I Caught a Glimpse of a Turquoise Lake Amongst the Tall Mountains (Banff National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southwest while taking in views across a forest of evergreens to more distant ridges and peaks of the Waputik Range at Hector Lake Viewpoint. This is in Banff National Park along the Icefields Parkway.

Mountains Are the Perfect Backdrop for the Many Glacier Hotel (Glacier National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking from the parking area over a rise around the Many Glacier Hotel with a view looking to the southwest This is in Glacier National Park. My thought on composing this image was to find a balance as I looked to the horizon between the buildings of the Many Glacier Hotel with that of the ridge and peak of Grinnell Point. I wanted to include some foreground interest with the nearby hillside that I was on, and include some blue skies and clouds above to add to the balance in the image. The rest was later making adjustments with control points in DxO PhotoLab 6 to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted for the final image.

Grinnell Point and the Many Glacier Hotel (Glacier National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southwest from a rise around the Many Glacier Hotel area while taking in views across this national park landscape with a backdrop of Mount Gould, Angel Wing, and Grinnell Point. This is in Glacier National Park.

Where the Turquoise Waters of Peyto Lake Begin (Banff National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A view looking to the southwest while walking around the Peyto Lake Overlook. This is along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.

On Tiago Road with a View of Mountains! by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While enjoying a ride along the Tioga Road in Inyo National Forest with a view looking to the southwest to ridges and peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

I'd Rather Have a Time Out for Behavior in Glacier National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southwest while taking in views at a roadside pullout along the main park road in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park. My thought in composing this image was to zoom in with the full length and center the ridges and peaks of Grinnell Point in the image. I also wanted to expose this image so that I didn't lose any of the details present in the overcast skies that somewhat hid the peaks and mountains. I later worked with control points in DxO PhotoLab 7 and then made some adjustments to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted for the final image.

Grabbing Life by the Reins to Experience Wonder. (Glacier National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the southwest from a rise around the Many Glacier Hotel area while taking in views across this national park landscape with a backdrop of Mount Gould, Angel Wing, and Grinnell Point. This is in Glacier National Park.

On Tiago Road with a View of Mountains! by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While enjoying a ride along the Tioga Road in Inyo National Forest with a view looking to the southwest to ridges and peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

See the Sights of Yosemite National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around Yosemite Valley with a view looking to the southwest across a nearby grassy meadow to more distant ridges and peaks. Then there was the haze and smoke from nearby wildfires. I decided to focus a composition therefore on a grassy meadow leading up to those trees on the other side. I later used the ClearView Plus tool in DxO PhotoLab 5 to bring out more of the details present in the peaks and mountainsides.

Desert Plant-life While Exploring Around Tawa Point (Petrified Forest National Park) by Mark Stevens

A Look Across the Badlands Formations at Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: I'd be back later at this point to savor the views of a sunset.

A Look Across the Badlands Formations at Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: I'd be back later at this point to savor the views of a sunset.

Desert Plant-life While Exploring Around Tawa Point (Petrified Forest National Park) by Mark Stevens

See the Sights of Yosemite National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around Yosemite Valley with a view looking to the southwest across a nearby grassy meadow to more distant ridges and peaks. Then there was the haze and smoke from nearby wildfires. I decided to focus a composition therefore on a grassy meadow leading up to those trees on the other side. I later used the ClearView Plus tool in DxO PhotoLab 5 to bring out more of the details present in the peaks and mountainsides.

Thanks to Flickr, I Was Able to Note This as a Spot to Visit (Cuyahoga Valley National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A few words that pretty much sum up the thought I had as I walked the short path from the parking area to this famous covered bridge in Cuyahoga Valley National Park! Yes, a sight to soak in and probably even more so come Autumn! So on that Monday afternoon, I pretty much had this location to myself and was able to compose an image as I saw fit, shifting from one point to another as I worked to compose an image to capture. I eventually settled on using the graveled path as a leading line to the covered bridge and having the trees all around act as a framing with that to guides one's eyes forward into the image. For the image and post-processing, I was then able to work with control points and color control points in Capture NX2 to bring out the contrast, saturation and brightness I wanted. I then added a Foliage and Sunshine CEP filter to give that little bit extra for the final image, especially on an overcast day. I found the image here on Flickr that gave me the idea to visit this location in Cuyahoga Valley National Park: www.flickr.com/photos/graceandfire/28671862858/