dj.tigersprout's photoblog
A Winter's Twilight Glory, Central Alaska
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 2 October 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
yesterday's polar night shot could be considered pretty gloomy indeed -- but not from the point of experiencing it while i was there -- when i was surrounded by that beautiful twilight it seemed as if i was in a dream, in some sort of mystical wonderland and it felt as if i was a kid again -- magically so! however, i can empathize with how looking at it on a computer screen in the comfort of familiar surroundings, the brain would automatically register the lack of atmospheric sunlight instantly triggering natural feelings of hibernation / coldness / isolation / depression & disassociation. but strangely to be there was simply electrifying!!
and then, the upswing to all of that darkness are the gloriously clear days with only layers of high feathered clouds that light up vividly in a spectacular 6 hour long display of sunrise -- sunset. the sun, resting on the horizon for hours throws forth wondrously warm reds, oranges & yellows to offset the backdrop of light blue-grays and deeper shadowy purples -- this colorful combination simply illuminating the vast skies and ground covered snow for hours -- this shot here being a glorious example! :D
**note -- this was taken through the windshield of a moving car...
all work protected by Creative Commons
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Absolutely georgous dj, this has such a tranquil feel to it and very magical too. I can see why you love the place soooo much!
Thank you for your birthday wishes yesterday:)
2 Oct 2008 5:06am
Yvonne S. from Tilburg, Netherlands
Indeed! a mystical wonderland!! beautiful lightning!!
2 Oct 2008 5:06am
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
Beautiful colours indeed. However I am concerned that you are shooting and driving!!!!
2 Oct 2008 5:21am
@jamesy: hehe -- lucky for me, i wasn't driving -- if i had been, i would have certainly pulled over for the shot!! cheers Deb! :D
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
I always love the beautiful colours that snow can take on. Lovely shot.
2 Oct 2008 5:38am
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
... this was taken through the windshield of a moving car... DJ are you telling me porky pies? :o) how good are you. The colour is stunning as is your composition on the fly... but, if anyone could do it, it would be you. 5 Stars from me my friend, I love this.
2 Oct 2008 5:46am
@Kylie Greenan: thanks so much as always Kylie! its always a pleasure reading your comments! :)
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Stunning colors in the sky, the pastel shades make a great contrast with the silhouette of the dark trees!
2 Oct 2008 5:48am
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Again, your control over lighting is fabulous! Beautiful image. Looks so cold.....
2 Oct 2008 6:35am
KZC from Sydney, Australia
Looking great - the snow is giving it a mystical look. More trees mate ;-)
2 Oct 2008 7:26am
Monique from Netherlands
Beautiful colors!, the winding road is inviting to follow it to anywhere!
2 Oct 2008 7:40am
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
This is one of my all-time favourites from you! Blow it up and frame it!
2 Oct 2008 8:01am
@dobbino: Cheers Rob! Just added you on FB! ;)
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
i think i like the night shot best! though the day is subtly beautiful with gentle color the night shot had the atmosphere.
2 Oct 2008 8:25am
@Maxine: Thanks Max! Glad to see some people liked the more 'dark' shot -- it was an incredible experience -- living in 'Dreamland'!!
lisa v from Gawler, Australia
Oh I loved yesterdays twilight darkness shot, it looked magical to me too, I have always loved that time of day best, though admittedly it's nicest in the warmer weather.
2 Oct 2008 9:03am
@lisa v: Thanks Lisa! Glad you liked yesterdays shot too! (I love it heaps too!) But this shot has the pastel colors... which is also wonderful -- and i knew the bright colors would help liven up the feeling of severe cold for most! :D
grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom
Lovely soft colours DJ. Now that is a bend and I wonder what's around it?
2 Oct 2008 9:20am
@grouser: hehe -- yep, well just around that bend, are many many more bends and lots of open straight road wilderness... always in pursuit of that sky!! ;)
marianne from France
here, in Toulouse, it's indian summer, it's strange to see snow and dark trees ...
but in Alaska , isn't it ??? lol
have you seen white bears ???
I just love your sky, and pink colors ...
2 Oct 2008 9:25am
Vinod from Bangalore, India
Wow Dj, Nice shot again... The feel of travel is prominent there in the shot... Keep running and shooting... Cheers!!!
