Landscape photography often challenges us to simplify complex scenes by carefully selecting key visual elements and controlling color and tonal range. In this image of Mt. Adams, shot from Mount Rainier, I focused on isolating the interlocking ridges to create a layered composition that emphasizes depth through atmospheric perspective.
The cool blue hues and gradual tonal shifts highlight the receding mountain layers, while the smoke from a nearby fire introduced additional haze, enhancing the sense of scale and distance through diffused light scattering. Typically, this effect is captured during the golden hours of early morning or late evening, but the smoke uniquely extended that window, adding mood and texture to the frame.
It’s a reminder of how environmental conditions can become creative tools in landscape photography.
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA