Switchbacks

Jim,

Talk about "found nature...."  One might be  hard pressed to give mother nature a hand with this one... ;-)

Maybe not so obvious to me?  A little critter of some sort made those tracks and they were frosted over?  No clue how the patterns got there, but switchbacks certainly fits the bill.

What I find most intriguing is the rock feature attempting to burst through the ice.  It almost looks like some petrified humanoid entombed in the ice.  Makes for a great side story anyway.  

Beautifully seen and captured.  My only suggestion is to take a saturation layer and back the magenta off quite a bit.  Of course subjective and personal choice.

Lon

Thanks for your suggestion Lon.  I tried it just now.  It actually had an almost unnoticeable effect.  In fact, I had already reduced the magenta saturation as much as possible in Camera Raw.  But I'll play around with it a little more.  Increasing the luminance, instead of decreasing the saturation, seems to have the effect you are suggesting.

As for your guess ... You are on the right track (pardon the pun ), but ...  Hint: The "rock feature" you refer to is actually wood.

A wonderful and colorful abstract. Well presented.

Wow, this is amazing. This probably does belong in the macro/closeup gallery. The detail is exquisite. Those crystal are so beautiful. My first thought was that these were pictographs, but this is far more interesting. My only suggestion is to remove that one small round brown circle in the center upper left. Once you notice it you can't stop looking at it. Otherwise I wouldn't change a thing. This is perfect.

Very cool abstract. Looks like a landscape to me! Love the combo of colors, patterns and textures. It all comes together rather well.

Jim, the detail in the ice crystals that show so well in the larger view are excellent.  The wandering path (all the switchbacks) make a very interesting pattern and the background rocks add a nice touch of warmth.

This is sweet!!! Both the crystals, the path in the crystals ánd the "gradient" of the crystals makes a perfect comp. I am really intrigued by this pattern I must say, really cool find.

Clearly the tracks of the Lesser Zion Precambrian Ice Slug.  You captured their texture with excellent detail and sharpness. Nice forms.  Wonderful abstract here Jim. The redrock peaking through just adds to the comp. Well done.

A highly interesting intimate/abstract image. Quite different and creative.

 Hi  Jim    Certainly  not lacking  your creativity.  this image  with  is  an  well thoughtout  abstract,  with exceptional  detail and color

Albert Darmo
Canada

Very cool abstract, Jim. The texture looks great, and I love the rock. I agree with Lon about dropping the magenta somewhat. Definitely a cool image!

--P

A number of people have speculated in their comments that the brown feature in the lower right quadrant of the image is rock.  No doubt, it does look like rock.  However ... This is a photograph of a very small section of the trunk of a fallen tree where the bark had weathered away over time to expose the wood of the tree trunk.  The brown feature is wood which was not covered by as much frost.  This particular area of the exposed trunk (as well as other areas where there was no frost), contained the track of some burrowing insect, I assume which had been made at some point in the past when the tree was still alive and standing, or perhaps after the tree had fallen but before the bark had weathered away.  The circumstances under which this photograph (and other different photographs to follow) was made were somewhat unexpected and interesting.  This photograph was taken in Zion along Pine Creek at 3:17 in the afternoon on 11/12/2015.  When I got out of my car to head up the trail, the temperature was in the upper 50's.  But within the first quarter of a mile there was frost in numerous places along the trail and along the creek ... frost on the ground, frost on fallen leaves, frost on fallen tree trunks and branches.  This trail does remain in the shade most or all of the day at this time of year.  And I would not have been so surprised to have seen frost in the early morning hours.  But at 3:17 in the afternoon with the temperature in the 50's?  It was quite unexpected.

Nicelly seen Jim.  Really a sweet abstract.  I think it could use a bit more room at  the top. It would be nice if the switch backs weren't touching the top of the frame.

Hi Jim,

I think that this image fits nicely as a micro-landscape in this gallery. Details and colors are wonderful.........................Jim

Art is everywhere!  Nice shot!