Ansel Adams Tribute

This series was taken Christmas Eve morning, in the Wet Mountain Valley, SIlver Cliff Colorado. It's my way of paying tribute to Ansel Adams and his concept of previsualization. I envisioned this scene nearly year ago, as a wintery version of one of my favorite photos, Moonrise Over Hernandez.  I imagined a cemetary with crosses at sunrise and moonset, as snowcapped peaks rose above a layer of fog and fresh snow. I knew that this cemetary near Westcliffe, Colorado, sitting beneath the 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Range, would be perfect for my vision.  I just had to wait for a light overnight snowfall, knowing that clearing conditions at sunrise would result in the fog in the valley.  Everything went as planned, and it was a truly magical morning, and an early Christmas present!

The moon sets over a cemetary in Silver Cliff, Colorado, as fog clears following a light overnight snowfall.
Christmas Eve Assumption

The moon sets over a cemetary in Silver Cliff, Colorado, as fog clears following a light overnight snowfall. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The same scene, in color.
Assumption II

The same scene, in color. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

I worked this amazing scene from various angles, periodically wiping off a thin coating of ice that was forming on my camera...
Assumption III

I worked this amazing scene from various angles, periodically wiping off a thin coating of ice that was forming on my camera lens. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunrise and moonset on a cold morning at the Assumption Cemetery in Silver Cliff.
Assumption IV

Sunrise and moonset on a cold morning at the Assumption Cemetery in Silver Cliff. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

One more look, as the sun continued to rise.
Assumption V

One more look, as the sun continued to rise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

When I arrived at the cemetary at 6:30 am, the fog was still a bit sparse, and the valley was cold and blue under a bright moon...
Wet Mountain Valley Blues

When I arrived at the cemetary at 6:30 am, the fog was still a bit sparse, and the valley was cold and blue under a bright moon. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The fog thickened as sunrise approached
Pastel Assumption

The fog thickened as sunrise approached. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

In this vertical version, I 'replaced' the original moon with the same moon shot at the same time but at a longer focal length...
Moonset Assumption

In this vertical version, I 'replaced' the original moon with the same moon shot at the same time but at a longer focal length, so the moon here is about 50% larger than the origianl. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

A view of the peaceful cemetary
Cold and Alone

A view of the peaceful cemetary. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The same scene, in color.
Alone and Cold

The same scene, in color. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The scene looking Southeast was equally sublime.
Assumption Sunrise

The scene looking Southeast was equally sublime. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

This cemetary is purportedly haunted (home of 'ghost lights) but it just felt peaceful to me.
Haunted

This cemetary is purportedly haunted (home of 'ghost lights) but it just felt peaceful to me. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.