Big Elk River # 3 + repost

Best for last...
Better overall exposure for me, more even and the vertical lines work well.
 

Hard to pick a favorite between this one and the first, Ed. I do like this foreground a bit more, but the foreground in the first is very close. I like the more colorful sky in the first, but I like the way the sky in this one closely mimics the foreground. So, the first is more of a standard sunset, while this one is maybe a bit more artistic. I like this as is, and I see nothing to change.

Ed, I like this one better than the prior shot, I think both the sky and the patterns are slightly nicer. I really like the yellow glow on the ice near the horizon, it's a nice touch. The warm/cool contrast here is high impact even though the yellow occupies only a small sliver of space. From a cropping perspective, I think I'd like to see you eliminate the small bright "bump" that is about 1/3 away from the left edge of the frame. I think the nicest part of the ice pattern is in the center, and cropping a little off the bottom will put more emphasis on that center.

Ed, another fine take from this outing.  I agree with Scott that the mimicry between dark part of the sky and the foreground works very well here, with the distant setting sun and reflection adding a strong sense of depth and some fine warm colors.  Overall, I like the first on of these three best, with the emphatic diagonals angles in the foreground adding an extra interest.  All three look very good.

Another nice one from the ice. I would concur on cropping up to eliminate the bump on the lower edge, but minor stuff. The cool/warm/cool layers work really well too. I like this one a lot. 

Ed,

On balance, this may be the best of the series.  While I don't think the immediate foreground is as dynamic, the midground patterns and the lead-in line  you mentioned are compelling.  What works very nicely here for me is that there is a better balance of light and color between the ice patterns, the reflected color and the sunset sky; yeah, not as big and bold of a sky, but again, I think that is working better for the overall composition and presentation.

You should be happy with the result; you've been rewarded for managing to photograph in those elements!

Lon

Ed, This one is my favorite!  I also like that the yellow part of the sky isn't so bright in this one. Very nice feel and mood. The patterns in the ice are just wonderful.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Excellent, Ed. I looked through your prior posts and this one is my favorite as well. Fine as presented but I concur on playing with cropping a bit off the bottom as the central ice has nicer leading lines.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone; always appreciated. Here is a repost with the crop suggestion from Ed, Harley and Dave.

Ed

Even so I am happy with the end result.

Ed, I surely would be as well. A wonderful unending view to the horizon. This FG stuff looks like it too could be unending with abstracts as well. That light brownish looking ice in the middle ground left looks like it could produce some outstanding overhead downward takes too. Love the color there.......