• BLOG #6 – Wildlife and Views Around Anacortes, Washington USA

  My wife and I headed out on Thursday, June 25th for a morning of birding and wildlife watching around Anacortes. The conditions were moody in the best way, and the wildlife delivered.

  

  We started with Mt Baker. A belt cloud had wrapped itself around the peak, and the light was flat and dramatic at the same time. Perfect for black and white. We shot it when looking across Padilla Bay from Fidalgo Island with a pleasure boat sitting in the foreground.

  

  Then things got really good.

  

  Two juvenile bald eagles, probably just over a month old, were sitting in their nest watching one of their parents hunt a rodent in the field below. They were so locked in, they barely noticed us. We’re thinking of calling them Laurel and Hardy.

  

  Near North Harbor, we spotted an adult eagle pair. The female was holding down the nest.

  

  The harbor seal in Guemas Channel was the cherry on top. He surfaced, looked straight at me, and seemed completely unimpressed.

  Have you spotted any eagles or harbor seals around Anacortes this season?

  Please enjoy these photos!

  Thanks and have a great week!

  Ernie

  30 June 2026

• BLOG #5 – Father’s Day and the Anacortes Pride Parade

  A Father’s Day Walk Through Anacortes Pride

  Today was Father’s Day, and I got to spend it with my daughter. That alone would have made it a good day. Then we headed downtown for the Anacortes Pride Parade, and it turned into one of those Sundays where everything just clicked.

  

  The streets were packed with color. Kids sat up on shoulders to get a better view over the crowd. It’s the kind of small town energy that reminds me why I love shooting here in Anacortes and Skagit Valley. Anacortes shows up for itself, and you can feel it.

  

   

  

  I’ve also been out with my camera most of this week, working through a batch of shots from around town before the parade even started. Some of those might find a home right here on Light and Lens once I finish sorting through them. I’m still going through the parade photos too, so I can’t promise every shot is a keeper, but I’ll share what’s worth sharing.

  This one photo from the parade surprised me. The young man on the back of the pickup truck was surrounded by soap bubbles from the bubble machine atop the truck cab. Well, I was very surprised at how well the bubbles “showed up” in the photo. Pretty incredible!

  

   

  Here is a shot I took of one of the Anacortes OARS boats in Cap Sante Marina around 8:00 AM.

  

  You know, there’s something about days like this. You don’t plan for them to matter, but they just do. A parade, a daughter and wife, a camera in hand, and a town that knows how to show up. That’s a good Sunday in my book.

  More photos are coming once I finish processing them, so check back soon and check out my website Rising Moon NW Photography.

  Anacortes always gives me something worth capturing!

  What’s your favorite spot to catch a parade here in Skagit County? Or in the country? Or in the world?

  PS: I forgot to add….

  

  I am in the process of licensing this photo I took back on May 22nd showing downtown Anacortes and its famous arch in the early morning. The rising sun provides long shadows and emphasizes the beautiful trees lining Commercial Avenue.

   

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  22 June 2026

• BLOG #4: What I’ve Been Up to Lately

  Hi everybody,

  Quick confession: I’m supposed to be your bird and landscape guy, but lately I’ve been all over the place. I’ve been shooting photojournalism for the Anacortes American newspaper, covering events for my church, and working with the Downtown Anacortes Alliance.

  It’s been a busy stretch, but a good one, and I want to share a few shots from the last week so you can see what’s been keeping me busy.

  

   

  

   

  

   

  Anacortes Downtown Alliance (DAA) team members install banners near the Anacortes Ferry entrance.

  Some of these are candid, some are “on assignment,” but all of them remind me why I love doing this.

  Here’s the good news: I’m carving out time soon to get back to my roots. Birding and landscape work are next on the list, so keep an eye out for that.

  Thanks for sticking around. If you want to catch more of this stuff as it happens, give me a follow on

  Talk soon, Ernie

  15 June 2026

• #3 June 9, 2026 Observations

  As a student of all things photography in nature, I happened across the following items in my news feed today.

