photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Sixty Three: Dimensions of grandeur – larger than life travel imagery > Fiery Dawn, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 2008
previous | next
07-OCT-2008

Fiery Dawn, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 2008

When shooting mountain landscapes, hope for broken clouds at dawn. In this case, fragmented clouds both reveal and obscure the peaks of the Grand Tetons, leaving space for the rising sun to bathe both the flanks of the mountains and the underside of the overhead clouds in fiery pink light. The result is an image of grandeur. The mountains, which are already huge, become even larger and more impressive in the imagination, once we have seen them in such amazing light. Ironically, this play of dawn light on both mountains and clouds puts the role of a famous Mormon barn and the sagebrush in the foreground into a subordinate roll. Photographers come from all over the world to shoot this barn with the mountains behind it. But by the time the pink light reaches the barn, the mountains will be in full light and the clouds drained of coloration. As it stands, the barn is very much in the picture here, but in this case, the work of man takes a back seat for the work of nature.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/160s f/4.0 at 14.6mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
previous | next
share
Phil Douglis23-Feb-2010 18:56
I agree, Marcia. This light and color is nature's own gold, pure awe inspiring beauty at work. It puts the work of man (the old barn) into perspective here.
Marcia Rules22-Feb-2010 23:56
that's gold!
Phil Douglis03-Nov-2009 03:53
Nature has to take most of the credit here, mcax9. In this case, it came down to simply 160th of a second at f/4.0 and "be there."
Guest 03-Nov-2009 00:14
Stunning. V
Phil Douglis24-Oct-2008 00:39
The clouds do repeat the undulating peaks -- and I don't think it is pure chance. There must a scientific explanation for it. Thanks, Jenene, for seeing the harmonious grandeur in this image.
JSWaters23-Oct-2008 02:07
I love how the clouds, the band of blue, and then another layer of clouds continue and mimic the peaks of the mountains. There is a beautiful harmony in this grandeur.
Jenene
Phil Douglis19-Oct-2008 18:30
Thanks, Alina, for this praise. Nature deserves the bulk of it, however. All I did was show up. In my early photojournalism education, a teacher once told me that the secret for being a good photojournalist was simply "f/8 and be there!" I have applied this concept to nature photography as well. Although my f stops may vary, I try to "be there" when nature shows us her best. And this is what is happening here.
Alina19-Oct-2008 04:09
Dramatic sky, beautiful colors, breathtaking view, what can I say fantastic shot Phil!
Phil Douglis18-Oct-2008 23:44
So well said, Tim. Grandeur is fleeting, but it also returns. Every day is different, and those differences can often be memorable, particularly in a place as visually staggering as the Grand Tetons.
Tim May18-Oct-2008 22:33
The thing for me about this grandeur is its combination of fleetingness and repeating. This light, this glory, was only with us for a few short moments, and then it changed. Yet there will be many more mornings where this grandeur, all be it different, will exist.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment