Sometimes Smoke is Okay

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 1, 20151,199 views9 comments

My wife and I visited the Canadian Rockies last week ...smack-dab in the worst of forest-fire smoke fouling air. I met a couple at Lake Louise who had visited there annually since 1976 and had never seen the haze like this.

This is a scene from the road enroute to Moraine Lake, AB.

I glanced out the window of my car and thought how beautiful it looked. Thanks to the smoke. Pulled over and found an opening between the trees to snap this handheld shot with Nikon d800e, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8, and circ polarizer. Many cars streamed past... missing one of the best scenes of the day.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 1, 2015 at 6:30 PM

Yes, Ken, it's a very intriguing scene, with the peaks disappearing into the distance and the orange sky on the left. The details seen in the larger version are a fine improvement. This has a very strong classic landscape feeling. However, you'll never get me to say that smoke is okay. sad

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on September 1, 2015 at 10:38 PM

Very impressionistic image, Ken, beautiful landshapes and an colored haze. You do have to stop sometimes to realy enjoy the journey.

Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on September 2, 2015 at 1:41 AM

This has a 19th century painterly look to it. The smoke helped lower the dynamic range giving the light a gentler sunset. I really like it.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on September 2, 2015 at 11:49 AM

You stopped in just the right place, Ken. The placement of the trees and the soft light diffused by the smoke give this image a wonderful look. Very nice.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 3, 2015 at 3:57 PM

Quite mystical. You composed this very well. There appears to be a cyan cast in the mountains on the right. The glow is otherworldly.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 4, 2015 at 9:36 AM

It looks like an 1890's painting. Beautiful eerie light. Really nice image.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 6, 2015 at 10:19 AM

I like the mood that the smoke evokes (but I wouln't say smoke is OK). Glad you took the opportunity to capture it though. I agree with Preston on the cyan cast on the mountains.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 6, 2015 at 10:38 AM

Ken, This is really nice! The smoke added quite a mood to this shot and that soft light looks great. I also like this comp very much. The larger version works especially well.