doug k of sky's photostream  

from paiyu camp

it is very difficult to climb up off the trail from the baltoro - you are always hemmed in by the monstrous walls looming directly above. with one afternoon in paiyu camp i gambled that the best way to clear the cathedrals from the hulking foreground walls of paiyu and trango castle was to go as close to the middle of the valley as possible. mother nature was kind - i was mesmerized by the play of light on the incomparable pyramid of cathedral spire, and how its texture appears perfectly smooth from this vantage point.

stitch of 9 photographs - canon efs 15-85 @ 42mm f11 eos rebel t1i 1/60sec 100iso raw photoshop cs5 mac

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i spent a lot of time considering whether i prefer morning or evening light on masherbrum. in this photo i like the way the morning light reveals the detail in the impressive northeast wall - interesting to admire this incredible face rising over 2 vertical miles from bottom to top and the exploits of those who have come to climb it.

stitch of 15 photographs - canon efs 15-85 @ 40mm f16 eos rebel t1i 1/60sec 100iso raw photoshop cs5 mac

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morally compelled to go on record saying that the tradition of beating horse teams up and down the baltoro is cruel and inhumane and should be abandoned. i cannot think of a worse karmic incarnation than to live the life of one of these poor beasts, destined to be driven over interminable treacherous terrain, destined to break a leg and die a lonely death, corpse abandoned on the glacier, a reminder to all future passers by that even in this temple of gods beauty, there is the stench of mans greed and cruelty. sadly, horses cannot speak up for themselves or go on strike, so the practice continues.

stitch of 23 photographs - canon efs 15-85 @ 19mm f20 eos rebel t1i 1/125sec 200iso raw photoshop cs5 mac

from the baltoro glacier

loved the sight of this sneaky little slot for direct access to the northern flank of masherbrum. portrait orientation felt important here because it presents the mountain more as it's own object, we see the texture and individuality of the face - and the slot creates a symmetry as well as a size comparison for the viewer.

canon efs 15-85 @ 38mm f20 eos rebel t1i 1/125sec 200iso raw photoshop cs5 mac

from the baltoro glacier

had spent a lot of time thinking on the cloudy walk in how i would shoot things if i came back in the sun. as circumstances worked out, we did come back this way and i was looking forward to this vantage point. so don, roland and i headed over and there it was.

i went with a heavily graduated effect on sky and water to draw the eye into the middle of the frame and make the mountains shine. i think the effect on the water creates more depth and scale as well.

canon efs 15-85 @ 18mm f25 eos rebel t1i 1/60sec 200iso raw photoshop cs5 mac