Wedge
Night
I awoke to the sound of rain. The droplets impatiently drummed on the rain fly trying to make entry where none existed. Their rhythm mixed with the sound of rustling fabric as a small breeze pushed its way through the valley. The beads of water clung to the outer surface of the tent making their final stand against gravity as it attempted to tug them downwards.
The night was otherwise silent. A small nearby lake absorbed any sound daring to make its way across the polished surface, and the thick clouds overhead did their part in subduing the troubled atmosphere.
I rolled onto my side causing the synthetic layers of my sleeping bag to emit a sound audibly louder than the din of the weather outside. I closed my eyes, and drew in a deep breath, letting the soothing sounds of nature work their way into my ethos.
I waited a few more minutes, realizing that the size and intensity of falling water was increasing. The quiet quickly retreated, giving way to the anger of a storm. The gentle breeze which had been so softly caressing the waterproof protective cover, whipped itself into a fury, growing to the strength of a gale. It grabbed at the fabric with a new urgency trying to rip it off to expose the humans hiding beneath it. Rain pelted the cover like small projectiles fired from the guns of nature herself. I rolled over again. This time the zip of nylon almost inaudible against the torrents raging just outside.
I thought back to our work setting up the tent - each corner properly secured. I had plunged each 8 inch stake deep into the ground and placed heavy rocks over them ensuring their survival even through a potential storm. Our little tent was incredibly stout, and faced into the wind showing the smallest possible cross-section. We were safe.
I closed my eyes once more listening to the movement of water, the falling rain, the blowing wind, the small shifts of granite rock, and the babble of a brook now hard at work moving that which fell from the sky as quickly as it could to the basin now covered with turbulent waves. The hike was tiring, and our little home was safe and warm. I gave a little smile in the darkness before drifting back to sleep.
Morning
Silence. Nothing moved. Whatever anger the world had felt the night before receded, giving way to absolute peace. The stream which had come to life in the midst of the storm now lazily carried its cargo with little concern.
I twisted my torso pushing my feet out of the tent. I re-adjusted my weight slightly and slipped on my boots. They were as cool as the rock beneath them and as I stood up, I could feel the heat dissipate from the soles of my feet. I stretched my legs and doubled over to get the blood flowing, letting my arms reach to the ground in a weak attempt to replicate a yoga position. I took a few steps forward but the sloppy movement in my shoes reminded me of my inadequacy for travel. I stooped down and worked the laces of my boots into a formal arrangement.
The air was crisp and clean. I breathed deeply and felt the oxygen surge through my stiff body. Camera in hand, I began to work my way up to higher ground, gaining perspective on the world around me. A fog bank hung low over the lifeless lake, the vapor having been pulled from the water itself. The sun was not yet up, but a warm glow emanated from the sky - a promise of a sunrise soon to come. My boot hit a small rock causing a mini cascade of pebbles to fall into the crack between the larger boulders that supported my weight. The glacially carved stone clinked as it fell as if to toast the pleasant morning.
A ray of light pierced the still atmosphere and landed on the upper slopes of a glacier high above me. It lit up like a beacon prodding the sun to rise even higher. The lake transformed from the deep blue of night to a brilliant turquoise. A light breeze swelled up from the valley floor pushing the fog from the lake and signaling the start of activity for the day.
“Wow”, I uttered to no one in particular.
I stood in awe and admiration of the nature that surrounded me - a truly magnificent show of color and movement. It would have been an impossible task to capture the true essence of the natural beauty, although I tried anyway. The lens on my camera performed it’s duties - re-aligning, transforming, and capturing the brilliant rays of light as they poured from the surroundings. My stomach growled, reminding me of the time. I slung my camera over my shoulder and began the walk back to my tent. Another strenuous hike was ahead - a 4000ft drop into the valley with a full pack. Though my legs and shoulders questioned my motives, I felt energized and light. What a morning!
Technical
These images were entirely captured using a Sony A7 base model. I only carried a single lens on this trip - a 25mm Zeiss Batis. I have found this lens to be magnificent for landscape photography. With a wide aperture for low light and an impressive coating on the lens elements, it can cut through haze even without a filter. The colors are true to life and incredibly vibrant.
Note: I am not sponsored by any brand I am simply providing feedback on the gear I use.
