2025 unfolded as a year of taking a journey both outward and inward, a balance of exploration and reflection that reshaped how I moved through the world. One of its defining moments was witnessing my daughter’s graduation from UCSD, a milestone filled with pride and gratitude that marked how quickly life evolves. That sense of transition carried into travel as well—standing among the stark beauty of Joshua Tree and the wide, otherworldly landscapes of Anza Borrego, I felt the pull of new places and unfamiliar horizons. Later in the year, photographing the autumn colors in Japan in November became a highlight, where temples, forests, and city edges offered moments of quiet awe and deep visual inspiration.

At the same time, 2025 was equally a journey inward. Moving out became a catalyst for learning more about myself—what I value, how I want to live, and how solitude can sharpen awareness. I found depth not only in distant travel, but in returning again and again to familiar landscapes with fresh eyes: hiking and photographing Mount Rainier, the Mount Baker area, and the rugged coasts of Washington and Oregon. Through these repeated encounters, the year taught me that exploration doesn’t always require going far—it can also come from looking more closely. Together, these outward adventures and inward discoveries made 2025 a year of growth, clarity, and quiet transformation.

As I look toward 2026, my thoughts are centered on both expansion and depth—continuing to stretch my creative and personal horizons while staying grounded in the places that feel like home. I will continue expanding my horizons with trips to Patagonia to photograph the fall colors and to the Dolomites to capture the wildflowers and their extraordinary atmosphere, drawn by the promise of unfamiliar light, scale, and mood. At the same time, I want to deepen my exploration closer to home, spending more time in Joshua Tree and Anza-Borrego, allowing patience and repetition to reveal subtleties I may have once overlooked. I also plan to return to my favorite locations in the Pacific Northwest, including the Pacific Coast, the Olympics, the North Cascades, and the Columbia Gorge, revisiting these landscapes not out of routine, but out of a desire to see them anew—more intentionally, more intimately, and with a clearer sense of purpose.

This blog post includes 30 of my favorite images taken this year that together help tell the story of 2025.

1. Bridges of Snoqualmie Valley

While standing on the bridge, I felt myself falling into the soft, ethereal autumn reflections shimmering off the maple trees, particularly as I gazed towards another bridge nestled further upstream along the Snoqualmie River. Although much of the course of this river is fast and swift, with some white water and rapids, at this river’s bend all was calm and smooth. I accepted the grace of a peaceful autumn day.

2. Snoqualmie Valley Autumn Pasture

The colors this year in the Snoqualmie Valley are the best I have ever experienced. I took this image after a recent storm, and even with those heavy winds, the colors were holding on. The tree in the center has the top of its canopy in flames, but the rest of the tree is still green, reminding us that a bit of the summer season still remains, evoking the spirit of Wabi Sabi, seasons in transition. Nearby, a poignant reminder of the storm’s might lies a crimson tree, gracefully yielding to the elements and finding rest within the meadow.

3. Snoqualmie Falls Autumn Moods

In the late afternoon, clouds begin to amass, and a mystical veil of fog and mist ascends from Snoqualmie Falls also spilling into the valley below . At this time, low angle autumnal light filters through a break in the clouds, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The falls drop gracefully 270 feet down into the valley below. Fall colors of broadleaf maple trees dot the surrounding canyon walls. The Salish Lodge plays peek-a-boo, coming in and out of view. I must have stayed here for an hours, and no two minutes were alike, with the falls showing constantly changing moods.

4. Autumn Above, Autumn Below

I do not know where all these leaves came from, because the trees seemed to be holding on to their canopy. It was Autumn above and Autumn below, total immersion in fall color at the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes region, Japan. The serene atmosphere and the breathtaking spectacle made it a truly unforgettable experience.

5. Mount Fuji Swan Lake

The serene scene at the foot of Mount Fuji unfolded unexpectedly. Initially, a calm swan glided across the lake, but just as I composed the shot, it dramatically unfurled its wings, becoming a living canvas for the luminous hues of the setting sun. This moment underscores a fundamental truth in photography: embracing the unpredictable allows us to capture the most magical and authentic images. Nature, in its boundless artistry, often leads us to discoveries beyond our expectations.

6. Mount Fuji Autumn Blanket

A canopy of Japanese Maple leaves and branches form an Autumn blanket wrapping around Mt Fuji. Looking through the canopy opening is like looking through a window out into a beautiful dream.

