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Dusk in the Appalachians
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Dusk in the Appalachians



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The Appalachians are the oldest mountains in the country. There is a primordial aura that perfuses these majestic mountains. ...
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The Appalachians are the oldest mountains in the country. There is a primordial aura that perfuses these majestic mountains.
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cameraNIKON D810

settings Aperture f/5.6 ISO 500 Shutter 1/2000 Focal Length 1350/10 

upload_dateNov, 2015

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1157

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Contest Finalist in Mountain Silhouettes Photo Contest
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Magnificent Capture
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Top Ranks

Dark Forests Photo ContestTop 30 rank
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Tags

#appalachians #dusk #landscape #mountains
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken near the summit of Hazeltop Mountain in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The park runs primarily north to south and is fairly narrow in terms of its width. As a result, most of the views of the park look out either to the west or east. Having hiked Shenandoah National Park since the age of eight, I have found a few areas that feature a greater depth of mountain layering than is typically seen in the park. This photo was captured through a narrow window framed by trees, facing south, just before sunset.

Time

The time of day was late afternoon, as the sun settled on the horizon and cast shadows across the western side of Shenandoah National Park.

Lighting

I was initially seeking sunset opportunities facing west toward the sun. As the sun began to settle, however, a series of shadows spread across a set of ridge lines that normally appear to meld together. As the sun continued to settle on the horizon, its light passed between the ridges, creating greater separation and visual depth between the mountains.

Equipment

For this particular photo, I was using a Nikon D810 on a MeFoto tripod, with a Nikkor 28-300mm lens.

Inspiration

Since the age of eight I began backpacking in Shenandoah National Park and the blue ridge mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, first with my father and later as a teenager and adult. Having lived sixteen years abroad in many countries, I've always been drawn to the beauty of the blue ridge mountains. Now that I'm retired, I live in a log cabin on the border of the Park at 3,000 feet, near the same trails I hiked as child. My inspiration comes from a lifelong dream to be able to live in the Shenandoah mountains and capture the natural beauty that this region of the country produces each day.

Editing

I did very little post-processing on this photo. Nature provided the palette.

In my camera bag

My subject matter is so varied that my bag is “purpose built” based on the particular subject I’m planning to capture at a given location or time. For many years I was a winter mountaineer, climbing in North, Central and South America. I have four backpacks that I’ve adapted to carry my camera gear. For wildlife, I’ve been using a Sigma AF-S 150-600mm S lens, and recently upgraded to the 150-600mm Sport. For landscape photography, I typically use a Nikkor 28-300mm AF-S f3.5/5.6G and/or Nikkor AF-S 16-35mm f4G. I also have a bag that converts to a roller bag or backpack for travel, so I can navigate airports and hike any reasonable distance to photograph. For travel, I carry my 28-300mm, 16-35mm, 105mm macro, and assorted filters. I use a heavy duty MeFoto tripod with a Manfrotto ball mount.

Feedback

As I have learned from more capable photographers than myself, I've found that the best times for landscape photography are the golden and blue hours of the day. I also have learned a great deal from other photographers featured on Viewbug, as well as through the tutorials that this wonderful community has to offer. Finally, time, patience and practice are all necessary components in my growth as a photographer.

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