Posted by Kane Engelbert on January 31, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Blue Lake is a tiny lake that rests on a shelf of granite overlooking the Black Lake chasm of Glacier Gorge. It resides in the massive shadow of Longs Peak and rarely receives sun. The lake is completely exposed to the elements and gets blasted by wind 24-7. It makes sense that it's frozen solid.
This is a cold place, to say the least.
Even in summer, the lake is not frequently visited.
Both of these shots were taken with a 17mm tilt shift lens. With the "shift" feature I could move the peaks to the extreme edge of 17mm without the peaks distorting in perspective. Conventional wide angle lenses cannot do this.
Shooting Mount Elbert at the extreme edge of a conventional wide angle lens would turn Elbert into the Matterhorn.
Posted by Ernie Marx on January 31, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Awesome stuff, Kane. I can't even pick favorites, there are too many great ones. Your willingness to brave the winter elements has certainly paid off.
Posted by Don Grall on January 31, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Wow, those are gorgeous, a perfect conjunction of blue ice and blue sky with beautiful mountains to anchor both. Love the leading lines in the ice.
Posted by Phillip Noll on January 31, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Beautiful! Love the blue ice and leading lines. Looks way too cold for me!
Posted by Nathan Buck on January 31, 2011 at 12:46 PM
The second one is my favorite with the leading lines to the bottom corners. Awesome shots Kane.
Nathan
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on January 31, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Kane, these turned out great. I knew you could salvage a good image from these when I saw it on your phone the other night. The ice looks fantastic, and I love the DoF on teh second shot. Can't imagine how sweet this would look with some clouds blowing up on those peaks.
Posted by Jack Brauer on January 31, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Wow that's great!!! It's a treat to see an ice shot but with a unique mountainous backdrop! And the "vanishing pool" characteristic of this lake is awesome too. I'm sure it was quite the effort to get up to that spot this time of year, eh? Did you camp or do a mega day hike?
And also glad you hear you got the 17mm t/s! I assume your comments are mainly referring to downward shift in the vertical shot? Whenever I use a non-shifting lens nowadays I feel like something's wrong. Also, btw, taking your comments further, sometimes you can actually use opposite (upwards) shift to purposely make peaks look even more jagged than a convential lens would render; on rare occasions this can actually be called for, I think.
Posted by Rod Chandler on January 31, 2011 at 2:10 PM
Absolutely gorgeous! I look forward to hiking in there...when it is warmer.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on January 31, 2011 at 3:03 PM
Beautiful, Kane. Nice use of T/S. I like the perspective and combination of ice and ridgeline.
Posted by John Mumaw on January 31, 2011 at 6:40 PM
Both of these are extraordinary! I have no clear favorite as each has its particular assets.
That bold blue sky is perfectly complementary to the frozen lake.
Your hard work in getting to these places really pays off with unique and beautiful work!
Day trip. Although I think an overnighter up there at Black Lake would be the best way to do it. I stayed in a hotel in Estes Park, and was on the trail by 4:00am. Sunrise was at 7:13am. I actually arrived late to the Blue Lake area; needed another 20 minutes. Must go back for a before sunrise shot.
Black Lake works best 3-4 days after the last snow. That gives the skiers and hardcore snowshoers enough time to pack the trail down all the way to the lake. Before sunrise, it's a microspike fast hike to about a 1/4 mile from Black Lake. From there it's snowshoe time. The route up into Spearhead basin from the lake is pretty straight forward, although there won't be much of a packed trail, plus it gets very windy once up in that basin.
I'm thinking the hike was about 10 miles RT with maybe 2,000-ft of gain? Later when the sun had time to soften up the snow I had to stick to the slowshoes for my hike back.
Kane
Posted by Todd Caudle on January 31, 2011 at 7:31 PM
Outstanding! I think I like the vertical better, but both are incredible.
Posted by Pam Colander on January 31, 2011 at 7:43 PM
The vertical has a very slight edge for me. Gorgeous captures Kane!
Posted by Morris McClung on February 1, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Verticals always seem to have a more dynamic quality, and this one is no different. Both work well, with a slight advantage to the vertical. That is quite a feat to reach this place in winter! I applaud your determination and your vision. Great shots.
Posted by Paul Martin on February 1, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Very cool, Kane - in fact they're ice cold. I also prefer the vertical shot slightly -- I think it puts a little extra emphasis on the beautiful ice. Well worth the effort to get there.
Posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 1, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Dang! These both rock. I love the horizontal, as it shows a little more of the surrounding area. I think I've seen a lot of vertical images that emphasize the ice and I really like those, but for some reason, that horizontal seems more in tune with what you wanted to shoot.... maybe a little more unique, too.
Posted by Jody Grigg on February 1, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Discussion
24 repliesThis is a cold place, to say the least.
Even in summer, the lake is not frequently visited.
Both of these shots were taken with a 17mm tilt shift lens. With the "shift" feature I could move the peaks to the extreme edge of 17mm without the peaks distorting in perspective. Conventional wide angle lenses cannot do this.
Shooting Mount Elbert at the extreme edge of a conventional wide angle lens would turn Elbert into the Matterhorn.
http://www.kaephotography.com/photo/blue-lake-glacier-gorge/
http://www.kaephotography.com/photo/blue-lake-glacier-gorge-2/
Nathan
And also glad you hear you got the 17mm t/s! I assume your comments are mainly referring to downward shift in the vertical shot? Whenever I use a non-shifting lens nowadays I feel like something's wrong. Also, btw, taking your comments further, sometimes you can actually use opposite (upwards) shift to purposely make peaks look even more jagged than a convential lens would render; on rare occasions this can actually be called for, I think.
Those shots are well worth the effort to get up there. In the winter that is quite a trek!!
That bold blue sky is perfectly complementary to the frozen lake.
Your hard work in getting to these places really pays off with unique and beautiful work!
"Did you camp or do a mega day hike?"
Day trip. Although I think an overnighter up there at Black Lake would be the best way to do it. I stayed in a hotel in Estes Park, and was on the trail by 4:00am. Sunrise was at 7:13am. I actually arrived late to the Blue Lake area; needed another 20 minutes. Must go back for a before sunrise shot.
Black Lake works best 3-4 days after the last snow. That gives the skiers and hardcore snowshoers enough time to pack the trail down all the way to the lake. Before sunrise, it's a microspike fast hike to about a 1/4 mile from Black Lake. From there it's snowshoe time. The route up into Spearhead basin from the lake is pretty straight forward, although there won't be much of a packed trail, plus it gets very windy once up in that basin.
I'm thinking the hike was about 10 miles RT with maybe 2,000-ft of gain? Later when the sun had time to soften up the snow I had to stick to the slowshoes for my hike back.
Kane