When the Sky Defines the Composition

The small village of Riglos, on the southern fringes of the Spanish Pyrenees, is not on the way to anywhere, but makes a worthwhile detour, if only for the dramatic rock spires – very popular with Spanish climbers – that rise up behind it. This was a place that demanded more time, and different light, but as is often the case, this was when I was there, in the middle of a windy afternoon. There was not much color at this time of day, so I chose to make it a black and white image. Fortunately, bands of clouds were blowing through, which helped avoid a predictable full-frame shot. I waited until an attractive band of clouds moved into position, allowing a vertical design that balanced the sky with the subject below.

The fact is, without the cloud, I could not have made a vertical image – the subject itself was horizontal. But the clouds were simply too irresistible, and in the end – they defined the picture.

Mallos de Riglos, Aragon, Spain
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