Beauty in the Bleak

On the way to school this morning my son asked what the word ‘bleak’ meant.  It had snowed the day and night before so he heard me use the word describing what I saw as we drove.  I explained ‘bleak’ describes something that is cold, empty, often colorless and can also apply to something that is difficult or hopeless.  He got out of the car and started his day before I thought to round out the definition.  I should have said that ‘bleak’ often means all those negative things…. at first glance.  With time,  though, people often find beauty in the starkness and simplilcity of what initially was colorless or dire.

He’s having a tough time these days so I’ll have to remind him that there can be beauty in the bleak.  I grabbed these shots down in the Skagit Valley yesterday just as the snow began:

Danielle + Jacob

Sunny and Dan

Lauren: Senior

Alex:Senior

Riley + Leanne

Katie: Senior

Kaylee + Zac: Engagement

Can we get any more colorful?  This is such a fun time of year to photograph and Zac and Kaylee were….irrepressible.  Spontaneous.  Out-there-for-the-fun-that-life-offers kind of people.    SO much fun!

Nicole: Senior

Foliage

A few shots from a short walk around Lake Padden yesterday.  I felt like a tourist in my own neighborhood (with fanny pack and everything) camera in hand and amazed.  The colors in the Northwest are at their peak.  People walk slower, breathe deeper, find detours on their walks that they don’t necessarily need to take.  The Big Cold Wet is coming– people know it, trees know it– and this is nature’s final testament before giving in.