7. Autumn Threads of Silk

Schiraito Falls is a series of white streams that resemble hanging threads of silk especially beautiful catching the late evening light of sunset and surrounded by the colors of Autumn. The falls are located at the base of Mt Fuji, fed by mountain springs. The expanse of the Falls silk threads is 150 meters all flowing off a 20 meter high cliff. The Falls are one of the most beautiful in all of Japan and from my perspective also the world.

8. A River Runs Through You

In the moments after the sun has set, I head down the trail stopping at a bridge over a small stream. I become immersed into the scene. There is a constant movement, a journey out and in, as I watch and listen to the water’s flow. RIP Robert Redford

9. Riverside Reflections

On my way to the North Cascades in mid-October, I passed through the beautiful Tumwater Canyon, near Leavenworth. The fall colors along US 2 significantly delayed my arrival. I made multiple stops to immerse myself in the mosaic of beauty and reflections. I especially appreciate the variety of colors in this canyon and how they often create beautiful, organic, Monet-esque, painterly patterns.

10. Skykomish River Autumn Flow

As the day comes to a close, the Skykomish River flows gently into a valley with maple trees illuminated by the setting sun. Mist rises and falls concealing then revealing for a moment Mt. Index. I forget about the hard pounding rain just moments before, as I am lulled into a kind of peaceful slumber, awake but also dreaming.

11. At the Edge of a Winter Forest

I love how winter transforms a landscape, creating areas of empty space and bringing harmony to divergent elements, blending and softening shapes and lines. In Washington, we don’t often see the edge of the forest. Most of the time, when we are in the forest, the forest is all around us. It was refreshing to once again stand at the edge of a winter forest.

12. Snow Mounds

While heading up the Kendall Lakes snowshoe trail I decided to take a quick water break. Seeing people behind me, I stepped up a small incline to get out of there way so they could pass by. This small diversion was just enough for me to notice this scene that I would have otherwise missed. Is this a chance encounter or what? I loved the snow mounds in the foreground and the sketch of lines leading out into the warm mist. Never underestimate the value of stepping a few feet off the snowshoe trail into the deep powder and the surprise that awaits of Winter Dreamland views!

13. Licorice Ferns in a Foggy Forest

These licorice ferns are growing up an old, slanted tree trunk. Their grace and form stand out in the foggy forest of Cougar Mountain. The dense fog transformed the beauty of the ordinary into the extraordinary with a touch of mystery. Licorice ferns have an interesting growth pattern and cycle. They usually only grow on mossy tree trunks or rocks, and their lush growth peaks in winter rather than spring, then dies back in summer and early fall. This is an adaptation to moisture and cooler temperatures on tree trunks, which is primarily present in winter.

14. Yoshino Cherry Blossom Reflections

At the dawning of a new day, after the storm had passed, the Yoshino Cherry Trees displayed their recently opened blossoms, their beauty mirrored on the rustic brick walkways of the University of Washington Quad. The scene was a captivating blend of natural splendor and resilience, with the vibrant pink and white blossoms contrasting beautifully with the weathered brick, creating a serene and picturesque moment. The shimmering reflections seemed a bit dark and mysterious, stirring up memories of walking these paths long ago as an undergraduate student.

15. Ever Returning Spring

Delicate cherry blossoms on a moss covered branch awaken, bringing new life and hope to passerby’s on an warm spring day along the Arboretum’s Azalea Way.

16. Deer Grazing in a Meadow at Sunrise

When a herd of deer wanders into my photography space at sunrise in the Columbia Gorge, I know the sun, earth, and stars must be in alignment. I will take this as good fortune! I love how the backlighting accents the deer and flowers, magic unfolding before my eyes. The small deer furthest out seemed to be actually watching the sunrise.

17. April Showers Bring May Flowers

It was a lovely evening at the foothills of Cashmere on the first of May. A very gentle, warm breeze rustled through the meadow. Beautiful backlighting from the setting sun highlighted the blossoms of the lupine and balsam root flowers. The mountains of the Enchantment Lakes area were visible in the distance. I thought I never wanted to leave. While I wished I could stay in this paradise forever, the beauty of a wildflower meadow is tied to its fleeting nature. Here today, gone a week or so later.

18. Lone Juniper and Owl Rock

While wandering through the desert of Joshua Tree National Park, I spotted this beautiful, ancient Juniper tree. As I was framing the shot, I noticed a rock on the left that resembled an owl, gazing back at me and the tree. I’m sure others will find this tree, with its exquisite shape and form, sculpted by wind and time, equally interesting!

