Moonlight Falls

Hi NPN'ers,
I've been "out" for a while - I believe over a year - busy with the things of life, and haven't been able to contribute. But, I have continued to make regular weekly stops here in the gallery to get my dose of inspiration and awe. I still believe this is the best group of landscape photographers on the net!

Fortunately, I have had many opportunities to explore fantastic new places, and capture some of my best images to date. I am particularly drawn to back-country locations ("you can take the person out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the person") where it seems that getting a great image takes so much more determination and time.

Much of my photographic work this year has been in preparation for my current photo workshops. I captured this image during one of my planning trips. I truly love this basin - as do the hundreds of others who visit the area every year - and knew that, though well photographed, this was an image I wanted in my collection.

What caught me off guard was how I felt about some of the other small basins that surround this heavily traveled area. Just one ridge over from this basin (a solid half-day of scrambling and xc travel) led me to a region that was virtually unvisited. Meandering streams, wild-flowers, waterfalls, lake-lets and tarns, all surrounded by steep granite walls and spires. I spent two days in the area, and if Shangri La exists, I had found my own personal version. Naturally, I couldn't wait to share the images from the area with fellow photogs and friends.

On the hike out, however, my feelings changed. I realized that I couldn't do it. I couldn't - and can't yet - go "public" with this place. I felt like I would betray the trust of a valued friend.

Perhaps that feeling will change in time, but for now, this image - of a Shangri La's close neighbor - will have to do.

Thanks for reading, and for your thoughts and ideas!

Single capture, double processed, 25s, f10, 5DII, 40mm