2 Oct 2008 10:05am
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
Beautiful. The road seems to zoom on forever.
2 Oct 2008 10:21am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
How absolutely stunning dj....I just don't know how you do it my friend but you throw them out there everyday and everyday we are blown away:-) Spectacular image:-))
2 Oct 2008 11:02am
Eleftheria! from Athens, Greece
Your photos are so beautiful! Great work! I love them!
2 Oct 2008 11:39am
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
Very nice composition, with this force lines and the beautiful light…
2 Oct 2008 12:09pm
MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
The sky is beautiful, but i have to confess i like the one with 'headlights' much better.
2 Oct 2008 12:27pm
@MaryP: Thanks Mary! I am surprised how many people did like yesterday's shot! :) I really thought that most would find it depressing -- glad you did not! Cheers!
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Another superb addition to the series DJ. Wonderful capture... lovely colors and composition!! The atmosphere is so different from yesterday's but I really enjoy them both.:-)
2 Oct 2008 12:42pm
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
My brother lived in Fairbanks for many years. I am visiting and he's enjoying these along with me - bringing back many memories and stories for him. He knows this light all too well, DJ. Thanks.
2 Oct 2008 12:55pm
@Stephen Phillips: Cheers Stephen! Enjoy your time in Portland and regards to your brother! He must have some amazing stories to tell!! ;)
willow from Chelsea, United States
Perfect - the addition of just a little light and color make all the difference in the world for me. In this light it looks beautiful and magical to me whereas yesterday's just looked cold.
2 Oct 2008 1:02pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
the windshield must be super clean this is stunning, the colors in the sky are beautiful, love the road leading us into the shot
2 Oct 2008 1:59pm
@JJ: thanks JJ -- it was a rental car -- and it was immaculate! :)
vu@granby - Alain Berger from Granby, Québec, Canada
Absolutely outstanding ! The sky is so beautiful !
2 Oct 2008 2:11pm
@vu@granby - Alain Berger: Cheers Alain! Thank you kindly! :)
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Beautiful winter scence, although I admire the beauty, I'm all too familiar with it lol
2 Oct 2008 2:42pm
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
beautiful; damn, it looks cold. you can see the crispness of the air....
2 Oct 2008 3:35pm
Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom
lovely shot dj . the light is fantastic
2 Oct 2008 4:08pm
Namaki from Bordeaux, France
I agree with you and this is why after my midnight sun experience I want to try the polar night ! ... some time !
2 Oct 2008 4:14pm
Laurent from Lyon, France
superb shot. I like the sky and speed effect on the road. I wish I could drive on this road. Really dreamy
2 Oct 2008 4:44pm
Daily Phototherapy from Sacramento, United States
soothing color that matches the graphic components of the curving road.
2 Oct 2008 5:39pm
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
I think you should call this series "Jaycee in Wonderland"! ;o)
Well this one's terrific. The coloured sky with that white borders. Amazing composition. Wonderful light. WOW
2 Oct 2008 7:23pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
I just love the effect of a cold lit sky, the magical twilight moment of perfect serenity, the winter wilderness held for that instance in the frame, another stunning image, great work.
2 Oct 2008 7:44pm
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
One word for this image ....... fantasticgorgeousbeautiful.
2 Oct 2008 7:49pm
@Marion: Cheers Marion, i love that description!! ;)
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Fantastic shot, everything about it is just perfect. Great work.
2 Oct 2008 8:21pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Great serie about roads at different moments of the day.
2 Oct 2008 8:59pm
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Aaahh, beautiful shot! Makes me think of my trip in the Rockies 3 years ago, on the Icefield Parkway from Banff to Jasper in december 2005.
2 Oct 2008 9:09pm
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
A nice shot that does a good job with leading of one's eyes and providing a good sense of depth. And the tops of the evergreen trees stand out nicely against the backlit sky!
2 Oct 2008 9:12pm
lasiate from Philippines
beau contraste ce sandwich de couleurs chaudes et froides
2 Oct 2008 10:39pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
I can tell by the sky that it is bitterly cold. Such a lonely place, but what a great shot.
