I Stand in Awe

Wilson Peak Milky Way | Telluride, Colorado

The image captures a stunning nighttime view of Wilson Peak near Telluride, Colorado, with the Milky Way galaxy illuminating the sky. The photograph showcases a vast open landscape with a winding dirt road leading into the foreground, drawing the viewer’s eye toward the distant mountains.

In the foreground, the gently rolling field is a mixture of brown and gold grasses, leading to a fence that follows the curve of the road. Beyond the fence, a dense forest of aspen trees, vibrant with golden-yellow foliage typical of autumn, stretches across the lower slopes of the mountains. The forest creates a beautiful contrast against the darker, rugged mountain backdrop.

Wilson Peak dominates the background, with its rocky, jagged peaks standing tall and dark against the night sky. The peaks are shadowed, almost appearing as silhouettes, but you can see the rough texture of the mountain surfaces. The mountain slopes are covered in dark forests, creating a gradient between the brightly colored aspens and the darker, deeper evergreen woods as the elevation rises.

The sky is a breathtaking display of the Milky Way galaxy. Stars are scattered densely across the sky, with clusters of brighter stars and cosmic clouds forming a luminous path that stretches diagonally across the image. The stars twinkle in contrast to the inky blackness of space, with hints of purples, blues, and whites forming the galaxy’s core. The Milky Way adds an ethereal and otherworldly element to the composition, providing a sense of grandeur.

The overall composition of the photo perfectly captures the vastness of the landscape, the beauty of autumn in the Colorado Rockies, and the infinite expanse of the night sky. The winding road invites the viewer into the scene, leading them toward the majestic Wilson Peak and beyond, into the stars. It is a serene and powerful photograph, blending the earthly beauty of nature with the cosmic wonder of the universe.

PERSONAL NOTE
On the evening of this shot I debated whether to use this specific location and composition or another one about a mile away. I took one photo of this location (what you see here) and then moved to the second, deciding that it was better. From that second location I took multiple images of Wilson Peak and the Milky Way galaxy.

However, when I got home and started looking at the images, this original was the clear winner. I was so glad that I had taken the original image and could then process it in the version that you see here.

This photograph has a very strong emotional element for me. Every time I am out in nature, looking at a beautiful scene, I am reminded of the power of God. This image especially has such an effect on me. I cannot look at something so powerfully beautiful, which combines two completely separate words and not be completely amazed by what God has created. I see His hand all over this image. From the beautiful fields, to the majestic aspen trees, to the green forests, to the spectacular Wilson Peak, and finally, to the unexplorable Milky Way. To me all of this is mind-blowing and I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege to capture it with my camera and share it with you.

The name of this fine art photo was inspired by the hymn “I Stand in Awe”, written by Mark Altrogge:

And I stand, I stand in awe of You!
I stand, I stand in awe of You!
Holy God, to Whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You!

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”
Psalm 33:8