Fade to Blue

I have been waiting all summer for a view much like this. Clean views, a lovely fade into the blue haze over the mountains in a deep, wild valley. The sunset didn’t go quite the way I wanted, though the weather hardly ever cooperates with you. In the end, I opted for this deep dark valley shot on the last day of summer, right after a large storm had rolled through. The air cleaned of pollutants that often make up the unrelenting haze, giving way to the natural mist produced by the forests. I panicked getting to the location, panicked getting the composition, and I panicked getting the shot. In the end, after leaving the scene, wondering if I had managed to get my photo, I think I did alright.

I have shot locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and greater Great Smokey Mountains for the past seven years, I know the areas and locations well. Even still, every time I venture out it’s a new challenge, a new experience, almost a whole new world. To my derivate, I allow myself to keep slipping back into the same compositions I know so well, and have recently begun trying to break free of that habit. Trying to remember to take my time with finding the right composition for every scene, no matter how many times I have taken it, because every time we go out, it should be a new experience.

When you take your gear out, remember to take your time, relax, don’t panic shoot like I am known to do from time to time. The lightshow was happening behind me, but I didn’t have time to pack up and run back across the fields to get to a location, so I focused on what I was doing. The knowledge that I was missing potentially better shots began to eat away a little. You have to remember, we can account for a lot, but not all. Relax, steady yourself, try and see what the light is doing, then get that shot.

Until Next Time!

Aperture: f8
ISO: 640
SS: 1/60th
Focal: 50mm

Fujinon 50-140mm