POTD: Valley Sentinel

Valley Sentinel

Location: Mt. Magazine State Park, Arkansas
Camera: Phase One P65+, Cambo RS, Schneider 24XL
Settings: f/16, ISO 50, 24 seconds
When: November 5th 2010, 6:15pm

This view is perhaps the most stunning vista in all of the mid-western states.  A nearly 800 year old cedar tree overlooks Blue Mountain Lake in the Petit Jean River Valley.  In the distance you see at least 50 miles into the Ouachita Mountains.

I had already photographed a vertical panorama of this tree well before sunset when the sun dipped below storm clouds on the horizon. Thinking the show was over I packed up my gear and was enjoying the view as the light faded.

Shortly after sunset the horizon began to glow. I scrambled to setup my gear and had time for a single exposure of nearly a half-minute. This image is still my favorite and I will never forget the last minute gift of this scene. The wide angle lens allowed me to capture the transition of day to night in a single exposure.

Technical camera wide angle lens naturally darken at the edges making a wonderful vignette highlighting this incredible scene and saved the sky from being too bright at the horizon.

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