Landscape - 1st Place

Gallery: EPA 2012Posted April 16, 20122,772 views67 comments

1st Place Winner - Landscape

Snowphoria III/ With Crop

I was surprized to see how much the falling snow impacted this image when I got home and opened it up. So I decided to push the white point a little extra. The density of the streaking snow adds kind of natural noise to it in larger views, I'm not sure will come across here. But I think of it as a joyful noise! I don't know why I didn't think of trying to get a faster shutter to possibly freeze the flakes, but next time. I hope you likey!

D200,
24-70 2.8,
1/15sec, F/13,

Thanks,
Chris

Comments

67 comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on April 16, 2012 at 11:42 PM

Ethereal image Chris, Falling snow is extremely hard to get a good image out of. I think if you froze the flakes that would be a little too surreal. Much more moody and evocative like this.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on April 17, 2012 at 12:04 AM

Truly a striking image. Masterful.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on April 17, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Awesome Chris. Really, nothing more needs to be said.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 17, 2012 at 12:30 AM

Phil thanks,

Now, if 30 or 40 more people would say just what you did and nothing more, I'll be a happy camper!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on April 17, 2012 at 12:57 AM

masterpiece!

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

Comment posted by Kyle L. Krause on April 17, 2012 at 1:02 AM

Hey Chris, Wow this is spectacular!! Great work.

Registered on June 15, 2010, 29 Posts, 605 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on April 17, 2012 at 1:08 AM

Beautiful, Chris. The textures are really lovely. I would consider a square crop if it were mine.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on April 17, 2012 at 1:26 AM

That's just too cool!

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on April 17, 2012 at 1:46 AM

I'm in love with this one Chris; one of the better snow scenes I've seen in awhile!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Harding on April 17, 2012 at 2:05 AM

This is a great image Chris. I like it heaps. I would also recommend that you experiment with a cropped version to see what it looks like.

Registered on January 19, 2011, 33 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on April 17, 2012 at 2:09 AM

gorgeous, chris. love the high key effect that your push and the snow give this. makes for an effective, graphic image. i think the streaking really adds.

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on April 17, 2012 at 5:14 AM

Great shot Chris. exactly the sort of shot that conveys everything to me about the silent chill of a winters day. Beautiful. Love the barely discernible trees behind too.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on April 17, 2012 at 5:40 AM

A really beautiful image, Chris. Exceptional work indeed.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on April 17, 2012 at 6:34 AM

Perfect !

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

Comment posted by Joerg Bonner on April 17, 2012 at 6:50 AM

WOW! this image is truly beautiful! i bet it looks great as a big print!

Registered on September 5, 2011, 44 Posts, 221 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on April 17, 2012 at 8:23 AM

Wow

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on April 17, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Looks like a family of trees on a winter outing. The streaking snow is sublte but works well. Fantastic!

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 17, 2012 at 9:13 AM

Great seeing and capture! The atmospherics are really special.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 17, 2012 at 9:26 AM

Chris, This is wonderful! I love the feel of this. I has that pencil sketch look that seems to work so well with winter scenes. Really nice!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Peter Gordon on April 17, 2012 at 9:31 AM

Love this image. Gentle and very beautiful..

Registered on May 31, 2007, 224 Posts, 1490 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 17, 2012 at 10:04 AM

Very artistic image. A great mood is created here. I like everything about it. Fine work.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 17, 2012 at 10:31 AM

Wintry art, Chris. I like the effect of your exploring the white side of the tones. Reminds me of pencil drawings.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on April 17, 2012 at 10:59 AM

OMG Chris, you've just one-upped yourself! I think this rivals your Cascade Creek image. Perhaps one of the most photographed trees in the world (read: done to death, iconic, etc.) and you've managed yet another special image. For me, I don't care how many times something has been photographed. When one captures a special moment in time, it just doesn't matter any more.

Phil's right. Not much more to say. Processing is perfect btw.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 17, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Superb Chris! I really like the high key presentation too. Absolutely one of your finest works IMO. As good as it gets!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 17, 2012 at 11:17 AM

Just great. A magical snow scene.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on April 17, 2012 at 11:36 AM

A jaw dropping, simply astounding, exquisite image, Chris. This is fine art photography at its best. A true masterpiece. Wow.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on April 17, 2012 at 12:02 PM

Well done Chris. Every time it's snowing big fat flakes, I'm wishing I could find a scene that would suit the conditions and take advantage of one of my favorite natural "photo effects". Personally I find the motion in the snow preferable over stopped motion, and I think this is perfect.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on April 17, 2012 at 12:23 PM

Beautiful, Chris!!

Well worth getting the jeans soaked!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on April 17, 2012 at 12:24 PM

Here is comment # 28. This is one of the most perfect images you have ever posted here Chris! Congratulations! The tree looks fantastic. The fresh snow coverage, the look through the falling snow and the background put this tree into a magical presence. Looks like an EP for me...

Edit: Harley was faster( I am #29)

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on April 17, 2012 at 12:51 PM

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Reznick on April 17, 2012 at 12:59 PM

Stunning Chris!

Registered on November 24, 2009, 79 Posts, 515 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on April 17, 2012 at 2:32 PM

Awesome! Probably one of my top 2-3 from you! Great mood here.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 17, 2012 at 2:34 PM

Very elegant work Chris. Love the silent beauty.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on April 17, 2012 at 3:34 PM

You hope I likey, I certainly do Chris. This looks fantastic.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on April 17, 2012 at 3:44 PM

Very nice! The main tree is excellent, and I love the slight hint of a snow covered forest in the background. I like the snow streaks in this as well. Viewed large I almost feel as if I am there...

