Carl Prothman Photography
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Carl Prothman Photography
@carlprothman.bsky.social
3.2K followers 5.7K following 290 posts
Professional Landscape Photographer capturing authentic moments of the natural world and teaching others the art of visual expression.
#photography #pnw Seattle, Washington, USA
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Alpenglow on Rainier
Soft sunrise light turns the summit warm while the forest below stays cool and quiet. These few minutes of transition are always my favorite part of the day.

#pnw #landscapephotography #nature
A portrait photograph of Mount Rainier at sunrise, with the summit glowing in pink and orange alpenglow. Evergreen trees frame the mountain, and the lower slopes remain in shadow, creating a strong contrast between warm and cool tones. The image conveys a calm, contemplative feeling.
December 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
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How long does it take to get to the top? ⛷️❄️

Watch this speedy chairlift ride blast off with intense beats, from loading up with the crew to unloading and getting ready to drop into fresh lines at the summit! Who's ready for that rush? 🚀

#PNW #WinterAdventures #OutdoorLife
December 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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Winter clarity on Mount Rainier
This shot came together on one of those rare days when the sky stays perfectly blue and every ridge stands out in clean contrast. Moments like this are why I keep coming back with a camera.

#pnw #landscapephotography #naturelovers
A snow-covered Mount Rainier fills the frame, its rounded summit and steep flanks coated in fresh white snow. Dark rocky bands and crevasses break through the snow, adding texture and scale. Below the mountain, dense evergreen forests form a dark band at the base, emphasizing the mountain’s size. Above, a deep blue sky with faint horizontal cloud streaks provides strong contrast. The image feels calm, powerful, and quietly awe-inspiring.
December 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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Riding the lift up through a winter wonderland at Crystal Mountain last winter – blue skies, fresh powder, and endless runs ahead. Moments like this make the PNW unbeatable!

Who's got their ski gear ready for the season?
#PNW #Skiing #MountainLife #WinterVibes
A chairlift ascends a snow-covered ski slope at Crystal Mountain Resort lined with tall evergreen trees heavily coated in fresh snow. The lift cables stretch diagonally across a deep blue sky, creating strong leading lines toward the upper ridge. Sunlight touches the treetops near the crest, adding warm highlights against the cool winter tones. The slope below is smooth and bright, framed tightly by dense forest on both sides. The photo feels calm, crisp, and quietly anticipatory, like the peaceful moment before the day fully begins.
December 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
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Nothing beats the crackle of a fire after a cold day on the slopes. 🔥❄️

Snow on the rim, warmth in the center — pure winter magic.
#PNW #WinterVibes #MountainLife
A circular stone fire pit sits outdoors, its rim thickly covered in fresh snow. Bright orange flames rise from dark stones at the center, creating a strong contrast against the surrounding white snow and gray winter sky. Snowflakes are visible falling through the frame, while snow-covered trees, picnic tables, and a lodge structure appear softly in the background. The warm glow of the fire reflects subtly on the stone, emphasizing the contrast between heat and cold in a mountain setting at Crystal Mountain. The scene feels cozy, grounding, and deeply satisfying after a cold day outdoors.
December 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
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Winter clarity in the mountains.
Fresh snow wraps every tree in thick layers, and that deep blue sky makes the contrast feel almost unreal. I remember stopping here just to take it all in, no wind, no noise, just stillness and light. ❄️
#pnw
Tall evergreen trees are heavily coated in fresh winter snow, rising from a gently sloping mountainside. Thick layers of snow cling to every branch, forming rounded, sculptural shapes that emphasize the trees’ natural structure. A narrow, snow-covered path curves between the trees, with subtle texture and faint tracks visible in the packed snow. Above, a deep, cloudless blue sky contrasts sharply with the bright white snow, highlighting the crisp winter air and clear conditions. The scene feels peaceful, immersive, and inviting, encouraging a quiet appreciation of being outdoors in winter.
December 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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Last winter at Snoqualmie Pass.
That rare mix of fresh snow and deep blue sky that makes winter in the mountains feel extra sharp and clean.

