Back in 2004 I made a road trip on my motorcycle to the west coast. During the 3 week trip I road 4200 miles. I drove down the northwest coast of Washington into Oregon, ate seafood in Seattle and tried to cover as many National Parks as I could fit into the schedule. I camped along the road except for 4 four nights, setting up camp primarily in National Parks.
I only scheduled one afternoon and night in Glacier National Park which is not near enough time to really see the park. I setup camp in one of the campgrounds near Lake McDonald but for the life of me can’t remember which one. The previous year was one of the worst seasons of fire in Glacier National Park. A 136,00 acres were burned that year. One of the largest fires was the Roberts Fire, which burned 57,570 acres, that is near the lake. I could see the barren and naked landscape across the lake. There was a fire burning nearby, causing a haze to settle into the lower valleys of the park.
It’s cold outside this evening so I’m going through my archives and found this image that caused me to remember  the trip. I wrote about this trip before and have a color image or the lake, if you care to check it out. I converted this image to black and white with Silver Efex Pro using one of the presets then making a few simple adjustments in Lightroom 4.
A final thought : I have in the past wished we had more respect for nature but I think I would rather we understood that “we are nature.”
12 Comments
Cedric Canard
What a view. I like the way this photograph has a hand-drawn quality about it. Somehow it makes it more of a photographer’s (in this case you Monte) personal expression of the beauty at hand. When I doodle (often during boring work meetings) I draw cliffs and mountains. Quite often my mountain scenes look similar to this one, my ultimate living room view (if I had that kind of money).
I like your thought by the way. If only we could realise as a species, that we are not separate in any way, shape, or form, from nature but rather an inseparable and totally dependant part of it.
Monte Stevens
Thank you, Cedric. I’m glad you also know we are an essential, inseparable and totally dependent part of part of nature.
I’m not sure I’ve seen any of your doodles. Have you posted any of them on your blog? And, if not maybe you need to share those with us. And, yes I’d be staying at home more if this was the living room.
Paul
Ummm, we are going to need you to pay attention in those meetings, sir. You are a part of the company, and we depend on you!
The Management.
😉
Monte Stevens
LOL
Steve Skinner
In the forest, fire destroies and causes a rebirth.
Monte Stevens
Nature has it’s way. I visited Yellowstone park after the massive fires in 2003. They were finding plants and flowers sprouting and blooming they had never seen before and have not seen since. The fire caused them to come to life, live their part of natures way then seed themselves for the next opportunity. Awesome!
Paul
Yes. A good fire is needed every once in a while to clear out the old, dead underbrush, and allow new growth to flourish, whether those fires are caused by the hand of man, or by a lightning strike.
Monte Stevens
And, the trees respond differently after fires. I’ve read that new trees grow more quickly (photosynthesize at a faster rate) than older, mature forests. Because they use and reflect sunlight differently than older forests.
Tom Dills
I heard a similar phrase used once about people complaining about traffic – that they should realize that they are traffic! I wish there was a magical solution to make people realize that taking care of our planet and our environment is a higher responsibility than making a little more money or acquiring a little more stuff. And yes, regularly occurring fires are part of the natural process and necessary for maintaining equilibrium. Still makes it rough to see in the short term.
I love the balance and solitude in this photo. Of course it’s impossible to tell that what looks like mist is actually smoke, but that adds to the mystery.
I also think that Cedric may have a means of expression that needs to be further explored!
Monte Stevens
I really like this image and having a print made to see how it looks on paper. And, Cedric, well he posted on twitter one of his drawing (doodles). A work of art for sure!
E.Brooks
A lovely photo, and an even more interesting background story. As human’s I believe it is our advantage and our disadvantage that we are self-aware and can imagine ourselves outside of our environment.
Monte Stevens
Totally agree with you, Brookes. Maybe thats’ our task as reasoning creatures. I know I am seeing things differently as I age.