BLUE HOUR IN THE ALPINE : A VISUAL STUDY
Images and words by Lukas Mann
Adventure photographer Lukas Mann gives us his tips on creating moody, compelling visuals from adventures in dramatic landscapes.
I almost never set out to photograph a landscape… my first thought is always of light. - Galen Rowell
Over the past 12 months, British Columbia has continually blown my mind. Over and over again, I’ve seen sights that have left me breathless with excitement, running around like a madman searching for the perfect angle on the golden sunset over an incredible landscape. It’s hard to believe the sheer amount of vast, unexplored terrain that is quite literally in our backyard. This land turned a small hobby of mine - photography - into a burning obsession, and gave me all the tools I need to continually improve at my craft.
Two skiers survey their objective looming thousands of feet above them.
In my estimation, it is not the job of an adventure photographer to create an image, but rather to position themselves at a vantage point which will allow them to capture an unfolding event at the most opportune time… to actively participate in a landscape, if you will. And yet, many of the activities that bring me into the backcountry on a regular basis extend far past the reaches of daylight. This has often presented me with the opportunity to shoot at times of the day when the light can be challenging, yet incredibly rewarding.
Searching for a route around Chilliwack Lake in the winter, after abandoning our canoe due to high winds.
Some of the most lucid scenes I have witnessed have almost always come after the blazing sunsets fade and darkness slowly creeps over the landscape. One hue has come to define my frequent forays into the mountainous regions of British Columbia… alpine blue. I’ve come to realize that it is no coincidence that many of my favourite images – both of my own and from other artists – involve some shade of this magical twilight blue.
Kicking steps up fresh storm snow on the upper slopes of Mt. Macfarlane.
Alpine blue is best described as a melancholic shade which makes a brief, elusive appearance before sunrise or after sunset. Bathing entire landscapes with a bluish tinge, this deep, evasive hue has proven itself to be an adventure photographer’s most trusted ally; without fail, it lends every scene an added element of depth and mystery.
Footsteps on the moon: plodding up the last stretch of the Nohokomeen Glacier as the light fades and darkness sets in.
Part of the allure of this light is that it is irreplicable… no matter what, the most talented image editor will never be able to artificially replicate how blue hour influences the softness of the light, the subtlety of the undertones, or the drama of the scene. While varying shades of blue occur throughout the day, the physical process which creates the bright blues of midday is very different from that which causes twilight blue. In fact, this shade of blue contains a deep reddish pigment, which is so subtle that it is hardly recognizable to the naked eye, and yet completely alters the appearance of a landscape.
The jagged spine of Atwell Peak rises over the city of Squamish, just moments before sun breaks over the horizon.
One of the reasons why shooting during blue hour is so compelling is that it affords photographers the opportunity to shoot a scene in an unusual light. The unfortunate reality of modern-day social media is that our feeds are saturated with the same photos of the same locations, and oftentimes a truly stunning image is overshadowed by the fact that there are countless other identical shots. Blue hour changes all of this.
The final steps up to the summit of Joffre Peak, with the clouds hovering just above us. Moments after, we were engulfed in a total whiteout.
Of course, it is hard to understate the importance of capturing scenes that are novel to the viewer. To some degree, it is essential to be searching for new angles, new endeavours, and new locations to document on camera. The best adventure photographers are always pushing the limits of both exploration and documentation, and one can never remove this from the equation.
A brief pause before resuming the steep climb up the White Dyke route on Edge Peak. Darkness would soon fall, and the climb continued for hours in the dark before we reached our eventual campsite on the ridge.
That being said, sometimes the job of an adventure photographer is to capture timeless locations, and the real challenge is to do so with a twist on the original. I have found that often some of the most applauded images are those which capture a well-known spot in an entirely new light. Remember, to those who aren’t well-versed in the art of photography, it looks like pure magic when a photographer creates an innovative image from a classic spot. No one wants to see the same thing over and over again. Innovate, create, repeat.
Heavenly alpine layers, shot just before the tones changed from deep blue to vibrant orange.
I’m often asked what tips I can give to creatives or even those who simply wish to come away from their adventures with better documentation of what they’ve seen. It’s simple. Without the light, there is no photography. Embrace the light, know the light, and chase the light.
~ Lukas
See more of Lukas’ work:
Instagram: @exploromann
Portfolio: https://www.exploromann.com/