  • Intentional Imperfection is the new aesthetic. As AI-generated images get “too perfect,” audiences are gravitating toward motion blur, grain, and messy framing. Authentic, obviously-human-made shots are getting more traction in editorial and gallery contexts.Hmm, does this mean I should take photos while I’m falling down go get “intentional imperfection?”
  • Photo series beat single images. Galleries, social media, and editorial clients are favoring cohesive series and triptychs over single brilliant frames. Worth thinking about whether your wildlife and landscape work can be packaged as a series with a narrative thread.I do tend to send out a series rather than individual photos in general.

  Here’s two photos from the weekend taken at Bowman Bay, Deception Pass State Park, Washington State USA

  

  A view from Bowman Bay Beach — HDR, three photos stitched together horizontally.

  

  Bowman Bay Beach – Lots of “silver driftwood” on the beach

  That’s a wrap for today!

  Stay safe!

  Ernie

  9 June 2026

• L, L & L #2: Backup Philosophy and Making Painterly Photos

  Greetings!

  Happy first day of June 2026! Wow, it is so hard to believe that over five months have passed so far this year! I’m still thinking about my to-do list from January! Ouch!

  In today’s blog I want to address my backup philosophy and process as well as show off a fun topic converting a photo to “painterly.”

  My Backup Philosophy and Process

  Staying on top of your backup processes is critically important to ensure you do not lose any of your photos, especially the most important ones. There are a variety of philosophies on this topic within the photography collective. Let me tell you about the process I follow.

  SD Cards

  First, we begin with the photos on the SD Card inside my camera (or cell phone memory). Until I’ve backed up these photos, I take exceptional care that these cards are not lost or corrupted.

  Second, process my SD Cards using Adobe Lightroom Classic (aka LrC). The photos are copied onto my primary photo drive which is an external spinning disk. Its name is Q:/Photos 2026+.

  SyncBackFree

  After I’ve processed the photos on LrC I need to ensure the photos on other Q:/ drive are also backed up. Here I use a tool called SyncBackFree (now on V12). I use the free version, but a paid version is also available.

  SyncBackFree v12 is configured to back up my Q:/ drive to my R:/Photos 2026+ daily around noon.

  Backblaze

  My photos are still inside my house on my SD card, Q:/ drive, and R:/ drive. But what about offsite? Here I use a subscription service called Backblaze. I’ve been using Backblaze for several years now. I purchase the personal backup for around $9 US a month. Automatic backups for computers and external drives are included for one person including unlimited backups, file size, and speed.

  My Backblaze backup schedule is set for “Continuous.” My files are readily retrievable from the Backblaze cloud for free or you have an option for your backed up files to be shipped to you on an external hard drive.

  Unfortunately, I’ve had a few instances where I’ve needed to retrieve backed up files from Backblaze due to a failed hard drive (both spinning disk and solid-state drive). In both instances, I was able to recover the necessary files to restore on my repaired machine.

  I highly recommend Backblaze!

  You can learn more about Backblaze at: https://backblaze.com/cloud-backup/personal

  SD Card Backups

  Remember those SD cards I mentioned above, well, they still have photos and videos on them. In order to offer some added protection for these files I manually move the files on the SD cards to another external drive (S://Photo SD Card) that is also backed up by Backblaze.

  Once this is done, I then format the SD cards for continued use in my cameras.

  Here’s a flow chart showing my backup flow:

  

  Is this Overkill?

  I don’t think this is overkill since I use my photos for photojournalism and print sales. Hence, these photos have value along with my personal photos I want to save for the future. So, in sum and substance, that is my backup process that I’ve been following for several years and except for failed drive issues on two occasions, I’ve not lost any photo files. (I hope I didn’t jinx myself!! 😱)

  A Fun Way to Make a Painterly Photo

  Occasionally I will take one of my photos and turn it into a “painterly” format where the photo is converted to look like an oil painting, watercolor, pastel, pen and ink sketch, etc. There are some commercial programs available to make these new pictures; however, they can be quite expensive, have limited capabilities, or are slow to build exactly what you want.

  That is until I started to use Google’s Nano Banana 2.

  You can access Google’s Nano Banana 2 image generation model easily, either directly through Gemini or via specialized developer and creative platforms.

