#azimuth 125

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Taking Stock of Beautiful Places in Dry Tortugas National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: During an afternoon exploration of Dry Tortugas National Park, I had the opportunity to capture several photographs along the shoreline of Bush Key. The setting was to the southeast, as the waters of the Gulf of Mexico came wave after wave onto the sandy shores. In composing this image, I angled my Nikon Z8 Mirrorless Camera slightly downwards as I felt raising the horizon would bring out more of a sense of grandeur present in the image.

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On Rising Early (Arches National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A just around sunset view with the Organ and a look to the southeast.

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Savoring a Beautiful Afternoon in Glacier National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking along the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail with a view looking to the southeast as the waters of Swiftcurrent Creek flowed by. This is in Glacier National Park. My thought on composing this image was to use the creek as a leading line into the image with the force of evergreen trees on both sides. I then aligned myself to center Wynn Mountain in the image as a backdrop for this national park setting.

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Only Glee Experienced While Seeing Snow in Joshua Tree National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: In Joshua Tree National Park at a roadside pullout looking to the southeast and across a snowy landscape with Joshua Trees and other desert plant-life. This was another image captured where I liked the layering present with the foreground and it's snowy landscape leading up to the rock formations in the distance. I decided to minimize the overcast and overcast skies as I felt it really didn't add much to the image.

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Carson Mountain, Compton Peak, and other Ridges of the Northern Blue Ridge Mountains from Gooney Manor Overlook (Shenandoah National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While at a roadside parking area and overlook with a view looking to the southeast to ridges and peaks of the Northern Blue Ridge with Carson Mountain and Compton Peak (according to the PeakVisor app on my iPhone). This is in Shenandoah National Park at the Gooney Manor Overlook.

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My Spirit Is Never Broken by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: My Spirit Is Never Broken But there are scars present in life I've seen things with my eye Walked, driven, flown, and rode Experienced a journey, but never arrived Finding the peaks filled adventure But taking joy in the valleys in between The extraordinary does not disappoint But life is more than a park There is trudging through life As this is my home I will immerse myself and discover To recreate and explore Year around but never forgetting now A strong nod to the past but welcoming what comes next Off I go...or rather continue. Another work of short poetry or prose to complement the image captured one morning at an Airbnb location I stayed with a friend in the Weaverville area just outside of Asheville, NC. The view is looking to the southeast to ridges and peaks of the nearby Central Blue Ridge Ranges and Great Craggy Mountains that I had a chance to take in. In composing this image, I chose to zoom in to one section to my front. What I loved about the setting was the way the sunlight added a texture to the trees and mountainside with the light and haze, while other parts remained in shadows. I later worked with control points in DxO PhotoLab 7 and then made some adjustments to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted for the final image.

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Forested Ridges and Mountains from Gooney Manor Overlook (Shenandoah National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southeast while taking in views beyond some nearby wildflowers and trees with their springtime blooms and beyond to more distant ridges and peaks of the Northern Blue Ridge. This is in Shenandoah National Park at the Gooney Manor Overlook. In composing this image, I decided to keep the horizon more or less centered across the image. I liked the ridges and mountainsides off in the distance and the blue skies with clouds above. I felt both were a color contrast and complemented the other for the final image captured.

[thorsenmark]

Savoring a Beautiful Afternoon in Glacier National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking along the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail with a view looking to the southeast as the waters of Swiftcurrent Creek flowed by. This is in Glacier National Park. My thought on composing this image was to use the creek as a leading line into the image with the force of evergreen trees on both sides. I then aligned myself to center Wynn Mountain in the image as a backdrop for this national park setting.