Snowmass Lake Dawn
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado
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Jun, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Snowmass Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness near Aspen, Colorado. My wife and I hiked in 8 miles with full packs and camped overnight by this beautiful alpine lake. The hike follows Snowmass Creek up a gorgeous valley lined with aspen trees, conifers, and lush meadows. The trail emerges from the valley at the outlet of Snowmass Lake and you are greeted with this spectacular view of Snowmass Mountain.Time
I woke up at 6am, scrambled out of the tent, and hurried down to the edge of the lake just as the first rays of light were hitting the top of Snowmass Mountain. This is the very first shot that I took that morning.Lighting
Watching sunrise in the mountains is an amazing experience. The color changes quickly from bright red when the sun first hits the summit to golden yellow as it moves down the mountainside.Equipment
This was taken with a Canon Rebel T2i and Sigma 17-70mm Lens. I left my tripod behind to save weight, so I balanced the camera on a rock and propped up the lens with my hat. All of the equipment that I used for this photo has passed on (except for the hat). The camera body drowned in Iceland a couple years later and the lens just couldn't focus anymore.Inspiration
I was inspired to make this trip by all the beautiful photos that other photographers have taken at Snowmass Lake. It's always hard for me to wake up early and venture out into the cold before sunrise, but I can't complain when the mountains reward me with spectacular scenes like this.Editing
This is a blend of 2 exposures, which is necessary to capture the full dynamic range of the scene at sunrise. I also had to crop a bit off the bottom because you could see part of the hat that I was using to prop up my lens.In my camera bag
My current backpacking kit includes a Canon 700D, EF-S 15-85mm standard lens, EF 70-300mm telephoto lens, and a magic tripod that gets heavier the farther you carry it.Feedback
When backpacking, I usually try to camp as close as possible to where I want to shoot. Alpine lakes are a treat because they usually have flat campsites, great views, and an accessible water source. After setting up camp, I spend any spare daylight hours scouting the area to find the best composition. This saves precious time in the morning. Don't forget to check the current sunrise/sunset times for your location and bring a watch with an alarm so you don't sleep through it.
