Patagonia 2020

This shot had been on my radar for years. I wanted on this trip down to Patagonia to spend some time composing this scene. My hope was for a beautiful sunrise. I drove out to this vantage point in the darkness. Wind was blowing heavy across the plains bringing freezing cold air down from the mountain. I set up my tripod, lowering it as far as I could out of the 60 mile per hour winds, and waited. As many photographers can speak of, I played the game of composing shots then tucking your hands back into your pockets to thaw out, repeat. I waited an hour in the darkness. Before the sun hit the peaks like it is here, the whole mountain range glowed with a pink hue as the sun lit the atmosphere. Then the magic happened. The mountaintops lit up fire red. The clouds burst into color reflecting light back into the field. I had finally captured the road leading to El Chalten at its best.

Limited edition fine art print of 100

Photo © copyright by Derek Nielsen