Witness the profound beauty born from nature’s power in this atmospheric sunset image, Smokey Sierras. Smoke from forest fires in the nearby Giant Sequoia groves creates a dramatic shroud over the Eastern Sierra mountains, transforming an ordinary sunset into an extraordinary display of color and emotion. The smoke from the ancient Sequoias cloaks the Alabama Hills, carrying the ancient tree’s Spirit, holding the secrets of their knowledge gained over centuries. The pink and purple hues filtering through the smoke create an otherworldly beauty over California’s iconic granite formations. Carla Meeske cried as she took this picture, knowing she was standing witness to a turning point, and honoring the trees whose Spirit surrounded her. A poignant reminder of our changing climate, this fine art print serves as both beautiful wall art and a witness to the haikeus of our natural world in transition.

Artist’s Story

It’s hard to conceive the immensity of a forest fire in the Giant Sequoias. I had just visited the grove a few weeks before this fire broke out. I was planning to return to photograph the Milky Way filtering through the Giants branches, but a premonition told me to turn the other way and come up the Sierra’s western slope to the Alabama Hills. A fire erupted in Sequoia National Park, and smoke poured over the crest into the Alabama Hills valley. It felt like the soul of the trees surrounding us. Capturing the sunset thick with smoke was like listening to the stories of their lives. This image is more than a pretty picture (and it really is that!). It is the essence of some of the oldest trees on the planet. Stand witness to this as the climate turns our known into a future unknown. I pray it is as beautiful as what we have shared with the generations before us.

Print and Edition Information

Available in ChromaLuxe Semi Gloss Metal, Matte P99 Acrylic or Fine Art Paper. Digitally signed with Certificate of Authenticity.
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Edition

: Collectable Limited Edition. Only 6 copies of each size and material combination will be produced