dj.tigersprout's photoblog
a Waning, Rugged Twilight, Anaktuvuk Pass
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 8 October 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
a closer detail of what i am now calling the 'Mayan' Peaks... ;) taken much much later on the same day (after a good 4 hour nap to recover from the successful but exhilarating hike to Blueberry Mountain). in fact, by the time i got up to continue snapping shots of this amazing and mystical valley, it was already late evening, and the light was getting quite soft. at the time of this shot, the sun was behind the mountain range to the south, but not yet below the unseen, distant horizon. it would have been just abut 10PM -- but due to the long post summer days, it wouldn't be completely dark for another 2 hours. once again, as i prepped my camera, i reveled in finding myself completely alone, yet completely enthralled, on the edge of civilization -- at the ends of the earth, in a beautifully translucent, tranquil, Arctic twilight.
all work protected by Creative Commons
Yvonne S. from Tilburg, Netherlands
that light is beautiful, and was it a bit scary, all alone?
8 Oct 2008 5:05am
@Yvonne S.: thanks Yvonne! yes -- there is certainly an element of fear, and of being alone -- but it also comes with a deeper truth, and a faint knowledge of our origins in the wilderness -- hard to explain, but an amazing feeling!!
@jamesy: Thanks heaps Deb! :)
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
I don't know why but I get a bit of a feeling of fear from this image, I too wonder if you felt slightly scared being alone as the sun was showing it's last light?....amazing lines in the rock and detail in the sky DJ, another cracker image my friend!
8 Oct 2008 5:32am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks Kylie!! And yes -- fear is definitely present here -- but not the fear that we associate w/ horror films or personal harm... it is more like the fear of gradually understanding that there is so much to know and to learn, and even though there seems to be plenty of time, you can already see it beginning to slip through your fingertips!! Does that make sense? It is like waking from an intense, vivid and beautiful dream, only to find that before you are able to write it down properly, it is gone. This is a fear of loss: of knowledge, of experience, of one's self and our place in this beautiful world!
KZC from Sydney, Australia
Hi Mate - looks so rugged and I bet the view is just as good from the top.
8 Oct 2008 5:36am
@KZC: oh -- i can only imagine the amazing view from this peak! but it was too dangerous to climb!!! :(
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Precious colors and love the texture. I love your work.
8 Oct 2008 6:07am
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks very much Ana for the beautiful comments you leave!! Cheers! :)
zOOm from Paris, France
Great contrasts between the different layers of rocks. Impressive landscape, as usual.
8 Oct 2008 6:37am
Behrooz Sangani from Tehran, Iran
I'm always fascinated by those horizontal lines in rocks.
Strange sky indeed!
8 Oct 2008 6:41am
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Very special DJ - the lighting is spectacular.
8 Oct 2008 6:52am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Its almost like you are there witnessing the dawn of time, the beginning of life on earth! A simply stunning image of this incredible mountain. The detail of the intricate layers and shades of rock are awesome:-))
8 Oct 2008 6:57am
@Linerberry: Thanks Liners!! Yes -- i think you have said it perfectly!! This does have a 'dawn of time' feeling to it -- and it ties in to what i was feeling during this moment, and also in my response to Kylie regarding fear -- fear of losing all of this that has stood for millennia...!! this wonderful land gave me a certain type of instant 'home sickness' even though i had never lived here! it was bitter sweet! :)
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
WOW, I admire your daring, the challenges you meet constantly and those divine photos, Bravo Dj :)
8 Oct 2008 7:38am
@Lorraine: Thanks much Lorraine!! Your lovely comments and visits are always much appreciated!! Thank you!!
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Great contrast between the soft pink sky and the black rocks! The picture could have been taken on another planet, but I guess the end of the earth is another planet ;)
8 Oct 2008 8:07am
@Monique: Thanks Monique -- yes, aliens could certainly have been present in this type of landscape -- i probably wouldn't have even blinked if i had seen them! ;)
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
That feeling of being alone in a place of beauty is quite special. You ask yourself -are you the only one to truely appreciate the atmosphere and scenery? Will i ever be the same again? I don't think you ever are the same, every special encounter deepens your appreciation of life and this amazing planet we live on. This is a lovely image but your description speaks louder!
