In the Field

Layers and Layers of Rocky Mountains. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. July 7, 2007.

Although scenes such as this, where layers of mountains fade into the distance, might be a little cliche, I still find them visually compelling. This particular stack of Canadian Rocky Mountains is what we see from our home in the East Kootenays when we look southeast. I'm always fascinated by it. And, the scene is never quite the same - the presence or absence of clouds, the amount of dust and/or smoke in the atmosphere, and the direction of the sun all interact to produce that day's visual treat. I feel very fortunate to wake up to this view every day!

Behind the Camera

Layers and Layers of Rocky Mountains. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. July 7, 2007.

Digital Capture; Uncompressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D2X with Nikon 200mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR lens paired with Nikon TC-14E 1.4x teleconverter (420 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on G2220 Explorer tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/640s @ f8; -1.0 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Layers and Layers of Rocky Mountains. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. July 7, 2007.

RAW Conversion to 16 bit TIFF, including first-pass sharpening using Phase One's C1 Pro.

Further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and LightZone 3. Minor tonal adjustments performed in LightZone (using the ToneMapper/Relight tool). Photoshop adjustments included selective application of cooling filter and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Layers and Layers of Rocky Mountains. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. July 7, 2007.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

This shot was taken in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. While much of the East Kootenays seems quite pristine at first glance, many ecosystems within this region face development pressure, including pressure from logging operations. Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.