Rocky Road Sunset, a photo from Colorado, West

Photographer's Note

We just crossed the Continental Divide from Cottonwood Pass. The sun was setting fast, as we were trying to look for a camp site to stay for the night. By end of September, most campgrounds are already closed. Luckily there were some that was still open.

The Western sky was clear with no single cloud while the Eastern side of the continent was cover with heavy clouds with patches of rain touching down. The last ray of the sun illuminated so beautifully, I couldn’t help but made yet another stop from all the countless stops, to capture this drama in the Eastern side of the mountain range. I like the effect of the clouds like someone was dumping a bag of flour up in the sky.

Cottonwood Pass (elevation 12,126 feet (3,696 m)) is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado, United States. It is located near the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range. The area surrounding the pass is mostly forest, with the San Isabel National Forest to the east and the Gunnison National Forest to the west.

PaulVDV, GREGG, nikkitta, siolaw, sacimar, timecapturer, mkamionka, Cricri, david_P, i9l2y1m8a8t3, jhm, Kielia, holmertz, annjackman, annjackman, RhodieIke, shevchenko, bayno ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

leo61 (0) 2011-10-31 11:21

HI Way!
Great depth with this old wooden fence and amazing light at the mountains in the distance and this nice cloudformations.Great shot in excellent quality as usual.
Regards,Leo

PaulVDV (62804) 2011-10-31 11:26

Hello Way,
Reading your note about the altitude of the Cottonwood Pass and looking at the foreground I can imagine it will have been a cold night.
But one can get a feeling of warming up looking at the fantastic red glow on the mountains and on the lower clouds.
The track along the fence is a beautiful path leading us to the magnificent horizon.
Best regards, Paul

brianmcc (6223) 2011-10-31 11:52

hi way,
this is a fantastic picture. the landscape looks beautiful and your viewpoint is excellent. the colors and light on the mountains are magical.
regards,
brian

Tweety (4546) 2011-10-31 11:53

Bonsoir Way,
Si le premier plan est quelque peu dans la pénombre, la partie supérieure de l'image est magnifique. Les nuages sont superbes, tout comme la lumière rosée qui lèche les cimes.
Bravo !
Chris

Bluejeans (64251) 2011-10-31 12:14

Ola Way ,
Que momento fantástico com aquelas nuvens no horizonte , gostei muito das tonalidades laranja nas montanhas , bom primeiro plano , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

prasun984 (5590) 2011-10-31 12:23

Hi Way...
very nice landscape shot at sun set time...like the last sun rays over the mountains range in BG under the orange tone texture sky...nice chosen POV to take this shot...
good exposure controlled with nice light management...nice color contrast & sharpness also...

Prasun

cornejo (61504) 2011-10-31 12:28

Hello Way, an excellent picture of this lovely view of the mountains with the last rays of sunshine and wonderful shapes of clouds, a good shot with clarity and depth, very good and nice job very well done, congratulations. Good night and happy week. Tfs.

Warm regards.

Angel.

elkab (3780) 2011-10-31 12:48

Hi Way!
Extraordinary sharpen shot. Very nice composed landscape at sunset over the mountains. Fine exposure with moody light management.
Warm regards
eb

SNOOP_Chan (4377) 2011-10-31 12:48

Hello there, incredible sunset colors and such a magnificent landscape. U caught the whole greatness of the mountains, but the sky is also a strong part in the compo. Very well balanced, great take!

fabianoleite (13575) 2011-10-31 13:43

Wonderful wsunset, the mountains seems on fire. The sense o0f depth is fantastic. Wonderful ladscape, too, congratulations!

J_Burke (1285) 2011-10-31 15:11

Hello Way,

Stunning capture of the rain falling through the sky and the beautiful colours of sunset. I like your composition also using the fence in the foreground leading the eye in, the track down the left and its winding through the centre. So much to look at, very well done. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
James

nikkitta (17070) 2011-10-31 18:57

Hola Way,
Stunning beautiful moment you capture
Great landscape and incredible colors of the mountains at the BG
Very good POD
Like the fences in diagonal, they seem almost dark blue, also

Greetings and bravo

Maria

siolaw (38294) 2011-11-01 0:18

Soksabai Wai
The wooden fence is an excellent lead in towards the glowing peaks. Good exposure of the shadow area too!
Beautiful place again!
Greetings
Laurent

jjcordier (79299) 2011-11-01 0:40

Way
La partie supérieure de la photo est particulièrement impressionnante et belle. Je me demande si je n'aurais pas privilégié un cadrage panoramique en coupant le bas de l'image?
Amicalement

sacimar (38173) 2011-11-01 6:20

Hello Way,

beautiful image, I like the impressive sky and the last rays of sun over the mountains, I think that the inclusion of the fence is a good idea too, well seen,

Best regards,

Sergio

npecanhuk (79329) 2011-11-01 6:26

Hi Way!
Very beautiful picture!
The landscape is wonderful!
That sky is gorgeous!
Special regards to the management of (difficult) light, colors, chosen pov and composition!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

timecapturer (49288) 2011-11-01 7:12

Hello Way
this is stunning! I cannot fault it in anyway. The composition is superb as are the colours, clarity, light and atmosphere. A high quality image and awesome presentation.

Enjoy the day - Brian.

yquem46 (38752) 2011-11-01 9:56

Hi Way
Away from home, this one looks great even on the terribly poor screen I'm presently watching it
Have a nice day
Patrick

mkamionka (73470) 2011-11-01 14:47

Hi Way,
a breath taking view from a fresh trip around the USA. I like especially the sky which seems so surreal. Also the mountains on the horizon are so pleasantly touched with the warm light of the setting sun. Beautiful landscape. Perfect quality as always,
M

JFS (32459) 2011-11-01 22:54

Another beautiful image of these breathless sceneries. The different lights are perfect. Good work! Thanks for sharing Way!