Registered on November 16, 2011, 67 Posts, 1127 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Gasior on April 17, 2012 at 3:46 PM

Awesome!
Beautiful scene

Registered on March 7, 2010, 99 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on April 17, 2012 at 7:53 PM

really well done!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 17, 2012 at 9:54 PM

Thanks everybody for all the feedback and kind words so far. I really appreciate it. As you can tell by my gallery, I must see the world in landscape format! Not many verticals in there, and just a few panos and other presentations.

Thanks Floris for the crop suggestion, here's an example of that. I think it works very well. For me, I'm not sure I like losing any pixels. It will be interesting to see how folks respond to it. I figure I could just keep a copy of both

Chris

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

Comment posted by Jon Daining on April 17, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Chris, this is a gorgeous image. Truly a fine piece of art. I prefer
the breathing room and expansiveness of the uncropped version.

Registered on February 25, 2012, 25 Posts, 191 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on April 17, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Chris,

Still LOVE the original, uncropped version for it's spaciality (is that a word?) which gives your capture time and space. The crop works very well too, but for me it puts it in a "postcard" category, or actually more like this could be a small print in a square white or black frame decorating a small space, like an entryway, bathroom or among a bunch of other similarly sized prints/frames. Does that make any sense?

No matter how you slice this one, this is indeed a masterpiece.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 17, 2012 at 11:22 PM

Yeah Lon, that makes sense. But I don't think I've ever seen any square postcards!

For me, it's not all about the tree. Yes the tree is the meat and potatoes of the image. But the rest of the scene is the green beans, and I like green beans.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on April 18, 2012 at 1:30 AM

While I can appreciate the cropped version, focusing more on the grace and lines of the tree, for me the original evokes more emotion, more quietness, more peace perhaps, with the subtle details of the trees in the background as part of the image, as well as the addition of more 'whiteness' enveloping the entire image. The original is truly art in my opinion, without a doubt, and I personally would not change a thing. An incredible image, Chris, that belongs in a gallery.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Mat Malone on April 18, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Beautiful image Chris. I prefer the original crop.

Registered on December 15, 2008, 91 Posts, 882 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on April 18, 2012 at 4:55 AM

oh this is great,

i really love the back ground where you can notice some details

Best

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on April 18, 2012 at 8:44 PM

Wonderful winter scene Chris, that tree is so cool! Just scrolled down to look at the crop..I definitely prefer the uncropped version though. Black and white processing looks excellent.

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

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on April 19, 2012 at 9:10 AM

Wow! There are not enough superlatives for this evocative image, Chris.

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 20, 2012 at 1:07 PM

This is AWESOME, Chris. My fav of yours to date.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on April 21, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Beautiful, Chris. Like a Chinese ink painting. I also prefer the original crop.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 25, 2012 at 9:57 AM

Congratulations Chris on the image being selected this week out of the many very fine landscape captures being on display.

WOW, not sure how I missed this one, Chris. This is really outstanding. The isolated tree in this scene is amazing. Although the snow is heavy this one tree seems to pop out of the density enough to get excellent detail and tone to it. Excellent work !!

I like both versions on this one......

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Mat Malone on April 25, 2012 at 12:14 PM

Congrats on the EP, Chris!

Registered on December 15, 2008, 91 Posts, 882 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on April 25, 2012 at 3:03 PM

Read comment #29 and call me a prophet...

Congrats, so well deserved man!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on April 25, 2012 at 5:51 PM

Okay, Didi, you're a puppet! Errr, I mean a prophet!!!!!

Seriously, thanks a lot man. And thank you to everyone who responded so positively to this image. I appreciate so much.

Thanks to the moderators for choosing it for the EP, it really means a lot!

Chris

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

Comment posted by Rick Diffley on April 25, 2012 at 7:12 PM

Wonderful capture! Accolades for being a gallery winning image.

Registered on April 8, 2012, 52 Posts, 279 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 26, 2012 at 12:03 PM

Congrats on the WP - very excellent image. I prefer the original, but the closely-cropped version surely has a place too.
Mezmerizing image,
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on April 28, 2012 at 3:50 AM

They are both fantastic! I can't decide!

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 14, 2012 at 8:28 PM

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on January 5, 2013 at 12:20 PM

Chris, beautiful image that I managed to overlook, duh. And 2nd of all... big, big congrats on the 2012 EP selection!!! You've always been on here to help me, and comment on my work--so glad to see you rewarded for your beautiful photography.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 5, 2013 at 1:48 PM

Chris, many congrats on the 2012 "1st Place Winner - Landscape" win - this is just an exceptional image!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 5, 2013 at 8:08 PM

Congratulaltions on the EPA! A beautiful image!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 5, 2013 at 10:44 PM

I like the way that you took this and processed it. Well composed with the tree off center.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 5, 2013 at 11:53 PM

Congratulations Chris! I do not recall seeing this photograph back in April when you first posted it. But WOW! Fantastic photograph. I love the first uncropped version better but the capture and development are just perfect! Really fine work.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on January 6, 2013 at 7:06 AM

Simply a fantastic image,,,,,,,,,,,,a well deserved congrats on the EPA.

This goes to show you don't need high drama to create a nature image with impact.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 7, 2013 at 3:33 PM

Lovely, Chris. Almost pencil-like presentation.

Congratulations.
Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Diffley on January 8, 2013 at 1:13 PM

Simply a well shot image Chris. Hat tip for getting the 1st place win.

Registered on April 8, 2012, 52 Posts, 279 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 8, 2013 at 2:23 PM

Hi Chris

Congrats on a very well desesved 1st win for landscape

very inspiring and beautiful work

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 11, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Thank everybody, I appreciate it lots!