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On this day in July 2015, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, there were 118 active forest fires burning. They had already destroyed 400,000 hectares. An average year sees about 30,000 hectares destroyed, so this was not a typical year for forest fires. Many of the towns in the north had been evacuated, but in the south and central parts of the province the problem was smoke. There were many health advisories as thick smoke drifted south across the prairies and into the northern states of the USA. At times, this smoke became so thick it turned day into night.
I have experienced heavy forest fire smoke in other parts of Canada and knew firsthand the health dangers it can present. But I also knew the amazing photographic opportunities it can present, as well. I have seen the sun at noon so obscured by smoke that it appears as just a red ball in the sky, easily viewed directly with the naked eye.
I had already planned to leave for several days of photography in central Saskatchewan, about a five-hour drive from my home, when I heard the news of the problems with the heavy smoke drifting towards my destination. I did not change my plans other than to pack my particulate respirator as part of my photography kit.
I knew from experience that, even on a cloudless morning, smoky haze low on the horizon can transform sunlight into a lovely soft orange glow that stretches for miles. Such was the case on this early morning when I set up the special equipment I needed to create this VAST photo in front of an old abandoned homestead along the South Saskatchewan river.
Once the sun was above the horizon, it started to illuminate all the heavy smoke that lingered above the river, creating a wonderful glow. This allowed me to capture a special, once-in-a-lifetime image of radiant splendor surrounding this old property and its accompanying outhouse. Unfortunately, the one photo I forgot to take over those few days was a self-portrait of me working behind the camera while wearing a respirator!
CLOSE-UPS
Stunning image clarity
This 220-megapixel VAST photo is one of the highest definition fine art photographs ever created. It has a resolution equivalent to 106 full-HD TVs.
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TECH SPECS
EXPOSURE SPECS
Date & Time | July 3, 2015: 5:17am |
Location | Saskatchewan, Canada |
Coordinates | 51.474766, -109.167953 |
Camera | Canon 5DS R |
Megapixels per Exposure | 50.6 |
Lens | Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 |
Focal Length | 45mm |
Aperture | f16 |
Shutter Speed | 1/40 |
ISO | 100 |
Number of Exposures | 63 |
FILE SPECS
Total Pixels | 220,434,669 |
Horizontal Pixels | 25,623 |
Vertical Pixels | 8,603 |
Aspect Ratio | 1 : 2.98 |
File Size | 1.26 GB |
Width @ 300ppi (perfect) | 7.12 feet |
Height @ 300ppi | 2.39 feet |
Width @ 150ppi (near-perfect) | 14.24 feet |
Height @ 150ppi | 4.78 feet |
VAST PRINTS
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VAST Prints are fine art photographic paper prints that arrive ready to be mounted and/or framed. They are created using the sharpest photographic printer in commercial use: a very rare specialty printer that formerly printed currency and military surveillance imagery. Learn more
Every VAST Print has two certificates of authenticity hand-signed by the artist and the printmaker: one affixed to the print and one standalone. Additionally, each print is assigned a unique serial number via a permanent hologram seal and recorded in our registry. Its provenance is tracked and verified using state-of-the-art digital blockchain encryption technology.
VAST DISPLAYS
THE HIGHEST QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS EVER CREATED
VAST Displays are ready-to-hang works of art that contain a VAST Print sealed between flame-polished acrylic glass and an aluminum backing. A hidden brace on the back causes the display to gracefully float off the wall for a sleek, modern frameless look that complements nearly any decor style. Learn more
SIZING GUIDE
A one-of-a-kind conversation starter
This VAST photo becomes a stunning conversation-starter wherever it's showcased. It's offered in 4 large-format sizes:
LICENSES
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A VAST license allows you to use this VAST photo in any art or design project, using any printing, mounting, or framing method. Other photos degrade when enlarged more than 22 inches wide, but this photo remains sharp up to 14.2 x 4.8 feet. Your imagination is the limit for how it can be used. Learn more
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