Sometime last September my friend Elena and I were having drinks on the rooftop bar in midtown to recognize of my birthday. We got talking about how neither of us have been to Seattle, even though always wanted to go. Next time I know I am texting Elena about the great JFK-SEA flight deals. So one snowy February weekend we flew to Seattle, for no particular reason or event, just to be there.
I took my Fuji x100s with me because I felt that my bulky pro Nikon equipment would be slowing me down.
This shot is taken the early next morning after we flew in, at the hotel near the airport. It was cloudy with periods of drizzling rain, but still waaaay warmer then NYC, where they were expecting yet another snow storm. Elena was already up and on her phone.
That day we ventured into the city to explore the landmarks. First stop – coffee – but not just your regular coffee – the very first Starbucks, which originated in Seattle!
Luckily, there was Mythic Worlds Convention going on that weekend so we just had to check it out!
Elena found perfect attire for Goddess photo session to market her upcoming Goddess Sanctuary & Spa.
We also met a children-crushing giant and stumbled upon the lecture by Raven Grimassi about doing magic. It was the most logical explanation of magic and witchcraft that I ever heard or read!
After the exhausting day at the convention we drove back downtown to the very nice Monaco Hotel.
Next morning we decided to go to Olympic National Forest in search for some alone time with Nature. The Space Needle was on the way. It wasn’t as high as it looked in the pictures or as I have anticipated, but view of the downtown and the deck shimmering with metallic sunlight was amazing!
By the time we got to the ocean, La Push beach, Quileute Indian Reservation, sun was already setting down. I did some research before leaving and seeing/photographing those rocks peak out of the ocean in twilight was the reason I wanted to come to Seattle in the first place.
Elena found her throne at the beach.
That day February 21st, crescent Moon, Mars and Venus aligned so I stopped briefly to take a picture of the pitch dark beach. Although, long exposure managed to capture some last reds of the dying sunset.
Interesting thing about Quileute Indians: they have the most extensive legends about vampires and shape-shifters. There is probably no coincidence that story in popular Twilight movies is taking place in Forks, WA (although movie was shot somewhere else). That’s where we decided to settle in for the night.
The next morning the sunlight was razor sharp, quickly melting overnight frost.
As William Blake could “see the whole world in a grain of sand” you could actually see whole world in a drop of dew that morning. I spent good 20 min face down in the wet grass admiring those little worlds out there. It’s true, that infinity is best felt in the Nature, because everything man-made only reminds you about limits.
The northern rainforest was awaiting us, breathing heavily with morning dew evaporating in the sunlight.
And then The Magic began: the moth icicles on trees and what seemed per-historic plans created the fairy-tale like atmosphere. It seemed you will meet a fairy and troll on every turn and imagination was running wild and free.
We were running around hugging trees, talking to them, feeling them breathe…
Soon it was time to turn back, as we had to fly out from Seattle that evening. On the way back we stopped by Lake Crescent.
Here are some last shots of Public Market where we wondered for some time, because of course, our flight got delayed due to snow storm in New York.
In conclusion, Seattle is a wonderful city, but I fell in love with Olympic Forest and those rocky Pacific northwest beaches. I am definitely coming back there, with my pro equipment and for longer. Anybody getting married in Seattle next year by any chance?
