Nature’s Haunting Beauty

Lens-Artists Challenge #319 – Setting a Mood

Ponte dos Ingleses (Fortaleza, Brazil)

Nature has her way of creating the right mood, whether for landscape photos or loving relationships. In my hometown of Fortaleza (Brazil), it is a daily favorite activity to go somewhere along the warm shores of the Atlantic Ocean and wait for a sunset. Even with cloudless skies, Nature never fails or disappoints. So, when Ann-Christine presented this week’s challenge as “Setting a Mood,” I knew I would find plenty of examples of Nature’s mood in my photos. To see Ann-Christine’s beautiful examples, check out her post here.

If I’m outdoors and see thick clouds, I know there will be plenty of opportunities for great shots. Sometimes, I don’t even have to be outdoors. The following photo was captured as I looked out Alaska‘s Denali Princess Lodge window a few years ago. The light was ominous but quickly cleared.


Also, on the same trip, when we were excursing Canada’s Yukon Territory, Nature set the mood for a great view and a nice snowfall in the middle of summer. No complaints at all. It was a quick snowfall that turned into beautiful skies.

Here is another sinister-looking scene we encountered hiking the Mist Trail at Yosemite NP. A mixture of heavy fog and drizzle gave us poor hiking conditions but excellent photography opportunities. I kept my camera in my backpack but occasionally removed it for a quick shot.

Mist Trail

Texas is known for having dramatic sunsets; the same goes for sunrises. Although I’m not a morning person, when camping or staying in a cabin in a nearby park, it is always easy to get up before the sun rises. The first two images in this next set are sunsets. The other is a glorious sunrise with the light coming through the trees.

Goose Island SP

Davis Mountains SP

Lake Bastrop South Shore Park

We have very beautiful bad weather here at present – rain, wind, thunder – but with splendid effects; that’s why I like it.
Vincent Van Gogh


On our last visit to Rocky Mountain NP, we were lucky to stay for several days and revisit some of our favorite lakes. Sprague Lake was one of those lakes. We had lunch there a couple of times, and once, we had to return to the car because of heavy rains. Just as the storm began to dissipate, we returned to the lake shore to admire the mood Nature created for our enjoyment. It looked like a painting.

Sprague Lake (Rocky Mtn NP)

Thanks for embracing Patti’s challenge in “search for beauty in surprising and unexpected places” last week. I loved seeing the beautiful images you created.

This week, Ann-Christine challenged us to set the mood for our posts. I can hardly wait to see your responses. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when responding to it so we can easily find it in the Reader.

Next week, Sofia (of Photographias) will present a new challenge. Tune in next Saturday at noon EDT in the USA. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.


Discover more from Through Brazilian Eyes

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

48 Responses

  1. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Beautiful moods Egidio! I loved all of them. They truly set me in a tranquil mood.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Anne. It’s wonderful to marvel at Nature’s beauty and enjoy it.

  2. Writing to Freedom
    | Reply

    Those are some dramatic and gorgeous images Egidio. You really set the mood bar high!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Oh, Brad, you’re very kind. Thank you. I hope to see a lot of Nature’s moody sets this week.

  3. Tina Schell
    | Reply

    Wonderful Egidio! Do you still go out for sunset every evening? What a wonderful tradition. Of course it works best in a country that doesn’t sit down for dinner at 6:30 or 7 LOL. I loved all of your choices this week, and it seems we were of the same mind, connecting Mother Nature’s moods with our own. The Denali sky is incredible and the shaft of sunlight by the cabin in the park is glorious! All beautifully captured as always.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Tina. Nowadays, I just wait to see what is happening in our backyard. Some evenings bring out beautiful clouds and colors. I noticed we both had Nature in our sets. That cabin sunrise was a lucky thing. I normally stay in lake-front cabins on the other side of the lake. This was one instance when I took a cabin on the other side of the lake. The light was intense and came through the windows to wake me up. Thanks so much for your feedback and compliment.

