Carbon River, Water and Rocks

This is just what the title says, but it has some strange magic of color, shape and meaning.

Carbon River from the one-lane bridge on WA 165

We have not had much sunshine for the last few months, which is pretty typical of the Pacific Northwest in the fall. (Not to mention winter and spring, too.)

The sun was peeking out a bit here and there, and I thought I’d try to hit a few of my favorite spots to get a photo or two.

I got my photos, but most of them have zero sun in them, and in this case, I think the lack of sun gave the photo a somber mood that really resonates for this time of year. We are approaching the winter solstice, and the sun never gets very high, rarely comes out from behind the clouds, and gray is the color of…everything except the trees and the moss.

I drove out WA 165 toward rainier along the Carbon River (named after the Carbon Glacier; why something made of snow got a name you’d associate with coal has to do with…there being coal seams out that way).

It’s a narrow gorge, with a single-lane antique bridge over it.

Carbon River Bridge, WA 165 beyond Carbonado

Yeah, it looks kind of decrepit. You should feel how much it sways when a school bus goes over it…makes you wonder if anyone should be using that bridge at all!

Technical info: Photos taken with the Phase One XF; as always, I marvel at the color saturation and detail. The shot of the river is a combine of two separate shots to make a panorama. They are 1/10th second exposures, which allows the water motion to blur. ISO 50 and f/8.