#SnoqualmiePass #Winter #PNW
A snow-covered mountain peak rises in the center of the frame, its rocky summit and steep forested slopes blanketed in fresh white snow. Tall evergreen trees coated heavily with snow frame the scene on both sides, creating a natural border that draws the eye toward the mountain. The sky above is a vivid, cloudless deep blue, emphasizing the sharp contrast between the bright snow and the winter sky. The image feels calm, crisp, and quietly powerful, capturing the stillness of a clear winter day in the mountains.
December 15, 2025 at 8:23 PM
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From the top of Crystal Mountain last winter, looking down Powder Bowl with Mount Rainier rising in the distance. Those two lenticular clouds hovering like UFOs made the whole scene feel otherworldly – one of those days where the mountains just hand you perfection on a plate. 🌞
A wide winter landscape view at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort shows snow-covered alpine terrain under a deep blue sky. In the foreground, groomed ski runs and soft snowbanks curve gently downhill, with a few skiers visible as small figures moving across the slope. The Powder Bowl ridge rises prominently to the left, its steep face coated in bright white snow and dotted with dark evergreen trees clinging to the ridgeline. Dense evergreen forests fill the midground, creating strong contrast against the snow. In the background, Mount Rainier stands clearly defined, its massive, glaciated peak illuminated by winter light. Above the ridge, two stacked lenticular clouds hover smoothly in the sky, their layered, lens-shaped forms appearing almost sculpted and motionless. The overall feeling of the photo is calm, expansive, and quietly awe-inspiring, capturing the stillness and grandeur of a clear winter day in the mountains.
December 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
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Peak perspective
A winter photo of Mount Rainier viewed from the top of Alpental in Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass. The massive volcanic peak dominates the background, covered in soft, golden-tinted snow as afternoon light highlights its ridges, glaciers, and broad summit dome. In the mid-distance, layered foothills and deep blue mountain valleys fade gradually into atmospheric haze, adding depth and scale. In the foreground, rugged rocky spires and cliffs at Alpental rise sharply, coated in thick, wind-sculpted snow. Evergreen trees cling to the steep terrain, their dark green needles contrasting against the bright white snowpack. A rounded, snow-loaded ridge sits prominently to the right, its smooth surface marked with subtle curves from wind and winter storms.The entire scene feels crisp, cold, and expansive—classic Pacific Northwest alpine terrain—showcasing both the dramatic jagged peaks of Alpental and the towering presence of Mount Rainier glowing in the distance.
December 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
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I took this along the Cedar River this past summer. I love how the clouds reflect on the water.

#CedarRiver #PacificNorthwest #Reflections
A calm section of the Cedar River in Renton, Washington, stretches across the foreground, its surface reflecting a mix of bright blue sky and soft white clouds. Gentle ripples move across the water, revealing faint shapes of stones beneath the shallow edge. On the far bank, a dense line of autumn-toned shrubs and trees—gold, brown, and muted green—creates a warm contrast against the cool river. A few homes and evergreens sit just beyond the foliage, partially visible along the horizon. The sky dominates the upper half of the image, filled with sweeping streaks of blue, layered clouds, and shifting light. The overall scene feels peaceful and crisp, capturing a typical Pacific Northwest day along the Cedar River.
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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This was one of my favorite winter views from last season, captured on a bluebird day. I love how the snow blankets the mountain peak and creates a sharp contrast against the deep blue sky.

Location: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington – 2024
#WinterPeaks #CascadeMountains #SnoqualmiePass
A tall, rugged mountain peak at Snoqualmie Pass rises sharply into a cloudless blue sky. The entire face of the mountain is coated in winter snow, highlighting its steep rock textures, deep creases, and avalanche-shaped runouts. Dense evergreen forest fills the lower foreground, each tree covered in thick white snow, creating a bright, high-contrast pattern against the darker stone. Sunlight from the right side illuminates the ridge and upper slopes, giving the scene a crisp, cold, high-visibility winter look. The overall feeling is clean, bold, and intensely alpine.
December 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
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I took this photo this summer in the Cascades here in the PNW. The forest feels almost unreal with all the ferns, moss, and that soft stream cutting through the green. #pnw
A lush Pacific Northwest forest scene taken in the Cascades during summer. The foreground shows a small rocky creek winding through bright green ferns and low vegetation. Moss-covered fallen logs lie across the scene, one stretching diagonally above the creek. Tall evergreen trees rise vertically throughout the frame, their trunks pale against the deep green canopy overhead. Light filters softly through the branches, creating patches of brightness on the forest floor and hillside. Dense undergrowth fills nearly every space, giving the scene a vibrant, layered look. The overall feeling is peaceful, immersive, and deeply connected to nature.
December 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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A narrow wooden boardwalk winds through the mossy forest at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, where fallen logs, ferns, and old-growth textures create that classic Pacific Northwest mood.

#cougarmountain #mossywoods #pnw
A narrow wooden boardwalk passes through a dense, moss-covered forest at Cougar Mountain. Tangled fallen branches coated in bright green moss fill the left side of the frame, while a large boulder on the right is topped with thick moss and hanging ferns. The path curves around the boulder and continues into the deep forest. Ferns blanket the ground and soft, overcast light enhances the vivid greens. The scene feels quiet, wet, and deeply immersive, like stepping into a hidden pocket of wilderness.
December 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
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Little Tahoma Peak glowing golden red from sunrise light.

