm enough to let me get quite close, so that I could get this portrait.

The price as listed is for an 8x10 giclee print on paper.

At first I was disappointed because of the fog that rolled in with the sunrise, until the rising tide brought the surf with it. These mountains rising over the fog bank made a perfect background for the surf and fog.

The listed price is for an 8x10 paper print with matte finish. A glossy finish is available as an option.

On the way from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, I saw these clouds over Seattle. The waters of the Puget Sound were calmer than usual, so the reflection was quite a bit stronger than I've seen at any other time. Combined with the blue sky, it made for a very pleasing image.

The image as priced is an 8x10 matte print on paper. The profits will be donated to the American Lung Association in my name, as part of my Climb for Clean Air effort.

In the Skagit Valley, there are several sanctuaries established to enable the formerly endangered Wrangel Island snow geese to spend their winters in safety. Local farmers have contracts to plant seeds that the snow geese like, and many of the wildlife sanctuaries are completely protected, not even allowing minimal hunting.

Since their population has recovered impressively, it is now legal to hunt them, thought the hunting is still strictly regulated.

The best time to try to catch them is when they are settled down in a field to feed, and when the gunshots ring out, the entire flock lifts off nearly as one, making for quite a sight as thousands of squawking snow geese take to the air.

This is for 6x9 matte prints, matted to 9x12.

From now until April 1, I will donate the profits from sales of this image to the Climb for Clean Air. If you would like to donate to the American Lung Association, support my climb, and get a souvenir print at the same time, here is an opportunity to do just that!

On a clear, cold weekend in February, I trekked to Reflection Lake at Mount Rainier with two friends. It's a very different place when it's snowbound; the lake itself is a flat, treeless expanse of pristine snow, and especially as the sun goes down, it's far less crowded than usual. Since the road to Reflection Lake isn't plowed, the only way to get there is on foot, admiring views like this one on the way to and from the lake.

This is for 6x9 matte prints, matted to 9x12.

From now until April 1, I will donate the profits from sales of this image to the Climb for Clean Air. If you would like to donate to the American Lung Association, support my climb, and get a souvenir print at the same time, here is an opportunity to do just that!

I joined the Climb for Clean Air to help support the American Lung Association in its quest to ensure that our air remains clean and breathable.

The American Lung Association is working both to help individuals with pollution problems, like Connie from BPLite whose downstairs neighbors are running a meth lab, to helping eliminate pollution by supporting Washington's transition away from coal-powered energy, and even seeking to find cures for emphysema.

My commitment is to climb a mountain. All you need to do is click on the link below and donate some money to the American Lung Association. It doesn't need to be a lot; if everyone contributes $25 at a time, it will add up, and the American Lung Association will put it to good use.

Help me fight for clean air!

Rakesh is one of those oddball photographers who actually uses natural light for nearly all of his photography. He is in a small minority for the fact that he does not go hiking without his large format camera; it’s one of those old time box cameras like you have seen in pre-World War II films. Sure, Rakesh may bring his digital camera on the outings as well, but has found that nothing can match the image quality of the big film camera.

Most lightweight backpackers bring shelter, something to sleep in and a tiny point-and-click camera. Rakesh adds to that, a large metal box with bellows (pleated leather like on an accordion), several lenses, film the size of a postcard, and a sturdy tri-pod. It’s not uncommon for Rakesh to lug 60 lbs. of gear for 30 miles up the side of a mountain. It is worth it. For someone else, it might seem like a constraint, but he finds that it allows him to be more creative and get far better photos.

Rakesh’s clients appreciate his photographs for their vibrant color; range of tones; and exquisite detail. He often hears that the images are like windows that inspire the viewer to get outside. There are many photographers who do much of the image making after the photo is taken. That is one approach, but Rakesh does not rely on Photoshop or other software to create the gem, he uses Photoshop only to polish it.

Over the years, Rakesh hiked the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, The Grand Canyon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. His images reflect both the majesty and the intricacy that he loves about the natural world.

Learn more about Rakesh’s approach to nature photography by following the adventures on his blog. 

The Carbon Glacier has the distinction of being the lowest elevation glacier in the lower 48 states. Due to flooding, it's no longer an easy drive to get to it, since the nearest parking lot is Mowich Lake.

We made a 3-day backpacking trip out of it, and during the trip while crossing the Carbon River noticed this view of the valley. It was perfect for a black and white image.

This image is available at up to 24x30 inches, and optionally printed on metal.

The price as listed is for an 8x10 matted paper print.

While on safari in the Serengeti, we encountered this group of elephants at a watering hole, escorting a young elephant to drink.

The price listed is for a 16x20 framed print on archival paper.

While on safari in the Serengeti, we encountered this group of elephants approaching a watering hole. One of them, probably the matriarch, trumpeted loudly for a while before the group escorted a youngster to the water's edge, where they drank together.

While our guides took care of our passes and registration at the visitors' center at Serengeti National Park, I followed two of these colorful lizards flitting about on a boulder.

This image is digital, and available at up to 10x15 inches, matted to fit a 16x20 frame.

I caught this view of Mawenzi as we neared Kikelewa Cave camp, when the clouds finally started breaking up.

This is a 10x15 inch print matted to fit a 16x20 frame.