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Behind the Camera: The Day Surrenders
Welcome to Behind the Camera, a monthly feature where I pick one of my own pictures and tell a little bit more about it and its creation. This month, I have chosen a picture that has been posted recently, but as it turns out is becoming more and more a favorite of mine the more I see it. There is quite a bit going on in this image, so lets take a look at what I see, and how it was created.
The Day Surrenders
I really enjoy pictures that have an inherent dichotomy about them. When you can capture two ends of any spectrum in the same image, you are doing something magical. The Day Surrenders is one of those images where I was able to do that a couple of times over. When you view this image, you will immediately see that there are dark areas, and deep shadows, but you will also see that there are some other area that are much better lit, and then there is the remnants of the setting sun over the horizon. The second thing that you will likely notice is the different textures, from highly detailed rock to smooth, almost textureless areas in the distance. You will also see a varying degree of complexity in the landscape. Up close there is a jagged and rocky cliff, while in the mid ground is a gentle rolling mountain that is so indicative of NC. Further into the background you will find a generally flat landscape that shows just how much on the edge of the mountain ranges we actually are here.
The trick to capturing this image was not through post processing, or other computer magic. This was done with some very old fashioned techniques that even the film photographer can do. All the colors you see here are colors that were actually present at the time of the shoot. The only filter that was used was a Singh-Ray 3-Stop, hard edge, split ND filter to reduce the contrast between the sky and the ground. That's it...no other special tricks were involved with this image.
So what makes this picture special to me? I enjoy looking back on it and remembering how that location makes me feel. This represents the second time I have hiked up to the summit of Hanging Rock State Park at sunset, and both times I have has many of the same feelings. First of all, the hike is a long one, so most, if not all of the hikers are well on their way back to their vehicles since the park closes right at sunset. Being that I was camping there that night, I was not concerned with the gates, my only concern was still having a little light to negotiate the return trip by. This meant that on both occasions, I was all alone up on that summit, peering out over the land with not a sole in sight.
Talk about ultimate in self-reflection time. Here I was without any evidence of Human population to be seen, except for far off in the distance. The sun was dropping below the mountain range to the West and here I was experiencing this sight first hand. These very rocks that I was standing on had seen countless sunsets over the years....many more than I have been alive. Never once have they been concerned with money, politics, family, even the rain doesn't phase them. Sometimes as thinking entities, we as Humans seem to get very caught up in everything that surrounds us. We either forget, or choose not to have the time to experience the simple things in life. Everything that happens to us turns into the "end of the world", and holds such great importance in our lives. However, the fact remains that at the end of the day, the sun will set and shine its last light upon us. The next day it will rise again, and the cycle continues.
Maybe we are not just like the rocky cliffs, maybe we are more like the trees that stand on top of them. We bend, and sometimes break...we have a life span, that is sometimes cut short, and we change with the seasons of our lives. However, look at the environment that these trees exist in. It is not the most hospitable location for a tree, but they make it. There are three individual trees here, two of them are completely exposed to the elements. They are without shelter or cover, but even in the receding light, they are still very prominent upon the landscape, and they are flourishing. The third tree is growing in a crevice and is pretty well protected, but is not that visible upon the landscape. Which tree do you think you might be? Are you exposing yourself and making a difference in the landscape around you, or do you choose to play it safe and stay protected behind the rocks...blending in with your surroundings?
I've said it before, and this entry justifies me saying it again. We can learn a lot from the natural world that applies to our own lives. We just have to stop and think about the parallels. We, as Humans, are a part of this planet, just like the trees, rocks, animals, insects, and vegetation. Each plays their own roll, but all of our rolls are related and affect the other elements.
You can view The Day Surrenders in the Landscapes Room of Four Forty-Six Photography.
Written by Greg A. Kiser
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"The Day Surrenders" a moving photo so appropriately named. Gerry
http://journals.aol.com/gehi6/daughters-of-the-shadow-men/ -
Aptly named my friend. It sounds as if not only did the day surrender, but you did as well. You surrenders for a few precious moments your humanity to be intuned with nature and the land around you. That type of serenity will always be priceless in my book. (Hugs) Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/ -
You are not only a photographer, but you have become a very good writer of your thoughts. Painting pitures with words!
I seem to be spending all my time promoting causes and News Stories these days or telling of upcoming Events. So it is refreshing to come to your Site and read about a day in Nature to see it in words and photographs.
Thank You, Greg!
Ann -
Beautiful entry Greg. I really love this photo and like it even more after reading your entry -- it does make me wonder just a little bit about why I love Outcropping by Twilight and Worth the Wait so much. I'm not real sure I want to analyze that beauty.
Martha
3/31/08 1:07 AM
gina