Cheers,
Juan

david_P (512) 2011-11-02 16:23

Hello Way
Another great nature photo you present to TE !
Such beautifull colors du to this sweet light
Bravo
David

arijit_ghosh86 (795) 2011-11-02 16:40

Hi,

POV is general but you captured it very well..specially love the skyscape..with large white clouds.

TFS.Arijit.

ChrisJ (171302) 2011-11-02 21:23

HI Way!

Incredible! The cloud looks like a giant tsunami breaking & ready to swamp the mountains. Good sharpness & fantastic sunset colors. Tfs!

jhm (211734) 2011-11-03 0:18

Hello Way,

Wonderful panoramic image with the imminent clouds above the mountains.
Also very well perspective with the frozen foreground
The composition is very interesting with all the elements nicely separated
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

pablominto (53746) 2011-11-03 7:16

Hello Way,

Beautiful palette, it is like the colours are seeping out of the sky to brighten the mountains!
By the end of September the autumn is very present, just like in the mountains over here...
A very attractive composition with good lines!

Greetings,
Pablo -

jemaflor (146360) 2011-11-04 5:39

Hi Way,
Great light and landscape, very well taken with the fence in the fg, impresive sky with cloud, bravo ! Tfs.

Kielia (24077) 2011-11-05 10:40

Hello Way,
what a fantastic illumination! And what an impressive sky. I like the idea of this image very much because there is something very special in the air when the rain is approaching. My compliments also for the nice note!
Warm regards
Harriet

stevesaba (8167) 2011-11-07 4:29

Hi Way!
A very lovely one indeed. And many familiar elements for me, having lived in western Canada most of my life which is not unlike this part of America! The sage brush and it's smell, the pine trees, the pole fence or "A" fence as we called, are all wonderful details. And that eastern sky....Wow! Fine work as always, warm regards,
Steve

Robert1969 (7160) 2011-11-08 11:50

Hello Way,

You have beautiful pictures and have pictures
from the absolutely top....And this is one
of them (it goes directly to my favorites).

The picture starts beautiful with the old fence
on the foreground, which creates a wonderful depth.
The picture has also beautiful layers and this
creates also a beautiful depth.
The composition and light management are excellent.

As if this were not enough, the viewer is treated
With a beautiful sky.
The big cloud like a wave from the sea Who will
strike over the mountains.

And than is this party for the eyes not finished.
You treated the viewer(s) also with this wonderful
colors.

In short: You have five course meal, this is one
with seven....Thanks for sharing, my compliments.

Friendly regards,
Robert

holmertz (102050) 2011-11-12 7:14

Hello Way,
It is very impressive how you managed to capture the almost dark areas with such great details. The setting sun just barely managed to cast its last red rays on the mountain tops and the clouds.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful picture.
Gert

annjackman (23019) 2011-11-15 1:42

Hello Way,
This brings out the wonderful feeling of huge space in Colorado. The fence leads the eye in to that magnificent mountain scenery. The colours and the fabulous cloud formations make this a picture to remember.
Regards, Ann

Angshu (56760) 2011-11-20 23:07

Hello Way!
An extremely difficult exposure to manage...I see the strtch of darkish FG leading to the 'glowing' mountains in the BG. You've done the exposure management &/or PP very well with the perspective of the fence as well. I am quite amazed given the sahpe of the cloud..it is exactly as you've said!

Exif data says the picture was taken at 01:50 am! Was it the actual time when you took this picture?

Best Regards
Angshu

Atousa (7131) 2011-11-29 8:32

Salam Way,

Great sense of depth created by the narrow path n the fence n the BG is amazing with those wonderful clouds; cloud falls I may call it!.. very well done.
tfs
Best regards, Atousa

RhodieIke (11752) 2011-11-29 23:49

Hi Way, Love this rugged scene you have captured, super light, Dof, colours and presentation. Makes you want to explore further, Well done, Tfs, Cheers Iain.

sacavem (18620) 2011-11-30 3:24

Olá Way,

Outstanding sharpness and splendid colours! Very beautiful sunset, good composition that he is taken at the good time and the moment.Well done.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

abmdsudi (95869) 2011-12-04 2:17

Sabaidee Waylim
This is a stunning shot from a great location. Wonderful vibrant colours, superb light, great perspective and textures produced in this beautiful sunset. What a great burning sky, great skyline! I like the contrast between the distant warmth and the coolness of the f/g on which there is just enough light to give definition.and recession of tones add to a huge sense of scale and distance. The warm tones almost seemed to set it on fire - being the most attractive element and my compliments to your excellent exposure control turning this into a brilliant shot, an amazing spectable. Well done, Congrats
Best regards

shevchenko (20560) 2012-02-09 23:25

Hi Way,
Fantastic, the sky is just beautiful painting by the odd clouds and golden sunlight, nice colourful view, I like the mountain chain and pines too, good pov to frame it all, thanks for sharing an impressive nature view.
Ally

bayno (18348) 2012-02-28 18:10

Hi Way,
the wooden fence adds an incredible depth to the fantastic scenery, beautiful golden light that illuminates the tops of the mountains, great job in PP,
my best regards,
Valter

kiks (12805) 2012-04-24 3:21

Breathtaking this view!! I love the way you compose it with teh fence at the fg leading the eye into the bg with the mountains touchd by the sun and the impressive clouds!
Best regards
KIks