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Silent Shroud of Snow
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Silent Shroud of Snow

by Morris McClung

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 11, 2012331 views26 comments
And thanks to Simon and Garfunkel for that title. :smile:

This is another shot from last Saturday with Stan at Paint Mines Park after the blizzard. Such great light at twilight, and so cold my breath was frosting up the back of the camera and ballhead on the tripod. Good times, good times.

On the way out, Stan and I sat down on one of the benches along the trail and just watched the light fade, and listened to the "Sounds of Silence" from the prairie. No wind, not a sound, just complete silence. At once eerie and yet strangely comforting.

Thanks for the comments on my last post and for your critique on this one,

Morris

Comments

26 comments
Comment posted by Peter Richter on February 11, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Morris, this is a convincing presentation of that amazing atmosphere at dusk on a cold winter day to me. The comforting warming shades in the sky beautifully compelemt the traces of the icy blizzard for me. The gentle lighting in the foreground really brings your image to life for me.

Peter
Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 11, 2012 at 3:08 PM
Moris, This is a beautiful winter scene. It captures the time and feel of this time of day so well. I love that winter light! I totally agree with Peter's thoughts. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 11, 2012 at 3:34 PM
Morris,

Love the beautiful color here. The wind-swept slope show a crisp and cold mood, yet there's a soft warmth to the broad landscape.

Hey, I think you got your songs mixed up.... "Silent Shroud of Snow" is from "I am a Rock." :wavey:

"And a rock feels no pain;
And an Island never cries."

Beautiful winter image.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 11, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Thanks everyone. :wavey:

Yes, Lon, I knew they were from two different songs, but thanks for clearing it up for the "younger" viewers. :biggrin:
I mean how many times did I and "Big Al" Canafax listen to those albums on 8 tracks! :jump: More than one could count. Those songs and the movie "The Graduate" pretty much ruined me for college. :wink:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on February 11, 2012 at 4:21 PM
I love moments like that Morris. Great image to take you there. Well done. :toast:
Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Hilton on February 11, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Morris,
Very nice comp and capture..
And it appears freshly fallen...
(sorry couldn't resist) :biggrin:
Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on February 11, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Morris, I'm glad to see some new work from you. The quality of light in this photo is spectacular and this definitely has your trademark style. I especially like how you have an eye for seeing what is an ordinary landscape such as this (well ordinary compared to the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains anyway :wink:) and translating it into something extraordinary through your photography. For me personally that serves as inspiration to see the local landscape where I live with new eyes.
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 11, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Thanks, Jeremy.

And, no, it's fine, Tom. Jump right in there. I would have put all of that into the title, but the character restrictions kept me from doing it. And, man, was it ever freshly fallen! Thanks. :wavey:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 11, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Thanks, Brian. :wavey: I appreciate your very kind comments. I have been lacking motivation to shoot, in large part due to the lack of snow around here lately. This and a prompting from Stan about the weather moving in got me off of my duff and out where we all should be.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Todd Bloomquist on February 11, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Morris, I love how subtle this shot is and I agree that it really does reflect how winter feels. I really like the patterns that the wind creates in the snow. A very nice moment.
Registered on January 21, 2012, 10 Posts, 51 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Caldwell on February 11, 2012 at 6:50 PM
Yeah, isn't that beautiful--I love the texture and play of light on the snow and those beautiful soft colors--awesome!
Registered on October 10, 2011, 62 Posts, 508 Comments
Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on February 11, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Morris,this is just a beautiful winters scene. Your composition and pastel colors work wonderful. good job!
Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 11, 2012 at 8:10 PM
I'll just add my admiration. this is lovely
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Zack Clothier on February 12, 2012 at 1:33 AM
The soft pastels here are very nice, I can almost feel the crisp, cold air. Glad you were able to get out and take advantage of the freshly fallen snow. :smile:
Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Ant on February 12, 2012 at 4:38 AM
Beautiful winter scene with pastel colors... I like very much the blend of blues and pinks, and the delicate shadow-light pattern on the snow. And yes, I can hear... the silence in the mountains.
Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 12, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Morris, looks very cold and windy as well as wonderfully peaceful with the touch of color in the sky. I could also see this cropped as a pano, but that would reduce the emphasis on the blown snow patterns.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 12, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Morris: As a confirmed sun belter I'm not sure I want to be there but I'm glad you were. Love the textures and color palette. Nicely done.>=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on February 12, 2012 at 10:33 PM
What i really like about this is that you captured the color and mood perfectly--no over the top processing or crazy manipulations in the name of 'art' blah blah... :biggrin: ...just pure and simple, it brings me back to the scene, and that is exactly what a good nature photo should do, IMO. :smile:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 12, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Thanks, Stan. Just tryin' to keep it real. :smile:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on February 13, 2012 at 1:19 AM
morris - i love the subtle colours here and despite the lack of huge, fanfare type drama this is an elegant and well composed image. well done.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Gary McGhee on February 13, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Gorgeous twighlight colours Morris, simple comp but it puts me right there.

Gary.
Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on February 13, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Lovely scene Morris

i like the simplicity here

Hamed
Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 13, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Morris, your processing of this image is absolutely perfect. I have not seen this kind of hard-packed dry snow this year, but this sure brings back memories so vividly that I can hear my snowshoes on the plaster-like surface of the snow, but knowing my boots alone would punch through that crust. The snow is enough for that memory, and the sky makes it even nicer on the eyes.

Hey, We've all come to look for America, and images like this, and Paul Simon's lyrics are vivid reminders that we have found it. (Turning the TV off tonight to listen to S&G. Thanks for that reminder, too.)
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 13, 2012 at 9:59 PM
Fantastic scene Morris! The textures in the snow just draw me in but I really love earth's shadow.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by David Chauvin on February 14, 2012 at 5:04 AM
The soft light give this such a peaceful feel. :cool:
Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments
Comment posted by Karthick Ramachand on February 15, 2012 at 12:51 AM
I really liked the subtle colors in this shot and the snow patterns providing a sense of flow in this images. :toast:
Registered on December 24, 2011, 17 Posts, 59 Comments