  One of the most popular ways to access it is to log in to Gemini, set your mode to “Fast,” and select “Create Image” (or click the banana icon) to start generating.

  Alternatively, you can access Nano Banana 2 via alternative platforms.

  I use the Gemini approach.

  So, here is a recent example where I converted one of my photos to an “oil painting” painterly view.

  The original photo was:

  

  Figure 1 Anacortes Downtown Arch at Sunset

  I attached this photo to Gemini/Nano Banana 2. I then gave it the following prompt:

  Please make the attached photo into a painterly perspective – oil paint

  And the following photo was produced:

  

  Figure 2 Anacortes Downtown Arch – Oil Paint (AI Version)

  Overall, I was simply “gob smacked” as my British friends would say! Wow, this is such an amazing capability to make painterly views from a photo.

  Try it yourself and you will be amazed! 😳

  How Can I Help You?

  Thanks for reading this week! Please be sure to reach out to me at enhayden1321@gmail.com or post a comment in this blog to let me know if there are any topics you would like me to address in future posts. It would be my honor to pass along my experience and knowledge and learn some innovative ideas from all of you!

  Thanks for reading! Thanks for your time! We’ll see you next week!

  Ernie

  Email: enhayden1321@gmail.com | Website: https://risingmoonnw.com | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RisingMoonNW | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingmoonnw/

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  2 June 2026

• Light, Land, and Lens – Photo Equipment

  

  Monday, May 25, 2026

  Hi, Everyone!

  In the United States today is Memorial Day, when we honor the fallen military personnel who have served in our armed forces to help ensure our freedom is sustained. Thank you to everyone in this role and to the families that have sacrificed over the years.

  Yesterday my wife, Ginny, and I went out birding and taking photos around Fidalgo Island and western Skagit County. I also took some panorama photos as part of my KelbyOne Inner Circle assignment due this week.

  Earlier in the week I was invited to hang some of my photos at the Balance Point Physical Therapy office in Anacortes, Washington. This was quite an honor! Here are the photos on display and available for sale.

  

   

  

  This Week’s Subject: My Photo Equipment

  I thought I’d take some of your reading time to tell you what I use for my cameras, lenses, and media as part of my effort to photograph birds, landscapes, and architecture. My hope is that this gives you a few ideas as you think about your own gear and how it fits the way you like to shoot. So, here goes!

  Camera Bodies

  I rely on three different cameras for my photography. They include:

  • Sony a7 IV 
  • Sony a7R IV
  • Samsung S26 Ultra cell phone

  Each one plays a different role, from serious bird and landscape work to quick photos when all I have with me is my phone. Of note, the camera capability on the Samsung S26 Ultra is incredible…I’ve barely scratched the surface of the photos and videos I can take with this cellphone.

  Lenses

  • Sony FE 4/24–105 G OSS – This lens is my trusty “go‑to” for my photojournalism assignments, event photography, and some landscape work. The zoom range is not quite enough for my bird and wildlife work; however, the 24–105 mm zoom is just about perfect for almost everything else.

  

  • Sony FE 5.6–6.3/200–600 G OSS plus Sony 1.4x Teleconverter – This lens combination is my favorite arrangement for my bird and wildlife photography. I have also used this combination for some of my landscape photography, and I honestly don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have this lens combo.

  

  • Sony FE 4/70–200 MACRO G OSS II – Of my lens portfolio, this lens is not used very often—to some of my regret. The macro capability alone is excellent and great for photos of flowers, and I just need to motivate myself to use this lens more frequently.

  

  • Tamron 17–28 mm F/2.8 Di III RXD – I obtained this lens for my astrophotography efforts and occasionally for landscape photos when I want a very wide view.

  

  If you are putting together your own kit, you might think in simple terms: one general‑purpose lens you can leave on the camera most of the time, one lens that gets you closer to distant subjects, and then any “specialty” lenses that support the kind of photos you love to make.

  Media

  Both Sony camera bodies have slots for two media cards. I try to balance my media with the same capacity in each slot and preferably the same brand.

