I don’t photograph many big, classic landscapes in the tradition of Ansel Adams—my interests are usually in landscape details. But here I made an exception in a scene so stunning that I was thrilled by the opportunity to record its classic beauty.

I was visiting the North Cascade Mountains near Mt. Baker, a glacier-draped volcano that is simply stunning. After doing a long day hike to an alpine lake still mostly covered by ice in late August, I stepped outside the lodge where I stayed and was greeted by glorious alpenglow on Mt. Shuksan. I grabbed my camera and tripod and quickly set up on the shore of Picture Lake. The beautiful sunset light was at its peak, and I got the picture. What a day in one of the most stunning locations in North America!

Location: Picture Lake and Mt. Shuksan, North Cascades National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, USA

Lee Rentz