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More of Chris Whitney's Photos
Submitted to Best of 2010
Photo license: © All rights reserved
My Dad and I walked in near-darkness. Faintly visible, just ahead, were huge boulders, part of the Alabama Hills. We dragged my friend Gary along too, although he was the first up at 5 AM, dragging us from the Motel. We set up our cameras, Gary down the path, and my Dad and I side-by-side, just like we planned on our scouting trip the day before. We were ready to capture the first light on Mt. Whitney and the Alabama Hills in California’s Eastern Sierra.
The light was not yet visible to our camera’s film and sensors, but it was starting to make an impression on our imaginations. I set up my camera, and then checked out Dad’s. The compositions were similar. I asked myself: Is it important to always find my own perspective, my own interpretation of the world? I realized that it is okay to capture a shared composition, the same picture. But it was not only images that we were capturing.
The light became brighter and the landscape’s deep pre-dawn blue became sunrise-red. Sunrise light is fleeting; the intensity sometimes lasts mere seconds. My Dad and I enjoyed those fleeting moments. Strung together, a life time of such moments is the heart’s album.
Lenticular clouds graced the sky that day. Swirling and shifting, they did not stand still as they drifted over the landscape and created a sense of being in a magical spot. We clicked our shutters and froze time. For one quick moment, that spot was the place to be, the best place on Earth.
23 responses
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Jason Canavaggio (Deleted) gave props (2 Jun 2010):
brilliant color.
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Paul Lavallee gave props (2 Jun 2010):
amazing!
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Catherine Hadler gave props (3 Jun 2010):
the sky is full of wonderful surprises
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elfriede fulda gave props (4 Jun 2010):
Awesome work
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Nelson Campbell (Deleted) gave props (4 Jun 2010):
Absolutely spectacularly amazingly amazing...
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stuart s gave props (5 Jun 2010):
Wonderful shot Chris.
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Matt Granz gave props (7 Jun 2010):
This shot is insanely cool. Awesome stuff Chris!!!
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Winky Vivas (Deleted) said (7 Jun 2010):
This is absolutely beautiful. The colors and composition are wonderful. This is really nice work...
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Juanita Vivas gave props (10 Jun 2010):
I'm not sure which I like more, the story or the photo...both very touching, very moving...
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John Linton gave props (29 Jun 2010):
Trippin'. The light, fantastic.
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Steven Schutz gave props (20 Jul 2010):
Words can not do this image justice...what an experience with your father...I am moved...thank you
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Gina Kelly (Deleted) said (21 Dec 2010):
Stunning! And I really enjoyed reading the story of how the photo came to be.
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charu ram gave props (25 Dec 2010):
Great shot and love the story behind it!
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Al Gieryna gave props (26 Dec 2010):
Fantabulous photo, excellent story. Thanks for sharing this beautiful image!
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Jason Pierce gave props (27 Dec 2010):
Great image, light and story!
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jan-louise haller gave props (27 Dec 2010):
Gorgeous Chris !!!!
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FaLLeN GuSiLuCiUs said (29 May 2011):
wonderful shot :)
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Joseph Rotindo said (4 Jul 2011):
can't believe I missed this one.
Wow, Chris.
Simply stunning work... -
Dustin Hanoski gave props (25 Jul 2011):
Awesome - great work!
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Tanniscd (Deleted) gave props (3 Aug 2011):
Wow! love it.
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Lynn Pepper gave props (17 Sep 2011):
Spectacular! Loved your story!
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Julianna O'Brien gave props (26 Apr 2012):
divine!!!!
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Lev Lerner gave props (18 Oct 2012):
Fantastic work! Breathtaking!