2 Oct 2008 11:04pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Wonderful shot. I hope you shot this inside a car. I can feel the bitter cold wind crashing into my face. :)
3 Oct 2008 12:17am
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
At the right place at the right time with equipment in hand just searching for a shot. This is a great job of timing on your part. As for the previous two photos, you know which one I liked best. Yesterdays, hands down.
3 Oct 2008 1:21am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
what makes the shot for me is the feeling of motion towards the trees and the clour bands ahead... it really does seem as though I am travelling there right now...
3 Oct 2008 2:13am
callemie from Belgium
again a wonderful picture and while I was looking at the picture I thought to myself mmmmmmmmm this is from a driving car! and so indeed it was taken from a car!
be careful "don't "shoot" and drive "hihihihihi
3 Oct 2008 6:01am
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
Excellent. I love the colors and also the feeling of speed on the road.
3 Oct 2008 6:34am
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
How excellent for a photo taken from a car! The slanting lines of the sky and the curve of the road combine to give this a wonderfully dynamic look.
3 Oct 2008 9:35am
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
Wow, you're inbox must be stuffed full each morning! I had to scroll so far down to comment that I've almost forgotten what the picture looked like :)
Jokes aside, this is very beautiful, and strangely gives me more of a feeling of cold than yesterdays. Not sure why...perhaps yesterdays was too magical to allow such prosaic thoughts as "cold"...
3 Oct 2008 7:21pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Now that is really stunning and just what I think of when I think of Alaska. Amazing.
3 Oct 2008 7:47pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
I like the motion blur in this - streaks things together and gives a stronger sense of motion to the shot. one wonders what is around the bend in the road...
3 Oct 2008 7:49pm
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Beautiful colours - I never tire of seeing the views of Alaska... something I will most likely never get to see... sorry I haven't been here... been away for 2 days...
4 Oct 2008 1:53am
Eric Rousset from Grasse, France
Like the curve of the road, nice purple @ the horizon .Good frame bud !!
4 Oct 2008 2:19pm
pedro alexandre from loures, Portugal
great sunset!!!, nice curve lines and good frame.
4 Oct 2008 5:22pm
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
These fantastic pastels - just magnificent, DJ - wow...
5 Oct 2008 3:50am
Jeffster from Long Island, United States
WOW - 75 comments - I had to scroll for a while to get to the Comments section. Beautiful color and composition. This image reminds me of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
5 Oct 2008 5:14am
LeenaM from Joensuu, Finland
Yes!! You could have taken these photos here !! So familiar they are :)
Are you living in Alaska, living through whole long, dark, freezing winters there?
Some of us can not bear this darkness, I am not suffering about it, but I know many, who are very
depressed during dark winters. So, it is not only magic to live in North.
But we can get magnificent photos about it :)
Have a happy Sunday!
5 Oct 2008 6:40am
LeenaM from Joensuu, Finland
Sorry, I read now from your "about" and saw, that it was your trip to Alaska! Ok! It`s better in that way :)
Do you know now, what do you do in Norway and where to go there and what to see ??
5 Oct 2008 6:45am
Denis from Martinique, Martinique
beautiful pictures, beautiful colours, certainly beautiful country.
But I will never go there, too cold !
5 Oct 2008 2:52pm
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
hello again dj. I'm back and I am glad to see this winter road view. Congratulations.
6 Oct 2008 4:58pm
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
If one closes their eyes and and takes a deep breath, the cold air can be felt in ones lungs. This photo just breathes atmosphere, and the feeling of winter.
Stunning!
7 Oct 2008 1:21pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Looks sort of magical, this "end times" refuge.
7 Oct 2008 2:13pm
Mackenzie from Salem, Oregon, United States
Enchanting. The story behind it makes it more so. Thanks for sharing!
9 Oct 2008 4:34am
danthro from Suburbia, United States
wow, a 6-hour-long sunrise, a photographer's dream! beautiful colors in the sky, but i actually thought the previous one was even more beautiful, didn't seem gloomy to me at all
9 Oct 2008 8:34pm
Nan from Quezon City, Philippines
Looks so refined, like it took you considerably long to get the lines, curves, and hues on the shot :)
15 Oct 2008 10:38am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/30 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
27 mm
winter
sunrise-sunset
alaskan-wilderness
alaska
winter-solstice
twilight