Morning Glory
On a frigid June morning, the "Lighting of the Candle" takes place in the Teton Range in Wyoming, The shot with the barn is iconic, but the bison wan...
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On a frigid June morning, the "Lighting of the Candle" takes place in the Teton Range in Wyoming, The shot with the barn is iconic, but the bison wandering into the picture was a very special treat.
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Jun, 2016Views
974
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Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Member Selection Award
Summer Selection
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
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danzarate
June 28, 2016
Welcome to ViewBug! Please continue sharing your awesome photos in the Group. Thank you and may you have a wonderful day.
thebohemianlens
July 22, 2016
The views in WY is some of the best in the world. Look forward to seeing more of them. Welcome to Viewbug!
DRimkus
August 03, 2016
Excellent capture,thanks for sharing, I hope to see more soon. Welcome to ViewBug!
monoart
August 03, 2016
Feeling home sick for the Canadian Rockies! Great photo. Hope to see more. Welcome to vb
Bernie4adventure
August 03, 2016
Welcome to ViewBug! I love the Tetons! This photo captures quite the essence of America. Nicely done!
PRO+
matthewpotter_3226
August 17, 2016
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
matthewpotter_3226
August 17, 2016
THanks, everyone, for your kind words. This was a pretty amazing morning. What's even more amazing is that I live not far from here! What a blessing it is to live in Wyoming.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This is an iconic view of the Tetons from inside Grand Teton National Park. I was with a group of about 15 photographers in a 3-day workshop with Dan Ballard. This shot has been done so many times, and the Moulton barn is absolutely classic, but it was the colors of the sky - there's no enhancement here, it really did look like that - and the bison which wandered into the photo - that make this one unique. This has great emotional attachment to me, as I am from Wyoming and have lived here for more than 30 years. I love the Jackson Hole area, and this is sooooooo Wyoming and soooooo Jackson. The barn is located on Mormon Row off Antelope Flats. It's called Mormon Row because a group of Mormons settled and farmed there around the turn of the 20th Century. Their irrigation ditches, which brought water from the nearby Gros Ventre River, can be explored just south and west of this barn.Time
This was taken around 6:00 am in early June. The temperature was below freezing, and I did not bring enough clothes to keep warm. Good thing I used a remote shutter release and a tripod or my camera would have been shaking along with me!Lighting
Each day the sun rises across the plains to the east of the Tetons, lighting the top of the mountains first and then working it's way down. It's called "Lighting the candle" and happens every day there is not cloud cover. No flashes involved, and only a histogram to give me information about my exposure.Equipment
I used an old tripod (can't remember the brand), a Canon Digital Eos Rebel Xsi camera, and a Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM lens. The camera was 4 years old at the time. I've since done some serious upgrades to my equipment, but this proves it's not about the camera.Inspiration
It was our assignment for the day! How Providential that we were there to experience - and capture - this magnificent event.Editing
Just some things in Lightroom. Used the brush tool and highlighted a few spots, brought the exposure up a bit and moved the luminescence slider a little. There really was very little I could do to improve the shot. God's work can't be outdone!In my camera bag
Today is different than when I took the shot. Now I have 2 Canon 5D Mark lll bodies, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens, Sigma 24-70 f2.8 lens, Sigma 11-22 f4 lens, and a bunch of other stuff. It fits the role I have in my job right now quite well. When I took the shot, I had the camera, one lens, a corded remote shutter release, and an old wobbly tripod. It was a pretty simple setup. However, I have never looked back and wished I still only had the simple setup. The equipment I use now is light years better than what I was using. I shoot a lot inside churches (I work for the Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne) and light in there is at a premium. The low light capabilities of the bodies and lenses I have now far surpass anything I ever dreamed of with the Rebel set up. While it's not about the equipment, great equipment makes a huge difference. One more note - it took me five years - and 50,000 clicks on my shutter - to figure out what equipment I really needed. I wouldn't trade any of it away!Feedback
Look for something that is unique and has a strong emotional component. The barn and the Tetons have been shot by everybody, and it really is iconic, and ubiquitous. The bison in the photo is what makes it emotional, at least for me. I spent much of the fall and part of the winter of 2009-10 hunting bison near here. It was the hardest hunt I have ever experienced, and, while it didn't result in harvesting an animal, it gave me the deepest respect for these creatures. They are smart, strong, fast, and a testament to survival of the fittest. Without the bison, it's another pretty picture. With them, it is my home. Capture the emotions and make that connection for your viewer. Immerse yourself in the shot. Be the picture.
