All Images And Text On This Site Are Copyright 1999-2000
by
Thomas D. Hill Jr.
Sunrise at Moraine Lake
I'm a big fan of Outdoor Photographer magazine. The cover photos have been outstanding and one summer, the editors at Outdoor Photographer put a great image of Moraine Lake with the Valley of Ten Peaks in the background. I saw that and said wow. I'd been there and knew the area well enough to plan how I was going to recreate this incredible photo. I'd arrive well before sunrise, set the camera up to what I thought the image should be, and then wait for the sunlight to hit the mountains. Well, like anything the best-laid plans can't account for everything and you can never depend on Mother Nature. The whole area was covered with an uninspiring overcast. The mountaintops were barely visible and any sunlight that did break the clouds never materialized in my composition. So, I sat waiting. Hoping some kind of miracle would happen.
I sometimes amaze myself sometimes with how focused I can be. I'd be staring in one direction and I'd never know the whole world was transforming around me. This case was no exception. I stared intently at the Valley of Ten Peaks hoping for a miracle and almost missed the glowing orange sunshine lighting up the mountains to my side. My miracle was happening. It just wasn't in the direction I had expected. The best laid plans...
I had painstakingly setup my equipment for an image in one direction and on a moment's notice, I threw it all away to tackle the new idea. From the first moment I saw the sunshine on that mountain, I knew I had to fly into action. That glow wasn't going to last long and I needed to work fast. I grabbed by tripod, scrambled up an embankment to get a clear view, and recomposed things. I didn't have time to change lenses. I couldn't really analyze the exposure. I took a general guess of the region's tonal qualities and depended on my camera's matrix metering. From initial observation to final picture was about 5 minutes. That's a lifetime in some books but much too quick for my type of photography.
I thought about to what end was all my experience of taking pictures good for. Honestly, anyone with enough time can analyze static situations and take great pictures. But, when time is critical and the rubber is hitting the road, there's nothing like previous experience to get you to the end. Automatic reactions where others have to think is invaluable when the pressure is on. And, the only way to get these instincts and to practice, practice, practice...
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