We're always on the lockout for a buildup of cloud banks for creating moody images or adding some intensity to a special scene. See chapter 8 for further discussion of wild sky conditions. We usually call the National Park Service in the state to which we're traveling for information on things such as peak foliage and wildflower blooms. Travel guides give us ideas about our routes and the best time to travel in certain areas. Mountains Mountains love the light of early morning and late afternoon, when the sun kisses the tops of ridges and brings out the best they have to offer.
Mountains create a dramatic silhouette when they're backlit by a rising or setting sun.
Add some foreground to give your picture depth, and use the Rule of Thirds when you place your horizon. Remember that the snow flies earlier in the mountains, so any trip to high elevations should be planned with the knowledge that passes can close suddenly and storms can appear out of nowhere. Call ahead to find out conditions of any major passes you intend to cross on your travels. Before that moment the canyon is dark and flat, and after the sun rises enough to stream directly in, the light is hot and shadowless. It's definitely worth getting up and waiting for.