Posted by Len Backus on September 4, 2007 at 11:16 PM
“A thousand stars in the sky make me realize,
That you are the one that I adore.”
(Words To A Song by K. Young - 1960)
Those were the words in my mind as I approached the shore of Dream Lake in pitch blackness at nearly 11,000 feet of elevation in the Rocky Mountains. In 1960 during that long summer after 8th grade, I had first danced to this song with a little wisp of a girl who sat in front of me that school year. In my school years, those words would get me out onto the dance floor with her at the teen dances. This is still the favorite song of me and my 8th grade sweetheart, Kathy Spaeth (now Backus). And, though I seldom dance anymore, it will still get me out onto the dance floor with her every time it is played! And as for that pixyish little girl…I love her much more than back then, but not as much as I will tomorrow.
But now, looking upwards, there may have been a million stars. This was my third straight morning at Dream Lake. What an appropriate name for such a beautiful place…and time. Each morning I started out at the trailhead two hours before dawn. Carrying a heavy camera and tripod, my flashlight kept me on the trail as it meandered along the switchbacks. The air is thin at 11,000 feet and my lungs protested. My right knee complained to me just a few times, but even then it was only while on the way back down. I had undergone knee surgery successfully just 6 months before my trip to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Thank you Doctor McKenzie! By the third morning my lungs were adjusting and I was able to make the entire climb with no rest breaks.
Each morning by flashlight I carefully set up my tripod on a huge boulder at the edge of the lake. Then I patiently waited for the subtle, pre-dawn light to bathe the surface of Hallett Peak on the horizon and to light up the mountain’s reflection on the water’s shimmering surface in front of me. Each morning the light, wind and sky conditions were slightly different. But this morning I got what I had come for and I snapped many shots. I hiked back down this last time with a great picture and the added bonus of a renewed memory of the time when that cute little girl from 1960 had sat in front of me in 8th grade!
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 4, 2007 at 11:47 PM
Well done!
...and nice story!
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 4, 2007 at 11:49 PM
Hmm, what to say, what to say. I think the only thing missing from your text is the first two words, "Dear Diary."
As for the photo, it looks like you went a little crazy with the shadow/highlight tool, or some equivalent. Check out those halos around the mountains and trees where they meet the sky. These tools can have a detrimental affect on images when they sap a necessary amount of contrast out of a scene. This looks like a prime example of that. Tools like that should be used for good, not for evil.
Posted by Doug Andrews on September 5, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Nice pic although it does have a slightly off look about it. I'm guessing its the shadow/highlight tool that Todd mentioned. Also, Dream Lake's elevation is just shy of 10,000'. Not that it matters much when one is racing up the trail in the dark carrying a camera pack. Got anymore pics of that morning to share??
Posted by Len Backus on September 5, 2007 at 7:35 AM
Thanks, guys.
And Doug, you are right, I just checked my guide book and it's at 9,900...not 10,900. Now I don't feel so out of breath. Wish, I'd known that, I would have had more energy going up. I live at 700 feet in Wisconsin!
The image was an HDR blend done in Photomatix. I am still learning how much contrast to leave in the finished product. I'll tone it down some in the future. Funny about the halos. Hardly visible in a 24x36 inch print compared to a tiny online image. But I can get them reduced, too. I appreciate your comments.
Todd, I'll edit that text to say "Dear Diary" when I get a minute of time. Great suggestion.
Posted by Gabi Lach on September 5, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Beautiful view with a great light! Love the mountains and your composition, Len!
I just still did not grow-up to digest the HDR.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on September 5, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Nice shot, Len. Great light on the clouds. I like the HDR concept but I'm still trying to get results that I really like. A well done blend still seems to work best for me. But I'm still playing with Photomatix. Nice start with this one.
A very thoughtful composition, which I like a lot. What is HDR?
Posted by Rick Dunn on September 6, 2007 at 7:46 AM
Fantastic scene and composition, Len! Wish I could've experienced that morning myself. I agree that the HDR work needs refinement to restore a natural level of contrast, but definitely a keeper with a lot of potential to become a stunner.
Discussion
8 repliesThat you are the one that I adore.”
(Words To A Song by K. Young - 1960)
Those were the words in my mind as I approached the shore of Dream Lake in pitch blackness at nearly 11,000 feet of elevation in the Rocky Mountains. In 1960 during that long summer after 8th grade, I had first danced to this song with a little wisp of a girl who sat in front of me that school year. In my school years, those words would get me out onto the dance floor with her at the teen dances. This is still the favorite song of me and my 8th grade sweetheart, Kathy Spaeth (now Backus). And, though I seldom dance anymore, it will still get me out onto the dance floor with her every time it is played! And as for that pixyish little girl…I love her much more than back then, but not as much as I will tomorrow.
But now, looking upwards, there may have been a million stars. This was my third straight morning at Dream Lake. What an appropriate name for such a beautiful place…and time. Each morning I started out at the trailhead two hours before dawn. Carrying a heavy camera and tripod, my flashlight kept me on the trail as it meandered along the switchbacks. The air is thin at 11,000 feet and my lungs protested. My right knee complained to me just a few times, but even then it was only while on the way back down. I had undergone knee surgery successfully just 6 months before my trip to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Thank you Doctor McKenzie! By the third morning my lungs were adjusting and I was able to make the entire climb with no rest breaks.
Each morning by flashlight I carefully set up my tripod on a huge boulder at the edge of the lake. Then I patiently waited for the subtle, pre-dawn light to bathe the surface of Hallett Peak on the horizon and to light up the mountain’s reflection on the water’s shimmering surface in front of me. Each morning the light, wind and sky conditions were slightly different. But this morning I got what I had come for and I snapped many shots. I hiked back down this last time with a great picture and the added bonus of a renewed memory of the time when that cute little girl from 1960 had sat in front of me in 8th grade!
...and nice story!
As for the photo, it looks like you went a little crazy with the shadow/highlight tool, or some equivalent. Check out those halos around the mountains and trees where they meet the sky. These tools can have a detrimental affect on images when they sap a necessary amount of contrast out of a scene. This looks like a prime example of that. Tools like that should be used for good, not for evil.
And Doug, you are right, I just checked my guide book and it's at 9,900...not 10,900. Now I don't feel so out of breath. Wish, I'd known that, I would have had more energy going up. I live at 700 feet in Wisconsin!
The image was an HDR blend done in Photomatix. I am still learning how much contrast to leave in the finished product. I'll tone it down some in the future. Funny about the halos. Hardly visible in a 24x36 inch print compared to a tiny online image. But I can get them reduced, too. I appreciate your comments.
Todd, I'll edit that text to say "Dear Diary" when I get a minute of time. Great suggestion.
I just still did not grow-up to digest the HDR.
Dave - looks like Erik described HDR in his trailridge sunrise post.