"Twisters in the Sky"

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maverick
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"Twisters in the Sky"

Post by maverick »

As a landscape photographer my evolving relationship with
mother nature continues too amaze me as she shows sides of
her that I have never witnessed before. This is one of the many
aspects of landscape photography that is on going and ever
changing, it ensures that boredom will never set in, and it constantly
fuels inspiration.
Clouds are one of the most important pieces of a photograph to me
and are always part of the envisioned final piece though they do
not always materialize. They can bring character, drama, color,
and many other emotional elements to a photograph.
Cumulonimbus or thunderheads evoke power, fear, and different
levels of drama to an otherwise emotionless landscape which lend
themself too be great black and white photo’s.
Altocumulus and Cirrocumulus are the smaller puffy clouds of
similar sizes sometimes resembling cotton balls that bring
softness and tranquility too the landscape, they look great during
the golden hours and make for great reflections in a mirror
surfaced lake.
Altostratus and Cirrus are the horsetails and wispy clouds that
resemble the soft stroke of a paintbrush, and are my favorite
clouds because there soft patterns when bathed in the soft hues
of a setting or rising sun are very picturesque. They also look
great when there are winds present at higher elevations that
blow these clouds into beautiful and interesting formations that
add another intriguing element to an otherwise emotionless
photograph. To my eye a landscape photograph seems naked
without some clouds in it, it lacks character, and an emotional
response is less likely achieved.

This following photo in black and white panorama that showcases
these clouds beautifully. The white clouds against the black sky that is
anchored by the side lite, and shaded foreground, showcase these
intricately shaped twister in the sky perfectly. There softness brings
a sense of calmness and there delicate motion is soothing to the
mind. One can stare at these twisting gems and get lost in the photo
for quite a while. It feels like your delicately getting pulled up into
them and becoming a part them.
The soft light in the morning that is illuminating the rocks in the
foreground beneath the Divide adds another almost “out of this world”
element to the photograph, but does so in a subtle, non-distracting
way.
Clouds are indispensable in any great piece of landscape art
too me, and they add so many different elements, physical and
emotional, that there existence in a photograph are a required to
achieve any type of success most of the time.
http://WildernessApertures.com/img/s1/v ... 0842-6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

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rlown
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by rlown »

Nice photo, Mav! We were about a half mile West of you with some pics of the same range (go figure) from Tomahawk (probably within a half day). I think I have several pics of those cloud formations building earlier. Your's has vastly more detail than what i could post. I even have some from that ridge on the other side of the canyon looking up at the spine from a few days earlier.

Last year at the same time is was rolling ice fog off the divide towards us at Mesa. I'll take the tamer twisters any day.
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maverick
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by maverick »

Thanks Rlown. They were exquisite cloud formations that were a real treat to
watch.
Hiked that same day after taking that picture to Box and too Tomahawk's eastern
shore before heading back. Two near encounters in one trip. :\
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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LMBSGV
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by LMBSGV »

I'm rather a cloud photo nut, so I love this. By the way, Phillip Hyde wanted to do a whole book of cloud photos, but never got around to putting it together to his satisfaction.
I don’t need a goal destination. I need a destination that meets my goals.

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maverick
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by maverick »

Thanks Larry, I too am a cloud nut! My wife calls me nuts because if there are some
interesting cloud formation in the sky while driving I am constantly checking them
out, or if there are some nicely colored clouds at sunset or sunrise its out of the
apartment to watch for an hour, or if there are some rare thunderstorms in the Bay
Area its off too a good lookout too watch the show. A couple of days ago there were
some great Cirrus clouds with pretty brush stroke like designs that had me pull over
on the way too work for about 30 min's. So yes, count me in as a serious cloud nut! :D
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Stevehymon
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by Stevehymon »

Great photo, maverick! I like how you had the nerve to keep the mountains at the bottom of the frame to emphasize what was going on in the sky.
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maverick
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by maverick »

Steve wrote:
Great photo, maverick! I like how you had the nerve to keep the mountains at the
bottom of the frame to emphasize what was going on in the sky.
Thanks Steve. Its my belief that having the foreground included not only anchors the
photo, but also gives the viewer a point of reference.
It is a shame that it does not really show up in its full glory on an uncalibrated
monitor. Just viewed it on a friends monitor, the contrast, shadows, are just
way off compared to the original. :puke:
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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BrianF
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by BrianF »

Beautiful! Its a bit surprising to see how little snow there is on the Glacier Divide, I know it is a dry year, but I have never seen so little
The direction you are moving in is what matters, not the place you happen to be -Colin Fletcher
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maverick
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by maverick »

Thanks Brian. Yes, the lack of snow is surprising.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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rlown
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Re: "Twisters in the Sky"

Post by rlown »

this was on our way in to Tomahawk Lk on the Sept 20th i think.
Glacial Divide 2012 090.jpg
Grainy but because i reduced it.

Russ

PS: the glaciers on the divide are in really sad shape.
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