Windscape

Even the best laid plans don't always work out. I traveled to Rocky Mountain National Park last week with the idea of getting some abstract pictures of the ice formations that form on the alpine lakes there. After arriving I found that even though it had been several days since the last storm a layer of snow still covered the lakes. Not much ice was visible. To make matters worse, high winds were raging along the Continental Divide and made setting up a tripod to steady a camera nearly impossible.

Time for Plan B. I drove to one of the overlooks above Beaver Meadows where conditions were calmer and I could take advantage of the sweeping view of the mountains. From there I watched the wind create ever-changing patterns of blowing snow that resembled billowing clouds. This was one of the photos I took. Converting the image to black and white later in Photoshop helped emphasize the curves of the blowing snow clouds circling the summit of Longs Peak. This photo exists only because I refused to give up on the visit to the park even though the conditions I had hoped for didn't materialize. All comments and critiques are appreciated.