Western Stack
Today’s title comes from the great layering visible in this image, taken an hour or so after the photo from yesterday’s post. The natural lines allow you to step your way through the scene visually, upward into new tones and textures at each pause. One of my favorite elements is the pleasant S-curve at the bottom which leads directly to the darkest region of the image. This provides a bit of balance in the composition by adding weight in the bottom half of the frame.
I look forward to taking this shot again in another month or two when vibrant color has returned to the landscape. I don’t mind the cold anymore and I love the contrast winter adds to any scene, but I’m definitely ready for those long, hot days that always lead to either a river or mountaintop; both give sanctuary when the sun finally edges too close and leaves us all anxious for the cooler season we know lies just around the corner.
I believe I’ve written about this before, but I once spent a few years living in Los Angeles. I’m not a city fellow, but I enjoyed the experience well enough…except for the fact that they don’t really have seasons, at all. Well, ok, sometimes it rains a bit more or it might be 55 degrees at night instead of 65. I lived about twenty blocks from the ocean and benefited from the coastal breezes, but it was pretty much always 76 degrees and partly smoggy. Flowers always in bloom, leaves always on the trees and never falling or turning color, no changing winds to hint at weather to come and definitely no days spent dreaming about when it will change…because it doesn’t.
That’s really one of the main reasons I decided to move home - the seasons here in Montana are powerful and distinct, the true timepiece of existence. We often experience multiple seasons in one - I remember it snowing on the 4th of July one year, in fact I’ve seen it snow at least once during every month of the year, but not in any single year by itself. Still, there’s no denying it when winter’s heavy hand comes to visit, and no complaining when spring’s growth lifts it away. Summer dries out the land and delivers it to fall, where the clock is rewound in preparation for the great frozen rest that follows. It is a different man than I who can endure without these things.
The existence of seasons is one of the main reasons the places in the world that I’d be ready to live in is very limited. Although according to meteorologists there is now term form what we just had. The traditional definition of winter didn’t apply around here (which is a real shame).
Those clouds are wild, almost mystic…you didn’t see Zeus ride out on chariot throwing thunder bolts, did you?
Beautiful image and aptly named. The newness of each season brings excitement worth giving into the cold, cold winter for.
@ramin - Was your winter warmer or colder? Many regions in the States and Canada have had record cold temperatures and snowfall this winter; I was a bit surprised. Do you live near the coastline in Finland? I bet the moisture off of the ocean makes for some bitter nights! I’ve been to both Norway and Sweden, I hope I get the chance to explore some of Finland one day, it looks very beautiful.
@Kristen - You’re right, the cold days are worth enduring just to enjoy the sweetness of the warmth when it arrives. I didn’t see any lightning on this day, but then there’s that one shot…which was just around the mountains to the northwest about 15 miles. Thanks for your comment, Kristen.