A Jewel of a Sunset

[JimFox]

I captured this up at Jewel Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park last week. It was a 7 mile round trip hike that I would consider moderate. Lot's of almost level incline at a gentle 5 or 6% grade with maybe 2 stretches of a steeper 25% grade. It was well worth any sweat, as Jewel Lake is truly a jewel.

This was at sunset, there was a hint of color in the clouds. It later got a little deeper colors in a few spots, but it was never nuclear. While I had passed dozens of people hiking up to the lake, at this point at sunset there was no one else left up there. I guess all of the sane people wanted to be back at their cars by the time it got dark.

I cropped this to a pano as I will be using this in a Travel Guide I filmed on that day and I am working on assembling that now.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[AlanLichty]

Beautiful reflections with the nice glow on the distant peaks. Hard to complain about the color not being nuclear when they are this good already.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Sweet reflection and nice calm water for it. Did you camp here or more likely spend the night photographing?

 

[JimFox]

Beautiful reflections with the nice glow on the distant peaks. Hard to complain about the color not being nuclear when they are this good already.

Thanks Alan! Yeah alpine lakes are a beauty all to themselves!

 

[JimFox]

Sweet reflection and nice calm water for it. Did you camp here or more likely spend the night photographing?

I appreciate that Ben.

In RMNP there are specific locations you have to camp in if you are back country camping. It so happens the one in that area is only a half mile further up the trail.

But I couldn't stay, I had to get back to be able to take the grandkids to school the next morning. As soon as the color was gone, I packed up and hiked back down the 3.5 miles back to the parking lot. The last hour of the hike in the dark, but I always have a headlamp with me so not a big deal. I never saw another person again.

I will camp up there one of these times at that back country campground so I can shoot the Milky Way up there, but it might have to wait until next year.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice reflection and the color in the clouds is sufficient to set this up. Have you tied boosting the shadows a bit to bring out details.

 

[JimFox]

Nice reflection and the color in the clouds is sufficient to set this up. Have you tied boosting the shadows a bit to bring out details.

Thanks Jameel. The shadows are boosted, but they can always be boosted more. Do you think the ground layer is too dark?

 

[Josh Dye]

Beautiful shot Jim. The reflection and light on the mountains are amazing!

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Thanks Jameel. The shadows are boosted, but they can always be boosted more. Do you think the ground layer is too dark?

I won’t say they are too dark. It can do with some additional detail however. Or that’s what I’d do if was mine. Totally subjective of course.

 

[JimFox]

I won’t say they are too dark. It can do with some additional detail however. Or that’s what I’d do if was mine. Totally subjective of course.

Thanks Jameel, I appreciate the feedback and explanation.

 

[JimFox]

Beautiful shot Jim. The reflection and light on the mountains are amazing!

Thank you Josh! It's a fun area for sure. I hope to spend more time there next year.

 

[MonikaC]

You got some nice alpenglow there, Jim.

 

[JimFox]

You got some nice alpenglow there, Jim.

Thanks Monika, it was some really sweet and peaceful light.

 

[rfkiii]

I made it up to Mills Lake in 2012 before I developed circulation issues in my legs. I blew off Jewel Lake for some reason which was very close. I am kicking myself now. Nice shot.

 

[Beth]

wonderful light on the mountain tops

 

[BlackRockArt]

I captured this up at Jewel Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park last week. It was a 7 mile round trip hike that I would consider moderate. Lot's of almost level incline at a gentle 5 or 6% grade with maybe 2 stretches of a steeper 25% grade. It was well worth any sweat, as Jewel Lake is truly a jewel.

This was at sunset, there was a hint of color in the clouds. It later got a little deeper colors in a few spots, but it was never nuclear. While I had passed dozens of people hiking up to the lake, at this point at sunset there was no one else left up there. I guess all of the sane people wanted to be back at their cars by the time it got dark.

I cropped this to a pano as I will be using this in a Travel Guide I filmed on that day and I am working on assembling that now.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

View attachment 51885

Jim, Great capture of refletion, this reminds me of Maroon Bell sort.

Oliver

 

[JimFox]

Jim, Great capture of refletion, this reminds me of Maroon Bell sort.

Oliver

Hey Oliver, you are right now that you mention it, it reminds me of Maroon Bells too. Which also reminds me, I need to check on current access restrictions to Maroon Bells, I was thinking of going there this year to make a Travel Guide for it. So I need to google that right now.

 

[Bob Israel]

A beautiful scene and nicely captured.