Hey Folks
Mt. Jarvis, in the Wrangell Mountains, and reflection in the early pre-dawn glow. This kind of light is sooooo subtle; it’s really a reflection of the light on the clouds to the east, still quite a while before the first real alpenglow lights up the east. This is from our Wrangell Ramble backpacking trip.
By that time, of course, a slight breeze had stirred up the lake’s surface and the reflection was gone. Once the alpenglow faded, the breeze ebbed, and the surface stilled. Nice, but the moment was gone.
Sometimes when I photograph a scene like this I’ll zoom in to have no foreground elements other than the reflection, such as just above the moss and grass above. Usually, however, I prefer to anchor the scene with something, and I like the way the foreground here kind of complements the lines of the reflection. It is also balanced by the negative space in the lower right hand corner.
A split density filter (or several) is a must have for this kind of shot (unless you choose to do multiple exposures and blend them afterward. And, of course, a tripod. Always bring a tripod.
Updated: As of 2026, I still bring a tripod any longer. Modern mirrorless and high end cameras are so good with ISO that I can compensate for small apertures with higher ISO and still produce quality images. But I still use a tripod, even backpacking, because it helps with composition and taking our time. Get a lightweight, small tripod, strap it to your backpack, and you’ll appreciate it when you set up for that sweet landscape shot.
Cheers
Carl
