Denali in Autumn
Denali on a clear Autumn day, one of the rare times it was not covered by clouds.
Denali on a clear Autumn day, one of the rare times it was not covered by clouds.
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Apr, 2016Views
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Awards
Winner in ALASKA Photo Challenge
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was captured in Alaska, on Petersville Road South of Denali National Park.Time
This was captured during a photography trip to Alaska in 2007, about two hours before sunset. I was on my way to check in a t a Roadhouse I was staying at that night and was in a hurry to get out to catch Denali at sunset so I just made a quick stop to capture a couple images.Lighting
I liked how the early evening light accentuated the details and lit up the foreground trees; I don't think it would have worked as well earlier in the day because the harsher light would have caused too much contrast with the white snow.Equipment
This was captured with a Canon Rebel XTi and Canon 100-400L lens on a Gitzo Basalt tripod. I used a remote switch to minimize vibrations.Inspiration
I had been watching Denali in the sunlight above the trees all afternoon as I was driving North towards Denali National Park. When I came around the corner and saw Denali against the clear blue sky with the Autumn trees and grass lit up in the afternoon Sun, I knew I had to take time to try to capture an image of this scene.Editing
I captured this as a RAW file, so I needed to process it in Lightroom to optimize it, and then took it into Photoshop to add some sharpening. It did take some work to bring the details out of the shadows.In my camera bag
I shoot Canon cameras, and typically carry a 6D and 5D MkIII with me. What lens will depend on what I am planning on photographing. If I'm out after Northern Lights, I will add a couple fast wide-angle lenses. If I'm looking to capture landscape images, I will add a wide-angle prime such as my Sigma 20mm f/1.8 and a 24-105mm f/4. If I am going after birds or wildlife, I will use my 7D MkII and either a 100-400 IS II or a 500mm f/4, depending on whether I will be walking or shooting off a tripod.Feedback
An image like this requires a small aperture and focusing in the right place to get proper sharpness throughout the scene. This was captured at 130mm, at f/18. Telephoto focal lengths don't have a lot of depth of field, and it is difficult to get something in the foreground and something in the distance all in focus, even with a small aperture. I was fortunate in that I guessed where to set the focus and got it right. Today I would refer to a hyperfocal distance chart, which would give some guidance in a situation like this and make good results more likely, and I would recommend any landscape photographer learn how to use it. It is also important to watch the histogram so that you don't overexpose the mountain; snow in the sunlight can be very bright, and if it is overexposed the image will be difficult to fix.
