Autumn Fire

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 5, 2015219 views15 comments

This is the Saint Mary River, just outside Glacier National Park in northern Montana, on a very windy autumn morning. I was actually set up in the opposite direction shooting another composition, but when I turned around and saw the light I couldn't resist
abandoning my original comp to capture this instead.

The comp is nothing groundbreaking here, but I thought the light helped to make up for it sad

Thanks for looking and for any comments or suggestions you might have, oh, and don't forget to view the large version!

D300s, 22mm, 3 exposures blended for dynamic range.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on December 5, 2015 at 5:36 PM

According to Satchel Paige, I think, we should "never look back" but in photography we should always look back and all around. You did and were rewarded with an absolutely gorgeous scene which you cpatured beautifully. Did you capture anything from the original perspective?

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 5, 2015 at 7:07 PM

The light and color in this is great. I like that you got some nice detail in the rocky parts of the river and far shore near the trees. The clouds look wonderful!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 5, 2015 at 8:27 PM

POW! No matter if I ever have a camera in hand, I look to the sky just about every day - and I never tire of skies like this. Sure glad you turned around Zack! And I'd say your unplanned composition worked out pretty darn well! Nothin' to complain about here, just beautiful.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 6, 2015 at 6:21 AM

Stunning color Zack and the composition works just fine for me especially the crimson lead in.

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 6, 2015 at 7:31 AM

This is spectacular, Zack.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 6, 2015 at 10:04 AM

Very sweet, Zack. What a sky and reflection. Excellent.

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

Comment posted by Katie Jones on December 6, 2015 at 10:45 AM

Zack,
I think this composition works just fine! I absolutely love the relection of the sunrise in the water. Really stunning. Nice job!

Registered on November 17, 2015, 17 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on December 6, 2015 at 12:59 PM

I've been fishing when the river lit up like this and was awestruck. Love the gravel bar and everthing else. Holy crap.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 6, 2015 at 4:41 PM

Hi Zack, Wow! All I can say is that I wished I had been there with you!! cool

Amazing scene in beautiful light and color.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 6, 2015 at 7:28 PM

Amazing light. Make feels a bit intense. Wondering if bringing out some of the yellows in the trees on the banks would provide a bit more balance.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on December 6, 2015 at 9:06 PM

Hi Zack

I think you composed this scene perfectly to capture all the best color and light possible from this spectacular scene.... great work!.
Albert Datmo
Canada.

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on December 6, 2015 at 10:49 PM

Light always makes up for it ;) Crazy colors for sure.

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on December 7, 2015 at 8:23 AM

Spectacular sky inded! Throw a moose crossing the river or a fly fisherman and it goes to a new level! sad

Even a vertical crop using the central leading portion of the rocky bar would make a nice shot too. Impressive.

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

Comment posted by Joe James on December 8, 2015 at 9:04 PM

Incredible light and a pretty darn good composition. I like how the sandbar cuts diagonally across the river leading away from you.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Henke on December 10, 2015 at 9:02 PM

Oh my, I can only imagine your feelings when you first looked at this sky! For this spectacular image, I actually like the intense colors. Not sure how it will translate into a print, but it certainly has the wow factor. Well processed, by the way.

Registered on February 20, 2012, 117 Posts, 285 Comments