Early April I hiked the west face of Crestone Peaks rarely frequented west ridge. My objective was a different perspective of two of Colorado's finest 14ers, Kit Carson and Crestone Peak. This ridge doesn't get much attention what-so-ever due to zero known routes up Crestone Peak via the west ridge so basically your seeing a perspective that quite frankly I have never seen before.
At any rate, the lighting was tough that night due to cirrus clouds off to the west, but I was lucky for some last second alpenglow. It always pays off to stick around to the last second. It's funny how things work out if you are patient.
Lastly, it's always interesting descending 3,500-ft in the dark, off trail with your life in the hands of a little computer they call a gps. I'm getting too old for this....
Very nice photo of two of my favorite mountains! Colors are really nice, the halo-ing on the peaks to the left is a distracting. I don't know if that was done in post or if I'm just seeing it funny. Regardless, very nice!
Ryan, that's a great call. Haloing seems to real its ugly head when an image is compressed. Its almost nonexistant in the large file. I think the haloing is a result from a bad "refine edge/feathering" action in PS. I'll address. Thanks.
Hi Kane,
Great shot! I really hear you on the "getting too old for this" routine. I did two solo trips in that area, one on the ridge immediately south of Cottonwood Creek, one on the ridge immediately to the north, both in January a few years back. I got sick on the second one, and it was a real ordeal getting out. I'll post a shot from the ridge south of Cottonwood Creek so you can see what that perspective looks like. If you haven't already been there, you might enjoy checking it out sometime.
Wonderful light! I really like how the ridgeline draws my eye into the scene and how it bisects the mountain peaks so nicely.
Excellent 'development' too, the haloes notwithstanding. This happens all the time with me and downsampled images, so I never even mention it anymore just assuming it's not on the full size work.
Thanks Glenn, you had some really nice conditions up on that ridge. I can't imagine the physical exertion needed to get up that high in all that powder. Brutal. Yes Ive been up there a few times in the past for that nice view of the Crestones; I've actually ran that ridge all the way to Pico Asilado summit. I think the view of the Crestones about a quarter mile west of Asilado's summit is by far the best view of those peaks around. It's just a logistical nightmare shooting that location. I really don't know if I'll ever get that shot.
I always enjoy your highline shots. Nice soft light. The center ridge helps me keep looking back and forth from right to left in the image. Would a slight darkening of the brighter sky on the far left have merit?
Hi Kane,
You RAN up the ridge to Pico Asilado?!?!? And you think you're getting too old for this?!? Now I have as much respect for your athletic ability as your photographic ability! How old are you, anyway? (I'm 55.)
Discussion
13 repliesAt any rate, the lighting was tough that night due to cirrus clouds off to the west, but I was lucky for some last second alpenglow. It always pays off to stick around to the last second. It's funny how things work out if you are patient.
Lastly, it's always interesting descending 3,500-ft in the dark, off trail with your life in the hands of a little computer they call a gps. I'm getting too old for this....
6 image vertical stitch; 12 image blend.
Kane
Great shot! I really hear you on the "getting too old for this" routine. I did two solo trips in that area, one on the ridge immediately south of Cottonwood Creek, one on the ridge immediately to the north, both in January a few years back. I got sick on the second one, and it was a real ordeal getting out. I'll post a shot from the ridge south of Cottonwood Creek so you can see what that perspective looks like. If you haven't already been there, you might enjoy checking it out sometime.
Excellent 'development' too, the haloes notwithstanding. This happens all the time with me and downsampled images, so I never even mention it anymore just assuming it's not on the full size work.
Thanks Glenn, you had some really nice conditions up on that ridge. I can't imagine the physical exertion needed to get up that high in all that powder. Brutal. Yes Ive been up there a few times in the past for that nice view of the Crestones; I've actually ran that ridge all the way to Pico Asilado summit. I think the view of the Crestones about a quarter mile west of Asilado's summit is by far the best view of those peaks around. It's just a logistical nightmare shooting that location. I really don't know if I'll ever get that shot.
You RAN up the ridge to Pico Asilado?!?!? And you think you're getting too old for this?!? Now I have as much respect for your athletic ability as your photographic ability! How old are you, anyway? (I'm 55.)