Leaning Towers - a photo on Flickriver

Leaning Towers

Leaning Towers

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Backcountry lake and reflection, sunrise | Kings Canyon National Park

As much as I loved the stunning scenery and light I found on my whirlwind Southwest tour a month ago, I realized as I wrote up my last photo that I felt my Flickr stream was beginning to lose touch with my photographic core, the High Sierra. Perhaps that’s largely because the last several months weren’t high country backpacking season, but I feel I’ve been too caught up in new places that I’ve almost forgotten about the place nearest to my heart: the backcountry.

Almost all of my backpacking trips are solo; I find that provides me greater flexibility and opportunity to find the solitude I need to have the experience I yearn for. My trips are just as much about discovering myself as they are about photography, and I’ll often hike 15-20 miles in a day with 40-50+ pounds on my back. People often ask me about the additional risks posed by traveling alone; I actually enjoy the vulnerability, allowing me to truly feel my surroundings. Many of my most memorable and fulfilling trips have been during thunderstorms, hailstorms, and gusty winds – it’s only during those times do I truly realize how small I am compared to the grandness of what lies before me. This trip was actually one of those – would you ever have guessed from this image?! The day before, I hiked through several hours of heavy hail and deafening thunder, and just a few hours after this beautifully clear sunrise, the clouds built up and the cycle began again. I have several images that feature the storm clouds (even a shot of mammatus clouds over Mobius Arch…which I promise to post!), but I had a story on my mind about peace in the wilderness and this image just felt right.

I often wonder what the world really looked like before human civilization developed…was the whole planet once like this? I’ve long since dreamed of leading small-group backcountry photo workshops to help others find themselves in the wilderness, but as a full-time student, it’s just not feasible yet. Though I do have the next best thing – I’m officially a Backcountry Park Ranger in a very beautiful place. :)

ok, now a word about the photo itself…

Compositionally speaking, this one’s rather simple. I think this scene speaks for itself – I tried framing the reflection between rocks, grasses, and other things…but thought they only helped to break up the stillness. This is the scene without fancy bells or whistles, just how I saw it. Hope you enjoy. This is a panorama from four horizontal frames, all handheld.

Also wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your generous comments and insightful feedback on all my images -- I appreciate every word and visit.

all the best,

- Jeff

______________

please, pretty please, don't use this copyrighted image without my permission. if you're interested in prints, licensing, or just being extra awesome, check out my profile.

P.S. Press "F" then "L" to make your wildest dreams come true :)

Taken in: United States / California / Independence (show map)

Taken on: July 30, 2011

Tags:

yosemite

water

unitedstates

travel

trail

sunrise

sierranevada

sierra

scenic

reflection

photography

nature

nationalpark

mountains

lewis

landscape

landescapephotography

landescape

lake

jefflewis

jeff

hiking

highsierra

canoneos5d

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california

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5d « less

Sets appears in: • High Sierra: My Second Home • Getty Images

Groups appears in: • High Sierra • Canon DSLR User Group more » • Beautiful Scenery & Landscapes • Water... Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks • U.S. National Parks • top-f [ 25+ faves ] • Professional landscapes • So. Cal Shooters • Landscape photography • Outdoor Photographer Magazine (Unofficial) • 100 faves • Canon EOS 5D Series • Favorites: 100 • California Landscape and Seascape • Beautiful California • Sierra Nevada Sunset/Sunrise • Favorite Land- and Seascape Pictures • Faves EXTREME 100 (<10 views per fave) • Beautiful Light - One a Day • ONLY LANDSCAPES AND SUNSETS( NO PEOPLE PLEASE!!!!) • Hitech-Formatt Filters • THE BEST PICTURES OF REFLECTIONS • Inspirational Landscapes • ~ Flickr's Finest (100+ Faves Only) ~ • ***Favorite landscape • G Dan Mitchell's "Sierra Nevada - Photographs from the Range o • Canon 5D Classic Users • Landscape Beauty ! • Red Matrix Masterpiece (Admin Invite) • Photography Club at UCLA • [ Wonders of Nature ] • Canon EF 17-40 mm f4 L - Full Frame/35mm Cameras • ☆The Power Of Now ☆ • Portfolio: artscape • ☆ My Artistic Creations ☆ • The Silk Touch • The Pantheon of Landscape • MUSEUM QUALITY Only | P1-P2 | Invite Only • Explore The Beautiful...探索美麗(invite) • Photographer's Choice~Hall of Fame (Invitation) • Inspirational Landscape images • California Landscape Photographer • Landscape Masterclass • The Sierra Nevada Collection « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5D, f/9.0, 1/80 sec, 17mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Unknown
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.0 (Macintosh)
Show full info

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