BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Brendan Ramsey

Brendan Ramsey

Brendan Ramsey Photography – Nature and wildlife

I have been photographing the images that my imagination has found captivating since my first film camera in 1985. Nature, being my most photographed subject, is what gives me inspiration and peace of mind. What really draws me in further is the way nature displays and manipulates light.

Like that of morning into day and back again, my dreams continue and I keep following nature’s beauty. I would like to think of myself as an Impressionist, like Monet, I aim to capture the fleeting light.

BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Brendan Ramsey 1 — Sunset at Palouse Falls

Do you have a good tip for us?

Always look opposite the rising or setting sun.

BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Brendan Ramsey 2 — King’s Tide at Cape Disappointment

On point!

I can not believe this happened today. I’ve been waiting for this moment since 2018.

The thought occurred about getting this alignment with the US Navy Blue Angels during our summer Seafair Festivals, after my friend and I photographed the Blue Angels with the Space Needle and a passing ferry. Then came 2019 and our region was inundated with wildfire smoke. Then 2020 hit and the show was canceled through 2021. I thought my magic luck had run out.

I had Thursday off but the weather conditions weren’t allowing me to see Mount Baker and since it was practice day, the Blue Angels didn’t even pass remotely close to the Space Needle. Then work happened. But as I always work Sundays, being the last day of Seafair, something magical happened when I arrived at work. I finally have a helper on busy days and it allowed me to actually get off work on time, drive to my destination and I couldn’t be more happier with my results.

It’s summertime, there’s a lot of heat disturbance in the air as the thermometer is around 90 F. Plus the smoke from the airshow and the wildfire smoke seeping across the Cascades. I did use a program to take some of the noise out caused by the compression of these particles as I am fully zoomed out at 400mm. But I also used my CPL to help make Baker more visible and make everything pop a little more despite the blurry feel, it is what it is and at the distance away I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me and have a great day!