Sony A7R IV + Sigma 24-70mm ART. 1/25 sec @ f/11, 43mm, ISO 400 📍 Alvarado CG
Landscape photography is full of ups and downs, from grand achievements to, as the late Ansel Adams once quoted:
“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer—and often the supreme disappointment”
Supreme disappointment indeed. This quote has always resonated with me. Perhaps never more than this past weekend. Here’s why.
iPhone 15 Pro + 22mm f2.2 1/4600 sec @ f/2.2, 14mm, ISO 40 📍 Westcliffe Colorado
Westcliffe, Colorado, is a small town nestled between the grand Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west and the “Wet” Mountains to the east. The area is particularly famous for its dark skies and Westcliffe is one of the few designated International Dark Sky Communities in the country, meaning the town has worked hard to minimize light pollution.
As an aficionado of mountains, dark skies and astro landscape photography, Colorado’s first dark sky community of Westcliffe has been on my radar for quite some time. It’s surprising that, even though it’s only a two-hour drive from home, it took me this long to visit.
The town itself has a quaint, small-town feel. You’ll find a number of local shops and restaurants, and a very laid-back atmosphere. Westcliffe is also home to a vibrant arts scene, with galleries, music festivals and community events that showcase local talent.
The Wet Mountains and Wet Mountain Valley, where Westcliffe is situated, get their names from the area’s unique weather patterns. The valley and mountains receive more precipitation than some of the surrounding regions. These higher moisture levels contribute to the lushness of the valley and the forests in the mountains, more so than in the drier areas nearby. It’s believed that early settlers named the area after noticing this contrast between the relatively lush, green region and the drier plains to the east.
Sony A7R IV + Sigma 24-70mm ART. 1/160 sec @ f/2.8, 59mm, ISO 100 📍 Westcliffe, Colorado
We stayed at Alvarado Campground, one of the best USFS campgrounds I’ve visited to date. Securing a site at these first-come, first-served campgrounds can require a bit of good luck and timing. Arriving on Thursday instead of Friday evening greatly increases your chances of securing a spot. We were fortunate to nab a good one.
That’s when the fun began: three nights of 8+ hour downpours, thunder, lightning and ferocious winds!
Fortunately, I’ve learned my lessons dealing with the power of nature on a regular basis. Securing and staking down camp properly is essential. I’m glad to report we had no issues whatsoever.
Sony A7R IV + Sigma 24-70mm ART. 1/500 sec @ f/2.8, 70mm, ISO 100 📍 Alvarado CG
What is a landscape photographer to do in the face of such conditions? Night skies nixed, dawn and dusk light non-existent, mountains shrouded in clouds and only a few hours of harsh midday light afforded. I do what I always do—enjoy myself and tell my story.
Having spent many hours on the other side of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, exploring Great Sand Dunes National Park and other areas throughout the San Luis Valley, I couldn’t help but see them from a different perspective. The ominous Crestones, consisting of several of the most challenging climbs in the state, is just a stone’s throw away. But would I get a break from the weather to actually photograph them? Would I have the opportunity to add new images to my black-and-white mountain portraits portfolio, as I strive for every year?
Sony A7R IV + FE 70-300mm. 1/500 sec @ f/5.6, 74mm, ISO 100 📍Beckwith Ranch
Instead of staying holed up in the tent cursing the untimely storms, we spent time enjoying the town and its friendly atmosphere. We toured the Beckwith Ranch and Bishop Castle, each of which demands an article of its own. We chatted with locals who were happy with the moisture in the face of the excessive heat and drought that has gripped much of the West. We even witnessed an air show at the airport south of town on one of our more pleasant mornings.
All is certainly not lost.
But what are the lessons learned? And what, from a landscape photography perspective, can we learn together from this experience?
Searching online for ways to better your skills as a landscape photographer will inevitably lead you to YouTube videos about technical camera settings, rules of composition and the latest post-processing techniques in Lightroom & Photoshop. While these are certainly vital and necessary to succeed in the craft, I like to speak to the more abstract aspects instead.
Sony A7R IV + FE 70-300mm. 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, 278mm, ISO 100📍 Sangre De Cristo Mountains
It’s the perseverance to prevail in the face of supreme disappointment that is perhaps one of the most valuable lessons. Nature, particularly the mountains, is unpredictable to say the least. And it’s the perseverance to weather the storms, deal with the long, cold, wet nights and often colorless and uninspiring landscapes—seeking those diamonds in the rough—that will truly prevail.
In closing, while this was my first visit to Westcliffe, it certainly will not be my last. The relentless pursuit of inspiring landscapes, star-filled skies and perfect light will prevail in the pursuit of our art.
Sony A7R IV + FE 70-300mm. 1/500 sec @ f/5.6, 450mm, ISO 125📍 The Crestones
Like what you read? Subscribe to my Substack below and have new articles, tutorials and workshop announcements delivered right to your inbox!