Edge of the Night by morganpt

At Tettegouche State Park along the North Short in Minnesota, these two climbers allowed me to photograph them as they made several ascents and climbs up this cliff at Shovel Point. Perched at the edge of the point, I created this composite of several images that were stitched over the course of two hours of shooting from the same point. It’s a precipitous place, so I hope the image conveys the vertigo sensation of being there.

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DC Rush Hour – Cropped by morganpt

One cool thing about 500px is tapping into the community’s visual expertise to poll a photo – in this case 2 photos. I’m posting an uncropped version and a cropped version of the same image. I’d like to see which one has a stronger visual appeal. Here is the other one: http://ift.tt/21UNx0o

I’ll remove the less popular version from my profile.

This version is one image, while the other image is a combination of this image and a top portion of the vaulted ceiling stitched together. I feel they both have their merits, but your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks for helping me out!!

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Fog Movement – For PA by morganpt

The Yuanyang Rice Terraces 元陽 are one of the most peaceful places for me. I find the movement of fog quite musical. This image was taken from the porch of my hostel at the Duoyishu point of the terraces 多依树 in the morning.

PA – I read you comment while sitting in the airport and thought I’d post an oldie that I think you’d like. Your images showcase an intrinsic connection between humans and nature – and I couldn’t think of a more poignant place than Yunnan, where humans carved into nature to create a sustaining beautify that feeds farming communities.

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Trip into the Light by morganpt

These trees in Deadvlei are so inviting in the morning light! So inviting that it’s worth sleeping in the park overnight in my car, starting the 5am hike to find these hidden salt flats, and overcoming my fear as my headlamp easily spotted animal eyes in the dark and there were cat prints all over the sandy ground. I only wish I left at 5am to catch the stars!!!

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Celestial Dance Over Lake Superior by morganpt

The morning of October 11th was a beautiful one where Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury formed an arc leading to the crescent moon over Hollow Rock. Per my normal travel habit, I parked my car next to my morning photo destination so I would not miss the morning magic. This time just outside of Hollow Rock, which is just south of Grand Portage, MN.

Setting up about 2 hours before sunrise, around 5:20 am, I first took a series of astro shots and kept taking pictures from the same spot until sunrise. This image is a composite of three images from the same spot with a 15 minute time period. Here, you can see three planets and the crescent moon. Venus is the brightest object, with Jupiter just below and to the left, and Mercury is very faint as it is just above and a little left of the crescent moon. You can see details here: http://ift.tt/1KSgQ8W

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Human-light vs. Sunlight by morganpt

At the turn of the 20th century, Lake Superior’s Minnesota shoreline was a dark and isolated place northeast of Two Harbors. 1905 may have also been the most disastrous year for Lake Superior shipping. The September storm named the Mataafa Blow sank 18 ships along the North Coast. As a result, Split Rock lighthouse was built.

This image is a composite of two images: one shooting directly into the unimpeded sun to create the moody, heavy contrast. The other of the lighthouse to catch the glow.

In conceptualizing this image, I wanted to show the tension between the human-made light vs. sunlight. As you can see, nature always wins.

You can read more about this fascinating place here: http://ift.tt/1LrpKMY

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Elemental Lighthouse by morganpt

Looking for a novel angle of Splitrock Lighthouse, I found this little bunch of rocks along the shore. As the sun greeted us, the small water droplets on the rocks ignited in color. Even the little mosquito on one rock is alight. With this light, this landscape shows wind, earth, water, and fire.

This image is a combination of 6 images. Three are focus stacked on the rocks in front, another shot for the mid-ground, and another for the upper third.

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Last Minutes by morganpt

At the tail end of a storm, the clouds are rushing by, the brilliant sun sets, the lilly pads soak up the last minutes of light. All is good in Ann Arbor.

Definitely best enjoyed on black. Hit H and then M to make it big too!!

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Michigan Photographer in Ann Arbor by morganpt

An image of my friend Bhumsoo (check out his images at http://ift.tt/1vdbi6n) as he captures the beauty in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Once again, the format of the “square” on 500px does vertical images an injustice by concealing the drama of a tall photo. I just hope you like this!!

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Beacon of Hope by morganpt

Built in 1910 after many ships ran ashore in the turbulent waters of Lake Superior (29 ships in one storm alone), Split Rock lighthouse was built to protect sailors as they carried their iron ore and other raw materials across the waters.

This was another fun image too, since I was standing in the water to get in and low enough to catch the sun’s glare off of the rocks. It’s three images – one focused on the rocks in the foreground, one on the lighthouse, and one bracketed for the sky. All combined in CS6.

Best view large and on a black background (press H and M)

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