Bathed in Pink

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 28, 20092,635 views40 comments

I love alpine reflections and early on was influenced a lot by Tim Fitzharris's Rocky Mountain reflection work and wanted to get a blazing pink sunrise on white snow dusted mountains (before the lakes freeze). This morning was the first and so far last time I have been able to do so with success. Altogether this was one of the better sunrises I have seen with a huge variety of pink hues dancing everywhere. This is at Glacier National Park near Two Medicine Lake, a favorite place where my wife, dogs and I love to camp almost yearly. Even before I took up photography seriously (and was an aspiring guitarist) I loved to go to this location and just chill out for a week or more. The park here was closed (fall) and the roads very icy, so it took some hard work to get there. I fortunately was rewarded very well.

Canon 1DS Mark II
Canon 24-105 @ 28mm
f/11
100 ISO
circular polarizer
1 shot

With the cloud diffusion I was easily able to get this in one shot, and with no ND grad. During development, I held back a tad on saturation so that it would not be too unbelievable for some.

Comments

40 comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on July 28, 2009 at 8:27 AM

Fortunate indeed, this is beautiful. The soft light and bathed clouds fit perfectly in this scene. Very peaceful feeling.

Nice work!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on July 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM

This is very beautiful, Mark. No nits for me.
Only nice to look at and enjoy.

BTW: strange how so many good photographers are also involved with music.

gio

Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on July 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM

Sweeet!! Reflections don't get any better than this. Crazy how those tree cooperated too by lining up so well. This is just awesome mountain photography.
Giovanni, i dont find the music/photo connection strange at all--i think it's a right brain thing.
I actually enjoy the guitar more than photography (just released my third cd) but unfortunately i cant drag my huge amp up a 14,000 foot mountain as easily as i can drag my camera

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Steve France on July 28, 2009 at 8:52 AM

Lovely image Mark all round. Great use of natual light.

Registered on September 26, 2007, 89 Posts, 1477 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on July 28, 2009 at 9:12 AM

Picture perfect, Mark! Classic comp, great colors, a true winner!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on July 28, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Beautiful light at a beautiful place Mark, I love the touches of fall color throughout.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on July 28, 2009 at 12:22 PM

One of my favorites of yours... the conditions you were treated to were simply magical!

Add me to the list of photographers with an interest in music (guitar), though after playing for 8 years I bought a camera... and have hardly played since

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Sean Bagshaw on July 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Gorgeous Mark! Symmetry, light and technicals all look spot on. Great line leading toward the mountain from all sides. I'm particularly drawn to the FG where you did an excellent job of polarizing to show the rocky bottom while still maintaining an excellent reflection of the peak and sky color.

Registered on February 14, 2007, 99 Posts, 479 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on July 28, 2009 at 12:26 PM

I just want to walk into this image and spend some time. I can see why you would go there to chill out.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Dyar on July 28, 2009 at 1:00 PM

This is probably the best Two Med image I've ever seen. All the elements came together for you. Snow, reflection, sunrise color, and hints of fall foliage. Well done Mark.

And like Floris said, add me to the list of musicians. I've been playing drums for close to 10 years and just put together a new band

Registered on November 8, 2008, 22 Posts, 129 Comments

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on July 28, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Wow... Amazing image Mark. Beautiful sunrise you've captured here.

And about the music thing... I also picked up guitar in junior high and played all the way until about a year ago when I picked up a camera... I've only played a handful of times since...

Registered on August 6, 2008, 194 Posts, 1315 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on July 28, 2009 at 2:22 PM

The saturation does look good just the way it is. Probably one of your best I've seen here so far Mark!

Congrats!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on July 28, 2009 at 2:24 PM

Amazing light conditions, love those pinks.
It´s great how the trees balances the composition at the left side almost at the same height that the mountain at the left. Wonderful image Mark. (sorry my crappy english)

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on July 28, 2009 at 2:30 PM

Man, this is sweet! Everything came together beautifully here, Mark. The color in the sky, the snow on the peaks an the reflection are all stunning and the little bit of light on the trees along the far shoreline draws me into the scene.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on July 28, 2009 at 2:38 PM

Too good...love the natural feeling and symmetry here

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Martin W. Quinn on July 28, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Wow! Just a gorgeous image. Beautiful scene very nicely executed.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 28 Posts, 189 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on July 28, 2009 at 7:10 PM

Wonderful scene Mark. I love the strong contrast to this scene as it makes it bold and beautiful

Well captured

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 28, 2009 at 8:13 PM

Wow that is a lot of feedback quick! Thanks everyone.

