Anatomy of a Composition - December
Light trails are a challenging image to capture and create. In order to convey the motion necessary, there needs to be a challenging topography, with curves and grades in the row to convey 3 dimensions. Technically these are challenging as all cameras and lenses are built differently and so handle light differently, buy either throwing off excessive glare and flaring, or by globs of light gathering on the sensor, because the source light is shining directly into the camera. The third challenge is like most photography the challenge of timing, can you be in that right location at the optimal time so as to show off the lights while also highlighting the actual scene.
On a Saturday morning after searching around for the Comet C/2021, I decided to take a gamble on a spot that I thought might produce a worthwhile image. I first tried to shot this composition 5 years ago when I’d just started this photographic journey, but I tried it from the top-down; I was up on the Frontage Road trying to take advantage of the ski traffic returning to Denver on a Sunday evening. While I was please with the attempt, it was overall a pretty forgettable image. Then, last spring I saw a post of this set of trails and I knew exactly where the image had been photographed from, as many years ago I spent a whole summer mountain biking and trail running, when the Front Range was a much less crowded world.
So again, in the pre-dawn light I made my way up the incline not completely certain I’d find the composition I was looking for. not quite a mile into the hike I reached the crest and turned to see my instincts were correct. A few star trails show up in the frame, a testament to our home, spinning on its axis.
Just as a reminder, this year’s calendar is now available and they are ready to ship! It features a collection of shots taken each month from around Colorado to share the unique beauty of the state throughout the entire year. You can preview a Web Gallery for all of the images inside this year’s calendar.
December, 2021 - As always, thank you for the support and for joining me on this adventure.
For more thoughts on some of these images, and life’s other travails, head to www.wordpress.com/alma175w
Morrison Hogback - ISO 100 | F/11 | 69.0 sec. - single image, edited in Lightroom - Sony a7iii & Sony FE 135GM