Smoking Volcano

Ok, so this one really is extinct. It is Red Mountain, a collapsed cinder cone. It is about 1 million years old and you can walk right into its center. I was even able to find my moment of Zen, a few moments of total silence. A perfect moment.
The smoking part comes from the haze in the area from a controlled burn just to the north a bit.

[Saxa van Eijnsbergen]

Silence, precious! Great old volcano and landscape.

[Catherine]

Amazing image. I love your dof - really adds a feeling of calmness

[Francoise]

haven't made up my mind about the blur thing, but I must say that it works in this shot. I feel the summer heat.

[Chris Johnson]

Awesome shot! Those mountain ridges look really col!

[Walks @ 7]

@overalvandaan Finding some silence is a passion of mine. Mu husband and I will be taking this hike again, and again.
@megpicatilly I heard about this hike awhile ago and finally made the time- so so worth it.
@cjphoto Thank you so much. I tried to go B&W in PS but it just wasn't happening so I stayed with color.

[Debbie]

What a wonderful memory

[Walks @ 7]

@deborah63 Thank you, there are so many hiking trails in this area- many I am not ready for but this one was only 2.7miles round trip with 300ft change in elevation.

[Nancy]

Super edit! Cool shot!

[Walks @ 7]

@nanderson Thank you, I am trying to use the lensbaby in landscapes or at the very least distance shots.

[phototart]

More Lensbaby. Not sure this landscape needs it. It makes the foreground look like a model. This can be achieved with a T&S lens which I suppose the Lensbaby is in a different form.

[Francesca Ciarrocchi]

Wooooooow!

[Walks @ 7]

@paulmann I am still on my learning curve with this lens but it does bring back my 4x5 view camera days from school. The good thing about this lens is so much more portable. I am figuring out what works and what doesn't and when to use it. Use it and learn is my motto this month.

[Walks @ 7]

@frappa77 Thank you so much. I am realizing that sometimes yes and at other times no, with this lens. Gotta go thru the muck to learn though. I am still having a blast with it.

[Stephanie]

How wonderful to find a moment of pure silence and what an amazing place to visit - over a million years old, wow! I am not sure about the blur in this picture, I find it draws my eye to the trees in the front centre of the picture rather than the amazing mountain behind.

[Walks @ 7]

@stephanies As @paulmann also commented on the blue- this month of learning how and most importantly when to use the lensbaby is showing me so much. I am inclined to agree with both of you that this isn't the best time and place. I was also shooting at full sun with a smokey haze around. Gotta use and learn.