  4. Marie
    | Reply

    Such beautiful light setting the mood.

  5. Vicki
    | Reply

    This is the 3rd set of moody images I’ve seen this morning. That second image is truly extraordinary.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Vicki. You may see more images like that this week because of the lens artists challenge.

  6. Travtrails
    | Reply

    Beautiful mood setters

  7. Rupali
    | Reply

    Just so beautiful, every frame.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Rupali. Your kind feedback is appreciated.

  8. restlessjo
    | Reply

    What a beautiful collection, Egidio. There’s not a photo there that I don’t love.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Jo. I appreciate your compliment.

  9. Sofia Alves
    | Reply

    Gorgeous collection of photos that range from dramatic skies (the Alaska one is pretty impressive) to tranquil sunsets and sunrises. I love them all.

  10. margaret21
    | Reply

    If ever there were an advert for weather, this is it. Each image is dramatic, in a good way.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Margaret. I don’t go chasing those conditions, but I certainly love when I happen to be at the right place and time.

  11. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Una serie meravigliosa. Complimenti Egidio!

  12. Leanne Cole
    | Reply

    These are brilliant Egidio I love the moodiness of them, you do nature so well.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Leanne. I don’t go chasing those moody conditions. I just happen to be at the right place and time.

  13. Ana
    | Reply

    Wonderful post, Egidio!!! Love all your images. Nature always lifts our spirits.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Ana, you said it best! Yes, Nature is wonderful. Thanks for the comment.

  14. Teresa
    | Reply

    These are awesome moody shots, and I mean all of them. But the enormous cloud in Alaska is out of this world. Great capture Egidio.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks a bunch, Teresa. I appreciate your feedback.

  15. Toonsarah
    | Reply

    Wonderful post! I love how you’ve demonstrated that bad weather can create beautiful moody shots 😀

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Sarah. I think I’m learning to appreciate that more and more.

  16. Fantastic!
    Love those golden glow clouds.

  17. Terri Webster Schrandt
    | Reply

    Nature sure knows how to put on a show, Egidio, and you sure know how to capture her moods! That second image of the dark ominous cloud is incredible.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Terri. It so happened I was at the right place and time. Those clouds in Alaska looked very dangerous. It’s funny how sometimes things change so quickly and nothing bad happens.

  18. Cee Neuner
    | Reply

    Gorgeous photos for this week 😀

  19. Leya
    | Reply

    You always deliver extraordinary beautiful nature photography, Egidio! These ones are no exception – glorious all of them. I have a favourite though, even if the mood in this one is ominous – Alaska Denali. Your last photo, as you said, looked like a painting – but I do think all of them do. You have the touch to make them so!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Ann-Christine. Yes, that Alaska photo is a favorite of mine, too, especially since it looked so menacing and quickly dissipated. I’m glad you noticed my attempt at creating a painterly look to those photos.

  20. Tranature - quiet moments in nature
    | Reply

    Glorious images and moods Egidio, I especially love the way you captured the amazing cloud in Alaska 😊

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Xenia. I just happened to notice it. I was at the right place and time. Thanks for the kind words.

  21. Ingrid
    | Reply

    Such a beautiful collection of photos depicting the challenge perfectly. Sprague Lake was a favorite whenever I’d visit RMNP. What great timing to capture such a stunning image.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you so much for your compliment, Ingrid.

  22. I. J. Khanewala
    | Reply

    Wow! Absolutely stunning skies

  23. Lindy Le Coq
    | Reply

    Such a lush collection, Egídio. I especially love the impressionistic sense in Mist Trail, and the Sprague Lake photo truly does look like a painting! Gorgeous.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Lindy, many thanks for your feedback and compliment. I’m especially thankful to see my edit in Sprague Lake accomplished the intention of making the photo look like a painting. Thanks.

I'd love hearing back from you. Let me know if you have any questions or something is not working on the site.