Morning Glory

And what a gift! This is absolutely beautiful. No critiques from me here, just praise. Great job capturing a great moment.

Wow, John that's simply breathtaking! Front to back it's got it all, awesome colors, great sky, huge mountain, fall foliage, fog, I think I even see the kitchen sink.

Nature smiled on you all right. Beautiful image. Love the layers.

Sweet, what more can I say, love the way the mountain peak protrudes out of the fog. Beautiful John.
John

Stunning. Gorgeous. Amazing. Breath taking.

Beautiful, John. Perfect conditions and beautiful capture. Great work!

Awesome. What fantastic conditions!

Congrats John! This is fan-fricken-tastic!

You had great timing, and you totally nailed the shot. It looks perfect to me . . . simply wonderful. I had to chuckle after clicking on the link to last year's photo. It's nice in it's own right, but this blows it away.

Stunning John, an incredible gift for sure. This is awesome!!

This is flat out spectacular, John. You don't post a whole lot of photos, but when you do, its always first-rate material. I think I'll go ahead and speak for everyone else here and just say that we'd all be proud to have this image in our portfolios.

Awesome, John. I love this area. Great range of colors. The weather Gods were definitely smiling on you. Distant clearcutting would be my only nitpick, but it's something we live with here in the NW and it's obviously a really minor point.

What a splendid view John! Magnificent color, great mood, amazing light! Beautiful work!

Absolutely beautiful. Great job.

Wow, what a gift. Incredible image John, stunningly spectacular. Your persistence paid off big time.

A stunning image John. Nice work. Adams sure looks nice with a blanket of fresh snow on it. Beautiful comp and colors!

Jason Denham
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasondenham

This is a beautiful image, John. Glad you were so persistent... it paid off BIG time.

HOLY MOLY! This has everything you could possibly want in an image (except my copyright!). Absolutely beautiful John.

This rocks, John! Everything came together beautifully here from the FG grasses to Mount Adams in the BG. Fanastic atmosphere with the fog, light and autumn colors.

Ed

This is going to be toughest week ever for an Editor's Pick IMO.

No words... Beautiful... Please sell some posters of this one, and I'll get one

One of the best autumn images this year! Congratulations, John! An excellent work in every possible way!

This is just a gorgeous image, it really pops right out at you.

John... this is a gorgeous shot, but I would love to see it as a pano, cropped just below the mid-ground trees. To me, the fg grasses don't add anything, but the mid- and backgrounds are spectacular!

Your persistence paid off in spades, John. This is flat out gorgeous in all respects. Fantastic job of processing, too.

How did you blend this for DOF and DR? Which blend did you do first? I assume you'd do the DOF blend first, then complete the DR blend but I've never done one of these. More info. on your technique would be greatly appreciated.

Well, John, I think you've got the best image of Adams I have seen. Print this one really big.

Beautiful image John, love all the soft pastel colors in it, great little scene.

Awesome from top to bottom. Love it.

Sweetness!! My first thought is, Wow. Your photos normally take on a 3-d quality and this is no exception. The mid ground transition from the brown grass to the mist and then to the colorful trees is a feast for the eyes. I agree that this could also work as a pano. The foreground bushes, while helping to lead the eye (seem to mimic the golden mean), appear a bit wanting next to the splendor that unfolds beyond them. But that feels minor when I take in the photo in its entirety. There is also just a hint of noise visible in the sky, ULC. Regardless, your vision and execution are top notch as usual.

Beautiful scene John
The bottom quarter is much what Im faced with here. Ahhh that mountain and sky really put it all together. I must say everyone is posting some great fall shots this year. Ok enough ramblings, wonderful image and great job

Simple marvelous!

It is a beauty. Great colors, wonderful mood from the fog, you got it all going on. Excellent!

Wow...gorgeous! Everything came together just about perfectly here. Awesome job capturing it!

Incredible!

Amazing layers. I dream of conditions like this, and you captured it perfectly.

Great atmosphere John. Love the splashes of yellow from the trees in the midground. Must have been awesome to witness this scene firsthand!
Been wanting to get down towards Adams for fall. Maybe next year!

Beautiful image! One ot be proud of.

Thanks for your amazingly generous comments all! This was definitely a right place/right time photo.

Marc, I don't know how you guys can do the Editor's Picks. On any given week there is no way to choose one without snubbing several other (and some weeks way more than several) very deserving photos.

