Photographer: Ken Vensel, Renton
Photo taken: Dec. 17, Snoqualmie Pass
Photographer's description: "I went up to snowshoe with my dog and camera, and I am so glad I did. The moonlight was amazing, the wind was blowing the low hanging clouds at a quick pace, and I got some wild shots of it. I headed up the Commonwealth Basin trail and the lights at Summit West ski area lit up the trees and clouds with a nice warm glow. Shot with a 30-second exposure, at f4, 18mm, 100 ISO, with a Pentax K-7."
Expert says: "The incandescent glow of lights gives off a wonderful Northern Lights-like hue. The image makes a good study. Follow the brush strokes that create the clouds, the three stars (is that Orion's belt?) and you find warmly lighted fir trees hidden in the shadows of giants. Kudos for shooting at night."
— Kevin Fujii, Seattle Times picture editor