Carbon River
About a mile west of the boundary of the Mt. Rainier Park
I have been wanting to get a photograph of the upper reaches of the Carbon River for a few years now. I’ve even been to this exact spot at least one time, but I wasn’t satisfied with my photos from that last trip. I went back with my very best gear and enough time to get the shot right.
I used an older lens, a Contax 35mm medium-format at f/8, on the Phase One digital back. That setup gives me the best possible contrast, the best color, the best dynamic range. This time, I’m happy with the result.
There’s a left turn just past Evans Creek (off Carbon River Road, below the road to Mowich Lake) that takes you down to a little wooden bridge over the Carbon River. I set up my tripod at the edge of the bridge and took about a dozen shots looking both up- and down-river.
In the distance, you can just see the tip of Mt. Rainier peeking over the top of one of the intervening Cascade Mountains. Elevation there is about 1500 feet; just a little bit of snow remaining there.
The view to the west, above, is illuminated by the sun, and looks like it’s some other river.
Handsome and love the color and texture of the water.