NCAR, Flatirons, Twin Peaks Landscape - Rocky Mountain Pictures
This landscape picture was taken from an extreme southern angle, near the National Wind Technology Center. It is unusual to get the Twin Peaks Mountains shown in the background of the Flatirons; however, it can be done with this angle.
When this image was displayed at Art Mart in Boulder, I was told that many people doubt that this scenery is real because how could the Twin Peaks possibly be seen behind the Flatirons? Clearly it is not possible if you are looking from the East; but if you are looking from the South, it is possible. Of course, to photograph an image like this with significant detail, you will need a rather big lens.
Photography Tips - View Angle
In mountain landscape pictures like this, the angle of view can change the image composition dramatically. I recall reading a commentary by the famous landscape photographer, Ansel Adams, about his photography. In one adventure, he went into Yosemite Valley and setup to take a photo, I believe of El Capitan. He placed the tripod, with his view camera on top, at a location he thought would capture the best image. He was not totally satisfied with the composition, but did not fully realize why until after using the last of his plates. Then he saw that one tree was not in the “right” place and understood if he had moved over just a little bit, it would have been perfect. But he had no more film. Every time he looked at that photo, he was reminded that it could have been better.
Few nature photographers have the ability to see as Ansel Adams did to obtain his perfection; neither are we likely to have his kind of patience and skill to act on that vision. Nevertheless, we should appreciate effects of angle, distance and perspective and move around the scene in order to find what appears to us to be a landscape that fully captures our own hearts.
