A Study in Black and White

I like the subtle layers and lines in contrast to the dark and highly defined trees.

Very nice image, I really like the fg lines in this.

This is excellent, Sandy! Great lines.

This ain't too dang bad! I'm pretty much all over it!

This is gorgeous Sandy. Understated and graphically very strong.

This should make a large fine art print, framed in simple black wood frame and white, black-core mat.

Excellent work.

The fg snowdrifts are excellent and really sets up the composition nicely.

Absolutely love B&W's!

Kevin

In a word - stunning! In two words - beautiful simplicity. This is a really tremendous image that stands out wonderfully from the standard array of landscape images.

Thank you for sharing this shot!

Sandy....verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry nice

Bill

This is very impressive Sandy! A great study of shapes and tones. I might crop the right side a bit to balance it with the left, then print this baby and hang it proudly.

Good eye to see this one, Sandy. The lines are fantastic!

Lori

Very, very nice Sandy. Excellent job on getting the layers of the snow, not always easily done.

I really like this one too,Sandy. I like the graphic shapes of the foreground drifts and the way the trees are isolated, the sky makes a wonderful backdrop to it all. Tim

Really beautiful Sandy! Graphically, very eye-catching with a nice serenity about it.

Another stunner, Sandy. The images that you've been posting recently are just killer. The lines in the foreground snow are just great.

- Dan

Wonderful work, Sandy. This has a quiet, commanding presence about it. I'm with CAZ - this is a stand-out image.

The foreground folds of snow are as graphic as the trees. I'm wondering if cropping the top and allow the trees to bleed off the top edge might make this even stronger.

Sandy,

This is fantastic!! A real work of art. The patterns in the snow, the composition, the subtle tones are all spectacular. One of your best IMO.

Sandy, I was thinking the same thing as Tony, crop down from the top about half way into the trees makes it a totally cool graphic.

I know where you can get this printed if you want to.

I was going to post yesterday, but I didn't want to nit pick until plenty of people had told you what a stunning photo this is. My main compositional complaint (pretty big, but easily fixed) is that the left edge is much closer to the trees than the right edge. In my opinion, there's no reason they shouldn't be completely centered. The other thing (more minor) is that the middle of the trees looks soft in the jpeg. More contrast above the ground or better sharpening would help this presentation live up to its potential. Again, very artful!

Thanks for the comments!! always greatly appreciated, and especially the constructive suggestions.

Tony and Mark, here is a cropped version. Ummmm...not sure I'm too thrilled....what do you think? And what about preserving the "correct" ratio for printing ? Just go with a more square crop?

SAndy

Great lines!

This is my favo photo of your Sandy. Simply striking. I am not a big fan of all that cloning work on the left portion of the trees. I think you may have to crop out the left side to get rid of it, as that will be pretty hard to fix and not notice in a print.

Well, the choices are to leave the trees all the way across as they originally were, or to crop some off both the right and left, and clone in some areas on both sides, as I did. I'll ' look again at both options, thanks !
S

This is wonderful Sandy! I love the layers in the snow. Great shot!

Sandy,

This is stunning and graphically engaging! the lines and light in the snow are beautiful and compositionally perfect for your presentation. I actually prefer you original and not the cropped version - I really enjoy the space around the trees and it gives the image a nice sense of space.

this is beautifully seen and capture. I think it's one of your best... but there have been many now...

Lon

Nice job, the drift lines really make the shot!

Sandy, congratulations! Beautiful image.

Congrats Sandy this is unbelievable image. You nailed this one - my favorite shot from you for sure !

Congrats on the Moderators Pick Sandy! I had a feeling this would be picked as soon as I saw it...well deserved!!

Sandy, just saw this in the Editors' Picks forum. What a fantasitic image! Garing snow is very difficult to handle and yet you easily did it. Love the patterns in the foreground, the trees, and the ominous background. I'd love to have this framed on my wall!

Good going, Sandy! Wicked shot!

My two cents - I think evening up the right margin is an improvement, but no way would I lose the tops of those trees. I think if you need to do some vertical cropping to get to 4:5, you could come up a good bit from the bottom and still retain enough of those excellent layered snowdrifts.

Great find, Sandy - congratulations on spotting it and capturing it so well. And for the EP!

Oh, my, Sandy.... BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Kay and Terry

A patchwork of different tones of white. I like the contrast between the dramatic mood in the back side and the cheerful, peacefull front side. Beautiful Sandy!
I am glad that the EP has given to me the opportunity of seen this picture.
Cheers.

Sandy,

Congratulations on the weekly pick. Well deserved!

Lon

Congrats on the pick of the week...I missed this but it's certainly deserving of the honor.

Sandy,

Great photo. Good composition and I really like the geometric pattern of grays in the FG.

The desaturation really adds to the allure of the image.

Thanks for sharing this.

Carol

Hi Sandy...
and to think I was almost WITH you there....wish it were so
Glad to see and hear you had such a wonderful time....
And I love the first version of this image alot better.....
Centering a titch I might go with, but leave the TOP of the trees there!
Just a wonderful image as everyone has already told you...
Drop me a line sometime...

in gratitude,
Nelcha