Winter scene

[sdwilsonsct]

I couldn't think of a clever title.
Feedback welcome.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Brrrr! That looks cold and windy. Nice. And the title is quite adequate.

[brandtb]

Scott - there is some real magic in the distant mountains and sky, the foreground though just detracts/distracts from that, having the eye drawn to the point of that ice formation from the lower diagonal lines...and then stopping there mid frame. Look at the image with a little under half of the bottom cropped off. Also, don't think the processing successful...too wan. /B

[francois]

Brrrr! That looks cold and windy. Nice. And the title is quite adequate.

My thought exactly… I'm reaching for my down parka!

[sdwilsonsct]

Eric, Fancois -- thanks! It was indeed cold on the fingers.

Thanks, Brandt. I am deeply infatuated with these foregrounds and may even inflict more on the group. As for the processing, I aimed for the feel of brightness.

[maddogmurph]

Feels like high key or infrared. Mid-ground is lost in the whiteness of it all. Foreground and background seem strong to me as both are interesting. Grad filter it in PS, make those sun rays pop? Run a mid-ground luminosity mask and enhance shadows for contrast? Dodge and burn to add detail in the ice & clouds? Try messing with it in infrared...?

[Walt Roycraft]

I think the processing is perfect as well as the scene. I love that Scott resisted the temptation to make this like a traditional process and went with the high key feel which suits the subject matter. Sure you can make things "pop" more but at the cost of a processing that is a bit unique.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I think the processing is perfect as well as the scene. I love that Scott resisted the temptation to make this like a traditional process and went with the high key feel which suits the subject matter. Sure you can make things "pop" more but at the cost of a processing that is a bit unique.

I agree,
I have experienced scenes with this kind of wind-blown ice/snow formations, and to me the processing is perfect to create a sense of being there. The mountains and clouds provide a nice backdrop, but the foreground is where the excitement is, for me.

-Eric

[MattBurt]

I love it! The foreground is clearly what the photo is "of" and it's interesting and nicely presented. I try to capture scenes like this around here on a regular basis and it can be hard to find a successful image sometimes. This one is definitely successful. I bet a large print would be striking!

[luxborealis]

I think the processing is perfect as well as the scene. I love that Scott resisted the temptation to make this like a traditional process and went with the high key feel which suits the subject matter. Sure you can make things "pop" more but at the cost of a processing that is a bit unique.

On first glance, the photo does appear to be over-the-top, unrealistically high-key. But then I came to realize, realism is over-rated. This photo evokes a feeling, far more than a realistic interpretation would, so I couldn't agree more with what Roy has said.

Well done. While at times "Resistence is futile", this time, I'm glad you did.

[sdwilsonsct]

I appreciate the extra thoughts. The brightness was inspired partly by a recent discussion of "high key" in The Art of Photography section.

[stamper]

I feel it needs more contrast but that is just my opinion. A fine composition.

[mseawell]

Captures the heart of winter! And it looks bitterly cold!

Mark

[Walt Roycraft]

so I couldn't agree more with what Roy has said.

I guess I should say thank you Donald

[churly]

I think as much as anything, I appreciate the 'other than standard' treatment and would like to see more of it.
Best - Chuck

[polaris-14]

Beautiful indeed. And I agree with Donald, realism is overrated.

[luxborealis]

I guess I should say thank you Donald

Sorry, Walt! Good come back!