TITLE: The Sacred Mountain

Full moon above Shiprock, New-Mexico, USA. This is a single photograph, not a combination of two photographs, not the HRD technique. To maintain the dynamic range of the moon and landscape within the DR capability of my Nikon D800, I went there one day before the completely full moon. One day before the 100% full moon is the best time since the moon rises one hour before sunset and it looks full (even if 97% full). Then, the contrast between the risen moon and the darkening sky is still manageable for a single shot with cameras having a wide dynamic range, and the foreground is still lit by the sun. This photo was planned months in advance to find the right camera position while respecting Navajo land rules. The challenge was to balance the respective positions and sizes of the moon and mountain. The intent was to increase the spiritual feeling of the place by adding the full moon along this Navajo sacred mountain.

AUTHOR: Yvan Bedard (Canada)

Yvan Bedard is a fine art landscape photographer. Born and living near Quebec City, Canada, he is a former successful academic researcher in geospatial data engineering, author, and international lecturer. He is a self-taught photographer who has undergone advanced training in Canada, UK and the United States with some of the best photographers and artists. Bedard has made his own small and large fine art prints for 15 years. Having always lived in mountainous regions or near rivers, he explored several regions in Quebec, Canada, Unites-States, Europe, and more. His love of nature has led him to specialize in landscape photography; nevertheless, he also likes urban photography. In 2014, he decided to devote himself professionally to fine art photography. A permanent artist in art galleries since 2014 (Canada, USA, Australia, India), his atypical career has not prevented him from having success with his art and participating in forty solo and group exhibitions. He is a multi-awards photographer and a Professor Emeritus who offers photography courses and conferences. His works are published in several magazines and books worldwide; they can be seen in private collections in more than 15 countries. See https://yvanbedardphotoart.com