Sierra Wave and Mount Tom, Sunset

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 10, 20054,972 views43 comments

On the first evening of my Fall road trip to the East Side of the Sierra, I had the pleasure of sharing this extraordinary event with Michael Gordon, Rick Dunn, Guy Tal and other Mountain Bums, on the South Fork of Bishop Creek.

In over forty years of Sierra experiences, this event ranks among top three, or four. It was a nice omen for what turned out to be one of my best trips to the mountains: "It don't get much better'n than this."

Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated.

~PB

Comments

43 comments

Comment posted by Michael E. Gordon on November 10, 2005 at 1:49 PM

It was great being next to you in the "big theatre", Preston. What an event! My film is still in my fridge, so at some point I hope to post what I've got.

Great image, great light, great night. It can't get a whole lot better'n this!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2482 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on November 10, 2005 at 1:55 PM

As previously stated, great light and a great image.

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on November 10, 2005 at 1:59 PM

Hi Preston,
it makes me really wish to be there!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on November 10, 2005 at 2:05 PM

Superb!! I can't wait to see MG's too.

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on November 10, 2005 at 2:10 PM

In my opinion this is the best of the bunch. The qualities of light you captured here are beyond words, and compositionally I like it better than all others I've seen from that day (my own included).

Guy

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

Comment posted by Rajan Desai on November 10, 2005 at 2:29 PM

OMG! extraordinary image... superb light and composition...

What was happening there that day?
Cheers,
-RD

Registered on March 25, 2005, 32 Posts, 395 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Biggs on November 10, 2005 at 2:37 PM

An amazing image!!

Registered on January 13, 2005, 310 Posts, 1257 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Walker on November 10, 2005 at 2:40 PM

Superb! The red of the rocks is an extraordinary balance to the amazing sky!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 63 Posts, 782 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 10, 2005 at 2:52 PM

WOW! Excellent image.

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

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on November 10, 2005 at 3:00 PM

WOW. Excellent image.

Joe.

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

Comment posted by Dirk Westfall on November 10, 2005 at 3:34 PM

spectacular colors; great capture

Dirk

Registered on February 12, 2005, 19 Posts, 11 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Cravillion on November 10, 2005 at 3:59 PM

Spankin Awesome!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 20 Posts, 158 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on November 10, 2005 at 4:18 PM

I don't know if I've ever seen a cloud illuminated in a more spectacular way, and I spend much of my life pursuing these scenes. Totally amazing!

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

Comment posted by Mark Windom on November 10, 2005 at 4:27 PM

I agree with Guy, the best of the bunch so far.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Weaver on November 10, 2005 at 4:44 PM

to repeat: WOW excellent image!!!!!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Burk on November 10, 2005 at 4:46 PM

Incredible!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 53 Posts, 274 Comments

Comment posted by Dane Glueck on November 10, 2005 at 5:06 PM

Awesome. The light on the mountain makes this one even more special.

Registered on November 10, 2003, 193 Posts, 1748 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Hudon on November 10, 2005 at 5:39 PM

Jeez Louise, Preston! You da MAN!

(I'm all over it!)

Registered on November 1, 2003, 315 Posts, 2246 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 10, 2005 at 6:45 PM

UNREAL!

Just Awesome Preston!

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 10, 2005 at 6:51 PM

Yowzer! Amazing image. Just amazing sky!!!!!

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

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on November 10, 2005 at 7:07 PM

Freaking awesome!

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

Comment posted by Eric Fredine on November 10, 2005 at 9:32 PM

It's interesting to me that really bizzare and spectacular phenomena like this always tend to look 'fake' - I've noticed now that they almost look 'fake' when you're viewing them with your own eyes! It is remarkable what nature can through up from time to time.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 148 Posts, 1464 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Stahlke on November 10, 2005 at 10:01 PM

Absolutely stunning!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 97 Posts, 782 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on November 10, 2005 at 10:25 PM

Yo, put that color in your pipe and smoke it.

Did you tone down the red in the mountain from the image you sent me earlier?

Good photography.

J.

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

Comment posted by Chet Loveland on November 10, 2005 at 10:28 PM

Well this just leaves me speechless...a stunning image.

Registered on November 11, 2004, 44 Posts, 241 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 10, 2005 at 10:42 PM

Hi All,

Wow! I am quite stunned at the response to this image! I deeply appreciate your comments and your thoughts.

