Mt. Rainier, Mt. Rainier National Park. Photo © Jim Doty, Jr.
Data: Canon 5D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens at 105mm. ISO: 100. Aperture: f/8. Shutter: 1/30 second. It rained most of the way
from Seattle to Mt. Rainier National Park and chances of seeing Mt. Rainier looked slim indeed. But I am determined and it was my last evening in Washington before flying home. At the bridge over Kautz Creek (southern
edge of the park), I looked to my left through the clearing in the trees, and my jaw dropped open. The clouds had parted just enough to let a little bit of sunlight kiss the upper ridges of Mt. Rainier. I quickly
pulled into the parking lot just east of the bridge, grabbed my gear, and rushed back to the bridge. I took a few handheld "insurance" shots just in case the light disappeared before I could set up properly. (That has
happened to me before.) Then I set up my tripod, put a double bubble level on the camera, and changed the camera settings so I could to do things "just right" for optimum image quality and a big print. This is my
favorite landscape photo of the trip. It wasn't long before the sun dropped, the golden light faded and the clouds began to descend over Mt. Rainier. |
