Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Sep 11, 2018 09:16:05 #
Located in the Monongahelia National Forest in Eastern West Virginia, at an altitude of over 25,000 feet, a rocky terrain that comprises over 17,000 acres with 47 miles of hiking trails surrounded by a vegetation of grassy meadows and red spruce is magnificent Dolly Sods. High plateaus and the rocky formation is to be kept in mind by photographers especially for those who wish to photograph some of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever witness in this USA.
Many of the areas I visited were dangerous to hike and a fall from such an altitude could easily cost your life. I was there several times during my stay in the mountains and I never saw any signs warning the hiker or a ranger that could give us orientation or warnings about that place. Fortunately I was with a young Vietnamese-American guide who knows the place well and photograph there often.
These images were made using my Nikon D7000 armed with the 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Nikon D lens. I took also with me the Nikon 12-24 f4 AF-S but when I used it it was set to 24mm. All images made from a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod with a RRS ball head that the guide let me borrow from him.
I posted some of these images about 4 years ago when I originally visited this beautiful place. The second and third images were made in Canaan Valley, a part of Dolly Sods not that far from the mountains where the beautiful sunrises can be seen and photographed.
The water fall was photographed if memory does not fail toward the west side of Dolly Sods. I used a polarizer with a small lens aperture to slow down the shutter (polarizers require a 2 stops filter factor) and to eliminate reflections on the wet rocks.
This is a very beautiful and photogenic National Forest. If you have an opportunity to visit Dolly Sods I promise you will be rewarded with spectacular vistas and beautiful sunrises.
Many of the areas I visited were dangerous to hike and a fall from such an altitude could easily cost your life. I was there several times during my stay in the mountains and I never saw any signs warning the hiker or a ranger that could give us orientation or warnings about that place. Fortunately I was with a young Vietnamese-American guide who knows the place well and photograph there often.
These images were made using my Nikon D7000 armed with the 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Nikon D lens. I took also with me the Nikon 12-24 f4 AF-S but when I used it it was set to 24mm. All images made from a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod with a RRS ball head that the guide let me borrow from him.
I posted some of these images about 4 years ago when I originally visited this beautiful place. The second and third images were made in Canaan Valley, a part of Dolly Sods not that far from the mountains where the beautiful sunrises can be seen and photographed.
The water fall was photographed if memory does not fail toward the west side of Dolly Sods. I used a polarizer with a small lens aperture to slow down the shutter (polarizers require a 2 stops filter factor) and to eliminate reflections on the wet rocks.
This is a very beautiful and photogenic National Forest. If you have an opportunity to visit Dolly Sods I promise you will be rewarded with spectacular vistas and beautiful sunrises.
Sep 11, 2018 09:20:58 #
Sep 11, 2018 09:22:24 #
Sep 11, 2018 09:22:35 #
The fanciful nature of #3 is highly engaging. #1 is breathtaking - what a vista! Very glad you survived your adventure 
Sep 11, 2018 09:25:33 #
Sep 11, 2018 09:25:57 #
Sep 11, 2018 09:26:36 #
Sep 11, 2018 09:37:08 #
Beautiful images. Beautiful countryside. Not familiar with Virginia altitude, do you mean an altitude of 2,500 feet?
Sep 11, 2018 09:38:26 #
MT native wrote:
Beautiful images. Beautiful countryside. Not familiar with Virginia altitude, do you mean an altitude of 2,500 feet?
Sep 11, 2018 09:38:29 #
Sep 11, 2018 10:11:48 #
Magnificent series! I visited that area many years ago and remember that it was beautiful.
Sep 11, 2018 10:33:04 #
I do appreciate the comments and I want to correct a mistake. The altitude at Dolly Sods is not 25,000 feet it is 2500. I apologize for the mistake.
Linda, you made me smile. The place could be dangerous, like many other places but if careful there should be no problems. My guide knew exactly what to do to be safe and I just followed his advise.
"Beautiful shots but your altitude figure is off by a about 22,500 feet.
Keldon"
Linda, you made me smile. The place could be dangerous, like many other places but if careful there should be no problems. My guide knew exactly what to do to be safe and I just followed his advise.
"Beautiful shots but your altitude figure is off by a about 22,500 feet.
Keldon"
Sep 11, 2018 11:12:29 #
Sep 11, 2018 16:24:31 #
Sep 11, 2018 20:15:43 #
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