Winter Tranquility #2

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 5, 2011851 views33 comments

I've been in the studio for weeks doing nothing but processing and printing for this season of art shows. This is an image I just reprocessed specifically for canvas. It's one of my all time favorite images. It was taken in 2006 while snow camping in the Mt. Hood wilderness. It was one of the most peaceful and memorable moments of my life. It was -10 degrees, my boots were frozen solid and I had just weathered 3 days of storms, but on this morning there was no wind and it was absolutely silent. I've never experienced such beautiful tranquility.

This is 3 exposures blended together using my advanced photoshop blending techniques. I am producing a video detailing these techniques. It will finally be ready in June, sorry for the wait. I'll announce it here when It's available.

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 5, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Gorgeous Zack. The pano comp works very well here, and the soft, colored light is just wonderful. So soothing!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on May 5, 2011 at 1:45 PM

Beautiful Zack. I love this! The light, color, feel, and texture all are fantastic. Beautiful comp and I really like the panoramic format. Yes! the tranquility must have been awesome. Wonderful work! One beautiful canvas print I bet.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Wick Smith on May 5, 2011 at 1:51 PM

That's a fabulous photo! I know we're supposed to give input and suggestions but I can't think of any. It's perfect!

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on May 5, 2011 at 2:42 PM

Like the beautiful and subtle colors.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 5, 2011 at 2:44 PM

Beautiful, Zack. The show colors and texture is really special.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on May 5, 2011 at 2:51 PM

Beautiful shot, the panoramic format really fits this image.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 5, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Exquisite

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on May 5, 2011 at 3:13 PM

The precise placement of all the elements creates great balance. The soft lavendar tones make for a great feel for the image. Looking forward to hearing about your blending techniques - looks like you nailed them on this shot. The top of the 4th tree from the left looks a bit dark compared to the other trees in similar light, so I might see if lightening just the top is any improvement. These kinds of mornings are a real treat- not only did you get to experience it, but a great print to show from it. This feeling just can't be duplicated at any other time of year. Takes some big snow and cold temps.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 5, 2011 at 3:29 PM

very serene shot with lovely light and subtle colours. great work

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 5, 2011 at 4:16 PM

Yes, I remember this day well from another place nearby. I was very nearly camped on that mountain myself. This always has been one of the best winter renditions from around the Mt. Hood area I've ever seen.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on May 5, 2011 at 4:23 PM

Marc, I love the photo you got on this same morning. I remember your story from that morning too, you were sleeping in the car down by Ski Bowl and your alarm didn't go off so you overslept. If I remember correctly you jumped out of the car as the light was already happening, made your way to that snowy meadow just in time for the peak light. I'm bummed you weren't able to make it up to meet me up here, but at the same time I'm stoked I had a monopoly on this location on this morning.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Enrique Vizcarra on May 5, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Very Christmas tone, I love it

Registered on September 10, 2009, 223 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 5, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Amazing. Period.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 5, 2011 at 5:08 PM

Yeah, that's pretty much what happened. And since that morning I've found a couple terrific spots on this mountain and been back more times than I can recall, more than 20 easily. I have never once seen as good of conditions as we saw this morning.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Beideman on May 5, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Wow. The color in this image is spot on. And it's really just a fantastic comp Zack. Absolutely worth the three days out there... I'm guessing your feet warmed up the second your saw this through the lens...

Registered on April 7, 2011, 27 Posts, 74 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on May 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Great shot. I love the mix of cold and warm light. I'm putting snowshoes on my "must have" list.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on May 5, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Perfect light and composition. The pano. format complements this scene so very well.
All of your hard work and suffering really paid off!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on May 5, 2011 at 8:31 PM

I can see why this is one of your faves. The light is sweet, an I love the distant mountain peeking between the trees.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Reed Bowman on May 5, 2011 at 8:42 PM

gloroius Zach...the tranquility is obvious. I'll be watching for your blending techniques video if it can produce results like this

Registered on March 2, 2009, 166 Posts, 1058 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sogn on May 5, 2011 at 9:41 PM

You've captured your experience of "beautiful tranquility" wonderfully well.

Registered on January 17, 2007, 68 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 5, 2011 at 9:52 PM

Beautiful! There are so many features, the color and texture in the snow, the snow covered trees, the colors in the sky, and the mountain in the distance. Great job of pulling them all together.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by RL Potts on May 6, 2011 at 1:07 AM

I imagine this would be specatacular in large scale. The right side bothers me a little, though.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Atencio on May 6, 2011 at 2:15 AM

This is just insanely beautiful Zack. This is the photo version of white noise to me, where I could just gaze at this image in the middle of a hurricane and feel relaxed. The subtle color reflecting off the snow is just beautiful. I can see why this is a favorite...

Registered on June 23, 2009, 21 Posts, 422 Comments

Comment posted by Stefan Gimpl on May 6, 2011 at 3:46 AM

amazing

that blending technique seems to work great.

Registered on May 12, 2007, 26 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on May 6, 2011 at 10:24 AM

Heavenly! So calm and clean and beautiful... winter. It cannot get any better. Great shot, Zack!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 6, 2011 at 2:52 PM

Beautiful light, beautiful colour and beautiful composition. This is a winner for sure Zack. Definately worth all your hardship waiting for the right light.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on May 6, 2011 at 6:19 PM

crisp...

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 6, 2011 at 7:08 PM

Yep...that's gonna look killer on canvas...biiiig!

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Cindy Garwood on May 6, 2011 at 10:06 PM

Absolutly Stunning!!!!!

Registered on April 7, 2011, 46 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Vlad Sadovsky on May 7, 2011 at 12:31 PM

That's great Zack, I love the light and texture of the foreground, super well done. Find it very interesting to see how twinkles in the snow echo with the traces of cloud in the blue sky, small detail, yet attracted me.

Registered on November 12, 2010, 48 Posts, 358 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 8, 2011 at 12:56 AM

How the He** did I miss this one!!! Sweet shot for sure!!!

I think the vignetting on the right could be less to give it more balance.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 8, 2011 at 6:04 PM

Hey,
Sorry to have missed this one. It is an amazing image that epitomizes perfection in my eyes. This is a flawless scene, and you captured it beautifully!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on May 8, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Beautiful image...print this one big and hang it somewhere!

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments