Another way to create a memorable scenic vista is to abstract an incongruous subject. That is what I do here, exposing on a fiery sky to make the hills of Antelope Island and hundreds of water birds floating on the Great Salt Lake into black shapes. The sheer number of birds – with every last one of them floating calmly – is an incongruity, something we would never expect to see. I was stunned when I saw this sight, and still am. I placed the hills at the top of the frame to create imbalance and tension, playing against the incredible sense of peace in the water below. The long narrow frame carries us across the image, checking to see if every last bird is adrift.