As I mentioned in last week’s posting, August is the month of atmospherics in the Southern Appalachians of our home, and it is becoming clear to me that the area along the Blue Ridge Parkway between the Craggies (Pinnacle and Dome) and Mt. Mitchell is a wonderful location for golden hour opportunities. Bonnie and I are blessed in that we can be along this stretch within about forty minutes of leaving our home. Earlier this past week we met our dear friend, Taylor Barnhill, for a late-evening rendezvous complete with sunset. This was our fourth visit to this general area in the past three weeks, each was different and each worthwhile. Of course, the atmospherics of August did not hurt the effort.
A focal length of 35mm, far end of wide-angleland, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted, to include the foreground line of blue phlox growing along the outside edge of the shoulder of the roadway. I had been watching this line of flowers for the better part of a week, but on previous visits there had been too much wind. This evening there was almost dead calm. An aperture of f/22 provided depth-of-field; and an ISO of 250 allowed for a 4.0 second shutter speed for an overall darker than medium exposure. I should also mention that I was using my 5-stop graduated neutral density filter in a feathering movement to compress what would have otherwise been an extreme dynamic range.
The sheer joy created by returning to any place in the natural world is in seeing all of Nature’s faces in each and every form in which they may be seen. I hope we will realize and honor this simple truism everywhere Nature’s Beauty can be found before we have allowed that Beauty to be destroyed in our helter-skelter rush to mine the planet.
Beautiful Shot my friend.
Hey Gnarly Scott, it’s great to hear from you! I hope all is well and you are safe in Franklin. I had a long talk with Chuck last week. Things are okay in Maryland, but I know he misses y’all. I really appreciate your kind words. Let us know when you’re headed toward Asheville. Walk in Beauty, my friend.
Howdy Don, you have the whole world of Mother Nature surrounding you and it must seem like heaven on earth. I love the layers of your composition here, especially the foreground purple flowers and the last rays of backlighting on them. The receding ridge lines and the increasing haziness of the add great depth to your image. And you know from past comments how I think the warm and cool tone play a beautiful symphony together. Thank you for bring your beautiful images of your corner of the world to all of us to enjoy. Peace and be safe.
Howdy Michael. It’s always good to have you with me. Your apt description of this Image is exactly what I felt as I stood along the Blue Ridge Parkway that evening. I had the sensation of looking into forever, and I even thought of you as I watched the warm and cool tones play themselves out in the setting sun. You are so right, haziness is a wonderful creator of depth – aerial perspective. That’s why I love the atmospherics of August. I do, indeed, feel more than blessed to live in these Southern Appalachians, even in as much as I love all of the natural places of this country where Beauty resides. And that certainly includes the amazing Rhode Island Coast of your home, as well. Take good care, my friend, and stay safe.
You captured time eternal!
Persistence pays off.
Hey Mark. It’s great to hear from you! I hope you are well in Knoxville. Thanks for those thoughtful words. You’re exactly correct: persistence does pay off, and it does something more – it fosters connection. The more I experience connection, the better the work I create. Stay safe.
Don, another image worthy of contemplation, if not meditation. The flox in a horizontal band is a fantastic twist on a familiar theme of receding ridgelines; adds an entirely new element and feel. And the mist from the left and the moment of balance of the setting sun make it all better and better. We’re experiencing a rare moment of cool summer temps in Washington, DC with today’s highs in the upper 70s. Welcome relief! Have a great week.
Hi Ray. It’s good to have you with me, my friend. I hope you are safe and well. Your thoughtful description of the elements of this Image are a reminder that the effective use of foreground adds both depth and drama. And, of course, being a wide-angle photographer, I’m always looking for foregrounds to incorporate with the mid-grounds and backgrounds that nature provides. Your DC temps are similar to what we are experiencing in the southern mountains; they are, indeed, a nice reprieve. Take good care and have an excellent week.
Thanks you for sharing a bit of joy with us. I’m torn between studying this image to improve my photography and just sitting back and enjoying the beauty you have shared.
