Teton Fire
Hello and welome to My View for Monday, November 9, 2009.
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are enjoying a beautiful autumn.
I apologize for being away from My View since July. It has been an extremely busy and hectic time for me. First, I want to thank all of you who sent good healing intentions for my friend, Wes, who had by-pass surgery back in September. He is doing very well and will be attending the Big Bend National Park workshop with us later this week.
Since Wes’ surgery, I have taught three workshops with Craig Tanner — Grand Tetons National Park, Next Step in Savannah, and Zion National Park. This week, we are preparing for the last one of 2009 in Big Bend National Park, November 14-20. In addition, we’ve announced our 2010 workshop schedule and began registering participants for those workshops.
Today’s image was taken on the Grand Tetons National Park workshop back in late September. The colors were really lovely late in the week in the park and we went out one afternoon to shoot back lit trees. I was demonstrating a technique to a few participants that I use often to abstract a scene. I moved the camera while my shutter was open, bottom to top, to follow the upward direction of the trees. There were several fires in the park this year, as well as a rather large one in southern Yellowstone Park, just up the road from where we were in Jackson. The amazing back light on the stunning trees reminded me of a more beautiful use of the word “Fire” — the fire in the color of the leaves.
Thank you for your patience with me during the last few months, for your good healing thoughts for Wes and for all the sentiments sent to me on the loss of my two canine companions so close together this year. You will never know just how much those thoughts mean to me.
As always, your comments and critiques are most welcome. They make me a better photographer, aid my growth as a person and offer me new experiences.
Teton Fire
Grand Teton National Park
Jackson, Wyoming
September 2009
Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 100, f/22, 1/3 second, Hand held.
Thank you for visiting My View.
Please visit us at
Fine to see you back posting, Marti! And you come back with a real autumn fire. Good to know that this is only the impression of a fire – the devastation we saw from California and Greece this year does not need re-vivification.
Comment by Markus — November 9, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Love this shot. It really captures the warm color of autumn.
Comment by marcus — November 9, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Hey Marti- so glad to have you back!! I hope things fall in place and back on track for you go forward.
That said, lovely image! Not just the fiery colors, the little shake to the camera (which I have a weakness for myself), but also the light gradient. That’s what makes this picture so dynamic in my view. Great post- keep on sharing:)
Comment by The Juicer — November 9, 2009 @ 10:45 am
Hi guys — Thanks for the warm “welcome back”!! It feels good to being back to “being a photographer”. I have a few more ready to post so should stay current for the rest of the year.
Thanks so much for being here!!
Comment by martijeffers — November 9, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Lovely light, Marti. I really like how you captured both the yellows and the red-oranges (and even a hint of green). At first, I didn’t like the larger trunk right in the middle, but you left so much room to wander around in the grass at the bottom that now I think that large trunk adds a lot of depth and mystery. Great colors! I’m jealous – we had a week of 10 degree weather in early October, and it seemed to freeze the early fall colors on the trees, so fall never really developed it’s peak. Best wishes – I look forward to your weeklies.
Comment by PeteTucker — November 9, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Thanks for the kind comments, Pete!!
Just got a note from TJ who tried to post and could not. Please let me know if this happens to anyone else — I’ll let my web mistress know if this continues to be a problem.
Comment by martijeffers — November 9, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Who says you cannot be apart yet grow strong and straight? And who says you cannot do it amidst the fire and fury of the moment? And who says that the tree is not as important as the forrest? You… you… apparently don’t say any of that. And you do it loudly.
Comment by tedbyrne — November 9, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
“Light my fire!” That song from The Doors was my first thought on viewing this glorious, exuberant image.
It’s a delight to have the privilege of seeing your work again here!
Comment by aprilS — November 9, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Marti, what a lovely image to come back here with! I think that one tree in the middle does add depth. I love all the little squiggles from the camera movement. They remind me of fields of glowing fiery grasses. Enjoy your week or so in Big Bend. Be safe, too.
Hugs,
Flo
Comment by tonebytone — November 10, 2009 @ 10:33 am
I know those that saw you do this were inspired to try something themselves. I can remember being encouraged by you to try something similar. This is a lovely image, the color is what really does it for me. (I did get in!)
Becky
Comment by LakeLady — November 10, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
Thank you, everyone, for the warm “welcome back” and for your comments. It will encourage me to stay current with my blog!!!!!
Comment by martijeffers — November 11, 2009 @ 11:15 am
Marti, Welcome back to the blog-sphere, love your image I recognize the spot. I like how you left room to go around the tree. Very excited about next week hope you guys aren’t burnt out. See you Saturday night. Mike H
Comment by mikeh — November 11, 2009 @ 10:15 pm