8 Oct 2008 8:25am
@Maxine: Thanks Max! And i agree -- every experience changes you... i know after each of my trips that something inside me has changed forever -- and for the better!! ;)
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
Very beautiful profile of this impressive mountain ! I like the different textures.
8 Oct 2008 8:53am
10fraction from France
what a majestic picture! Your color processing is beautifll also
8 Oct 2008 9:24am
@10fraction: Thank you kindly 10fraction!!! and thank you for all the wonderful comments you have left for me today!! :) I am very appreciative and am very eager to check out your site too! Cheers to you!! :D
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Wonderful photo of those impressive peaks. I like very much the detail of the stone.
8 Oct 2008 10:17am
@Paco Díaz: Cheers Paco! Gracias a ti! :)
MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
A fine detailed image. Very interesting. Don't the striations in the rock tell something of it's history? Love the colour of the sky.
8 Oct 2008 11:00am
@MaryP: Thanks Mary and yes they do -- but i wouldn't know how to read them unfortunately! ;) Cheers!
Sylvain from France
Une couleur bien sympa pour cette roche.
Une belle randonnée j'imagine.
Bonne journée.
8 Oct 2008 1:18pm
@Sylvain: Hello and Merci a toi Sylvain for the visit and the comment!! Cheers to you! :)
@Giovanni: Cheers Giovanni!! :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Mmm...simply divine! the fading colours, the sky turning pink and the lines and detail of the rock face are so outstanding. I can imagine there, taking it all in, watching and waiting until the last bit of light has left...and then waiting for the dawn, and for it all to begin again in reverse. Lovely.
8 Oct 2008 3:00pm
@bluechameleon: Thanks BC!! It was extraordinary to stand there in the valley... Everything seemed so big!!
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
WOW Astonishing. Wonderful textures and magnificent color in the sky. Then imagining to be there... alone. uhhh a bit scary, no? Fantastic DJ.
8 Oct 2008 3:05pm
@Rui: Thanks Rui!! and yes -- a bit unsettling -- but then totally rewarding at the same time! what a rush!!! ;)
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
Wonderful detail and texture in this DJ, but what I really love is the contrast of that fading ethereal pink in the sky...really cool.
8 Oct 2008 6:08pm
@Margie: Cheers Margie! The lighting up there was so magically ethereal! ;)
Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Fantastic shot love the textures and pink sky
8 Oct 2008 6:21pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Man, this is out of this world especially with that pinkish tone. Must be a mixture of feeling when you take this shot, alone, small, fear, and excitement. Ex-excellent shot.
8 Oct 2008 6:26pm
@Howard F.: thanks Howard and yes -- you are spot on: all of those feelings at once!! a bit dizzying really -- but its that mixed continuous 'rush' of feelings that you never forget!! :)
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Wow! Great textures of the rough mountain, love the contrast with the soft sky.
8 Oct 2008 6:48pm
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Another of your shots that appears like its from another world. The composition in this one is striking. Great work.
8 Oct 2008 7:06pm
@Graham Russon: Cheers Graham! Yes has a quite otherworldly feel to me too! What an amazing experience it was to be out in this isolated wilderness alone! wow!! :D
willow from chelsea, United States
Very rugged and intimidating-looking. The horizontal striations are intriguing. Hope you didn't try to up one of these?!
8 Oct 2008 8:23pm
@willow: Hehe -- nope! ;) This one actually looked as dangerous as it was! Cheers Willow!
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
A wonderful place to be. Quiet and peaceful I am sure. Love the greys and pinks.
8 Oct 2008 8:52pm
Elaine- from Canada
what an intense image! the emotion is vivid, and i love the pink sky and hue on the rock... reminds me of movies i've seen on tibet.. well done you!
8 Oct 2008 8:56pm
@Elaine-: Thanks Elaine! Tibet is somewhere else i would love to go!! :)
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Fabulous, fabulous textures, and an amazing shot dj, the magnificent mountains and the silence, must have been incredible! the sky is to die for.
ps did you get my email about Norway?
