Sometimes it’s after the sun has disappeared below the horizon than things become really interesting. One thing that can be anticipated is that the light which remains will be very cool and thus quite blue. Exposures will be quite long as a relative matter; but as long as you can achieve a meter reading in the range you desire, you can always be creative. At Cowee Mountains Overlook recently the late light had been spectacular with the clouds and fog rolling in and then rolling out. The sunset had been interesting enough even with the clouds that had obscured the sun as it set. After the sun disappeared the wind calmed to a whisper and the mists began settling in the valleys below. “Thinking” like a telephoto lens I reached out into the lines and triangles created by the narrowed field of view and picked out a selection of them where the fog was thin enough to be seen through, more so than less. A focal length of 157mm gave me the angle of view I was looking for. At f/18 I had enough depth-of-field, and a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100 gave me a medium overall exposure with no loss of highlights which I could then darken in post-processing to return the tonality closer to what I had experienced.
Nice calm and moody photograph. I like how the 3o-second shutter speed allowed the closest fog to blur while the clouds did not. The repetition of the ridges also seems calming to me. The color also very inviting. It looks like a perfect place to set up a hammock and wait for the sun.
Thanks for sharing.
Truly inspiring.
Awesome! The composition is perfect. A long exposure is very effective here. I will also add, that this is a very spiritual photograph. I truly appreciate your sharing it.
Thank you for seeing and sharing, Don.
The diagonal lines are powerful in this image and the fog lying in the lower areas give a real sense of depth to this image. Many photographers, myself included, sometimes try to make every picture warmer that it really was. The late evening light is blue – why can’t we leave it that way as you did here. Due to illness in the family I am not able to visit my beloved mountains this summer so your pictures are helping to fill the void.
Proof that good things come to those that wait. Great inage.
You have never posted an image that I like better than this one…a classic image of the southern Appalachians! I am inspired to try this myself on my next sunset visit to our beloved mountains!!
Don, I agree with Horace, never have I liked an image you have posted more than this one. Perfectly captured!
Thank you for sharing the breathtaking beauty.
Thanks Everyone for joining this conversation. I have to apologize for taking so long to reply to your thoughtful comments. I spent all of last week teaching at the John C. Campbell Folk School and within hours of returning home welcomed my daughter and grandson for a weekend visit. We did manage to celebrate Smokey the Bear’s 69th birthday yesterday at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest. I really appreciate that this Image has resonated with you. The moodiness certainly attracted me, and Dorsey’s comment about leaving the cool blue tones to predominate instead of trying to warm them was particularly heartening. Dorsey, I’m glad that I can provide a surrogate Southern Appalachians experience for you during this time. And Joe’s comment on patience is timely as well. Patience so often seems to be in such short supply in our frenetic world that having some of it, I believe, is truly a gift. Horace, Lou, Jessyca, Tammy, Dee and Nancy: thank you. I hope that what I do will inspire each of you to create your best work. And Bill, thank you too for all of you support. All of your thoughts and comments never cease to inspire me.