After backpacking to Yellow Aster Butte in the Mt. Baker Wilderness in Washington, I set up camp and hiked back to a ridge for sunset. I had identified this location for both sunset and sunrise when I passed by earlier because I knew the fall colors would serve as a beautiful foreground for my compositions. That evening, I captured a stunning sunset before hiking back to camp for a backcountry dinner and much-needed sleep.
I woke up early, broke camp well before dawn, and made my way back up to the ridge for sunrise. I was glad I had photographed the sunset from this spot, as it allowed me to refine my compositions. The light was rising quickly, so I dropped my pack, set up my camera on the tripod, and lined up my shot. I configured the camera to aperture priority at f/20, adjusted the white balance to 7000 K, and added a three-stop graduated neutral density filter to balance the light between the sky and the ground.
My first shot was at ISO 200 with a 30-second exposure, as it was still quite dark and just starting to transition into blue hour. After perfecting the composition, I raised the white balance to 7600 K, changed the ISO to 100, and took another 30-second exposure. Then, as the alpenglow appeared, I made a 20-second exposure. With a little more fine-tuning, I adjusted the white balance down to 7400 K and clicked my next shot with a 12-second exposure. That was the magic moment! I nailed it!
I also captured incredible shots of Mt. Shuksan and wider views of both peaks before returning to my Mt. Baker composition to catch the first light on the mountain. However, my favorite shot of the morning was of the soft alpenglow over Mt. Baker, highlighted by the stunning fall colors. What a glorious start to an epic day!
