The Gift

Hello friends, it's been quite awhile since my last visit to photo.net. No excuses, just Life. This August '12 image represents the first series of shots for me since last May. I was on vacation with my family on coastal Washington State - Puget Sound - in a rented cabin for a few days. On the recommendation of a photog buddy I drove down shoreline an hour or so to Salt Creek Recreation Area, well known for fascinating tide pools. I had my tripod set up and was shooting mussel beds, safely back from the shore with it's tiny 12" wave action. Then, in the first hour of the first day I had ever shot in a marine situation, what I can only describe as a rogue wave drenched me, my camera set-up and my backpack. The water teetered the tripod into my chest, I instinctively grabbed the camera, toppled backwards, barely balanced slipping on the seaweed and making for dry stone. I reached for the bandana in my pocket and it was half-drenched and useless. Within thirty minutes the 5D MKII body was mostly shut down, giving many bizarre error messages. It was almost like a death in the family. The Canon EF 35-70 took it in the shorts too, testing it at home on another body.

My insurance covered the loss, minus a deductible, but a third-party procurer had to make the purchase of the body, lens (I got a nice 16-35 instead; I love it in the mountains), card and battery. So the lag time meant I was not back in business (so to speak; I'm mostly an amateur) until August. No complaints, that is just how it is.

As soon as I got the new stuff I headed for the high country. I call this image The Gift because, shooting blindly on that first evening without any idea where the MW would come up, after the initial twilight exposures of the fg and mg and then waiting for pitch dark, I assumed a starfield. As the MW appeared PRECISELY where I would want it, artistically speaking, my mind drifted off thinking that Nature was offering a welcome back gift after being away.

I desaturated the pink snow down some, but in this alpine basin - there is a live glacier at it's head - the pink tinged snow is common in the summer months. I believe it is caused by an algae species growing on the surface of the snow, but not sure.

Very beautiful picture Marc.

Nice, really nice shot.

Regards ;)

This is inspiring stuff. A great scene beautifully recorded. 

Well done

Looks Great! Well Done!