Winter Birch

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 21, 2013389 views26 comments

I just spent a few days up in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper MI on Lake Superior. Tom Haxby and I meet up there for a few days of winter shooting. Mostly what we saw was lots of lake effect snow and high winds and chill factors -30 -40 below zero degrees F. We originally planned to photograph wolf and moose but changed to shooting landscapes instead (which was fine with me). We did plan on doing some of that as well anyways. This birch tree was on the edge of the lake and I enjoyed the way it looked and wanted to capture the winter feel. Thanks for looking and any thoughts.
5D3, 24-105 @28mm, iso 400, f/11 at 1/320 sec. Converted to b&w since that was pretty much what it was anyways.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on January 21, 2013 at 4:53 PM

Nick, you absolutely captured the winter feel, I have to say, love everything about it. Simply beautiful.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on January 21, 2013 at 5:07 PM

Beautiful

But, does look coooold! I'll let you and others post -40 degrees photos. I'll stick to a few icicles here and there.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 21, 2013 at 5:12 PM

Beautiful! I like gradient sky in the background and the way the clean snow in the foreground is framed by a line of grasses as well as the way the tree gently curves to the left..

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cothran on January 21, 2013 at 5:54 PM

It certainly does capture the feeling of winter. You have crafted this beautifully. The detail in the birch trees is superb.

Registered on December 5, 2012, 31 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on January 21, 2013 at 5:58 PM

Simple as that. Love it!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Apodaca on January 21, 2013 at 6:40 PM

Great separation between the subject and bg. Nice trees full of character. Maybe wish for a tad more room on the right?

Sounds like some cold, chilly fun out there!

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 21, 2013 at 8:07 PM

Thank you for your thoughts on this one. Always appreciate reading what you think.
Nathan, There was another tree just out of the frame here on the right so I just tried to balance out the left and right side the best I could...

The conditions really did seperate the tree from the background and I guess that is why it really caught my eye. Thanks, Nick

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

Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on January 21, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Nicely composed, Nick. The B&W presentation works well and conveys the cold, solitary feeling well. I also like the tonal gradient in the sky.

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on January 21, 2013 at 8:51 PM

The separation of the detailed birch from the background really makes this sing.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 21, 2013 at 10:33 PM

Very nice. Really like the way the winter weather isolates the tree. You got the perfect conditions for this.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on January 21, 2013 at 11:35 PM

This is beautiful, Nick,definitely capturing the sense of winter's grip on the land. Love how you have detail in the birch against that foggy sky. Your composition works perfectly, the gentle arc of the main tree trunk creates a wonderful graceful feel.

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 22, 2013 at 2:32 AM

Nick, the fine balance of your composition conveys the tranquil wintry atmosphere wonderfully to me. I think I can "hear" the silence in this place. There are just enough details in the snow and on the lake surface to keep my interest and lead me into the depth. Beautiful work for me.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on January 22, 2013 at 2:51 AM

I love how this image speaks volumes despite being quiet and stately.

Really well done, Nick.

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

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 22, 2013 at 8:55 AM

I love this tree photo. Shades of white. The composition seems just right to me. Great job!! Chet

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on January 22, 2013 at 12:22 PM

Excellent! Has the feel of a pen and ink drawing. Very elegant and beautifully captured

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on January 22, 2013 at 2:33 PM

The lines in this one and nice separation from the background make for a delicate and pleasing study of the subject.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 22, 2013 at 3:51 PM

This is fantastic Nick! Beautiful composition and I love the processing. The negative vignette works particularly well.

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

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on January 22, 2013 at 10:19 PM

Beautiful b/w image Nick. Simplicity at it's best.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 23, 2013 at 10:47 AM

A simple comp and highly effective. Nice conversion and use of light and subject.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 23, 2013 at 11:35 AM

I really appreciate all of your comments and thoughts on this one so far. Thank you very much! Nick

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 23, 2013 at 6:38 PM

Gorgeous B&W Nick. Love the sweeping lines of the trunks and delicate branches against the sky.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 23, 2013 at 7:23 PM

Thanks Eva! Nick

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 23, 2013 at 11:04 PM

Nice use of black and white, Nick, very lonely feel to this, I like it..alot.

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 24, 2013 at 8:18 PM

The simple and stark nature of this works beautifully! Nice!

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

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on January 24, 2013 at 10:07 PM

You did a great job with this one Nick. Great mood, exposure is dead on, and b+w conversion is perfect.

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 25, 2013 at 8:59 AM

Thanks Zack, Chris and Nick. Appreciate your thoughts guys! Nick

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