Isosceles Peak

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 30, 2010710 views39 comments

I just returned from an 8-week trip in the eastern Sierras, and despite having spent 10 years as a guide in the Whitney area, and hundreds of nights watching the evening sun work magic among the granite monoliths, I have yet to find anything so refreshing, nor so inspiring, as walking the trails of this well loved region.

This year was particularly special, as it was the first time my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter were able to walk over some of the high passes and dive deeper into the vast wilderness that lies beyond. What tremendous adventures we had! Swimming, rock-hopping, exploring, "tenting", telling stories, eating daddy's crazy concoctions (sorry about those "lost dinners", guys!) and learning more about each other and ourselves throughout the journey.

Here is the first of the images I'll post from our adventures. I recognize it is not exceptionally dramatic (those are coming!), but perhaps more than any other image, it reminds me of the simple yet extraordinary power that exists in these high places.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions!

5D2, 17-40@17mm, 2 stop ND, 2 stop GND

Comments

39 comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on August 30, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Exceptional image. The light here reminds me a lot of the Art Wolfe image that first inspired me to come visit this valley. The use of those pointy rocks really completes the scene.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on August 30, 2010 at 2:25 PM

The lighting and color are wonderful. What a marvelous experience it must have been to see this! BTW, congrats on your OP cover shot--I recognized it as soon as I saw it.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Joshua Hardin on August 30, 2010 at 2:29 PM

It's sure dramatic enough for me. Some wonderful spotlight-type conditions and a pleasing combination of gold and blue colors.

Registered on July 29, 2006, 40 Posts, 414 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on August 30, 2010 at 2:34 PM

absolutely superb photo. I love how the fg rocks frame the peak's reflection...

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on August 30, 2010 at 2:56 PM

Superb light and the centered comp works here.

BTW Congrats on the cover photo in OP. But are you happy w/the way they printed it? The photo looks so natural in your website, but the saturation is off the chart in the cover

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

Comment posted by Ron Richins on August 30, 2010 at 2:57 PM

Very nice image. That foreground is fascinating. The lighting on the rocks is pretty great too.

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on August 30, 2010 at 3:05 PM

Beautiful. Love the fg rocks and golden colour on the peak.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on August 30, 2010 at 3:12 PM

Oh, wow... That light is to die for!!! The shadows amongst the light really add another dimension. Well done.

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on August 30, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Thank you for sharing how personal this experience was...it adds so much value to your picture and story.

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 30, 2010 at 3:18 PM

More dramatic than this? Can hardly wait. This is excellent in every regard.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 30, 2010 at 3:19 PM

Very nice composition and colours - love the serene reflection.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 30, 2010 at 3:50 PM

Excellent shot and story, brought back memories when my Dad and I would meet at Glacier Lodge and hike up to Seven Lakes and view the Palasides Glacier. I like how the light lead me right into the image and all around the other rock formations. Wonderful composition. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 30, 2010 at 4:22 PM

The light in this is pretty darn dramatic IMO. This is beautiful throughout, and very nicely composed. I too have wonderful memories of backpacking with my kids from the time they were 5 or so until they graduated from high school and college and moved on. Now I hike with my grandkids - just as much fun!

Congrats on the OP cover shot too!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on August 30, 2010 at 4:34 PM

One of the finest images I've sen from Dusy Basin. I love that area and have visited it for the past 30 years.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 30, 2010 at 4:38 PM

Amazing! The light, reflection, low clouds, and foreground elements are all wonderful. Super sweeeeeeet!

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 30, 2010 at 4:52 PM

What spectacular light here! It's tough to get nice light on Isosceles, but man you nailed it here!

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

Comment posted by Joel Hazelton on August 30, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Amazing!

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 30, 2010 at 6:48 PM

A really fine image, Cory. Nice to spend that kind of time in the Sierra, too! What a treat.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Bohlander on August 30, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Very nice image. Sounds like a productive 8 weeks and I'm looking forward to drooling over a few more images if you don't consider this dramatic

ND2 used to smooth out the reflection or something else? Doesn't look like the cloud in the upper left is moving.

Congrats on the Outdoor Photographer cover too.

Registered on August 22, 2008, 14 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on August 30, 2010 at 7:17 PM

Oh yeah great image!!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on August 30, 2010 at 8:52 PM

Great image Cory. I really the textures the shadows create in the foreground and the cushion of clouds draping the left hand side of the background. Your composition is just perfect. Personally, the ridgelines of the crest look a little oversharpened and it looks like there is a bit of haloing on the right side too. Small nits, stunning image. Congrats once again on the cover of OP.

Michael
Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on August 30, 2010 at 9:04 PM

Beautiful image Cory. Can't wait to see more from your travels.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on August 30, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Ditto Tony's comment. Anymore drama and I'll have to take 2 blood pressure pills. Cory outstanding.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on August 30, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Cory,
Wonderful image. Nice details in the FG rocks and a beautiful scene. Looking forward to seeing more. Best Regards.

Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on August 30, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Hi Cory,
Fantastic I´m in awe by the scene and your execution is just perfect.

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on August 30, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Thank you all for the feedback.

Marc - After my first visit to Dusy about 3 years ago, I thought I had done it justice. Then I saw Art's work, and decided I needed to go back! I feel better about my work this time around.

Arnab - It was more saturated than I expected...it may have been in the conversion from jpg to print. The image on my site appears more like how I want it to look. It is also a different crop--horizontal instead of vertical. I am glad I shot it wide and high!

Mike - the grad was used to hold back a bit of the clouds, add a subtle vignette, and lift the foreground rocks a bit.

Michael - Good catch! I'll clean that up.

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on August 30, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Man, pretty incredible image.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by John Lehmkuhl on August 31, 2010 at 12:31 AM

Really beautiful and the lighting hitting just the peak really give this a lot more drama than you're giving it credit

One comment, is that I see a fairly clear halo in the sky on the Right side.... easy fix that would look a little more natural.

Can't wait to see the rest - 8-weeks ?? WOW !!

Registered on May 22, 2005, 165 Posts, 2008 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 31, 2010 at 7:05 AM

Awesome lighting and a great composition to show it off.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 31, 2010 at 7:25 AM

Awesome. The light is absolutely sublime, and the comp is great.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on August 31, 2010 at 9:50 AM

Beautiful light, color, and composition. This has an almost painterly look to it.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 31, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Beautifuly detailed shot, the comp and light is superb.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on August 31, 2010 at 11:33 AM

Nice Cory. The blue/gold works very well, and the comp is spot on. I look forward to the drama coming. Congrats again on your OP cover!

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

Comment posted by Eric Good on August 31, 2010 at 6:45 PM

One of the nicest Isosceles images I've seen. Beautiful light and color and I particularly enjoy the tension between the fairly symmetrical top and the asymmetry of the sweeping fg rocks. Clean up the slight haloing around the peak on the right and this is ready to print... and big. Beautiful work and I look forward to the rest from the trip.

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 31, 2010 at 8:20 PM

Great moment you captured with this one. The comp is the star, with the light getting second billing.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 1, 2010 at 4:38 AM

gorgeous golden light on your focal point with all the elements around it supporting it perfectly.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 1, 2010 at 9:12 AM

Superb!

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on September 1, 2010 at 3:24 PM

Spectacular image, Cory, and well deserved congratulations on the OP cover!
Your trip sounds amazing. If only more parents took the time to introduce their children to the beauty of wild places.

Take care,
Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 2, 2010 at 2:23 PM

Excellent Cory!

I do wish those pesky rocks were not interfering with the mountain reflection though...

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