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A Chill in the Air
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A Chill in the Air

by Stan Rose

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 14, 2009480 views39 comments
Taken about 20 min before sunrise, before my previous post (Minus 40) at Twin Lakes, CO last week. Morning after a big snowstorm. Arguably the balance aint the best here, but i wanted to balance the openess/plain on the left with the wooded area at right. Basically i just thought the drifts looked pretty cool in the dawn light.
5DMkII; 17-40; 30s at f/16
C&C Welcome!

Comments

39 comments
Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on December 14, 2009 at 4:58 AM
Took one more look at the computer before I shut it down and leave for the Mountains, and low and behold, theirs Stan, glad I didn't miss you. Really beautiful winter scene, I'm loving it.
John
Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments
Comment posted by David Edwards on December 14, 2009 at 5:06 AM
A beautiful shot, Stan. The cold air has made for wonderfully sweet, clear light and color. I like the fg snow shapes and vegetation, and the sharpness and detail throughout the image is fabulous. I also like the variation of color in the mountains. Nice shot!
Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Maklae on December 14, 2009 at 5:28 AM
Like how the snow takes on the shapes of the FG bushes. Great depth of field and clarity.
Registered on November 18, 2008, 170 Posts, 759 Comments
Comment posted by Hugo Fernandes on December 14, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Beautiful cold tones. Really like those red bushes on the white snow, and the light/shadows. The overall composition and light is very well balanced!! Great work :razz:
Registered on December 2, 2009, 3 Posts, 73 Comments
Comment posted by Andreas Resch on December 14, 2009 at 5:45 AM
I love this one, Stan. What a great foreground you've got here. This alone makes a wonderful shot. The background with the soft light puts an extra level on top of the image. Awesome - one of your best for me.
Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on December 14, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Love the textures in the fg snow Stan, nice crisp winter morning scene. I'm wondering how a little crop from the left would make this feel?
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on December 14, 2009 at 8:10 AM
The mountains are nice, but i really like the arrangement of the foreground. Yeah the light on the snow is nice. -40, bet that is fun. I think I might stay in Miami this winter. =)
Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments
Comment posted by Rui Vieira on December 14, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Awesome scenary Stan. Like it a lot. Well done
Registered on September 11, 2008, 39 Posts, 246 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on December 14, 2009 at 9:27 AM
The lighting on the foreground emphasizing the snow 'waves' really makes this one special.
Nice balance between fore and aft. Perfect as is!
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by Bret Edge on December 14, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I have no issues w/ the balance, Stan. This is lovely and it exudes cold. The snow patterns and blue shadows are really neat.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 14, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Beautiful Stan - love the texture in the snow and the overall mood.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 14, 2009 at 10:25 AM
WAY better than the other one, Stan. I enjoy this a lot. Great use of foreground interest and a very well balanced landscape beyond that really captures the essence of the region. I feel this is one of your best wide angle compositions that did not involve sand dunes.
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by Kenn Leonhardt on December 14, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Great shot, Stan. Indeed, the balance isn't the greatest, but I think that trimming just a bit (i.e., midway between the edge of the frame and the first drift crest) would give a bit better balance while maintaining the open/wooded contrast that you wanted.

Did you take any photos of just the FG drifts? The light, colour, and patterns down there is what really pulls my eye and would make a worthy image on its own.
Registered on March 29, 2008, 27 Posts, 1710 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 14, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Nice windswept sculpture- and the magenta hues on the right finger ridge is sweet...lovely shot Stan. :toast:
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on December 14, 2009 at 12:05 PM
The drifts are very eye-catching. Looks good all around; I see what you mean about the balance, but that's pretty minor.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 14, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Ahh, now this comp works for me very nicely - the foreground is wonderful, and it takes me through the open plains, forest, and on to the mountains. Very nice, and cold.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 14, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I especially like the wind sculpted snow and light in the foreground Stan. A beautiful, well done cold scene overall.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 14, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Beautiful, Stan, the light, the comp, the shapes of the snow drift and the rust colored veg, well done :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on December 14, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Stan,
Works for me! Sure there is not a dramatic sky or anything, but that foreground really makes up for it. Nice subtle warm light!
Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on December 14, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Quiet and tranquil scene, Stan, that's beautifully captured. The hint of blues are perfect....and cold!
Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on December 14, 2009 at 1:59 PM
This is a great winter shot Stan and my favorite of yours from this area. The foreground is very attractive in color and in form. Balance here really doesn't take away from the shot at all.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by David Cobb on December 14, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Beautiful snowy image Stan, the drifting snow and reddish plant foreground is wonderful. The foreground also blends in well with the matching tree bark.

