Cold and Clear

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 20, 2013221 views11 comments

The coldest morning I've ever experienced (considering I'm a desert rat now). It was around -9 degrees this morning. Skies looked clear in the dark as we woke up to make it in time for sunrise. When we got to our location, we saw a wall of what we thought was fog. My first thought was "oh great we are going to get skunked". About 30 minutes before sunrise the cloud of "fog" hovered above and it began snowing pretty consistently for the next 15 minutes. As soon as the snow stopped, the snow cloud moved off to the east and unveiled a cold crisp morning scene from Lipan point. The pre sunrise colors helped convey the mood and cold that I experienced during this outing. A few clouds scattered behind helped fill out the frame. I usually like bold colors for sunrise and sunset, but this was quite calming and to see the canyon emerge out of the clouds was breathtaking...Both literally and figuratively. As always comments and critiques appreciated.

Canon 7d
Canon 17-40mm @17mm
f4
ISO 100
1/5 sec
CPL
Tripod

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on January 20, 2013 at 4:48 PM

This was my other favorite from the series that you posted in the RMNP forum. I really like the soft pastel light here and I always enjoy seeing winter images with snow in the Canyon. Compositionally, the repeated layers along the left hand side of the frame lead my eye along a curve to the back of the image which parallels the curve of the river just right of center. My eyes keep roaming through the image and there is not a pixel that doesn't keep my interest. I would love to see this one in a large print. Absolutely stunning work!!

Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Everstine on January 20, 2013 at 6:42 PM

Wow! Sweet. Worth freezing your behind for.

Registered on July 23, 2012, 29 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 20, 2013 at 7:33 PM

I like this very much Peter. The snow on the canyon is very special and you captured it well. Just beautiful.!!! I also enjoyed your story. Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 20, 2013 at 9:55 PM

I really like the scene and the way the snow highlights the ridges. On my monitor it feels a bit underexposed and lacking contrast, though that does maybe capture the mood on this cold morning.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 20, 2013 at 10:33 PM

Love those pastel colors and how the snow creates a wonderful contrast with the reds of the rock. Really an outstanding image well worth enduring the cold, in my opinion.

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

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on January 20, 2013 at 10:53 PM

Thanks everyone!

Tony, there wasn't a whole lot of contrast to begin with in this scene. This was literally right after the cloud had passed over us so there might be a very thin layer of that remaining atmosphere over the scene. As for the exposure, this was about as close to what it looked like while I was shooting and I wanted to keep it that way. So it may be a touch under but it is intentional.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on January 20, 2013 at 11:52 PM

Beautiful image Peter. The fresh snowfall really adds to the scene and I especially like how the fresh snow is only on the left side of the canyon. The pastel colors create a very nice mood here.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 21, 2013 at 11:32 AM

Cool! I love the snow dusting. Contrast feels ok to me, but I might dial back the blue a tad for the distant part (although im on an uncalibrated monitor right now).

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 21, 2013 at 6:08 PM

I like this a lot Peter! Really nice work on the comp and I love the colors and mood!...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 23, 2013 at 10:41 AM

I like the "quiet light" and the cool palette.

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

Comment posted by Anil Rao on January 24, 2013 at 1:38 AM

What a stunning portrayal of the vast landscape that is the desert Southwest. The atmospheric conditions provide great mood and I love how your composition uses the fallen snow to provide definition to the foreground ridges. Really well done, Peter.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments