The Photographer's Eye
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There is something to see in every season at Whitman Mission National Historic Site. Click here for some photo tips from previous blogs. Check out Nature Sightings April - May and Nature Sightings June - July for what's recently been seen in the park. May 9, 2012 - Zach Schierl - Whitman Mission Through the Seasons Below is a picture from April. One can see how the hillside greens up with the coming of spring. See additional photos taken from the same vantage point taken at different times of year to get a sense of how the park changes with the seasons. more... 
Signs of spring, the hillside is turning green. But it won't stay that way, soon the heat of summer will arrive, and this green hillside will be just a memory.
NPS - Zach Schierl
May 1, 2012 - Renee Rusler - It's Turtle Time! 
There are two types of turtles in this photo. Can you tell which is which? Read below for hints on how to tell them apart.
NPS - Renee Rusler
It's Turtle Time! When it gets warm the turtles clamber back onto the wooden platforms that float in the park's pond. These were seen this last weekend. Two types of turtles live at Whitman Mission, the Western Painted Turtle and the Slider (an introduced turtle). Both kinds are in this photo. They can be challenging to tell apart since both have yellow stripes on their legs and head. Learn some ways to tell them apart or just sit back and enjoy watching them. April 22, 2012 - Renee Rusler - Spring has Sprung! 
NPS - Renee Rusler
After a vacation to visit family and friends in the Southwest. I returned to a park full of flowers, birds, and a few surprises... more March 14, 2012 - Renee Rusler - Always Something to See Even on gray days one can find interesting things, if one goes outside and looks. more... 
Canada Geese floating on pond.
NPS - Renee Rusler
March 5, 2012 - Zach Schierl - A Preview of Spring? 
The mid-afternoon sun positioned behind the Whitman memorial creates a bright halo of light as it hits the sensor of my camera.
NPS - Zach Schierl
How do we know? Well, for one, the Sun appeared today and stuck around for the entire day for the first time in recent memory. I was able to get this shot of the "Bringer of Warmth" positioned right behind the pinnacle of the Whitman Memorial, beneath an almost cloudless sky. I was trying to think of an interesting angle for a picture when I noticed the long shadow of the monument extending off into the grass, providing me with the opportunity to create my own miniature solar eclipse. Secondly, the park's resident painted turtles have emerged from their winter burrows and were sunning themselves on the millpond rafts most of the day. This one allowed me to get strangely close before it slithered off the raft back into the pond. 
A painted turtle enjoys one of the first warm days of the season.
NPS - Zach Schierl
February 22, 2012 - Renee Rusler - Otter FAQs A few of the more commonly asked questions are answered in Nature Sightings. 
Eating lunch
NPS - Renee Rusler
February 13, 2012 - Renee Rusler - More Otter Photos Otters have been on the park's pond on-and-off for the last month. See more photos of them in Nature Sightings. 
NPS - Renee Rusler
February 4, 2012 - Zach Schierl - The Early Bird Gets the Worm (and a Few Photo Tips!) ...an early morning visit to Whitman Mission last week found this little guy travelling down the path... more... 
A semi-translucent earthworm explores Whitman Mission in the early morning hours
NPS - Zach Schierl
January 25, 2012 - Renee Rusler - Is Two Too Many? One otter clambers onto the floating board in park's pond, but can it hold a second otter? Find out. more... 
The first otter clambers onto the board. Already the board is starting to sink.
NPS - Renee Rusler
January 24, 2012 - Zach Schierl - The Luck of the Light ...it is possible to predict when great lighting conditions are likely to occur so that you can have your camera at the ready more... 
Just one example of placing yourself at the right place at the right time to take advantage of dramatic lighting opportunities.
NPS - Zach Schierl
December 21, 2011 - Renee Rusler - Fiery Departure 
The long stretch of cloudy weather ended in fiery splendor last night. This was the view looking out of the Visitor Center at 4:30 PM. Using the "Beach" setting on the park's camera really brought out the bright colors of the sky.
NPS - Renee Rusler
December 12, 2011 - Renee Rusler & Zach Schierl - Snack Time 
Three mule deer venture into the grassy oval of the parking area looking for food.
NPS - Zach Schierl
Two species of deer can be found at Whitman Mission: Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer. The deer are most commonly seen in the early morning or evening, periods of low light when it is harder to be seen. Cloudy days are another time when light levels are low. Yesterday it was so cloudy and quiet at the park that these Mule Deer ventured into the parking oval during the middle of the day. Some people mistake Mule Deer for White-taileds because Mule Deer have a white rump and tail. But the White-tailed Deer is named for the fluffy, white underside of its longer tail, which it raises and wags like a flag when startled. December 10, 2011 - Renee Rusler - Frosty Cold! Frosty Pretty! 
It was a cold day at Whitman Mission, with highs in the mid 20s. But the freezing fog of the day before created beautiful ice crystals like the ones on these hawthorn "berries."
NPS - Renee Rusler
The ice crystals gave a frosty look to the plants, especially the trees.
NPS - Renee Rusler
It can be fun to explore the same place in different weather conditions. Just remember to dress for the weather and to be careful, especially in potentially slippery conditions such as rain, snow, ice, or freezing fog. Earlier Blog Entries The Photographer's Eye 2010 - 2011 Previous posts about animals, plants, or weather can be found at Nature Sightings 2011. Previous posts about park events can be found at Events 2011. |
Did You Know?
Archaeologists have uncovered the mission building sites. These sites are now marked on the ground and a trail to follow with signs tells the story of the mission at Waiilatpu.