This photograph was taken in the Ciucaș Mountains, Romania, in early summer, during the peak blooming period of the rhododendron. The location was selected after prior research on the optimal flowering time and favorable weather forecasts, with the aim of capturing the contrast between the rugged rock formations characteristic of Ciucaș and the vibrant patches of mountain rhododendron. The photo was planned to capture the first rays of sunlight filtered through the light mist, dramatically outlining the sharp mountain peaks. The image is the result of a deliberate approach, with careful planning of the location, season, and time of day.
The photo was taken at sunrise, after an early morning hike that began in darkness, in order to reach a viewpoint overlooking the iconic rock formations of the Ciucaș Mountains. The composition was carefully planned to include the blooming rhododendron in the foreground, adding color and depth, while the dramatic silhouette of the ridges was framed in the background under the soft, diffused morning light. A major challenge was managing the high-contrast lighting — the sky was already very bright, while the area with the flowers remained in shadow. I chose a shutter speed that would keep the sky from being overly blown out, while still allowing enough detail to be recovered from the shadowed areas.I believe that using a graduated neutral density filter for the upper part of the frame would have resulted in a better-rendered sky.
In the post-processing stage, I aimed to preserve the warm and peaceful atmosphere of the sunrise. The blown-out areas in the upper part of the image, where the light was too strong, were softened using a warm filter, which helped smooth the transition between the sky and the mountain ridges. I also adjusted the white balance and local contrast to enhance the texture of the flowers and to naturally render the difference between the illuminated and shadowed areas.
