Backlit mist and the setting sun, near The Sentinel, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW Australia
As the sun dipped behind the thin strip of Cumulostratus, so too did the warmth, not that there was much warmth in the air before hand. My hands were already aching from exposure but the view was something else. The mist had disappeared completely now from Sentinel valley, revealing the silver, skeletal remains of dead Sowgums that lined the ridges. A legacy of how severe the last years of drought and bushfire had been. It's an awe inspiring place, rugged, always the same but always different. A place I never tire of discovering again and again. I get ready as the sun begins to reappear for the finale of the day. Mist is forming on the lower slopes and wafting slowly across to the Sentinel. It turns orange, highlighted by the gradually appearing sun. I'm on edge, mentally hurrying the cloud along before the sun fully appears. Compositionally I need it to follow the contours of the snow clad hill and tip over its apex. More mist appears in the distance from the valleys beyond, rising and floating just to the left of The Sentinel. The sun is almost out, the mist dips down over the hill, this is it my only chance. I click the shutter, wait, recock and click the shutter again; now there's too much flare hitting the lens. It looks good on the LCD I can only hope. What a wonderous experience. I turn off the digital back to conserve battery and am content to watch the remaining minutes of sun light. As the last ray vanishes behind the distant range coldness descends like a glove. I notice as I pack up, my gear bag has a layer off frost already, time to go unfortunately. Its going to be a very cold night and there's still a half hours walk back to camp. Alpa 12SWA, Schneider 47mm, Leaf 75s, 2 and 3 stop ND Grad staggered.
Size: 6531px × 4811px
Photo credit: © Matt Smith / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: alpenglow, alpine, area, australian, conservation, country, high, kosciuszko, lake, light, main, mist, mountain, mountains, national, park, place, range, reserve, ridgeline, rock, sentinel, snow, snowy, state, sunset, wild, wilderness
