Coming up for air
I’ve returned from a much-needed vacation, and will soon start this up again. It’s a remarkable thing, going from Alaska to Hawaii and back. I left the surf and sun for… melty snow, cold nights, and skiing.
After a week of sulking, I think I’m ready to get back into the swing of things. Maybe. I’m still struggling for direction here, but at least I’ve re-discovered the joy of making photographs.
Unfortunately, not enough have been, and my enthusiasm is flagging. No more updates for a bit, until I can find that passion.
I noted the other day that there is a short period of time when images are just… well, incredible. Witness:
Late Winter Sunrise, in HDR
Here’s the thing: the sun is low, and for quite a while. It’s spreading those pinkish-purplish hues all over – and to that side, it’s nothing but snow & ice fields. That lovely, lovely light just bounces all over the place. And if there are clouds, it bounces right back down, with an incredible display of color.
Alpenglow, locals call it.
Late last week, that was going on all over the place. Caught a bit of it, although late – the price of responsibility, I suppose. Still, with HDR & some manipulation, I got close.
The truth-in-advertising section: when the reds were there, they were much more red and less orange. Brighter, but deeper. By the time I managed to capture the image, it was lighter – turning to a pinkish-purplish pastel. By merging HDR, I recaptured the intensity, but it overdid the color on the mountains. Desat there & we’re getting closer to the reality.
But playing around, and I liked this the most. You’re looking at O’Malley Peak, over Anchorage, Alaska.
There’s a short time of the year when the sun is low and golden for a long time in the morning. We’re there right now:
Mask
There’s something about this glow that I just really, really like…