Hi All. I was recently out in the field for a couple months, dating back to the beginning of October.

I have five photographs to share here from the Sierra range, all of which were captured within a nine day span near the peak of Autumn color. As you can see in this series, they don't call it the range of light for nothing! Each image was made at sunrise or sunset. Some depict backcountry wilderness areas and others showcase the Eastern side of the range accessible to all.

All images: Canon 5D, 16-35 f/2.8 II lens, Singh Ray filters - usually polarizer + grad combos for max color and definition in the skies.


This first image was made near June Lake on the 15th of October at sunrise.

Edited by Marc Adamus on Dec 10, 2007 at 12:25 PM GMT

This from over 11,000 in the High Sierra while backpacking. It is a 10 minute exposure. I'll answer any questions below.

This from the Buttermilk hills outside of Bishop. Flowering sage in the foreground.

Yosemite's famous Cathedral peak from near my backcountry camp.

The last one is again from the alpine Sierra wilderness.

Exceptional work as always, Marc. The second is absolutely amazing. An example of how photography can be superior to eye sight as no one can condense a 10 min view into one picture. The way the clouds 'explode' is awesome.
Love these. Ute

What a fabulous set Marc - extremely difficult to pick a favourite, they are all so good
David

Mark, truly great series! I can't name a favorite, all are excellent. Very well done.

Kaj

Great series of shots.
I like the second and fifth one the best.

I haven't been on the forum too much lately, but I just had a quick spot of time, and here we go with yet another spectacular series of images.

Range of Light indeed. I am, of course, completely awestruck here. The "capture" of light is the essence of the accomplishment with these. That light has a certain glow that I thought could never be fully captured with any "sensitive medium" that records the photons, whether it be film, digital, or paintbrush. I'm impressed enough that I'm starting to relinquish that assumption.

It's uncanny to me that Marc is able to pull the soul of the locations into the realm of recorded light, and then into our own souls. Whether it is the desert, the plains, or the mountains, I see the ability to show unique nuances of that location and bring it into our homes.

We can become armchair travelers and can take advantage of the considerable effort that has been put into these pieces of art. That is extremely fortunate for us.

The light is fundamental to photography, and I can only assume that the propensity to capture that fundamental schism is part of Marc's total immersion into the vagaries of the particular location. This "total immersion" brings us not only the "soul" of the Sierras, but brings us the "soul" of Marc.

I don't see how I could possibly pick a favorite here. Rather, I'll just comment that the light values are extremely beautiful.

In the second image, there is a true feeling of MOVEMENT, brought about by the expanding rays of light. Though the scene is leaning toward a quiet pulchritude and calming of the senses, there is still that sense of coruscating light that leaves me with a feeling of excitement. The image is simpler than the others, with the sere landscape providing its own element of simplicity.

The wider view here tends to demote the detail inherent in the macrocosmic world, and this allows for an expedient concentration of the larger blocks of the image into the composition. For instance, there are really only four "light masses" here - the sky, the light on the background parapets, the middle ground slopes and peaks, and the foreground reflection. They have been placed, against all applicable odds, as "rule breakers". The triangular peak is centered in the composition, and the horizon is close to bifurcating the image cleanly in the "50/50" zone. But it works here, of course, because the photographer has added enough sub-elements to provide "viewing rooms" of detail, such as the use of the left foreground rock and the deep vignetting of color in the right foreground to frame the reflected pyramid.One only needs to look around and find more of these viewing rooms.

I could wax very enthusiastically about the rest of the images, but I tend to overblow my welcome with my personal feelings about this type of photography. Let me suffice it to say that the images are simply brilliant in many, many ways.

Fantastic captures of light, this is what photography is all about.

Sweet Mark. Very fine Sierra colection. The last one strikes me most I think.

Great work, love the Dusy Basin shots, such a magical place.. that peak is really iconic. The light you captured here is really phenomenal.

Very well done, Marc. Although all are exceptional in their own way, I have to say that your Yosemite Cathedral peak photo strikes me the most, with absolutely gorgeous sky and the reflection in the water. It's an absolutely beauty - just like the rest of your images.

-Nick

Great as usual, but i'm curious, why did you give up the 17-40?? You and a couple others convinced me that was the lens to have. Are you getting better results with the 16-35?

Hello Marc,

A superb collections of images. What a wonderful set of souvenirs from the trip. Thanks for sharing them here.

hugh

Mark: The beauty in each of these is so immense, so striking that from our homes and offices we can just about feel the thrill of being there. Was there really room for thousands at your backcountry campsite?

I am truly amazed.

Bart

Exceptional captures Marc, what I expect from you though. The whole series is just absolutely breathtaking!!! Thanks for sharing. My favorite part of the country.
Larry

roberto1979 wrote:
Great as usual, but i'm curious, why did you give up the 17-40?? You and a couple others convinced me that was the lens to have. Are you getting better results with the 16-35?


Roberto, at one point the 17-40 f/4 L was as good as any other wide angle in that range for Canon cameras but it still lacked somewhat in the area of edge to edge sharpness, especially the corners. Canon fixed this issue with the introduction of a new 16-35, not to be confused with the old one. This as sharp as any lens I own throughout the range and is flawless to the corners.

Great imaging, Marc. I especially love the two of Isoceles Peak, in Dusy Basin. I've spent many days there. I hope that is the peak I'm naming. It could be confusing!

well you know what these are freakin awesome!!! I think I know what day you took that Buttermilk Shot.. I was stayin in Bishop, but missed getting out there that morning...

Marc Adamus wrote:
roberto1979 wrote:
Great as usual, but i'm curious, why did you give up the 17-40?? You and a couple others convinced me that was the lens to have. Are you getting better results with the 16-35?


Roberto, at one point the 17-40 f/4 L was as good as any other wide angle in that range for Canon cameras but it still lacked somewhat in the area of edge to edge sharpness, especially the corners. Canon fixed this issue with the introduction of a new 16-35, not to be confused with the old one. This as sharp as any lens I own throughout the range and is flawless to the corners.

The new 16-35 MarkII version has a 82mm diameter. I had a chance to shoot with it recently, but have not been able to process photograph. I will post some results when I process them.

By the way, very nice work Marc.

-Jay

Truly fine images all
Second one gave me the feeling of travelling through space ( which we normally do imperceptibly ). Please tell me if any warm filters were used in any of images. Well done.

Marc simply amazing. I was admiring your website as well the other day, what a great collection of images.

Marc, how can one not comment on beauty, though beautiful seems somewhat inadequate. Perhaps moving? Anyway, they're a joy to behold.

I was particularly interested in your take on the new 16-35. Sounds like a winner. I'll have to try one.

Edited by DonH on Dec 11, 2007 at 01:09 PM GMT