WesDotPhotography

09/17/2025

Sorry, I'm back on my Western Grebe kick. They were so incredible to photograph that I have a lot of favorites. Hope you are feeling the same way about seeing so many of my images.
Western Grebe chicks are precocial, meaning they are relatively developed at hatching and are able to leave the nest quickly. Within minutes of hatching, they climb onto their parents' backs, where they are sheltered from the cold water and can be fed.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/grebe-love-wes-and-dotty-weber.html

09/17/2025

SNEAK PEEK
A few of us last night went out still working out the bugs in doing light painting. We had only one model who stood perfectly still in the water for a very long time. So value these models that work tirelessly for us photographers to get the photos we want.
More lessons learned by all of us. I of course forgot to change my ISO so the background is way dark. (kind of like the images anyway) But we had such a perfect spot so I'm kicking myself for not realizing my mistake. The background was pretty awesome. The main thing I forgot was the darker it gets the dimmer the light has to be. So Many Things To Remember!

09/16/2025

Dad Grebe brings home the fish, which mom then prepares by dunking it in the water again, then challenges her chicks to reach for it. Finally when one gets it the next big challenge is getting it swallowed. This was a big fish for this wee one.
While they continue to ride on their parents' backs for several weeks, the chicks start diving and feeding themselves at several weeks of age, gradually becoming more independent.
Western Grebe chicks typically achieve their first flight around 10 weeks after hatching.
The chicks have a patch of bare skin on their head that turns scarlet when they beg for food or are separated from their parents.

09/15/2025

While it wasn't the perfect night to catch the aurora but the colors did pop out about 10:19pm and lasted about 5-10 minutes. Even this little bit of green made me glad I spent the 3 hours hoping for it to improve. Never know if you don't go!

09/15/2025

HERE IT IS.....MY FAVORITE RUN OF THE DAY! 🥰 The pure joy of the brave soul in the front just says it all. He wore that happy face right up until the wave smacked him in the face right before they submerged. But look at his smile and joy at the when they popped back up. Life is great!
I have more to edit but I think I'll end with run for now. It made me happy!!
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/14/2025

So I got tired of editing pictures then remembered I had done a presentation some time ago on how I edit a picture.
Here is a sample of what my workflow looks like on a blog from my website.
AND I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HOW I DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO BEYOND SHOOTING. EDIT!

Name: Wes & Dotty Weber Occupation: Photographers at Heart Favorite Camera: Canon 5DMarkIII and Canon 7DMarkII Favorite Subjects: Absolutely everything. Favorite Vacation Spot: Everywhere we’ve...

09/14/2025

THIS WAS THE WILDEST RIDE. 😨 Do be safe and have the proper gear. I talked with one kayaker who pulled out before the falls and she said no way was she going over it. This group was not with the outfitters but a few guys having fun. Luckily they had life vests but no helmets. All ended okay with nobody injured. Again the raft got a little sideways going into the chute.
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/13/2025

This time the raft got a little sideways going into the chute, not a good thing. But the spotters were all over it within seconds and EVERYBODY WAS OKAY. They too will have a fun story to tell!! And believe it or not this was not the wildest raft ride I saw! 😨
TWO MORE DAYS MY FAVORITE SET WILL BE POSTED. So stay tuned. It does get wilder.
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/12/2025

WHOOPSIE DAISY.....Woman overboard and the guide and the spotter were all over it within seconds and pulled her back in. She will have a fun story to tell!!
I AM SAVING MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOR THE END. So stay tuned. It does get wilder.
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/11/2025

EXPRESSIONS!! It's all smiles until that split second before you are submerged at the bottom of that 12 foot drop! All of this from top to bottom happens within a minute. AND then the smile is right back again.
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/10/2025

I hope you are all enjoying my little venture into photographing the white water fun. Because I have more I'll be posting over the next few days. AND I AM SAVING MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOR THE END. So stay tuned.
And remember this is a 12 foot drop so it's all about the expressions, flying limbs and just stay tuned. It gets wilder. All of this from top to bottom happens within a MINUTE. This why we are all here!
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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09/09/2025

SOME MORE OF-----THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

The rafts are fun but the kayaks. Whoo Hoo!! What an absolute rush this would be!! WOULD YOU DO IT?? Not me, even in my younger days.

At the top of the falls he enters into chute, then it's a wild ride down with him working those paddles. All of this from top to bottom happens within a MINUTE. This why we are all here!
Husum Falls in the state of Washington is a notorious rapid located on the White Salmon River, offering a 12 foot vertical drop into a large hole with a boulder garden to navigate just downstream. Unique on its own – located at the mouth of a collapsed lava tube that boats raft through before arriving at Husum – it is also unique in its ease of access. Portaging is an easy and practical option for many boaters who would rather watch the show than be the show, and often times a large crowd is gathered at the bridge to cheer on the rafts as they make their way through. Thanks to a relatively straightforward lead in and plenty of support at the bottom, the option to plummet over the falls is presented to rafters at its proper water levels. Due to the ferocity of the water hydraulics at the bottom, in any other scenario Husum Falls would not be commercially runnable.
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