Reed, I actually like those grasses, but have a pano that I have yet to stitch that concentrates on the sky and trees just as you suggest. I'll be interested to see how it turns out.

Jay, I didn't notice noise, but maybe it showed up in sharpening? There is a dust bunny (or two?) up there that I missed, so thanks for getting me to look closer!

Joe, it was amazing to watch. (I'm guilty of chortling to my dog a time or two as I snapped these.)

stellar shot!!!

Oh, good heavens on earth, this has got it all. Layers of color and so many places to go, I can’t stop staring.

John, you have really outdone yourself with this one. I love everything about it...down to the small blades of grass bent over in the fg.

I like both images, but this one really is phenomenal. The layers, the colors, the textures, the clouds, the mountain, the fall colors . . . everything looks good here.

Brett, sorry to miss replying to your question! Give me a week or two to answer that. I routinely am asked about blending, and really need to write a detailed tutorial. I use a little different approach then what I most often hear others are doing, and I'll be happy to share once I get some info typed up with more than a cursory explanation.

It doesn't get much better than that, John! Excellent in every way.

Chris

This is drop dead gorgeous, John! Incredible work. I'd also like to know your blending method.

This is really awesome! Color, comp and atmosphere are really great.

John,

Outstanding!!! The foreground grasses, color and layers really shine through in the larger version and only add to the glorious scene before you. Congrats on such a magnificent capture. Wow!

Lon

After viewing this masterpiece, I might just have to give up as the perfect image has already been captured.

Absolutely stunning.

Absolutely stunning scene John. Congrats.

John,

Just amazing. You could not ask for anything more in such a scene. Truly very fortunate to have witnessed this. Now tell me, were any other humans around or was this a gift for just you?

Wow, ok this is my new fav of yours John. Love it. The weather gods sure were being overly kind to you and you now did an excellent job of sharing this amazing scene with all of us. Congrats!

What a true beauty John.

Gorgeous arrangement of elements. The layers, fog, and colors all come together on this one.

Awesome work John, the fog really completes an already beautiful and dynamic shot.

Real beauty John. Great work!

Wow John....what a mood, what a color, perfect composition... this make me feel I would be there. Great.

Wow, beautiful shot! The subject matter, lighting and mood are top notch. I wish the mountain was centered horizontally, but that's a minor nit.

Oh my! I'm speechless, John. This image is simply stunning!

What a beauty, the fresh snow, the great sky it all works

Wow, John, your finest work to date I think. Gorgeous image, must have been amazing to stand there and witness this.

Whoa! I'll echo what all 60-something commentors have already said before... the large version is especially nice to look at.
georg

A stunning shot, John. Love the soft lighting and color throughout. The fog layers sifting through the tree lines is just fabulous. Amazing how soft the fg and mg are, and how sharp the bg moutain is. This makes a beautiful contrast to the shot, just like the hard/soft, cool/warm, light/dark opposites throughout the image. Very engaging... great work!

This is an insanely stunning image...just gorgeous. My ONLY issue is to me on my work monitor the foreground seems a little muddy in color. Otherwise, just excellent!

wow! john, what is there to say? such an image is tuff to describe. fabuloussssss!!!!

John!
(Can't add anything, but wow, I am just awestruck by this image, and I am not a person who uses that word or "awesome" more than once or twice a year.) I am E-mailing this link to my friends with the message "You gotta see this!"

Flawless work on the blend and an absolutely epic shot.

In the pnet style: 3/3

In seriousness: It's AMAZING!

a dream....

Wow that is absolutely gorgeous. What amazing fog conditions and layering!

All has been said.

Wow--youve taken a lot of killer shots, John--but this is definitely one of the best!
If Marc has trouble making a pick this week, id be happy to make it for him

fabulous layers; great colours among the trees; lovely sky ... exquisite!

Sheesh, what a shot. The fog and cloudy mountain make it for me. Impressive work.

This has to be a record for comments on a picture on its first few days...and boy is it deserved!
This is the kind of shot that makes you wonder if you really want to post anything alongside it. It looks like everything came perfectly together for you and you pulled it off with great mastery. Superb shot through and through!

Beautiful image of Mt. Adams and the outstanding foliage. Great detail and superb processing. The soft light and fog gives the image a very peaceful feel. Well done.

Just superb this John.
What more can I say that hasn't been said.

Perfection! Great job, don't change a thing.

