The Beacon

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 17, 20101,744 views51 comments

Swiftcurrent Lake reflects Grinnell Point in the rarely calm waters as the first rays of the day strike the peak. I was amazed that the surrounding clouds never lit up with color, as I had hoped. In hind site, I really liked how the mountain was separated from the background as if lit by a spotlight. The light quickly faded and everything began to look grey and dull. While the composition is far from unusual from this area of Glacier National Park, the lighting was just magical. When composing the shot, I had hoped to have the left most reflection clear the rocks, but I would have had to raise the camera position a tad, and this would have moved Grinnell Point's reflection farther from the FG rocks. I thought it more important to keep the peak's reflection closer to the rocks instead of the left side's. ISO 100, f16, 3.2 sec exposure, daylight white balanced, 2 stop grad ND filter hard. Single exposure.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

Comments

51 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 17, 2010 at 8:26 PM

Amazing image Harry. Welcome to NPN. I missed your first post but will need to check back. Amazing alpenglow!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 17, 2010 at 8:39 PM

Thanks Eva! I just got started over here. Lots can be learned from such a talented group that post. I'm not sure I posted previously, I think this was my first, though maybe I did and didn't realize it! You must be a neighbor in Sudbury. So many options at first - a bit overwhelming. Still getting through my Glacier shots- it's like reliving the trip all over again.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on September 17, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Awesome light and an amazing moment!

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on September 17, 2010 at 9:00 PM

That is some really unique lighting. Great image

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 17, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Wow! Phenomenal image, Harry. Just an incredible show of light, and yes, it worked out well for you IMO that the clouds (nor the other mountains) didn't light up. A little more symmetry (ie. Grinnel centered perfectly) would have been ideal for me - which is still possible with slight crop off the right. Fantastic, and good to see you on NPN!

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

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on September 17, 2010 at 9:03 PM

The warm/cold contast is stunning!

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 17, 2010 at 9:18 PM

The red/blue, bright/shadowed contrasts are superb. A lot of wow factor in this one. Very well done!

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

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on September 17, 2010 at 9:27 PM

Harry, honestly this is the most stunning shot I've seen from this oft-photographed location. The perfect alpenglow spotlight is incredible... once in a lifetime!

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

Comment posted by Buck Ward on September 17, 2010 at 9:35 PM

The red light is spectacular!. I like the symmetry, both vertically and horizontally. In fact, I'd suggest cropping a bit off the right to put the mountain and it's reflection dead center.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Cartamil on September 17, 2010 at 10:00 PM

Love it! (Except for the far right side, which is a tiny bit boring in comparison with the rest of the image, maybe a slight crop off the right IMO). The spotlight effect is awesome!

Registered on November 15, 2007, 50 Posts, 601 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 17, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Absolutly Amazing. The way Grinnell Point is lit is fantastic. The sky, foreground rocks and reflection are all beautifully captured. Wonderful composition.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on September 17, 2010 at 10:55 PM

Great composition with incredible lighting, Harry. Wow.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on September 17, 2010 at 11:11 PM

I gotta remember a spot-light the next time I'm out! Sweet shot!

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

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on September 17, 2010 at 11:45 PM

This is really nice. I've shot this for years, most recently a couple weeks ago, and have never seen it light up like this.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on September 18, 2010 at 12:41 AM

Harry, I like how you put the reflection in the open area between the rocks. A very strong image with the light on Grinnell Point. Last time I was at this lake a bear was swimming across the lake from one side to the other. Wasn't scared of me at all. Well done and welcome to NPN.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on September 18, 2010 at 12:45 AM

Welcome Harry

.

Fantastic image, and I'll add another vote for the crop to emphasize that special lighting.

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

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on September 18, 2010 at 1:10 AM

if i can say, nature gifted u with superb light coz u found a equally superb composition

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on September 18, 2010 at 1:11 AM

Beautiful capture, Harry! Not sure if I'd crop it or not, but I might experiment with shaving a bit off of the right side, just to the right of the large right FG rock and complementary peak above. I definitely think you captured a sweet moment of light, even without a cloud show!

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

Comment posted by Mark Capurso on September 18, 2010 at 2:48 AM

Stunning shot, Harry, just incredible!

Mark Capurso
Phoenix, AZ

Registered on January 4, 2008, 47 Posts, 321 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Finlayson on September 18, 2010 at 3:22 AM

Amazing light indeed, love the cleanliness and clarity of this shot also

Registered on July 29, 2010, 26 Posts, 404 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 18, 2010 at 4:32 AM

Magnificent shot, Harry.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 18, 2010 at 6:48 AM

Thanks for all of the feedback. I think the crop idea is the way too go. I hate to lop of any of the mountains in the distance, but I think it makes the strongest part stronger.

Harry

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 18, 2010 at 7:36 AM

Awesome shot, Harry! You're lucky the rest of the range didnt light up--thats what makes this special!