Hi David. I really appreciate your kind words. It is a great joy to share images with folks who enjoy paying attention to the images they see. There are mentors I have had whose work I enjoy for the same reasons: for the pleasure and the learning. Their work inspires me, and I am honored that my work speaks to you. Be safe and stay well.
Beautiful image. Nicely done. Enjoy the sunset and the mist along the mountains.
Hey Sandy. It’s great to have you join us again. I hope all remains well with you. Thanks for those kind words. This is such a wonderful location that I have really enjoyed and will continue to enjoy at every opportunity. Stay safe and walk in Beauty.
Hi Don,
I hope the rehab is going well. Based on our past conversations about cropping the sky tightly in images, you are going to probably smile as you read my comment. Here goes, I would probably want to crop the brightest part of the sky out. I find this is immediately drawing my eye to the top of the image and I am not experiencing the full impact of the beautiful foreground and the layering going on in the distant hills. Also, you may want to consider brightening the image by approx. a 1/4 stop and applying the dehire tool, thereby brightening the foreground and separating it a little more, while also enhancing the layering effect going on in the distant hills. Just my 2cents. Best,
John
Hey John, it’s always great to hear from you. Your 2 cents are always welcome, my friend. I hope you and Michelle are safe and well, and the Adirondacks continue to serve your creative juices. I did, indeed, smile at your comments. I actually considered tightening in on the sky, but no matter where I considered cropping, it just did not “feel” right unless I included all of the long lavender cloud on the right. Now, I’m not sure of the device you’re using to view this Image. On my laptop, the image is at least a quarter-stop lighter than on my iPhone. Depending on which I use, it is either bright enough, or a bit dark; but compressing the dynamic range would certainly be straightforward enough. Thanks for those excellent observations and suggestions. Walk in Beauty.
Lovely and perfect!
Hello Dear One. Your kind words are always bring a smile to my face, and I am very appreciative of you taking the time to express them. I hope all is well with you and Sue. Take good care. We’ll talk soon.
Almost unreal. Definitely celestial.
Robin, it’s great to have you with me. Thanks for taking time to share those thoughtful words. Hope you and the Boss are staying safe and well. Would love to get together for a deck talk soon. Walk in Beauty.
I love the way you captured the beauty of all levels of this photo. to me it brings in a 3 dimension look on a 2 dimensional surface.
Hey Charles. It’s been a while, but it’s always great to hear from you. I hope you have been safe and well, and have found lots of time for creative pursuits. Your description of the depth in this image is exactly what spoke to me so loudly as I stood before it. Thank you for pointing it out for all of us.
Beautiful shot of a beautiful place!!!!!!
Hey Beth. Thank you very much for those kind words; I really appreciate them. Stay safe and be well.
Don, I love the soft way you were able to capture a complex scene on the BRP. I felt a unity in the nature of the scene and an invitation to view for more than just a minute.
I am also trying to imagine just where you took the photo. You mentioned the side of the road so that eliminated Craggy near the ranger station and Pinnacle.
Hey Charles. I almost overlooked your comment. Thanks very much for joining us and for your kind words. Along the Parkway between Craggy Pinnacle parking lot and Greybeard Mountain Overlook there are a couple of places where the shoulder of the road will accommodate a small SUV and allow you to be completely off the roadway. Walk in Beauty.
Foreground, middle ground, background, a classic landscape as I studied those in art school. Works very well.
Hello, Aileen. Thank you very much for all of those kind words. It is, indeed, a classic landscape and I’m very glad it works for you. Be well, stay safe, Walk in Beauty.
I thought I was wearing 3-D glasses when I saw this. How beautiful! Micki
Hi Micki. It’s great to hear from you. We have missed being able to visit with you, but when these uncertain times are tempered we will certainly find the time to share some with you. Thanks for those kind words. Be safe; be well; Walk in Beauty.
Thanks, Everyone. Your thoughtful observations and comments are such a joy to read and to consider. I hope that my responses have given you something to reflect on as you continue on your creative journeys. If photography is the joy for you that it is for me, then discussing how it speaks to us is always a conversation happily to be joined. Have an excellent week and Walk in Beauty.