My Flickr Odds & Sods Photos
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This morning I started it early with a drive up to the Dolly Sods area from our cabin we are staying for a long weekend in West Virginia. It was well worth getting the sleep out of the eyes and venturing out in the near freezing temperatures. There was no breeze there so in the end it was actually quite comfortable for the hike among the rocks in the dark as the skies lightened and brightened.
Here is one of the many captures taken there in the Bear Rocks area of the Dolly Sods.
Good for the Soul ...
I woke up with about three hours of sleep after the shooting the Milky Way until 2am and was laying there thinking with the clear skies overnight it would be good to skip the cloudless sunrise and get a few more minutes of sleep ... but then I looked out the window of the car and saw pink clouds overhead.
It took tons of effort to get my shoes on and gather the camera to get out quickly for the sunrise there at Bear Rocks. Everything ached ... but the pretty sunrise was calling to me and my camera.
Nearing sunset yesterday along the Eastern Continental Divide in West Virginia. I have been to the Dolly Sods area many times now in Autumn, and this is my first time there in Spring. So it was a pleasant surprise to the pink blossoms all over the place.
There was some great clouds around in the afternoon, and luckily they dissipated as the day ended and clear skies as it darkened as I mainly went to capture the night sky heading towards new moon. These clouds and the blossoms were a great treat as well.
Stormy weather at sunset in the Dolly Sods ... great time to be there in the Fall. In this direction the rain was hitting my back, so the lens was easy to keep the glass dry.
... with this view and light how could you not stop and take some photos ... with a heavy sigh I was leaving the Dolly Sods.
These rock formations are pretty cool to explore. Just need to really watch your step, especially when dusk takes over.
Once of the challenges within the Dolly Sods and the bog like areas, the trails become brooks in the wet season. Makes hiking more challenging.
Liked the view here and the spring colors on display under the sky as captured with the CPL filter.
DOLLY SODS WEST VIRGINIA
The Mountain Laurels were reaching peak bloom during our visit. Here, the laurels exhibit a deeper pink coloration than their lowland cousins which are mostly white. Several sources state the pink coloration is the result of the unique climate and soil conditions at Dolly Sods.
Light painting by bouncing the light off of some green bushes back on to the white rocks. Made for some neat contrast against the light pollution hitting the low clouds there in the highlands of West Virginia.
Bear Rocks in the Dolly Sods
Yesterday my eldest daughter (who is in from California visiting) trekked along with me for afternoon, sunset, and night captures at this pretty location in West Virginia. She had never been to this location, and we had a great time taking photos and exploring more areas even new to me. Each time I get back there I like to explore some favorite areas as well as new trails and views. Such a great location and unique that you do not see in many other areas.
It is a 3.5 hour drive from where I live, but well worth it when the Fall colors are getting hold there and then to get a pretty sunset ...
A view there in the Dolly Sods with the moon trying to make an appearance as well through the clouds.
Moonlight bathes these rocks in the Dolly Sods, making for some nice foreground in this very early morning capture.
After composing the 30 second high ISO capture ... then switched to BULB and ISO 100 ... and let the sensor open for nearly 30 minutes.
This is SOC with no processing other than slight removal of a plane trail. White Balance was set at Cloudy when capturing the RAW photo.
This was captured using the 14mm Rokinon Prime lens at f/2.8