Micheal: Take that film out of the cooler and post an image from that event. I've been waiting to see it for a month!

Richard: Oh yes, please post your image from this event!

Marc: I've been chasing things like this too, and like yourself, for a very long time. I don't recall seeing a "wave" anywhere close to this one.

Eric: When we were standing there awestruck, it honestly did not look real. I see what you mean.

Joe: I did tone down the reds a bit. Thanks for the hint, I think this version looks better.

Thanks again everyone,

~PB

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

Comment posted by Rick Dunn on November 10, 2005 at 11:00 PM

Otherworldly, Preston. Remarkable. I need to work with mine some more, but I don't think I captured nearly as well as you did. That was indeed a special evening, and it was a pleasure to share it with such good company.

Registered on February 22, 2004, 35 Posts, 1311 Comments

Comment posted by Pete D on November 10, 2005 at 11:01 PM

I wonder if we're too willing to forgive digital artifacts? This is without a doubt a wonderful photograph. The earth sky border just doesn't look normal to me. I love the earth and the sky though.

In terms of what's where and what's there, I can hardly imagine a more dramatic skyscape.

This looks 7.35 times better at home than on my burned out monitor at work!

How come it never looks like this in the midwest? Well, if it did, we'd probably all head for the basement...

Pete D.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 590 Posts, 1794 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 10, 2005 at 11:29 PM

Pete,

Thank you for pointing out the ridgeline artifact. I used a selection for the sky and another for the mountain. I applied different amounts of USM to each; less in the sky to prevent pixilation of the smooth areas. I'm no PS guru, so I couldn't get it quite right. Research continues...

Thanks for your comment.

Rick: That evening would not have had the same impact on me in the absence of new friends. Thanks for your thoughts.

~PB

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on November 10, 2005 at 11:38 PM

Beautiful capture, Preston! I like the flow of the image with the mountain in the lower left providing a strong anchor. The wave itself is fantastic.

I was witness to an almost similar Sierra Wave in May 2004. Unfortunately, I was on 395 South, almost near Bishop, and the wave was behind me. I would have given up anything to be at Mono Lake at that time. I am really glad to know that a few of you were able to photograph this one.

Regards.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Sean Depuydt on November 11, 2005 at 5:56 AM

What everyone else said! Wonderful! Congrats on a great capture!

Registered on November 14, 2004, 0 Posts, 45 Comments

Comment posted by William Brozy on November 11, 2005 at 8:32 AM

Sorry for chiming in so late - it's all been said Preston. But I just had to stop by and commend you on this sensational image. Beautiful setting and fabulous execution. Bravo!

Registered on November 9, 2003, 559 Posts, 2929 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on November 11, 2005 at 11:13 AM

Pretty awesome, Preston. I want to see a print of it next Saturday.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Greer on November 11, 2005 at 7:55 PM

Preston,

How did you capture this image, 4x5 or digital? It's just awesome! Sure wish I'd been there! I just have one question and I think it's just the jpeg compression, what's that very dark line that separates the mountain from the sky? Even with that small anomaly I still love it! Congrats!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 404 Posts, 1977 Comments

Comment posted by beth summer on November 11, 2005 at 10:22 PM

Godly..reverant...awesome...like all of the others, it's truly amazing.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 437 Posts, 5220 Comments

Comment posted by Jos De Braekeleer on November 12, 2005 at 5:28 AM

Have you been on Mars Preston ? This is fantastic and beautiful at the same time !

Registered on November 1, 2003, 455 Posts, 1648 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Stolting on November 12, 2005 at 11:13 PM

Preston, I just thought I'd look at some landscapes here on NPN and I run into this supercalifragilisticexpealidosious image!! I must get up to the Sierras this summer. Maybe Evolution Basin. Your image will stick in my mind for a long, long time. Thanks.
Mike Stolting

Registered on November 1, 2003, 56 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel McKeehan on November 17, 2005 at 11:46 AM

breath taking.

Registered on July 31, 2005, 99 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on November 18, 2005 at 6:05 AM

Amazing and surreal. Congratulations.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments

Comment posted by Daniella T. on November 30, 2005 at 9:38 PM

wow, a breathtaking photograph! I have been to the Eastern Sierra but never saw anytyhing like that. Does anyone know what type of cloud this is? Doesn't look like lenticular but I could be wrong..??