Mystical Morning

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 15, 2011357 views14 comments

I believe this is my favorite shot from my recent trip to Death Valley and Mono Lake- California. I have been posting others to Facebook (www.Facebook.com/RyanMontgomeryPhotos) and my website (see below).

This particular shot was taken at 4:00am the morning of the eclipse just before the moon went behind the Earth's shadow. I left the hotel when it was ZERO degrees but it warmed up to a balmy 5 degrees at the time this image was made. The shot was a 30 second exposure at F/16 to give the moon a star like effect but also to allow enough time to illuminiate the pogonip (local word for the fog on Mono Lake) and back light the tufas. I hope you enjoy this image as much as I did making it.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on December 15, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Wow, this is gorgeous! I love it!

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 15, 2011 at 4:24 PM

This looks quite creepy. The Tufa structure looks like a dark castle. It worked out well to go for a long-exposure night shot!

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

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on December 15, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Spooky, creepy, eerie. Kinda like you

Love it man. Nice work!

Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on December 15, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Ryan,
Outstanding shot...
The reflection in the water puts it over the top...
Nice work

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on December 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM

Very cool indeed, nice shot

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Montgomery on December 15, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Richard are you saying I am a "man of mystery" or Dateline NBC to Catch a Predator Creepy?

Registered on January 14, 2011, 23 Posts, 26 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on December 15, 2011 at 7:17 PM

what a great shot, love backlight on the top of the island

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 16, 2011 at 8:15 AM

Very creative and well done. Certainly a different look at Mono.

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

Comment posted by Luke Austin on December 16, 2011 at 10:48 AM

Creative image, great to see something different from Mono Lake. Worth getting out there at that hour.

Registered on November 30, 2011, 5 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on December 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM

ryan, i really dig this. simple comp, and the silhouette works really well with the misty water. good work!

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 16, 2011 at 5:21 PM

Really fascinating photograph Ryan. Good choice on the exposure for the FG. The star effect on the moon is cool, but feels a bit strong.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Hillary Younger on December 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM

Love the light and long exposure.....and those moon beams....I find it peaceful rather than creepy.