Wayne

John.... this is the best fall picture so far!! Wow... what a catch..great job!!!

Spectacular. Love the colors and layers of fog. The best photograph I've seen in some time.

Really nice John! I especially like the colour palette.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN! This is absolutely amazing, so many gorgeous layers romancing the viewers eye. I think this is your best work ever!

This image would make a painter jealous. A true feast for the eyes! If you're open to the possibility, I might prefer stretching those pink clouds in the URC to eliminate/minimize that tiny blue section of the sky. A very minor observation, but at the risk of sounding stupid I thought I'd mention it. Excellent work, start to finish!

Hmmm... I'll play with that Eric. I hadn't thought of that at all, but I see where you're coming from.

Thanks again everyone!! I'm overwhelmed and humbled by the response from so many outstanding photographers.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!

Dang John, almost 90 comments.. that's gotta be some kind of record! And for good reason, this is quite spectacular, it's dramatic, soothing, and beautiful, all in one. Congrats on the EP, very much deserved.

Excellent Image John

Well deserved John. What can I say that hasn't already been said absolutely fantastic work here.

WOW!!! Everything comes together here. Congratulations on the weekly pick - well deserved.

Simply gorgeous.

Congrats

Congrats! Very well deserved EP.

WOW!! Nothing more can be said about this majestic scene. You captured & processed it perfectly. Congratulations!!

John: Jaw dropping awes me! Superb capture and processing. Congrats on the EP! >=))>

Many hearty and heartfelt congratulations for the most deserved EP, John. This image is destined for one of the all time greats here at NPN. I hope It's one of the all time greats of all time everywhere!

Better than perfect !

Thanks again everyone!!! Much of the credit goes to NPN for the inspiration and suggestions over the last few years. An EP is always an honor, but as noted above I'm truly humbled considering the quality of photos posted this week.

Congrats on the cover photo John, it's a real beauty!

Congratulations on the cover photo John! Well deserved!

Congratulations John

this is a very powerful image

all the best

Hamed

Congrats on all the accolades John... This is is an absolute masterpiece.

Astounding! Congrats on all the recognition, John..

... breathtaking ...

What a great image John! Mt. Adams is soooo difficult to photograph well too, there's either too many clouds or none, and it's a rare day to catch it just right. You not only were there on the perfect day, but you captured it perfectly too. Congrats, and kudos on your photo of the month.

David M. Cobb

John,
I think its all, aready been said.

This is outstanding.I even made this pict5ure my background on my computer screen.

Impressive image John, the LP looks wonderful.
Everything works here, I wouldn't change a thing..
Really enjoyed the view, thanx!

John,

This is perhaps the best image I've seen all year here on NPN. Exquisite work! Congratulations!!!

Incredibly Beautiful !!

Amazing image. Gorgeous colors. So many interesting elements. Great layers. Nearly perfect composition (I'd like a little more sky ;0)).

Thanks for the post.

This picture certainly deserved an award, John. Congratulations. It's wonderful to be back visiting this one.

John, What a superb photo - Well Deserved Pick in the EPA2009. Congratulations . I'll make it a point to comment on photos posted in the ESS Gallery. ESS has to rank as one of the absolute best globally.

Congratulations John and the 2009 EPA pick! A stunning image and well deserving of the honor.

good to see this one again - outstanding. Congrats, John!

Wow. I love the layers and the fog and the colors and... Congratulations on your EPA.

Hello John.

What a super looking image, just love the layers of detail and colours in this and processed superbly.

John, congratulations on an outstanding image! Perfect execution in every way. Congrats on the EPA pick as well...next fall you'll have to take me to this cool location!

Cheers,
David

I knew it was a winner the first time I saw it. Congratulations John
John&Patty

Nice to relive this scene. Grats on a well deserved EPA

My favorite of the year, John. So happy to see this fine work of yours rewarded. Many heartfelt congratulations.

Congrats John !

I am glad to see that Jim and Donna and the moderators were as impressed as I was with this beautiful scene. Congratulations!

Amazing and beautiful scene of color~Congratulations!

John,

I don't really know what to say about this. "Speechless" is probably as good a choice as any.

Congratulations on this image.

Pat

Kudos to you for all the well deserved recognition!!

Congrats on the 2009 EPA! Wonderful image..
Sandy r

This is just so amazing ! I love the colors mist and clouds. Perfect light and composition.

Absolutely amazing, John. I'm speechless!