Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : Artist's Palette

Monday, February 4, 2013

Alpenglow

The Hills are Aglow

Living in an area surrounded by mountains, I love watching them turn a glowing reddish orange when the sun is just below the horizon.

Artist Palette, Death Valley, California at sunset.

This effect called Alpenglow from German origin, Alpenglühen, which is an optical phenomenon occurring at pre-dawn or post-sunset.

Alpenglow at sunrise, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

When the sun's rays are at a low angle, the faster blue wave lengths are absorbed and only the longer, slow moving red can penetrate through the atmosphere. A horizontal red glowing band appears on the taller objects in the horizon across from the sun.

Sunset over the Gillis, Walker Lake, Nevada.

Sunrise, Reno, Nevada

Alpenglow at sunrise over the Wassuk, Walker Lake, Nevada.

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Death Valley and the Artist's Drive

Zabriskie Point and the Artist's Pallet

There is so much to explore in Death Valley and one of the most beautiful areas is the Artist's Drive. The nine mile, 14.484096 km, one way scenic loop lies at the foot of the Black Mountains between Furnace Creek and Badwater.

As the narrow paved road curves and bends over hills and across steep gullies, we were taken on a voyage back in time through Death Valley's violent past while it was being created by volcanic activity.

The Artist's Palette, vivid hues of orange, mustard and yellow accent the clay which was composed from cemented gravel and volcanic debris.

The Black Mountains are a result of the uplifting caused from faulting. The broken layers of multi-colored rocks were created over the vastness of time from the oxidation of metals: red, pink and yellow from iron salts; green from decomposing mica; and purple from manganese.

The Desert Holly blends in so well with the harsh desert surroundings,

it often goes unnoticed.

Zabriskie Point and the Artist's Pallet stand as a testament to nature's artistry and the violent eruptions, ancient lava flows and million of years of erosion involved in the creation of Death Valley.

Photography like nature is forever changing and no one moment remains the same. What I found most rewarding with our group in the Death Valley Photography Experience was that we were able to stay on track with our plans for each photography session and were also able to make a mutual change of direction to go to a different scene, whenever it presented itself.

For additional information on Death Valley, please visit the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_National_Park