The state of Montana is the fourth largest in the US while it’s the eighth least populous. A vast majority of the state thus remains untouched in a land of shining mountains. When photographer Jon Mattrisch was riding through Polson in Montana, he took this absolutely brilliant image that captures the essence of Montana:
“Polson Road in Montana” by Jon Mattrisch (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)
Mattrisch took the image with his Canon EOS R, and 70-200mm f/4 lens at 200mm f/4.
The fact that the image was taken at 200mm has introduced quite a good amount of compression in the image. If you’re wondering, the compression is what causes the mountains in the background to appear so big.
The way that Mattrisch has composed the image, he has introduced three important layers in the image. The stretch of road acts as a compelling foreground and draws viewers into the image. The huge stretch of land in the mid-ground acts as a punctuation. And the magnificent mountain in the background with the colorful sky and dramatic balls of clouds make for a gorgeous background.
Besides composition, the limited color palette of the image that’s dominated by yellows and blues is something to ponder. The warm tones on the landscape below are the result of the autumn colors of the trees and the grass. The blueish tone on the other hand is the result of the haze and the sky. Both these tones really go well in this image.
Have you had a chance to go to Montana? What do you think of it?
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Montana was our home for 30 years , most of those in the Swan Valley, and I have topped this hill into Polson many times. I have lived in Arkansas for almost 30 years and still drive back to Montana for a visit every year. These beautiful mountains will forever have a place in my heart. God willing, I will see them again in May. Thank you for the memories, Jon Mattrisch