Capturing the essence of the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, I found myself facing a challenge that resonated with my hunting days – the need to rise before dawn. Despite being more of a night owl than a morning person, great photography demands sacrifice and dedication to chase the perfect light.
With the promise of a remarkable shot in mind, I rolled out of bed at an unforgiving 4:30 a.m., leaving no time even for my beloved coffee. The Garden of the Gods, nestled at the base of Pikes Peak Mountain, was my destination, and the lighting there presents a unique challenge. I’ve been before during sunset but was too late and all my light was obstructed by the mountains. This trip I had my sights set on capturing the first rays of sunrise.
My chosen location was on the back side. A pullout offered a mere 10 minutes of parking, a time limit imposed to give everyone a chance to stop for a photo. In this brief window of opportunity, I had to quickly assemble my tripod to guarantee a precise High-Definition Resolution (HDR) capture, all the while trying to capture the enchanting interplay of light as it pierced through the majestic Garden of the Gods and highlighting the Cathedral Spires.
These striking red rock formations, sculpted millions of years ago by geological upheaval along a natural fault line, have been captured since the 1800’s. The Cathedral Spires are the tall, slender rock formations that seemed to reach for the heavens, just like the grand cathedrals of old.
After hours of editing, meticulously crafting my photo to depict the vision of a masterpiece, I found myself thoroughly pleased with the final result. This image captured not just the beauty of the Garden of the Gods but also the dedication and passion required to hunt for that perfect light when nature's canvas is at its most exquisite.
Garden of the Gods, Cathedral Spires
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 64mm 1/640sec at f/8.0, ISO 100
- September 1, 2023, 7:52a
