Anthracite Morning

Antracite MorningA passing cloud helps frame the Anthracite Range in Gunnison County, Colorado with morning sunlight on a beautiful autumn day.

The Anthracite Range is one of my favorite subjects. It's not far from my home and just over Ohio Pass. This "sleeper" photo was not exactly what I was hoping for while creating photos that morning. I recently discovered this outtake while searching for a different image.

My plan was to capture a panoramic view of the Anthracite Range with the fence and fall-colored grasses in the foreground. Passing clouds were proving to be a challenge with lighting my subject, however. So, while waiting for the light I wanted, I captured this photo almost out of boredom. Then, I forgot about it. This happened on October 3 of 2015. Ten years later, almost to the day, I was looking for a different older image and stumbled upon this one with the deep shadowed foreground. The dramatic lighting really made the Anthracites pop. I decided to do a little editing and finish what I had started accidentally 10 years earlier.

This version of "Anthracite Morning" ended up being much more dramatic than what I was hoping for that day. I'm really happy that I did not delete the file. The imposing shadow, the lingering clouds, and the dramatic sky all add to the mood of the photo. The scene has not changed over the past 10 years, but I guess that I have. My desire to share a more moody, dramatic image of the Anthracites has developed over time. I still like my originals, but I'm writing about this one today. A psychiatrist might have a good time with this story, but I'm just enjoying the trip. I hope you do too!