Patrick Morris Photography's photostream  

I know it's a little late, but I'm so glad 2011 is finally over.

I haven't really touched my camera but once since October. I did a paid gig in November, but that doesn't count. For myself, I've only been out shooting once since I went to the great Northwest (where this image was shot).

2011 was a very dark year for me. Those who know me personally know the story. It all started in March, and culminated into one giant kick in the groin at the end of the year.

I'm thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful friends, family, and an awesome girlfriend (and her family rocks, too).

Well, I'm determined not to let 2012 be as bad as 2011. What's the worst that could happen? Wait, what? Is the world going to end? Crap.

It's painful how I've let my photography get away from me. I opened up Photoshop to edit this file and had forgotten so many of the regular techniques I use. I had to open up other files to see what I'd done.

I'm working on getting more free time. I think it's essential for my well-being.

Anyway, about this photo... somehow, the Hoh Rainforest ends up as a side-trip when I visit the Olympic Peninsula. It's not on purpose. In fact, I really want to spend more time there. But somehow, I always end up there right at sunset or just before. Well.. I've never seen the sun there. It's always cloudy.

My girlfriend and I hiked a short trail, and I found this slug hanging out on a tree. The EXIF data will tell you exactly, but I think my shutter speed was about 10 seconds on this guy. I thought it was pretty neat the way it turned out.

I've always heard about how powerful the Pacific can be, and when I thought about Olympic beaches, this is what I always envisioned.

But I never had a chance to see it like that until this day. It was crazy.

I was honestly scared to get anywhere close to that water. These aren't the biggest waves I saw that day, and the tide was actually on its way out.. but that spire at the point of the wall on the right looked to be about 40-50 feet tall if I had to guess. I could be wrong. Either way, waves were splashing higher than it.

There were times when the hole in the wall was shooting out solid water, not just trickling like it does in this video.

I felt so small.

Another one from my EMP series.

I think this one is actually my favorite.

Be sure to view it in lightbox mode :)

After seeing Oh Yo's and Gary Randall's photos of this place, I knew I had to go.

That bridge in front of the falls just looked so idyllic. Of course, I climbed to the top of the rock slide and did a similar comp to the other two, but this has turned out to be my favorite comp. I like going the more original route anyway :)

I'm not entirely sure I'm thrilled with the processing. Something still seems off, but I can't put my finger on it. If you have any input, feel free to let me know.

Cape Flattery is the furthest most Northwest point in the Continental US. For just a few minutes, my girlfriend and I were the two furthest people in the country :)

I'm pretty disappointed with the majority of my landscape shots from this trip to the northwest. The weather was finnicky and unpredictable. 7/8 broken clouds often, and the sun always found a way to shine through and create very harsh and ugly light when I needed it least.

I was able to find at least one decent image from Cape Flattery, and for that I'm glad. I really like the high-key effect in this image, and it just makes the edges glow in the foreground.