Jenny Lake in the Morning, a photo from Wyoming, West

Photographer's Note

Hi I'm back from my vacation to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Craters of the Moon. I am starting my series with a sunrise shot at Jenny Lake. I took this about 20 minutes after sunrise and you can see there was hardly any wind that early in the morning. Roughly in the center is Teewinot Mountain 12,325 ft (3756 m) and right behind that is Grand Teton at 13,770 ft (4197m). The valley between the Grand Teton and the mountain on the right (Mount St. John at 11,430 ft or 3484m) is Hanging Canyon where you can find Hidden Falls.

According to Wikipedia "the lake was formed approximately 12,000 years ago by glaciers pushing rock debris which carved Cascade Canyon during the last glacial maximum, forming a terminal moraine which now impounds the lake. The lake is estimated to be 260 feet (79 m) deep and encompasses 226 acres (0.9 km²). Jenny Lake is considered to be a major focal point in Grand Teton National Park, with many hiking trails, scenic boat rides and a quick access to the major climbing routes into the tallest peaks of the Teton Range."

Taken around 6:30 AM a few weeks ago.

Miks, asajernigan, cfreire, hgupta, snuggleaphagus, euryan, cerenguven, Tue, feather, plimrn, Emile, jjbach, fayeulle, Jeppe, alvaraalto, papagolf21, jhm, john_c, ChrisJ, alainh, chrisnet, quantabeh, aloyho, gneufeld, ugur_yilmaz, Didi, AmiBe heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Miks (1717) 2007-09-19 17:08

Very nice. The little stones by the lakeside makes this much more than 'a pretty relfection.' They provide a nice diagonal perspective down the lakeside. But they moreover provide a cool color contrast to the warm illuminated mountains and their reflections. Well seen and well exposed in order to preserve detail in both shadow and light.

Cheers,
Mikkel

asajernigan (21427) 2007-09-19 17:50

Stephen,
Your composition is great using the reflection to create good balance and depth. The contrast in color is outstanding here with the foreground seeming to be in B&W with the mountains in full color. The lighting and colors are great with nice sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

cfreire (11741) 2007-09-19 18:06

Great capture about this landscape. Very interesting contrasts and reflections. well done. Regards, Consuelo

batalay (41261) 2007-09-19 18:23

Hello Stephen,

It is nice to be treated to your images from a natural wonderland. You combine a painterly eye, a superb camera, and good postproessing skills. Here you've produced a Dali-like surrealistic image, one that he would have been proud to create himself. I very much look forward to your other photos.

Warm regards,

Bulent

sothy81 (9646) 2007-09-19 18:38

Very nice colors and sharpness. I love the reflection too. Very nice light especially. Well done. Sothy

Scharan (14144) 2007-09-19 18:58

Olá Sthephen...quanto tempo!

Excelente fotografia...cores fantásticas e lindos reflexos na água.
A composição é linda, parabéns!
GA
Vera

hgupta (1323) 2007-09-19 18:59

Stephen,

This picture is one of the best use of light and reflection I have seen. The golden peaks look dream like in almost B&W water.
Absolutely magical shot.
Regards,

Hemant

snuggleaphagus (4146) 2007-09-19 19:08

Oh my goodness this is so pretty. The reflections are wonderful and the golden mountains are gorgeous. I really like the stones in the foreground and their dark reflections, the composition is so good.
Lovely light and the whole composition brings about such a peaceful and relaxing feeling.

euryan (8442) 2007-09-19 20:16

I like the compo. The perfectly calm water has produced an impressive reflection. The wide angle is also really nice as it gives us a great view with so much depth. I hope to see more photos from your trip.
Regards,
Ryan

PJE (20758) 2007-09-19 20:31

Well well Welcome back Stephen. I can see you had a great time at the Grand Tetons. I love your morning photo here too showing the beauty of calm and balance in the frame between the shoreline rocks and background mountains. Excellent timing and wonderful results Stephen. Good work and its nice to have you back on TE!

nwoehnl (122) 2007-09-19 21:56

Hi Steve. Well worth getting up early for this one, the morning sun tonality on the rocks is very beautiful and adds on to the soothing and calming feel of the shot, that is not least a result of the very quiet water surface that yields a fine reflection. Good use of the foreground stones for additional depth. The horizon doesn't seem to be perfectly at level though (scroll the page so that the shoreline is at the top of your browser window, and you will see). Greetings from Canada.