Now imagine going through those two tall trees on the left back about 20 feet and there is your campsite! You can see why this place invites me to come again and again, and a "chill out" effect. Back in the music days I would sit here for a week and just play my nylon string flamenco guitar all day. Once in a while I'd go down to a creek and record the sounds of the water and then later put easy listening nylon string guitar to it. Maybe one day I'll see you there and we'll cheers to some good life.

Mark

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on July 28, 2009 at 8:31 PM

Postcard perfect. Love the contrast.

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on July 28, 2009 at 9:06 PM

I think is too much centered. I would like to see more to the left side .

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on July 28, 2009 at 9:06 PM

Very cool shot, Mark. Love the reflection, and I really like those tall trees on the left.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Ward on July 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

BINGO!... What fabulous colors, reflections, and detail. This is a technically perfect image. Yet, my oddly formed brain would like to see the horizon not perfectly centered nor the mountain perfectly in the middle of the image. Here's a critique I've never given... Is this too perfect?

Registered on February 26, 2009, 304 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 28, 2009 at 11:00 PM

Thanks again everyone.

Paulo and Marc Ward,

Yes, I admit it, I am often a rule breaker when it comes to centering reflections. With this one and the symmetry of the hill vs the trees I could think of another way to shoot it.

Too perfect?

Wow, thank you.

I don't think I can take too much credit for that. I happened to stumble upon almost too perfect conditions. It rarely happens, but when it does all a person has to do is try to remain calm and get a few shots without screwing anything up.

Mark

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cooley on July 28, 2009 at 11:40 PM

The rock detail in the FG really helps to avoid the generic reflection look. Wonderful color. Congrats!

I just returned from GNP and having travelled that road in the summer I'm glad you made it out alive!

Registered on August 22, 2007, 45 Posts, 547 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 28, 2009 at 11:43 PM

Hi ED:

"I just returned from GNP and having travelled that road in the summer I'm glad you made it out alive!"

Hope you had a great time.

Yes, especially that turning twisty uphill climb on ice. Looking back on it, it might have been a little too risky.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Swamy Lokanadham on July 29, 2009 at 3:55 AM

Mark, Wonderful image. Left side trees ballance the image perfactly. Beautiful work. -Swamy

Registered on July 21, 2009, 45 Posts, 112 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on July 29, 2009 at 9:28 AM

Some seriously sweet light. Processing is great too. I'm iffy on centered comp/reflection shots, but do like how you balanced the peaks with trees so it is visually symmetrical but by different elements. Good work as always.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on July 29, 2009 at 12:22 PM

Emotional image. A lot of power and all ingredients that make a photo outstanding. Great job. Cheers, Rafael.

Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on July 29, 2009 at 1:47 PM

WOW! This is virtual perfection. Such a magnificient setting.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on July 29, 2009 at 5:05 PM

Just amazing Mark. As to getting a few shots without screwing anything up, that is often easier said than done when a light show like this is happening.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on July 29, 2009 at 6:02 PM

Wow that is beautiful. Great light, and I really love the balance of the comp

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on July 30, 2009 at 12:13 AM

Beautiful reflection, incredible light and color.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Markus Zaiser on July 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM

masterfully done

Registered on September 4, 2008, 31 Posts, 179 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on July 30, 2009 at 9:06 PM

This is amazing, I love it!

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on July 31, 2009 at 3:20 AM

This is wonderful, Mark. I am loving the colorful reflection and the rocky bottom of the lake. The dusting of snow is awesome.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 31, 2009 at 9:29 PM

All the right ingredients for an epic shot!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 2, 2009 at 1:40 AM

Mark,

A little late to the party, but I just wanted to drop in and comment that this one grand and beautiful "reflectionscape." I love everything about this and especially how you've given the reflection the slight edge in prominence - it really makes the balance here just about perfect - at least to my eye.

Hope this is printed large and hanging somewhere...

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on August 6, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Holy shi*, this is indeed spectacular!

One of the strongest images I've seen from you in awhile, and that's saying alot.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on August 9, 2009 at 4:55 AM

Wow, I did not know this was so well accepted! Thank you sincerely everyone!

Mark

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 12, 2009 at 5:05 PM

My eyes go to the center and just circle, going from the reflection to just seeing the rocks on the bottom of the lake to colors of the sky, a pleasure to view. Well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments