Lights, Camera, Snoqualmie Action

On the morning of August 12, 2015, the sky started to turn eerie and the clouds started booming with sound. The 11am atmosphere was glowing yellow due to the recent fires in the PNW. On top of the fires, thunder clapped and lightning shattered the sky with vibrance. My little pup, Mac, started shaking in fear and ran for cover. I instantly ran for my dad's camera bag, got in the Jeep and headed towards Snoqualmie National Forest. As I left my home, the rain started to come down and flood the streets. It was almost impossible to drive but the lighting in the sky was so exciting! It is very rare to have weather like this in Seattle; while I was growing up in Pittsburgh, we would have thunder storms all the time-this brought back the livelihood of my childhood.

As I drove into the mountains, I made one last stop for gas and a coffee and donut from Krispy Kreme. I wasn't really sure where I was headed, but I knew I would catch Snoqualmie Falls on my way back in-I was looking for something new. Also, it is important for me to elaborate on my dad's camera setup. I think my dad has the coolest white Pentax camera. The white is so unique. But inside his Amazon camera bag, there were 4 different lens to choose from. This put me in a panic because I was unsure about what to do-I usually have some guidance during this period. I turned my dad's camera on and started to learn how to use it. The camera was set in raw mode, so that was a pleasant surprise. But I struggled with the autofocus and lens settings. After deliberation, I finally switched lens and corrected the focusing issue. I then saw a sign for a forest park, so I pulled off the highway a few exits after Snoqualmie Pass. As I pulled into the park, I did some quick research on my phone- I discovered a 2 mile pedestrian tunnel just a half mile away. As I approached the tunnel, the air froze up and dust started to spew out of the dark hole. I took a few pictures, stepped slightly into the tunnel, and turned back. I wish I had a bike.

After this, I decided to explore the surrounding area. I found a few cabins in the woods of the mountains and drove down scenic roads. There's no doubt this area isn't pretty, but the dry ground matched the yellow light from the firey sky. I really intended to see a lake while I was up there, so after some more research and off-roading, I had found the Keechelus Lake. I switched the Jeep into four wheel drive and scoured the sandy surrounding of the lake. I must admit, I had a great time haha. I was a little worried about getting stuck, but four wheel drive can get you out of anything....right? As the Jeep tossed and turned over sandy dunes, I constantly got out of the car to take some model shots of the Cherokee. (I really think a safari rack on top would look cool) After, I returned to pavement and I headed back West to stop at Snoqualmie Falls. I wanted to get the most out of my dad's nice camera so I couldn't turn down a waterfall shot.

After an afternoon spent in the mountains, I patiently waited in the Seattle traffic before getting home. As for dinner, my family and some friends gathered at a central Seattle Ethiopian restaurant. This is one of favorite cuisines, and we commonly show friends and family "how to eat Ethiopian food". As the platters of veggie and meat combinations came out, we grabbed the spongey bread and scooped up the different options. The food was seasoned perfectly and everyone enjoyed the meal. If you have not tried this style of eating, I highly recommend it. We went to Cafe Salem, just for reference. After a full stomach, I was excited to use my new Lightroom editing program. I was so excited to see how my pictures turned out and wanted to add a few final touches. I posted them below! Lightroom is a challenging program to use, but after a few phone calls to Dylan, he set me right up, thanks Dylan!