Deep in the Woods

A classic view of the mountain valleys within western North Carolina. Clouds just above your head, so close you can nearly reach up and touch them, light rays down into the valley bellow, light and shadow illuminating and hiding the secrets just out of sight. The Autumn colors bringing the scene into sharp contrast of the hustle and bustle of society you left just down the road. Where as New York, LA, Chicago all run a mile a minute, when you’re here, in these mountains, time slows down to a stop. Take in the beauty, the serenity, that’s when you realize, in the strangest of ways, no matter how far you are from where you live, you’ve come home.

The mountains are like a ever changing, and evolving painting. No matter how many times you visit, and revisit them they will always be different. From clear blue skies, to midnight thunder storms, the mountains evolve endlessly. This composition was one I had struggled with, and you too will find compositions that you will struggle with. The fact that the scene itself is awe inspiring year round, does not in fact mean that there is a photo there. At least not always. You have to be there when the light, sky, and environment is in tune and gives you something to work with.

Once you do have that photo, you have to edit. Editing is a strange creature, much like my mountain scenes, ever evolving. When you first start out, it can be intimidating. Then you learn some basics, and it all gets easier. Then you realize there’s a way to bring more form your photos, depth colors, contrast. You hesitate, because it means using a program like photoshop. Don’t hesitate my friends, while it seems difficult, using photoshop to exposure blend, or dodge and burn photos is simple… figuring out how not to overdo it is the hard part.

Until Next Time!

Aperture: f8
ISO: 640
SS: 1/250th
Focal: 28mm

Fujinon 16-55mm