Cold Misty Stream

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 11, 201814,355 views18 comments

Last week I was gone on a winter photography trip in Northern WI. and a little of the U.P. Lots of snow and cold and that is pretty much just what I wanted. The temps in the mornings were usually between 10 below zero F and 20 below just depending on where you were. I made this picture along a small stream that for some reason wasn't frozen completely over. I guess it was spring feed and moving just enough to keep it open...at least at that time. There was quite a bit of mist coming up from that open water which added a nice misty mood in which to photograph it in. I processed the color version of this and saved it but then decided I would rather do it in black and white as it is here. It was nice getting in lots of snow for a change because we have not had that much here in south west WI. yet this winter. Thanks for looking and any thoughts.
5DMk4, 24-105L @100, ISO 200, F/11 at 1/30.
Thanks so much to all of you for your comments on my last post.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on February 11, 2018 at 4:21 PM

I am envious Nick as we have had no snow to speak of in the part of MD where I live. the diagonal placement of the stream draws me nicely into the scene and the light mist lends a wonderful ephemeral mood to this image. It looks cold with the snow hanging in the trees along with the frosted grasses along the water's edge. Beautifully done.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on February 11, 2018 at 4:43 PM

Some really awesome DOF in this image Nick and I quite like the feel of it being in BW. The open water is pretty amazing up in that part of the country for February, creeks down in this way have been froze up tighter than Dick’s hat band for some time now. Did you hand hold this or take it from a tripod. The large version is striking!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 11, 2018 at 5:08 PM

Thanks Guys!
Ed, We have not had much snow either and that is why I decided to head farther north. We did get about 6-7 " the evening I got back so that was pretty nice.
John, Yes, I used a tripod as I do probably 99% of the time. Just use to shooting that way I guess and and since I use a lot of slow shutter speeds it is the only way to go for me. Thanks, Nick.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on February 11, 2018 at 6:09 PM

A tranquil and cold looking winter scene. The B&W treatment works well for me here. Those are some cold temps!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 11, 2018 at 8:31 PM

The panorama format fits this well. The mist and frosty bank of the brook set a perfect winter mood. A beauty for sure. The hazy reflection another nice detail. No suggestions, top notch.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on February 12, 2018 at 11:14 AM

This is wonderful Nick. I think lightening the black trunks in the center may help match the misty mood. The diagonal patch of water really works with the snow and grasses.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 12, 2018 at 11:22 AM

Thanks guys! Appreciate getting your thoughts on this.
Doug, Thanks. I agree with your thoughts on the two center trunks. I had the same thoughts about them after doing the b&w conversion but then didn't do anything about it. I do think it would help the misty mood if I lighten them a little. Thanks, Nick

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 12, 2018 at 11:39 AM

I lightened the two center tree trunks in this version as suggested by Doug. trying to make them blend a bit better with the misty look and mood without going to much. Thanks guys! Click the image for the larger view.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 12, 2018 at 9:49 PM

I like everything about this. This was made for B&W.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on February 13, 2018 at 4:27 AM

Lovely scene.

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on February 13, 2018 at 12:34 PM

Classically beautiful river landscape. It's interesting how important those dead reeds on the left white snowbank are to the overall composition. Having a solid white bank would have been worse imo. Good composition with strong verticals and diagonals.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on February 13, 2018 at 2:14 PM

This is real nice, Nick. B&W was definitely the way to go. The tones i both posts look great. The composition is excellent, and the stalks on the left snow bank are a nice touch.
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on February 14, 2018 at 4:28 AM

A true fairy tale scene. Simply magical.

I am enjoying the proportions of the different sections of this composition. They are all playing their important parts and yet fit into a single whole effortlessly. Easier said than done.

One of your best Nick.

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on February 14, 2018 at 4:44 AM

Nick, your image makes indeed for a cold and wintry feel to me. The transition from the clear cut structures at the right to the fog in the distance is marvellous to my eye. The pano format underlines the tranquility of the scene aptly ín my opinion. Thanks for sharing!

Peter

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 14, 2018 at 9:58 AM

Thanks so much to all of you for your comments on this one. So glad you enjoyed it.
Anil, Yes, I think it may be so think I will get the file ready and print it. Thanks.

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on February 14, 2018 at 12:35 PM

It's interesting to contrast this image with your winter scenes from last winter. I thought those were more artistic in forms and shapes. More symbolic. This is a more realistic yet also with a sense of more than reality. I'm not aware what sells best. I would think each type has it's admirers. Personally, I would not stray too far from the work from last winter, or at least try to infuse some of those elements into newer compositions.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on February 14, 2018 at 6:42 PM

Wow, Nick, that is sweet.
An almost intimate landscape, with so much going on. I particularly like the reflections; they are awesome.
Ice-free water can be hard to find, and you did a great job with this setting.
I also find it interesting what Igor said about your images from last winter versus this winter. There does seem to be a difference; not sure if it's intentional, or if the conditions are just that different. I know there are places I took some neat images last winter that have none of that look this year.
Dang but you are good at these winter scenes!!!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 14, 2018 at 7:07 PM

Igor and Genny, Thanks for giving me your personal feelings on this. I guess I didn't realize that these winter images were much different than what I was doing last winter. At least I wasn't doing anything intentional to make them different. So Genny I think you are right that it must be different conditions and for the most part different places too. Maybe I have changed something but not really aware of it. I really appreciate that you both took time to comment about that and on my photography in general. I'm going back and look at some of last winters images and see if I am doing things a little different without thinking about it... enlightened

Many thanks to you both! Cheers, Nick

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