MikiM (1924) 2007-09-20 2:17

HI Stephen,
Very powerful comeback I beleive. Very nice morning lights makes your picture very nice. I like the good details of the stones in the fg and naturally the nice reflection. The DOF is perfect also.
Congrats,
Miklós

jemaflor (148124) 2007-09-20 2:56

Hi stephen,
Great shot, so lovely colours and light, a perfect mirror, congratulations.

Tue (93328) 2007-09-20 3:07

Hej Stephen,
This is a really great view over the lake with calm water, that adds a very peaceful atmosphere. The warm colours of the mountains are great and I love to see their reflection in the water, so beautiful. I find the inclusion of these stones in the foreground excellent. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

PixelTerror (0) 2007-09-20 5:01

Hi Steve,
That's beautiful nature indeed, and how quiet this looks like, considering you didn't even have the need to screw in an ND filter ! The rocks appearing in the light and reflected are lovely, and they get even better opposed to the small foregruond ones in the shade.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

feather (51130) 2007-09-20 6:23

Every time I see these dawn shots I wish I could haul myself out of bed early. The still lake is forming the perfect surface to reflect the mountains. The glow from the low sun is warming the colours wonderfully. Good choice to include the rocks in the foreground. Good to see you back again.
Kath

plimrn (21344) 2007-09-20 12:01

Hi Steve,
I like the way you framed the bright hillside and its perfect reflection with the dark, stoney beach in the FG; wonderful detail and color. I'm looking forward to this trip. When we ski the other side of the Tetons at Grand Targhee, we always to promise to visit the area in the summer but it's hard to leave the beach in the summer, so I'll enjoy the area through your eyes. HLJ, Pat

Cormac (26565) 2007-09-20 12:27

Great shot Stephen! The reflection is perfect as the water is so still, and the light on the mountains really makes them stand out beautifully. I like the use of the rocks in the water to add a lot of interest to the foreground. Superb!

cessy (13647) 2007-09-20 12:28

wooow... so very beautiful, Stephen
amazing view, very nicely captured
the light and colors so wonderful
very very well done

Emile (20352) 2007-09-20 13:39

Hola Stephen.
Happy to see you back from your vacation.
This is an excellent shot of Jenny Lake, very well captured with the morning sun, the presence of dark area with rocks in the fg produces a nice contrast with the lighted mountains and superb reflection.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.

danyy (0) 2007-09-20 15:29

Bonjour Stephen,
les couleurs sont fantastiques, de vraies montagnes de feu et ce n'est pas les reflets qui vont les éteindre.
C'est bien d'avoir dépalcé cette symétrie vers le haut de l'image.
La présence d'un avant plan augmente la profondeur.
Très net et parfaitement exposé.
Regards.
Daniel.

jjbach (9326) 2007-09-21 0:49

Hi Steve,
Wonderful composition with amazing reflections and fantastic colours. I like the way you composed it with the stones in the foreground. The lighting is also superb. Splendid work!

I'm waiting for your new posts (not in a month).
Regards John

fayeulle (27827) 2007-09-21 5:21

Hi Stephen
What a perfect reflexion ! I really like the compo with this round smooth pebbles on the foreground.
Cheers
JP

carper (96) 2007-09-21 9:47

a fantastic place Stephen
a very good taken photo, well taken with your wide lens, the pov is good and the high horizon is nice, good balance in the shot, good photojob, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

Jeppe (18654) 2007-09-21 12:06

Hi Stephen
Very wonderfull example of the classic mirror shot - what makes this one special and great, the mix of colourful background and the almost B&W foreground - my compliment.
tfs
Jeppe

alvaraalto (42804) 2007-09-21 13:47

Hi Stephen,
Indeed this seems to be a picture from a vacation to the moon. And then this is sensational, for you discovered water there.
Beautiful the yellow mountain and its reflection in a B&W surrounding.
Groet Rob

papagolf21 (152607) 2007-09-22 1:57

Bonjour, mon ami Stephen,
Alors là, je reste sous le charme, je regarde, j'admire la beauté du paysage avec des yeux d'enfant !
Magnifique prise de vue.
Un pur moment de bonheur, merci !
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (211738) 2007-09-22 9:28