David M. Cobb
Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on December 14, 2009 at 2:13 PM
The foreground is just great, too bad the mountains don't match it for light. Still an excellent shot.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on December 14, 2009 at 2:16 PM
This is a beauty, Stan! I love the foreground. There's a wonderful clarity to this shot.
Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on December 14, 2009 at 2:20 PM
just amazing Stan

i like the composition & how u control the light as well

all the best bro

Hamed
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments
Comment posted by Jeff Beard on December 14, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I agree the drifts are very cool. :) And I like the colors in the bushes creating them. No real issues with balance for me. My only nit is the tree in the middle. The drifts really pull me into it when I had the sense that my eye should be going up-valley and into the peaks. Other than that, this is a great image with well-balanced colors and from one of my favorite places.
Registered on July 1, 2009, 0 Posts, 25 Comments
Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on December 14, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Beautiful foreground Stan. I have to agree with Jeff about the tree in the middle - its a bit distracting. Overall, excellent work. A real pleasure to look at. The colors look great. Thanks for sharing. Michael
Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments
Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM
This is wonderful Stan. What a great fg you have found here. I am very nitpicky now: The pine tree on the right makes it - well right heavy a bit. But rest assured, it is an amazing piece Stan!
Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments
Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on December 14, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Ohhh nice Stan,

A keeper for sure! Beautiful winter scene those mountains are magical. Snow on mountains is just gorgeous to view. Well done Stan
Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 14, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Stan,

This is gorgeous. That wind-drifted snow up front is beautiful and anchors the scene perfectly. I think it's balanced quite nicely actually and I like the prominent tree on the right and the openness on the left, allowing the eye to roam throughout and then discover the beautiful mountain range. I love the blue in the sky, and my only suggestion might be to crop about half of the sky - using the space above the far right as the gauge. Just something to think about. Your choice of course.

I love this one.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Foreground certainly catches my eye, but the mountains are a bit generic (if that's even possible for a mountain). I'm wondering about darkening down or increasing the contrast of the sky/mountains to better match the foreground.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on December 15, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Love the snow swirls in the foreground Stan. Looks really cold.
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 15, 2009 at 2:32 AM
Thanks for all the kind remarks, folks! If i had a bit more foresight i would have stuck around for the cloud colors to pick up instead of heading off into the trees... Go figure, its tough to know what works and what doesnt when you're just trying to stay warm--ill get it right eventually! :biggrin:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Cameron on December 15, 2009 at 5:34 AM
The background is very pleasing but the foreground is outstanding with my favourite mix of hot and cold colours.
Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments
Comment posted by Gabi Lach on December 15, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Beautiful shot, Stan. Great composition with lovely foreground. Nice!
Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 15, 2009 at 10:54 AM
This is a nice shot of some snow covered mountains. But this foreground absolutely makes this a great shot!

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on December 15, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Hi Stan,
FG is super! I also like the distant mountains but perhaps a bit off the top would further make the connection???...just a though as the cold really comes through!
Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments
Comment posted by Chip Phillips on December 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Well done Stan. I really like the foreground in this one.
Registered on November 26, 2007, 128 Posts, 1436 Comments
Comment posted by john hansen on December 18, 2009 at 1:36 AM
it's very beautiful. The light on the drifts is cool
Registered on September 11, 2007, 95 Posts, 369 Comments