It’s the time of year when cool dry and warm moist air masses are often mixing over these ancient mountains of the Blue Ridge; and when they do something interesting is almost bound to happen. At Cowee Mountains Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway recently the late afternoon atmospherics were in motion, coming and going over the high ridge at 6000′. There were moments when it was very unclear that we would be able to see anything at all and the overlook was completely socked in; then there would be moments of clearing. Patience and responsiveness are the keywords as you wait for the elements to present themselves for your consideration. As a band of clouds cleared from northwest to southeast in front of me, the sun broke through between them and the next on-coming band, backlighting the foreground trees and the thinning mists below them. The sun was low enough that the most distant lower ridges were already in shadow and practically silhouetted. I wanted to include just enough of a strip of sky at the top of the image so that none of the fast-moving cloud bank was clipped. A focal length of 60mm gave me the angle of view I wanted that included somewhat more than the three trees on the foreground ridge. An aperture of f/22 gave me depth-of-field and a shutter speed of 0.3 second at ISO 100 gave me a slightly lighter than medium overall exposure.
Goodness! How perfectly you’ve captured the exposure.
Wonderful! The composition is perfect. Such a wonderful and dynamic scene. I look forward to seeing your photos of the week.
Breathtaking!
It is beautiful and a study in light, for me.
One of those scenes that says so eloquently why we love the mountains. Spirit lifting. This is one of those pictures you need not analyze too deeply – just let it carry your heart to those ancient mountains.
Amazing vista, Don. Nice work. Just curious…I see from the EXIF data you are shooting with a Nikon DX2. Have you considered upgrading to one of the newer Nikon bodies? I ask because I just switched from a Pentax K-5 to a Nikon D600 and I am simply astounded at the quality of images I am getting out of that camera. I also find that I need to do very little exposure bracketing any more since the dynamic range of the new Nikon sensors is so good.
Beautiful! Great example of how weather conditions play such an important part in photography, creating spectacular light, especially in the mountains. This image from the Blue Ridge is breathtaking.Thank you for keeping us continually inspired.
As good as it ever gets, beautiful composition, spot on exposure and an exquisite moment…inspirational!
Don I have shot at this location many times and only a couple of times have been blessed with that wonderful combination of light clouds and fog Great job Geno
Hi Everyone; thanks to all of you for joining this conversation. I really appreciate that this image has resonated so well with all of you. Doesn’t it just reinforce the reality that so very much of what we do as photographic artists is all about the quality of the light and the particular context in which that light exists at a given moment in time? It really is more than simply “f/8 and be there”. It’s about understanding the nature of the light and the place the light is in, and maximizing the juxtaposition of the both of them. For instance, Jessyca mentioned composition, and one of the things of which I was aware and chose to incorporate was the implied diagonal line created from lower left to upper right by the tips of certain places on the ridges as they receded beyond me. Getting the exposure – on manual, of course – came from an understanding of tonality and dynamic range. And making the image came from observation and patience. Nature is so awesome and so beautiful; and she reveals herself to us constantly in so many wonderful ways, wherever we are, if we just continually remember to pay attention. Dean, I am thinking about my next camera because you are so right, the sensors have become so much better in so many ways, especially in capturing so much of a broader dynamic range. I’ll let you know what I decide on. And I appreciate Dorsey’s comment: analysis not really needed; one just responds to the gestalt moment. Thanks, too, Horace. I wish you all could have been with me.
Don
Your patience and responsiveness certainly payed off. This a truly inspiring photographic composition. Thanks for sharing your art and narrative.
Tom Kinney
Hi Tom. Thank you for joining us and for your kind comment. It was one of those magical moments when you sometimes have to remind yourself that you are photographing rather than standing there with your jaw on the ground. It was just plain fun, even when you weren’t sure that you would see anything.
Thanks for the memories, Don. Cowee Mt. was Lowell’s and my last photo shoot together, with our friend Joe G.
You are welcome Sandy. I’m happy I could give you such a pleasant memory. Be safe.