Hello Stephen,

Welcome back after your vacation. I'm always very glad you see again.
You took this picture very low, this gives a excellent depth in this image.
I like the reflections in the lake with the lovely colours, splendid composition too.
Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

john_c (24666) 2007-09-22 10:20

Hi Stephen,
It looks like you had some splendid weather on your trip out west. I like the balance in this composition, with superb lighting and detail. The foreground rocks really give the shot much body and enhancement. Cheers.
John

dsidwell (9783) 2007-09-22 16:42

Aha! Here's a special one, Stephen, and certainly one of your best! The leading line of the shore is so effective, and the interesting rocks there add so much texture. The special light on the mountains is so amazing. Super eye and composition!

LCannon (2798) 2007-09-23 5:37

I was thrilled to see this photo from you Stephen, and such a beauty too! The light is wonderful, the composition very well balanced. I can almost smell the fresh mountain air, well done. I look forward to seeing more from your trip, I haven't been to the Tetons since 1973.

ChrisJ (172378) 2007-09-24 3:22

Hi Stephen

Fantastic reflections in the mirror like surface of the lake, with superb sharpness & colour contrasts, of the reddish mountain against the faint blue sky & dark grey fg. Tfs!

alainh (33209) 2007-09-26 23:10

Hello Stephen
simply splendid, what more !!!
i like reflection, symetry, great golden colours and how you managed your picture.
a very fine work
have a nice day Stephen
alain

cdmonson (5304) 2007-09-27 9:24

Hi Stephen:

Lovely shot of Jenny Lake. I shot a sunrise in the Tetons this summer, but I should have gone to Jenny Lake I guess. I love that foreground. The top of the picture seems overexposed though--perhaps a 1-stop grad would have helped. Otherwise, this is a very nice image.

Clark

devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-10-02 13:46

Hi Stephen
wouaaa
you have very well exploited the refection and the light.
This picture is perfect
Congratulations
Bertrand

chrisnet (23062) 2007-10-03 1:04

Hi Stephen,
Very nice. Perfect symetry and perfect reflection, the framing is excellent with the stones in the foreground, absolutly a magistral shot.
Regards
Christian

cam (9043) 2007-10-07 16:12

Hi Stephen
A sunrise shot AT 16;59,hummmm,wondering on what planet! okay-just joking--You did not change the time on your camera,but a 10 hour difference between the east and west coast,now there some explanation are necessary.

What to say of this beautiful shot, that it outshines all your other good shots on your intro page.The kind of shot we all want to do.<
Welle done
Have a good WE
Charles

quantabeh (5205) 2007-10-07 21:40

Hey Steve,
looks like you have come back with some nice images. I like your perspective here. the style is a bit more similar to some of your earlier posts, I guess... I like it.
well done.
Behrang

aloyho (6798) 2007-10-11 21:14

Hi Stephen,
This is really a wonderful sight to start your day with. The colours, the textures and the lovely reflection make it so eye catching. Great shot!!

Have a nice day.

mumek (20226) 2007-10-12 2:43

Good morning Stephen!
What a beautiful view at the Jenny Lake! Lovely foreground with sharp details of the stones, nice reflections in the lake's water and mountains in the first rays of the morning sun.Great shot!.Thanks for informative note
best regards
ziggy

gneufeld (15890) 2007-10-12 12:01

Hi Stephen,
Great shot with excellent colors and reflections. This shot is well balanced with the foreground stronger to the left and the mountain range extending to the upper right. Very well composed excellent work. TFS. Gerald

ugur_yilmaz (26) 2007-10-12 12:40

Hello Stephen,
What a nice landscape and what a nice ligting!
I enjoyed a lot.
Thanks
Ugur

Didi (61589) 2007-10-13 10:34

Hi Stephen
Very attractive foreground and good management of the exposure fore this wonderfull background.
Very interesting depht in the view.
Cheers.

AmiBe (6042) 2007-10-17 22:58

Hi Stephen,
very good composition with a good diagonal.
Perfect light on the mountains and good contrast with the first stones on the shadow.
Great !
rgs