  For instance, my current choice for media is:

  • SanDisk 256 GB, Extreme Pro, 200 MB/sec

  

  Of note, I use a 6 mm Brother label tape to mark each chip with the camera body model and whether it is used in the left or right slot. The left slot is the primary storage and sometimes my videos are stored on the right slot. I find that marking the chips ensures I mentally track what is on the SD card for processing and backup storage on a spinning hard drive. If you’ve ever pulled an unlabeled card out of a drawer and wondered what’s on it, a simple label can save you some frustration. I will talk more in future blogs about my SD card storage and labeling practices.

  Next Week’s Subject: My Backup Philosophy and Process

  Staying on top of your backup processes is critically important to ensure you do not lose any of your photos, especially the most important ones. I’ll tell you more about my logic and processes next week.

  How Can I Help You?

  Please be sure to reach out to me at enhayden1321@gmail.com or post a comment in this blog to let me know if there are any topics you would like me to address in future blog posts. It would be my honor to pass along my experience and knowledge and learn some innovative ideas from all of you!

  Thanks for reading! Thanks for your time! We’ll see you next week!

  Ernie

  

   

  Email: enhayden1321@gmail.com | Website: https://risingmoonnw.com |

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RisingMoonNW | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingmoonnw/

   

  25 May 2026

• Welcome to Light, Land, & Lens – Chasing Light in the Skagit Valley

  

  Hi, Everyone!

  Welcome to my blog, “Light, Land, & Lens” where I try to write a “letter” to the reader about my photography, my photographic philosophy, my photo equipment, my software, and many stories about my picture taking in and around my home in the Skagit River Valley and US Pacific Northwest.

  I live in a town called Anacortes, Washington USA. It is a town on Fidalgo Island — part of the San Juan Island Archipelago. Probably one of the most beautiful places on earth — in my opinion.

  

  I am excited to begin this journey and looking forward to your questions, thoughts, and feedback!

  So, without further delay, let’s get started.

  Chasing Light in the Skagit River Valley

  There are places that reward persistence, and then there is the Skagit Valley.

  I’ve returned to the same stretches of field, river, and shoreline here more times than I can count. On paper, it might seem repetitive—same locations, same subjects, same seasons circling back year after year. But in practice, it’s anything but. The Skagit Valley and its surroundings is never the same twice, and the difference is almost always the light.

  Light is the real subject.

  

  It’s easy to think we photograph landscapes or wildlife, but what we’re really chasing is how light reveals them. A stand of trees along a dike road can be ordinary under a flat gray sky, then suddenly luminous when the late afternoon sun breaks through a gap in the clouds. A bald eagle perched high in a cottonwood becomes something else entirely when backlit at just the right angle—edges glowing, presence amplified.

  Those moments don’t happen on demand.

  More often than not, the conditions don’t line up. The forecast looks promising, but the clouds settle in too thick. The tide is close, but not quite right. The eagles are there, but the light is wrong—or the light is perfect, and the birds are gone. If there’s a single lesson the Skagit teaches, it’s patience.

  And patience isn’t passive.

  It means showing up anyway. It means driving out when the weather is uncertain, staying longer than is comfortable, and learning to read subtle changes in the sky. Over time, you begin to recognize patterns—the way marine clouds sometimes break just before sunset, or how winter light hangs low and soft across the fields, giving even midday a sense of quiet drama.

  Even then, nothing is guaranteed.

  Some of my most memorable days in the field haven’t produced a single frame worth keeping. And yet, those days matter. They build familiarity with the land. They sharpen your instincts. They remind you that photography isn’t just about results—it’s about attention.

  Then, occasionally, everything aligns.

  The light opens up. The landscape responds. A bird enters the frame at just the right moment. And for a few seconds, maybe less, you’re not searching anymore—you’re simply witnessing. Pressing the shutter becomes almost secondary.

  Those are the moments we carry with us.

  Not because they’re rare, though they are, but because they’re earned. They come from all the times we showed up when it would have been easier not to. From the quiet mornings, the long waits, the missed chances.

  In the Skagit Valley, light is never just illumination. It’s the difference between seeing and understanding. And it’s always worth the chase.

