The Bend
Last year saw some of Montana and Idaho’s worst wildfires in many years. The smoke plumes were so large they were easily photographed from space by both NASA satellites and an astronaut aboard the International Space Station…using only a hand-held camera with a 200mm lens. It made for some difficult photography down here on the surface, though, smoke everywhere you looked and just being out in it was bad enough. At one point I ventured to the Gravelly Mountains along the Madison Valley, hoping for some decent views. In this image, you can see smoke lingering in the foothills, lending a softness to the landscape…but it didn’t stay pleasant for long. The dark winds returned in earnest the following day and it wasn’t even possible to see the foothills or the mountains behind from this very same spot.
Cody,
At first view, I swore this was the Snake River and Tetons. Nice comp in a tough situation.
Hi Ed, thanks for your comment - you’re quite right. After going back and taking a look, there are some distinct similarities between this shot and the one made famous by Ansel Adams. Of course, I can’t do it quite like the master himself…