19. La Jolla Beach Craters of the Moon

The scene unfolded as Caroline and I strolled along the beach towards sunset during low tide. We discovered a captivating pattern of small, circular pools that evoked the lunar landscape. I was particularly drawn to how these pools absorbed the setting sun’s light, which, in turn, highlighted the vibrant green aquatic life within the three foreground circles.

20. Cove of the Far North

The furthest northwest tip of the contiguous United States is Cape Flattery. I visited there for the first time in May 2025 and was especially drawn to this beautiful cove, looking out across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island, Canada. This image was taken during the afterglow of the setting sun, with twilight approaching – a very peaceful and calm period of time. I was the last person at the cape, hiking out in the twilight with just enough light to get back to my car.

21. Dawn Chorus

Birds often gather at sunrise for several reasons, including the “dawn chorus” and the start of their daily activities. I was amazed to watch a flock of birds slowly gather, take flight in and around Cannon Beach, moving with the changing sunrise light and color palette, crisscrossing the Haystack a few times, and then heading out to sea.

22. Endless Summer: God Only Knows

This is in memory of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys who recently passed away. One of the things I admired about Brian was his sense of humility in the face of his genius and stardom. In this song, he knew his younger brother Carl had the best voice for it and willingly passed the lead vocal role to him, along with what is arguably Brian Wilson’s most creative composition, Good Vibrations. Paul McCartney famously called The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” the “greatest song ever written,” stating it reduces him to tears and showcasing Brian Wilson’s genius as a brilliant, emotional love song with incredible arrangements.

23. Bandera Phlox Garden

I have been up Bandera several times in early June and recall seeing patches of phlox amid the many boulder rocks on the way to the top. Sure enough, the phlox seemed even more beautiful than my recollection this June, collecting light during the golden hour, reaching out to Mt. Rainier. The vibrant colors of the phlox against the rugged landscape created a truly captivating scene, a testament to the sublime beauty that can be found in nature.

24. Pink Heather Meadows at Sunset

The flowers were at their early stages on July 3rd at the Paradise Flower Fields, with some glacier lilies, avalanche lilies, and buttercups, and, a bit harder to find but nestled in places here and there, pink heather. I hiked up along the Deadhorse trail. While I didn’t find any dead horses, I did find this beautiful heather. I love how the colors in the sky and the heather started to converge right after sunset.

25. On Our Way Home

We are on our way home, into the beauty of nature that surrounds us, down the mountain trail to the lake below, crossing meadows filled with pink heather, feeling the moment-by-moment presence of Mt. Rainier rising into the heavens above.

26. Mount Baker Meadow Magic

During my two evenings in the Mt. Baker area, the weather was quite unpredictable, fluctuating between warm, sunny skies and abrupt temperature drops, thunderclouds, and rain, only to be followed by the sun’s reappearance. This led to two unforgettable sunsets. On the first evening, I ascended to Table Mountain from Artist Point to take this image. I especially loved how the white and pink flowers were intertwined, catching the luminous, low-angle light of the setting sun.

27. Fire on Three Fingers

This telephoto view captures the dramatic sight of backlit clouds on Three Fingers Mountain, evoking the imagery of fire erupting from the Dragon’s Mouth as the sun dips behind the peak. The composition highlights the raw, fiery energy of the moment, transforming a natural phenomenon into a visually stunning spectacle.

28. Good Morning Ecola

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll

This was a beautiful, moody sunrise as viewed from Ecola Overlook. Ecola and Cannon Beach sea stacks are in the distance. The offshore flow moved slowly inland with the rising sun. Fog rolled gently in and out of the sea stacks and mountains, collecting the light of the sun as it slowly rose above them.

29. Rocks, Lines, and a Face in the Tide

My recent trip also included a stop at my favorite beach, Bandon. It was a gloomy day, with little color to be found anywhere. So, I decided to previsualize this image in black and white, concentrating on the essence of the lines, shapes, forms, and subtle gradations of light in the foggy gloom. This essence seemed beautiful to me, with Face Rock in the upper right looking as mysterious as ever. There is beauty everywhere, even in the gloom.

30. Lighting Up the Torches

I just loved how the golden hour light played on these torch lilies against a dark background and autumn grass seed shafts, lighting up the torches. Torch lilies symbolize renewal and resilience. In the language of flowers, they embody the bond between individuals and their shared experiences, serving as a reminder of love’s enduring nature and the necessity of connections.

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Thanks for reading by blog post—2025: A Journey Out and In. If you enjoy content like this be sure to follow my blog to get notifications of new posts. Wishing for everyone a wonderful new year filled with rewarding adventures and hopefully a bit of nature also!