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

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on September 18, 2010 at 7:58 AM

I can't do anything other then echo the previous comments, amazing image and welcome to npn!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on September 18, 2010 at 11:36 AM

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on September 18, 2010 at 12:30 PM

Harry,
What a wonderful image. Great color on the main subject and a beautiful reflection. I do see some subtle color in the clouds. Nicely composed.

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

Comment posted by Guy Tal on September 18, 2010 at 1:58 PM

What a spectacular light show. I love the strong reds against the cool blues.

Guy

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

Comment posted by Chip Phillips on September 18, 2010 at 2:02 PM

Nice image Harry. Crazy light. I like how the foreground retains cool tones-contrasting very nicely with the warm glow on Grinnell. Chip

Registered on November 26, 2007, 128 Posts, 1436 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on September 18, 2010 at 2:04 PM

Out of this world... should really go to the front page IMO.
Wonderful.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 18, 2010 at 2:51 PM

Almost too amazing to believe! How that light is isolated like that is incredible. How lucky to be there for it.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on September 18, 2010 at 3:00 PM

Very unique -- I think it's a good thing that the rest of the clouds didn't light up.

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

Comment posted by David Cobb on September 18, 2010 at 4:29 PM

I've never seen spotlighting quite like this before, what a great time to be there and a beautiful capture.

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

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 18, 2010 at 7:11 PM

Chip - I've never seen anything like it before either. I thought for sure as top of the peak lit up, so would everything else. You can see top tops of the surrounding peaks catching a little of the glow, and then that was it. The sun dissapeared behind clouds. Ther was one other photogrpaher there that morning - I'm not sure if anyone else saw this.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 18, 2010 at 8:20 PM

Stunning, Harry! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on September 18, 2010 at 9:31 PM

Great mix of color, shapes and texture captured here. I like the way this is framed and would not crop anything. I might prefer a slight reduction of the saturation in the reds, but that's a personal preference. Great catch!

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

Comment posted by Greg Campbell on September 18, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Wow, gorgeous light. Well done!
As others have suggested, centering the peak might not be a bad idea. You might even try cropping it to a square format. That would make for a somewhat simple composition, but simple often works well and it might prove quite effective in this instance.

Registered on December 14, 2009, 0 Posts, 2 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 18, 2010 at 10:57 PM

What a sight, Harry. Absolutely amazing display. So glad the rarely calm water were calm this morning and that you were able to bring this home.

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

Comment posted by John Lehmkuhl on September 19, 2010 at 12:17 AM

Stunning shot sir. Very glad you will be sharing your work with us because this is as sweet and unique as they come. I totally agree with a slight crop off the Right to center the mountain. At first I thought it wouldn't make a difference, but then I did a monitor crop and flipped out - it really made a difference! To keep the aspect ratio you can easily loose a little sky, too if you wish... really stunning.

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

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 19, 2010 at 5:04 AM

Wow, that some light - but with a surname like yours it's no suprise you know how to use light to your advantage

Amazing photograph!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on September 19, 2010 at 12:28 PM

The spot light on the mountain is awesome, Harry. I was checking your website - what a great portfolio on NH - I have to get in touch with you and learn a few secrets

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

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on September 19, 2010 at 2:13 PM

amazing image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 19, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Harry, you could live a lifetime here and not take a photo of it better than this.

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on September 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM

Good Lord that's some outrageous light striking the mountain and a great reflection too. Glad you were there to capture this little beauty it would be a criminal waste to have not been able to see it.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Grant Collier on September 19, 2010 at 9:30 PM

Awesome light in this shot!

Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on September 20, 2010 at 2:46 AM

Harry, I think the image is just fine the way it is. It's very dynamic, you can create a few different comps and a pano just by cropping certain parts. Hope to catch some spot lighting like this sometime.

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

Comment posted by Tom Nevesely on September 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM

Wonderful shot Harry. I love the great light on the mountain and how it contrasts with the coolness of the rest of the frame.
Welcome to NPN!

Registered on June 14, 2005, 147 Posts, 1550 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 21, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Marc - I realize how lucky I was, after looking around the internet prior to my trip to get an idea of what I might expect for lighting. I was was very fortunate to have several opportunites in the same area with very different lighting, and while the peaks are easily recognizeable as the same location, the lighting gave a different feel to them all. And I didn't have to bust my a-- to hike to the spot many times over!

Arnab - let me know if you have any questions about NH.

Didi- I have been told Lichtman translates looses to light, but maybe you can enlighten me with the proper translation. I guess it came from the German side of my family.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 22, 2010 at 3:06 AM

Congrats on the excellent EP!
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 22, 2010 at 4:05 AM

Grand! There's some nice color in the clouds around the mountain, Harry, but I think the color on Grinnell simply overpowers it. Love the rocks in the fg. It's a magnificent image. Congrats on the EP for it.