(Cross-posted from my site, where there's a panoramic version of this photo to see: https://andrewflenniken.com/2026/05/18/may-18th-2026-helen-girdled-in-venus-belt/)
On May 18th, 1980, at 8:32 AM, Mount Saint Helens erupted. Thirty three years later, after moving to Washington State, I visited.
When I got to Washington in 2013 I made a point of getting out and exploring my new home as often as possible. Mount Saint Helens was near the top of the list of places I wanted to see, and I got down to it in my first year. After spending an enjoyable afternoon at the Cascades Volcano Observatory, reading up on the eruption, I walked a little ways down the nearby trail along Johnston Ridge. My trip was well rewarded, treated to the mountain catching the last rays of the setting sun, and a gorgeous Belt of Venus along the horizon. And thus the name of the photo, and today's post: Helen Girdled in Venus' Belt.
The panorama here was stitched from three separate photos.
Gear: Nikon D600, Nikon 24mm f1.4
#Photography #MountSaintHelens #LandscapePhotography #Nikon #NikonCreators
