Half Moon and Fraser Fir

Beautiful, definitely a Christmas card

This is really nice, Lori. I think it would make a great Christmas card too. I like the moon topping off the tree. The layer of fog/clouds above the distant hills looks nice. Very nice winter scene. I haven't been in TN but would like to spend some time there.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Beautiful image! Love the soft light and centered tree and moon. I think I would prefer a small crop off the top. It feels like there is a little too much sky relative to the rest of the scene. I think it would keep the viewers attention from drifting too far away from the tree and distant hills.

This is great Lori. Perfectly timed. The colours and details look awesome. What a great view. I could see a small crop off the top, the eye might stay with the moon a little more.(does that make sense). Loved your last post, it was simply amazing. Cheers

Beautiful snow covered tree Lori. Snow is heading our way this afternoon and tonight. Can't wait.

This much snow in the Tennessee mountains? I like how the tip of the tree is pointing right at the moon, but I would go further than the others that recommended a "slight" crop off the top and crop all the way down to right above the moon. I think this would make the moon more apparent with plenty of sky left on both sides of the tree. Nice subtle colors.

Lori, this is just beautiful. Love the layers of clouds and whites. Great presentation!

Beautiful shot Lori! I might go for a small crop off the top.

Beautiful image! Very well done

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I agree a crop from the top works well for a print or web presentation. Of course, I made this with publication in mind and photo editors do like that open space for text.

Barry, we're right on the NC-TN state line at 4100ft and in one of the 'favored locations' for a lot of snow. We had 108 inches last year and have already had about 40 inches so far this season!

Lori

Unbelievably clear, beautiful, perfect image.

Very nice, great light. I like the simplicity of this image.

Fantastic! I agree with everyone else - a Christmas Card Perfect shot. Put on those show shoes and let us all enjoy your views.

Oh gosh, is that the moon up there? Really you need lights and a few ornaments here and just the right moonlight to have one heck of a Christmas card You sure have a lot of snow in TN.

Wish we had some of that here in E CO--the top of Pikes Peak is practicaly bare!
Very pretty winter scene--i love the snow covered tree and a nice view in back too! I will probably be the sole dissenter in that i personally like it better without the moon--which to me looks contrived by being at the top point--if it were on either side of the top it would feel more comfortable/natural to me.

Tony, LOL, can't tell you how many times I've thought about decorating that tree. I'd probably make a heckuva lot more stock sales, but I love it so much in it's un- or moon-adorned state. Stan, you caught me. I confess to putting the moon there....by very careful positioning of my tripod.

Lori

The snow is just perfect in color and texture.

Lori - Great find - a perfect greeting card - maybe in B&W? Maybe a small crop off the top if there is no intetion for writing up there. Not sure if those are tracks below the tree, or if you are opposed to cleaning them up or out with some careful cloning.

What a picture perfect Christmas card.

I've never seen anything like it, fantastic! This is in your "yard"?

Chris

Lori: Superbly crafted image. Kind of makes me want to be there but I'm happy to observe from afar through your lens. Great to have you posting here again. I think I'll treat myself to a tour of your recent offerings. Come visit Flora sometime. >=))>

Perfect winter scene, love it!

Awesome!

Fabulous!

Thanks again, everyone!

Chris, yes this is in my yard .

Harry, yes, those are animal tracks. I'm not big on cloning, particularly since some publications like Sierra Calendars that use my work do not accept images with elements that have been added or subtracted.. That said, I will sometimes consider cloning minor intrusions that couldn't be composed out in the field when making a print. In this case, I like the animal tracks and think they add to the story.

Lori

Lori

This is lovely, it really stands out in the gallery
Simple yet very effective.
Would make a great Christmas card or magazine cover.
Well done.

Geoff.

What a wonderful Christmas photo. Merry Christmas, Lori.

- Dan

Lori,

Magnificent! I love the color change in the sky and the way the moon tops off the tree. Did you have this planned or was it something you walked up on? It is so perfect it seems like you would have waited for this moment. It is perfect!

Thanks, Richard! I've used the moon in compositions with this tree before, but this time it was really more luck than planning. I was out late morning photographing in the fog when the fog started to lift and I realized the moon was at close to the perfect altitude for this image. I had to wait a while for the fog to lift enough to make the image, but that (and tripod positioning) was about all the planning involved. Normally the light would be way too hot at this time (11 a.m.) to make an image like this, but the soft light from a clearing storm was perfect.

Lori

Sell it to Hallmark Cards!! Nice image

Impeccable timing Lori! I was going to say no small feat for the 4x5, but alas, I see you captured this with the dslr...

Certainly a beautiful winter capture with great commercial value - but also with great aesthetic value too!

Lon

Beautiful winter photo. The moon, cloud and tree lines very nicely.

Beautiful shot, Lori! We don't have scenes like these here, so snow covered trees are a treat for these eyes!!! : ) Wonderful composition and colors... especially love the moon atop the tree! Aloha - Bruce

Lori:

A wonderfully serene winter scene; one of the nicer ones I've seen in awhile. Just curious if you got any shots with the composition a bit off the center axis with the moon & tree a bit offset?