8 Oct 2008 9:12pm
@MaryB: howdy mary!
sorry -- just saw your note -- i didn't realize i hadn't responded back to you! so sorry! :) thank you for this wonderful information -- i think i will use tromso as a base and hit up the north cape too -- maybe even the svenbald(sp?) islands so i can see a polar bear?!? then with maybe 2 days in olso i think that should pretty much fill out my 8 day schedule! ;)
i would love to go to stavanger -- but i think most of the 'famous' places wouldn't be as nice in the winter -- too dark to really enjoy them! so i guess i will just need to go in the spring or summer next time! but as it will be early winter i think the northern half of the country would be nice to chill and watch the darkened skies all day long!
will update you when i know more -- i hope to leave in 6 weeks! yahoo!!
thanks again and have a great week! p.s. your email bounced as did the comment form (today) so i am posting this here! hope you see it!! :)
cheers!! :D
baobab from Cambridge, United States
the ends of the earth are wonderful places to explore :-)
nice b+w treatment: I like the faint tones in the sky.
8 Oct 2008 9:22pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
amazing landscape, beautifully captured, must be an amazing feeling being somewhere so remote , I would imagine it has an element of fear as others have mentioned and yet thrilling at the sense of adventure, almost exhilarating
8 Oct 2008 9:30pm
@JJ: Yes JJ -- that is exactly it! ;) Thanks mate!
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Its almost unearthly, like a view of Mars. amazing shot, what a lucky person you are to get to visit so many amazing places.
8 Oct 2008 9:34pm
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
The past two days have been awesome. Truly awesome. I must say that the discussion around black and white of a while back was best shown in yesterdays photo. That was absolutely stunning and from a fantastic vantage point to feel minute in such a massive world.
8 Oct 2008 10:19pm
@Walter: Cheers Walter and thank you kindly!! Those northern Arctic mountains are just so majestic -- and seen up close on foot, on my own -- i felt like Christopher Columbus discovering new territory!! :)
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Fantastic, DJ - The light and detail here are fabulous. Awesome.
8 Oct 2008 11:21pm
@Stephen Phillips: Cheers Stephen!!
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
You lucky thing you :D if you can do go to spitsbergen (Svalbard) that is an amazing place, lot's of snow ice and of course Mr Polar bear :) and It's the most northern (closest to the NP) place that anyone lives, so I hear. I'm saving like a mad women to go back in late April lol, there are 3 places in the world (that i've been to so far) that I feel most at home, Ireland and Italy being the other two. My mother was Irish and she had Viking blood, where the Italy connection comes from I've not found out yet lol.
I just know that you are going to have a fabulous time there and your photos will be awesome, I can't wait!
9 Oct 2008 12:33am
Jeffster from Long Island, United States
There is so much beauty in the simplicity of this shot!
9 Oct 2008 1:03am
@Jeffster: Cheers Jeff!! Thanks much!!
vu@granby Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
Once again, the different layers of rock are well defined in this picture.
9 Oct 2008 1:09am
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
I love all the lines in the rocks... to think that it took millions and millions of years to form... if only those rocks could talk...
9 Oct 2008 2:16am
amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Wonderful textures... stark, barren, and majestic. Excellent, DJ!
9 Oct 2008 3:32am
@amy: Cheers Amy!! :)
Teresa from Mountain View, United States
Dark at midnight? I love it! That is some beautiful light!
9 Oct 2008 4:08am
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
Beautiful beautiful textures in the rocks.
9 Oct 2008 4:15am
Laurent from Lyon, France
just a beautiful end of the world twilight. kind of thing that I've never seen except in your pictures
9 Oct 2008 4:31am
Mackenzie from Salem, Oregon, United States
Beautiful yet imposing. You captured it well!
9 Oct 2008 4:32am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
wonderful detail DJ! the peaks look quite rugged and treacherous... the clouds have quite an interesting colour shade as well... what a place?!
9 Oct 2008 4:39am
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
You've concentrated on form and detail here, DJ, and the result is just sublime. As always, good taste and good technique.
9 Oct 2008 1:09pm
Kingfish from Menlo Park, United States
I love the layers of stratification in the rock. Very nice composition with the grays and blacks - the cliffs are so imposing, like gods staring down. Good work!
14 Oct 2008 5:40am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/100 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
75 mm