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Jake Bylsma

@jake.bylsma

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Mechanical Engineer with a passion for landscape photography.
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Throwback to that time we unintentionally scheduled a trip to Hawaii during the crazy Kilauea eruption! When the news initially broke we were worried the air quality would make the trip a bust, but it ended up being the best thing that could have happened. Visibility and air quality were so-so in parts of the island, but for views like this - completely worth it.

Once we booked our boat tour, I knew I needed a faster lens than the one I had. Luckily I was able to rent a 70-200 f2.8 for the day on really short notice, which made a shot like this possible. It took about 2 hours on some rough water to get out to this lava flow. As if the swell wasn’t enough, the sulfurous gases that occasionally wafted over the boat ensured that numerous people would not be enjoying the trip. Their view consisted of the bottom of a bucket. In the mean time, I snapped as many pictures as I possible could.
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Shot Info:
-Nikon D610 w/ 70-200 f/2.8
-ISO 2500, 110mm, f/2.8, 1/320s taken in Hawaii by @jake.bylsma

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6 years ago

I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for an image as I am for this one. Everything from watching the scene unfold, to peaking at my phone shots on the way home, to opening the file on my monitor, to processing it, to sharing it with friends and family. I’ve legitimately felt like a kid in a candy store every step of the way. It’s such a vivid reminder of why I love landscape photography so much.

P.S. This photo is the result of an eye-opening realization I made earlier this year - if I leave straight from work before 4:45, I have just enough time to drive to Rainier (Paradise or Sunrise side), take a moderate hike with a quick pace, and get set up just in time for sunset. After an hour of shooting, a hike back in the dark, and a drive home, I can climb in bed around 11:30pm. Five hours of driving for one hour of shooting. Am I a crazy person? Probably. Was it worth it for this shot? A THOUSAND TIMES YES! (Don’t ask me about all the times I made the drive only to find the mountain completely hidden by clouds.)

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Shot Info:
-Sony A7RIII w/ 16-35 f/4
-Foreground: ISO 800, 16mm, f/10, 1/50s (6 shots focus stacked)
-Background: ISO 125, 16mm, f/10, 1/25s (2 shots time blended for high and low cloud cover) taken in Mt Rainier by @jake.bylsma

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6 years ago

A moody morning along the Oregon coast. Everything came together with this one - moon, clouds, tides, waves - and the final result is a shot I’ve been after for a long time. Besides the alarm sounding off at a time when no human should be awake, I love shooting pre-dawn.
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Shot Info:
-Sony A7RIII w/ 16-35 f/4
-ISO 800, 16mm, f/6.3, 0.5s taken in Oregon Coast by @jake.bylsma

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5 years ago

The enchanted forests of Madeira during a recent family trip to the small island. taken in Madeira, Portugal by @jake.bylsma

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2 years ago

It’s been a while, but I finally have something new to share after our family trip to the Canadian Rockies earlier this summer. I fell in love with this expansive viewpoint and returned a few times throughout the trip with different weather conditions each time. This scene with storm clouds and light rays to the right and blue skies to the left ended up being my favorite.

Traveling looks a little different with a kiddo in tow - nap schedule, snacks, child carriers, early bed time, and general risk aversion. It’s certainly more challenging, but it’s so fun to see new experiences through their eyes. taken in Canadian Rockies by @jake.bylsma

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2 years ago

Rush (2022)

This time last year we were finishing up our time in Norway, gearing up for a road trip down the Eastern Australia coast. Now I’m a dad to a beautiful 7 month old daughter, a first-time homeowner, and an employee. My how times change!

Life is certainly busy at the moment, but I’m hoping to continue working through all the photos from our year abroad. There are still so many awesome moments like this one that I can’t wait to share. Hope you enjoy! taken in Australia by @jake.bylsma

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3 years ago

Man, do I love stormy conditions and this afternoon in the Dolomites with @davidaguilar_photo and @jokinmarc had it all - dark clouds, downpours of rain, beams of light, and shrouded peaks. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since this was taken!

People often ask me what our favorite place was during our travels, and while it’s impossible to narrow it down to a single place, our month-long campervan adventure through the Alps and Dolomites is right up there. Some of my favorite memories (and certainly some of my favorite shots) of the year were had in France, Switzerland, and Italy. taken in Italy by @jake.bylsma

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3 years ago

Serpentine (2022)

For 3 weeks last October, we rented a car and drove the western coast of Australia from Sydney to Melbourne. I don’t spend much time near the ocean, mostly because I don’t like dealing with tides, salt water spray, and precarious waves; however, this stretch of trip was all about it. Home to some of the most beautiful coastline I’ve ever seen, I couldn’t get enough of shooting these scenes. Many more to come! taken in Australia by @jake.bylsma

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3 years ago

Soaking up the very last bit of sun for the day in the Dolomites last year.

There’s nothing I’d love more than to jump back into a campervan and explore more of France, Switzerland, and Italy. The ability to hike around some of the worlds finest mountains and then grab a pain au chocolat or pizza is truly unrivaled. Make the trip, and thank me later. taken in Italy by @jake.bylsma

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4 years ago

Another winter weather advisory in Michigan has me reminiscing about warm days in the Southwest last year. Our original plan for early 2022 was SE Asia, but with most Asian countries still closed to tourism, we hit the road for a tour through Utah, Arizona, and California. Not only did I get to check out a bunch of places I had been wanting to visit, but we got to meet up with some #vanlife friends along the way. Good food, climbing (but mostly falling) lessons, and hiking through the beautiful cacti-filled deserts. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. taken in Arizona by @jake.bylsma

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4 years ago

Cerro Torre has been elusive during my time in Argentina and this morning was no different. I set up my camera well before sunrise and took a few test shots to make sure I had my comp dialed in. Conditions were looking ideal with a thin layer of low elevation clouds just waiting to catch the first light of the day. As the minutes passed, though, the clouds thickened, and before I knew it, the mountains were completely enveloped. Another try, another failure. Or so I thought…

It wasn’t until the following day when I got back to our hostel that I realized those quick test shots had some incredible alpenglow. I just couldn’t see it on the camera in the moment because of how dark they were. It pays to be out early! taken in Argentina by @jake.bylsma

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4 years ago

Four Beech tree limbs rise out of the forest as heavy rain and thick fog transform the scene.

These were pretty typical conditions during our time in Fiordland late last year, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The mountains, forests, and streams just come alive. It’s tough to appreciate on a phone, but I love how the streaking rain softens the landscape. taken in New Zealand by @jake.bylsma

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4 years ago