Blended Peaks
Why to yon mountain turns the musing eye,
Whose sunbright summit mingles with the sky?
Why do those cliffs of shadowy tint appear
More sweet than all the landscape smiling near?–
'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue.
—Thomas Campbell, "The Pleasures Of Hope"
On a beautiful morning in early May, the long and winding road from Sequoia to Kings Canyon was little trafficked, and I drove easily across the mountain ridges, enjoying the views. I had left Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park, and was driving along Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. As its name suggests, there is much to see, and at every turn of the road I felt the exhilaration of wonder at the sights laid before me. Jutting peaks and rounded slopes, arrayed by Nature in artistic formation, stretched out in all directions until distance blended them to indistinct outlines, like a smudged chalk drawing. Scenic byway indeed!
The twists of the road allowed little room to stop, even without competing traffic, so when I saw a narrow pull-off, little more than a wide shoulder, at the top of a curve before beginning the switchbacks and wiggles that led downward between peaks, I stopped and got out to stand and gape. Foremost in my thoughts was amazement at how fortunate I was to be there, to be able to travel to that spot, to gaze across that endless glory. I have always loved mountains, and I stood staring, awed by the sight. A view like this fills the soul with wonder.
Composing the shot, I looked for something to place in the foreground, to help give a sense of scale, perspective, and depth to the image. There was a large rock off to the right, but I chose instead the plants and shrubs to the left, which offered more color, texture, and interest. Getting down very low, near the ground, brought the foliage into prominence at the corner of the composition. They also help lead the eye to the twists of the road curving toward the center, while the slopes of the hillside at the right lead to the same point. In a view this grand, it helps to have guiding lines and strokes that bring the viewer along.