January Thaw

A very rich image, Albert. I like the mood and mystery the fog brings to this. And, the hint of left over fall color in the leaves is just as sweet. Very well done!

A very rich image, Albert. I like the mood and mystery the fog brings to this. And, the hint of left over fall color in the leaves is just as sweet. Very well done! - Morris McClung

As Morris has said, this is rich and very profound, I think. He recognizes the Mystery, and especially in the Larger Photo, the evidence of Fall color hanging on in the scene is indeed sweet; very sweet indeed.

And I think that all of this would remain true were we to crop the image above the reflecting pool in the foreground. So my comment will try to address that aspect.

I showed this image to my wife, first with the bottom part cropped and then with it included. I'm an empiricist so I am always looking for data. She liked the image much better with the bottom part-reflection cropped out.

I am ambivilant. It is easier to swallow with the foreground reflection cropped out to be sure. But I am seeking the Truth. Comparing the image with and without the foreground, and thinking that I prefer the latter makes me aware of the phenomenon of "selective perception". The foreground is there, and I feel I need to deal with it even though I would like it not to be so that I could simpley immerse myself in the blissful reverie of the misty trees with their subtle yellow leaves.

When I was a kid growing up in Northwest Ohio, we had a spot called the "Blue Hole" near Castalia. I think it's closed now to the public, but at the time it was rumored to have no bottom. The history was that teams of horses had fallen into it and never been seen again; that it emptied into underground cavernous streams.

The reflections in this image suggest something like that to me; taking me down into a deeper realm of perception, away from the comfortable, hazy mystical woods with the yellow leaves; down much deeper into what underlies all of it; beneith the snow; beneith the ground of perception and cognition. Sort of like the Blue Hole in which a team of horses was once lost never to be seen again.

Hi Albert

Well done my friend, this is marvelous!

Good take on the conditions, Albert. You captured the essence of a northern hardwood forest, and the fog sets the mood.

I like this a lot Albert. The BG fog brings an air of mystery to the image and I love the effect the colored leaves has on this.

Very moody image Albert. I think a crop of just the background trees would be an even stronger image, IMO.

I am a little torn in this image. I like all the elements but I am debating the contrast between the harder elements in the FG and the moody softer trees in the BG. Possibly if the FG elements were less dominant, then the softer BG would be the main attraction. That's just my opinion anyway...and it works as presented to tell a nice story of what was actually happening. I love the hint of fall colors remaining on the trees!

Albert, This is a wonderful winter scene and you really captured the mood here. I think the background trees and fog looks fantastic and could be another image all by itself, but I also really enjoy the small pool and the reflections within it. I guess I'm not so sure about the dark foreground tree but still a very nice scene full of mood!...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Dramatic impact here. Nice job!

Albert this is just beautiful !

I agree that perhaps the tree in the foreground is a bit too dark & dominant...but If I hold my hand over that & look at the pool and the background it is a delightful scene!

I like the clean look at the open water and the trees fading into the fog. I think that cropping the darkest part at the top enhances the glow. Well seen, Albert.

Oh Man, this is awesome! It's a creative and dynamic composition. I think the foreground trunk is pretty heavy/dominant, but it still works well. The background with the fog and hanging on fall color is just killer! I hope you stepped forward and shot a big series of verticals to stitch into a horizontal pano!

Chris

Wat a great mood you captured Albert, and I also like the open water and reflection. Very well done.
John

The BG trees in the fog pull me in and I find them very well rendered with the soft darkening above them. I'm a little uncertain about the FG tree, I tend to think that it is important element of the composition yet something about it doesn't sit right. Is it the tonality differential between fg and bg? or does it just need fine tuning whether it were to remain dark or a touch lighter?

Strong composition, great tonal range. Really holds my eye.

Wonderful work Albert
Creative and unique comp.
Great work

You succeeded!
I especially like the overall 'atmosphere', and the hint of gold color from the leaves.
Very nice Albert

Great atmosphere, i love the fog and the bit of color in the leaves!