In the bad old days of wilderness photography, those emulating Ansel Adams would lug tripod, view camera, and about 20 pounds of related gear up to Panorama Point or the Enchantments to get the mountains, snow, and light just right. Digital SLRs have changed all that—mostly for the better, and certainly for the wider. In these 18 contest-winning images selected by the Washington Trails Association, we see the larches in their orange autumnal vests, the adorable fauns huddles in arboreal shadows, the snow-kissed west ridge of Mount Stuart, and even occasional moments of outdoor whimsy. (See Buoy Bowling by Chris Feet, which makes a sport out of spindrift.) Maybe these amateurs err too much on the side of color, but there’s evident care to their compositions. Even if you’ve seen the Alpine Lakes from every possible angle, in every possible season, this Northwest Exposure show (closed weekends) may inspire you to carry that new Nikon into the woods. And still, there are strange sights here—including David Hogan’s red A Crab’s Habitat, which looks like a lunar rover deposited on the beaches of the Olympic Peninsula. (Closed Sun.) BRIAN MILLER

Feb. 4-March 28, 10:30 a.m., 2009