Mount Rainier National Park
#CascadeMountains #AlpenglowMagic #LandscapePhotographer #PNW
A close view of Little Tahoma Peak, the sharp jagged volcanic remnant rising from the eastern slopes of Mount Rainier. The scene is captured at sunrise, with warm golden-pink alpenglow lighting up the rugged cliffs and ridgelines. Below the peak, glaciers sprawl in icy ribbons, their cracked surfaces spilling down the mountain. The contrast of glowing rock, shadowed valleys, and gleaming ice creates a dramatic and textured alpine landscape against a pale morning sky.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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Loved how the sunlight lit up this wild stem in my backyard

Have you caught any little pockets of good light lately? Post a pic

#photography #pnw #nature
A single tall plant with thin, delicate stems catches direct backlighting from the sun, causing every small bud to glow in bright yellow and orange tones against a shaded wooden fence. Surrounding the stem are deep green leaves and clusters of blue hydrangeas, with additional vine growth climbing the fence behind. The contrast between the luminous plant and the darker background creates a strong separation in tone and texture. The overall feeling of the photo is that quick spark of wonder when light hits just right.
November 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
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Got a peanut?
November 28, 2025 at 9:06 PM
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Such a good day for a walk in the park here in the PNW.
A winding gravel path moves through a bright green Pacific Northwest forest under clear summer light. Ferns line the right edge of the trail beside a short wooden fence, and tall trees rise above the scene with a mixture of evergreens and broadleaf leaves glowing in the sun. A moss-covered branch arches over dense shrubs in the mid-ground, and the overhead canopy filters the light into soft patches across the path. The image shows a tranquil woodland scene with layered greens and gentle shadows. The feeling of the photo is peaceful and refreshing.
November 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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Wishing you and your loved ones a truly happy and heartfelt Thanksgiving! May your day overflow with gratitude, delicious food, and the precious people who make every moment richer.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🦃❤️
#Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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Took this from the top of Crystal Mountain on one of those perfect January days. Mount Rainier was in full form, 14,411 feet of glaciers catching the bright winter sun. I’ve seen this mountain hundreds of times growing up here in the PNW yet views like this still stop me in my tracks.
November 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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Thinking back to an August trip out to Lake Wenatchee, and how unreal the water clarity was that day. I stood there for a long time just watching the stones glow under the glass-clear surface, feeling pretty lucky to be in a place like this.

Where’s the clearest water you’ve seen this year?
A shallow section of Lake Wenatchee in summer sunlight shows perfectly clear water revealing smooth, multicolored stones and scattered driftwood on the lakebed. Green reeds sway just offshore, and a sun-bleached fallen log rests along the back edge near dense shrubs. Ripples shimmer across the surface, allowing every detail beneath to stay visible. The feeling of the photo is calm, warm, and quietly joyful, like a slow August afternoon by the lake.
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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Autumn color in full display along the Cedar River Trail in Seattle. 🍁

#photography #pnw #autumncolors
A paved walking and biking path curves gently through a park-like setting, flanked on both sides by rows of trees in peak autumn foliage. The trees display vibrant red and orange leaves, some of which have already fallen and scattered across the path and surrounding grass. On the left side of the image, water is visible beyond the trees, possibly part of a lake or river. The sky is overcast with a soft blue-gray hue, diffusing the light and bringing out the saturated colors of the foliage. The image conveys a peaceful, reflective feeling of seasonal transition and quiet beauty.
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Carl Prothman Photography
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I just watched this throwback 2012 documentary, "50 Years of Crystal Mountain." It covers Crystal’s journey from a 1962 T-bar and rope tows to the full resort it became by 2012. If you’ve skied Crystal, or dream of it, it’s a great 10-minute hit of history and vibe.

vimeo.com/56827819
Crystal Mountain 50 Year History
The first visitors to what is now Crystal Mountain came seeking their fortunes, not fresh snow or wild flowers. Traces of gold were found in them there hills (of…
vimeo.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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If I had to prove the world is beautiful with just one frame, it would be this moment from deep inside Waimea Canyon on Kauai. Standing on the edge of those red cliffs looking down into that glowing green valley felt like the planet was showing its true colors.
A layered view of Waimea Canyon with rust-colored cliffs, bright green vegetation, and a winding valley below. Morning light catches the erosion lines and soft haze, giving the distant peaks a gentle blue fade and a huge sense of depth. Wispy clouds float above the ridges, and the warm earth tones mixed with cool greens create a vivid, peaceful scene that feels timeless and full of quiet wonder.
November 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
carlprothman.bsky.social
I just watched this throwback 2012 documentary, "50 Years of Crystal Mountain." It covers Crystal’s journey from a 1962 T-bar and rope tows to the full resort it became by 2012. If you’ve skied Crystal, or dream of it, it’s a great 10-minute hit of history and vibe.

vimeo.com/56827819
Crystal Mountain 50 Year History
The first visitors to what is now Crystal Mountain came seeking their fortunes, not fresh snow or wild flowers. Traces of gold were found in them there hills (of…
vimeo.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
carlprothman.bsky.social
A quiet evening settles over Lake Wenatchee as a lone boat drifts across the glowing water beneath a fading orange sky.

#photography #pnw #lakewenatchee
A peaceful sunset scene at Lake Wenatchee, Washington. The mountain rises in deep blue silhouette against a warm orange and pink sky, its reflection soft across the calm lake surface. In the distance, a single small boat floats quietly in the center of the lake, surrounded by the glow of dusk. Driftwood and trees frame the foreground. The photo feels calm and reflective, like the world is slowing down at the end of a good day.
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM