Focused On The Details
The peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range are not especially tall compared to others in the States and around the world. But like most mountainous regions fall weather can be dicey and therefore preplanning and preparation is essential.
Broken Top Mountain is one of many Central Oregon peaks in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. The peak of this glacially eroded stratovolcano stands at an altitude of 9,100 feet (2774 meters). In volcano’s crater lies a glacier lake called No Name Lake. On the West end of the crater the steep slope meets the lake directly. There is no shoreline.
I had been up this way just a week earlier to photograph sunrise. Unfortunately my best images from the session were flawed (my focusing error). I was back this morning for the second attempt.
It had snowed the night before making the drive up the five mile rutted forest service road a challenge. From the trailhead the hike to the crater is about 3 miles each way. I don my shoe spikes, turned on the headlamp, strapped on the backpack and pointed myself towards the crater entrance.
The trail was snow covered and icy in areas that are shadowed during the day. This late in the year not much water is flowing in the streams that crossed the trail. The water that was making its way down had a thin layer of ice.
I reached the crater in plenty of time. Sunrise light wouldn’t arrive for another 30 minutes. Determine not to make the same mistakes I made on the previous trip, I established a standing spot and began my usual ‘get ready’ workflow.
I wanted to create an image that portrayed a cold and unsettling scene. I used the amphitheater-like crater surroundings as a kind of structural vignette. My hope was to force the eye over the wind swept lake and up the crater slope on the far side.
I mounted a wide angle lens, then the camera to the tripod leveling everything to the horizon. It was windy and very cold. Working small dials and the lens focus ring with gloves is nearly impossible. Working without gloves isn’t easy or pleasant either. But I was determined to make sure every image was tack sharp, so I ungloved. I used my headlamp to illuminate my hyperfocal point and manually focused.
Broken Top Fall Sunrise 2101117LND850BW - Late Fall sunrise at the Broken Top Mountain - No Name Lake crater, Bend, Oregon, USA. Fall sKy from previous visit inserted. Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 @ 15mm, 1s, f/18, ISO 64.
I wanted the water on the lake to appear wind blown and icy. I try a few different shutter speeds. I found a two-second shutter speed was just enough time to capture surface movement to meet my vision. With the tripod securely anchored I timed my exposures to coincide with wind gusts.
The final image was just what I had hoped for, a tack sharp photo depicting a wind blown, cold, mountain environment.
If you are interested in learning nature and landscape photography I would love to be your guide and instructor. Visit my photo workshop web page to learn more. Then send me an email or give my a call (480.204.3109) to talk about designing a photo class, workshop or adventure tour that meets your next level photography goals.
As always I do appreciate your interest and support. Please feel free to leave comments or send questions.
Cheers,
Steve
