Tetons at Dawn Pano
Mar, 2016Views
788
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in Mountain Sunset/Sunrise Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at dawn in Grand Tetons National Park. I was just getting started with my travels and photography at this point and was shooting on a borrowed Canon Rebel Xs.Time
This was the last day of a 18 day solo trip from Glacier NP to Yellowstone National Park. I remember getting up at 4:00am to get out of camp and hit the road back home to Denver. My camera was sitting on the passenger seat, as it has done for many years now, and as I came south from Flagg Ranch, the sun had just peaked over the horizon and lit up the Tetons in purple and gold. Needless to say, at 6:01am, in 28 degrees F, I had to stop for a picture.Lighting
The lighting was unique and an opportunity I was likely never to get again. Since it was September, the light was low and the partly cloudy conditions helped really reflect the dawn light off the peaks. The biggest question I get asked about this image is how much post-editing did I have to do to get the mountains to look purple? The answer: none. In fact, I had to tone DOWN the purple hues to make the image look the way it does. The light was just that unique.Equipment
Canon Rebel Xs, Canon 55-250mm, Handheld. Stitched 4 images together in Photoshop.Inspiration
Inspiration comes from all angles for me. This image was simply the raw beauty of the Tetons and the unique light: the natural state was inspiration enough.Editing
While I prefer to minimize post-processing as much as possible, this image is a composite of four shots stitched together in Photoshop. Color correction was also a must as the original light was so purple it looked fake, so i had to bring up the warm hues to show the light as I saw it.In my camera bag
No matter what, my jacket, a light set of gloves, and lens wipes are in my pocket but I tend to take a small trips out for a few days at a time, and never know what kind of situation I'll find: wildlife, landscape, astro etc. So it's always a matter of being ready for any situation. Armed with a Canon 5D mIII, a Canon 70D, and a GoPro Hero3+ Black I've got most things covered. There are three lenses in my kit at all times: a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L, a Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro FX, and a Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD. That was I've got my general, wide angel, and telephoto needs covered.Feedback
With landscape work, patience and precision are key; be willing to wait for the right light. Moreover, scouting, planning and test shots are standard procedure. While it's often better to be lucky then good (I'm proof of this), I've often returned to places that I've test shot or found when I know the light would be better. Other than practice, try out that crazy idea you had; the same old shot is boring! Push yourself, try new techniques, angles, styles and you never know when you get lucky and create the masterpiece from your mind's eye.