  

  ########################################################################################################

  I look forward to your thoughts, ideas, comments, and subjects you would like me to write about. My email is enhayden1321(at)gmail.com

  Lastly, may thanks to Ms Abbie Shores for granting me this space in Our Arts Magazine.

  You can see more of my work at my website Rising Moon NW

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  18 May 2026

PLEASE MEET ERNIE HAYDEN

Greetings, Friend! I am Ernie Hayden, an award-winning Pacific Northwest-based wildlife and landscape photographer living in beautiful Anacortes, Washington – right in the heart of the spectacular San Juan Archipelago. My passion for photography runs deep, rooted in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest I call home, and fueled by a lifelong love of exploring, observing, and capturing the magic of nature.

MY FOCUS & PHILOSOPHY

Birds are my passion, especially the majestic American Bald Eagle and the striking Black Oystercatcher. Whether I am perched on a windswept shore chasing seabirds, hiking lush Pacific Northwest trails to capture wildlife, or rising early to frame the golden light on a rugged landscape or historic building, my goal is to create images that inspire wonder and a profound connection with nature.

I take ‘Bird Portraits’ and ‘Bird Studies’ as my primary and unique genre.

My artistic style combines technical precision (honed with Sony camera bodies and lenses) and creative vision developed over years of professional and personal exploration. I love the challenge of capturing authentic moments in the wild and striking scenes that tell a story.

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: MY INSPIRATION, MY HOME

Living in Anacortes offers daily inspiration. From dramatic coastlines and maritime scenes to forested hills, hidden lakes, and weathered barns full of Pacific Northwest charisma, I strive to showcase this incomparable regional beauty in every frame. Outside of my photographic pursuits, I cherish time spent with my family and exploring local wonders.

SERVICES & PRINTS

Through Rising Moon NW Photography, I offer:

• Limited-edition and open-run fine art prints of my work manufactured to order via Fine Art America, and shipped with a 30-day money-back guarantee for your complete satisfaction.
• Commissioned photo sessions for wildlife, landscape, events, and architectural subjects.
• Licensing opportunities for editorial and commercial use.
• Custom merchandise showcasing my best-loved imagery.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• Gold Winner, 2026 London Photography Awards, People Photography – Fine Art
• Gold Winner, 2026 Muse Photography Awards, Fine Art Photography – Abstract
• Gold Winner, 2026 Muse Photography Awards, Nature Photography – Wildlife
• Gold Winner, 2025 European Photography Awards, Nature Photography – Wildlife
• Silver Winner, 2025 MUSE Photography Contest (Wildlife Category)
• Profiled in the Anacortes American Newspaper, April 2, 2025, following receipt of my Silver Award in 2025
• Regular contributor to the Anacortes American, Skagit Valley Herald, Professional Mariner magazine, and Pacific Maritime Magazine
• Provided the cover photo to my book, Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment, published by Rothstein Publishing in 2000

WHY CHOOSE RISING MOON PHOTOGRAPHY?

My work is trusted by collectors, sponsors, editors, and businesses who share my vision for visually stunning, emotionally powerful images. Each photo is a careful blend of storytelling, artistic composition, and Pacific Northwest spirit – perfect for your home, business, or creative projects.

LET US CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER!

Ready to add a touch of the wild, scenic Pacific Northwest to your space, campaign, or publication?

Browse my portfolio at https://risingmoonnw.com, or follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@RisingMoonNW) for fresh images and behind-the-scenes stories. You can also purchase my wall and desk calendars from my ETSY site at RISING MOON NW ETSY SITE

Questions? Custom project in mind? Interested in prints, merchandise, or booking a session? Contact me directly at Email: enhayden1321(at)gmail.com

Contact me today. I would love to help you bring your vision to life with stunning imagery you will treasure.

Every purchase supports my ongoing work and exploration, and comes with Fine Art America 30-day money-back guarantee.

COPYRIGHT

All images on this website are fully protected by U.S. and international laws, all rights reserved. The images may not be reproduced, edited, copied, downloaded, manipulated, transmitted, or used in any way without written permission from Ernie Hayden or his estate.