I captured this scene during a multiday backpacking trip along the Pacific Northwestern coast of Washington.

My landscape photography often includes strenuous adventures and stormy weather. I strongly feel that these are the times when the landscape will show the best conditions and light. As a landscape photographer, I am always working to tell a story with my photography. I want my viewer to feel the power of the scene.

I saw a frame of light in the clouds and captured a group of sea birds flying over the waves. This image was the sharpest and best composed out of a series of 20 photographs. I used a Nikon Z7 II and a 500mm prime lens for this photograph. Photographers often wander the world filled with the false confidence that if something worth photographing enters their field of vision, it would be obvious and impossible to miss. Perhaps this is the reason that some photographers sabotage their own efforts, believing that photography is ‘the art of seeing.’ It is not.

Unless we force ourselves to be mindful—to pay deliberate, conscious attention to the things around us, to the exclusion of other distractions—we, in fact, are not conscious of much of what happens before our eyes. Also, there is much more we can express in photographs than just what we see. Thank you for your interest in my photography.

What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

I feel like this image is impactful because of the light and the story.

If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?

I feel that this is a special photograph in that it would not be easy to replicate. I honestly would not change anything.

Michael Manzone shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Michael Manzone, Vancouver, Washington, United States

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Equipment and settings

Nikon Z7 II, 500mm prime lens
f/7.1, 1/640 sec., ISO 64
Manual mode, continuous AF