Just back from an AK trip. While at DNP, stayed at one of the lodges inside the park. Didn't know that on their buses we would not be able to get off except at designated restroom stops. However, the driver did open the door and allow us to shoot on steps. With a line of people ... you have to be fast and get it right the first time. The driver stopped at this scene, and I had my 100-400 zoom on as I was expecting wildlife. I took as many shots as I could, but did not quite build the pano I wanted to. I am missing some frames to the right, unfortunately. I also would have liked to have gotten more reflection, but this is the best crop that I could come up with. As always, thanks for looking and for any feedback.
The best you could? That's a sensational image - truly a wall-hanger. When I first saw it, I wondered how much you had to pay for those perfect looking clouds to be arranged around the mountains.
EGrav, bflood, and REMAC, thank-you for your comments. REMAC, thank you for putting things in perspective - it is indeed a great privilege to be able to witness a scene like this, and I am thankful for the opportunity.
Unless they have changed the rules, you can get off whenever you like (except within a certain distance of spotted wildlife). I have done this before. I have been reminded, however, as I exit the bus, if you do not catch another bus before the end of the bus run day, you are on your own (i.e. SOL). I have also been reminded as I am stepping off the bus at DNP "Remember, this is Alaska". It was humbling to see posted at several of the rest stops along the 100 mile dirt road, flyers with pics asking if you see so and so (who has been missing for weeks or months) please call this number. The beauty beckons to venture out.....not everyone returns. If DNP is on your bucket list...do it. Take the earliest bus in the a.m. to see incredible things. Take water and a mosquito net....and remember: "It's Alaska"
DocsPics - I think you are correct about the green buses in the park. I was not on a green bus - it was one that takes guests to one of the backcountry lodges and something about their agreement with the park service prohibits them from allowing people off the buses except at Tecnalika, Tok, Polychrome, Eilson and maybe one other place. I think the best way to photograph the park is probably to use the green buses and camp or backpack.
That is a great view of Denali, but I find it hard to believe that you were not able to have switched to a wider lens. Or even more, why didn't you have a 2nd body set up with a wider lens. When one goes to these perhaps once in a lifetime locations, it pays to have 2 bodies to shoot with. A good many of us have 2 or more bodies when we are shooting local stuff even so as to be able to quickly switch between wide and long.
Still a pretty nice shot you have there, but I sure would have done just about anything so as to have gotten that reflection.... Did you shoot vertical pano's or Horizontal? If that was from vertical pano's, you could have shot a 2nd row.
Never seen before such wide scale image for Mt. McKinley.
Excellent foreground lake and back ground mountain terrain.
wonderful color contrast and outstanding composition.
Thanks to allow us enjoy this spectacular scene.
Jim - in a perfect world I would have done exactly as you said. I would love to have a second body, but between the cost of the trip (brought my family) and the fact that I sprang for the 100-400 4.5-5.6L II specifically for the trip, I just couldn't stretch any further. Not to mention space in my bag.
As for not switching to a wide zoom (I had the 24-105 in my bag) here is what happened. From Kantishna Roadhouse you cannot see Denali - in fact you don't know whether it is out until you are almost to Wonder Lake. It can be completely clear skies at Kantishna and nothing doing at Wonder Lake. I captured these images on the way out at about 6:10 am. Obviously I made a mistake in not having the wide zoom on my lens to start the trip back to the park entrance. But on the trip in I captured an amazing scene of a grizzly sleeping next to a caribou carcass while a wolf prowled nearby, so I had the 100-400 on my camera. So here we go, the bus trip barely starts and we come upon this breathtaking scene and the driver stops for a very brief time because we have to get people out to the train station by 11:15. I grab the stairwell immediately and several people are lined up behind me waiting.
Should I have shot vertically? Yes indeed, and I certainly regret not doing so. In my haste I just start shooting trying to get as much of the scene done as possible, quickly checking histogram etc. As you say, once in a lifetime opportunity and now I have thoughts of woulda coulda shoulda. If I had shot more regularly under pressure, I probably would have performed better in the brief moments I had. But rather than look back only with regret, I think I will take REMAC's perspective and simply be grateful for what I was able to achieve under the circumstances.
I would not have any regrets with this excellent image. Disregard the negative comments. You were there and they weren't. You explained the situation you had to shoot in and I think you did a great job with what you had to work with. REMAC said it all.
Great shot!! I'll be there next week and hoping for clear weather I haven't seen the mountain since '92 but was lucky then as we had an unbelievably clear day. No clouds anywhere including the top of Denali
I think the image is great and would be very happy with it...but totally agree with Jim's comments on trying to include the reflection into the photo as that would have just topped off this image.
I believe we all become stronger photographers if we take in everyone's opinions and constructive comments. Jim's comments were very constructive and might just make us look at a scene with a different perspective next time. That is a good thing.
I haven't seen the mountain since '92 but was lucky then as we had an unbelievably clear day. No clouds anywhere including the top of Denali 
