#azimuth 144

Clearing Overcast Skies Over Badlands from Panorama Point (Badlands National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: An image idea I noted from another photographer before heading out on this trip to the Dakotas and Badlands National Park. By angling my Nikon SLR camera slightly downward, I felt I could minimize the overcast skies but also capture a more sweeping view across the badlands formation from near to far. In a way, they differing heights and shapes added a sense of depth often missing in some landscape images. I later used a Pro Contrast and Skylight CEP filter in Capture NX2 for the final image to address what I felt was the more muted colors from the overcast skies above.

A Meandering Path Through the Mountains Leads to the Soul of My Imagination by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southeast while taking in views across a mountain valley with evergreen trees present in this part of the San Juan National Forest. This was at a roadside pullout along US Route 550 (San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway) in southeastern Colorado. Off in the distance are the ridges and peaks of Twilight Peak of Pigeon Peak that part of the San Juan and Needle Mountains.

Pinnacles National Park...Another Ultimate Stress Escape by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southeast while taking in views up a hillside to volcanic leftovers and rock formations present while walking the Balconies Cave Loop near the trailhead. Was roomy end of the setting was the way the sun casted lights and shadows across this hillside from the different spurs, rock formations and nearby woodland forested areas. In my mind, that all added to the texture of the image and setting.

Twilight Peak and Other Peaks and Ridges of the Southern Rocky Mountains and San Juan Mountains by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside pullout along US Route 550 (San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway) with a view looking to the southeast across the evergreens present in this part of San Juan National Forest. My thought in composing this image was to take advantage of what I felt were the layers present from a nearby ridge to the more distant ones with Twilight Peak on the other side of the valley. The other thing was to take advantage of the high ground I was on to create a sweeping view looking across this national forest landscape. The blue skies and clouds would be that color contrast to complement the earth-tones in the lower portion of the image.

A View of the Sun Temple Ruins (Mesa Verde National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around the ruins and Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site at the Sun Temple. This is in Mesa Verde National Park. The view is looking to the southeast over some nearby walls.