No Sleep For Virgin Snow

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 21, 2010467 views31 comments

You only get the first real snowfall of the season once (well maybe twice if the first one melts fast enough...) so there was no way i was going to miss sunrise Tuesday morning after a fast moving cold front dropped some snow on the northern Colorado Rockies. Even though i knew i wasnt in for any great cloud display, there's just nothing like that early fresh snow...it's got to be one of the most beaautiful experiences you can have in person; everything is just so fresh and pristine. This is sunrise from Lake Isabelle--just under 11000 feet in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It hasnt been that cold recently (that is changing fast!) so the lake was just starting to freeze. There was about 6-12 inches of fresh powder, which i had all to myself!

5Dmkii; 17-40; 2img blend at f/16
C&C Welcome!

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 21, 2010 at 7:38 AM

Incidentally, i noticed that my shot of this location early in the Summer is still on display in my Gallery, Here

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on October 21, 2010 at 7:49 AM

Gorgeous scenery and beautiful lighting Stan. The reflected blue sky in the snow contrasts lovely with the warm sunrise colour. The zig zag of snow crossing the lake is a nice addition too. I know what you mean about fresh snow but unfortunately where I live in the NW of England snow is pretty scarce.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on October 21, 2010 at 8:35 AM

Great colors Stan.
Blue might be just a hair electric.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 21, 2010 at 8:54 AM

Nothing like the first new snow. Some nice light and reflection make this very enjoyable to look at. I like it. No first snow here yet, but might not be that far away.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on October 21, 2010 at 9:19 AM

WOW, that's some pretty sweet light too, Stan! Beautiful all the way around. The fresh snow really does look perfect and clean.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 21, 2010 at 9:32 AM

Love the warm light and glow on the ice Stan! I like this image better. The snow and ice really makes the excellent scene even better

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Miller on October 21, 2010 at 9:32 AM

Stan,

Nice and crisp and I can feel the cold. The composition and colors are great.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 50 Posts, 66 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on October 21, 2010 at 10:14 AM

Pristine is the right word for these conditions and the image. It conveys the feeling really well. The lack of clouds is no issue for me.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on October 21, 2010 at 10:18 AM

Very nice, Stan. You really put the elements together well both planning-wise and in the frame.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on October 21, 2010 at 10:24 AM

Great shot, love the light!

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on October 21, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Great light and colors, Stan, plus a lovely reflection.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on October 21, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Gorgeous image, Stan. The light is amazing in this one.

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on October 21, 2010 at 10:51 AM

Sweet Stan, love the water especially... nice!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 21, 2010 at 10:58 AM

Thats some sweet light and a great (albeit cold

)scene

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on October 21, 2010 at 11:44 AM

I could never argue with you about the splendid feelings associated with first snow. "Termination Dust" has reached to a little below 3000ft around here for the last few days. First snow for me is first snow at sea level, but sea level doesn't mean much in the Rockies. The photo is sweet.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on October 21, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Great job Stan of mixing fire and ice. The hot and cold combo really works well. I also see cropping just a tad offf the sky. Anyways, it looks like a really great place to spend the morning. Thanks for including the location information.

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on October 21, 2010 at 2:37 PM

Love the color temperature contrast here, Stan. The composition is dead-on as well. Beautiful

Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on October 21, 2010 at 4:27 PM

Sweet shot. Love the alpine glow in this. You nailed it for sure. The comp is excellent and the reflection on the water is rendered perfectly. I would not crop anything but I would consider toning down the cyan cast in the snow just a bit. That being said, I wasn't there and this may be a fair representation. Good work!

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 21, 2010 at 4:44 PM

I love the contrast between the warm and cool colors here, and the light and reflected color are so nice.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on October 21, 2010 at 4:47 PM

Lovely classic scene Stan, solid photo.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on October 21, 2010 at 5:10 PM

Snow??? Come on Stan its still fall..... Let us non-mountain folk enjoy the fall leaves

Love the comp and light here Stan. I do think the blues in the shadows could be dropped a hair but thats minor. Wonderful shot

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on October 21, 2010 at 6:13 PM

The comp makes this one the strongest one of the set, I think, Stan. The complimentary color combination makes for a powerful image! Let's just keep the snow up there at 11,000', o.k.?

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on October 21, 2010 at 6:16 PM

Super cool Stan! Love the Alpenglow and all the blues. A beautiful wintery scene.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Yan Zhang on October 21, 2010 at 6:29 PM

Stan, the light and composition are perfect. I wish I was there at that time, great shot!

Registered on April 10, 2010, 28 Posts, 292 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on October 21, 2010 at 8:57 PM

A big Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can feel the crispness. Warm tones above contrast well with the cool snow tones. A real treat. Trick or treat!

Harry

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

Comment posted by Pam Colander on October 21, 2010 at 11:40 PM

Well you caught a smudge of cloud

This is seriously beautiful Stan. The colors are perfect and kudos for the effort taken to get this beauty!

Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on October 22, 2010 at 1:27 AM

Lovely image Stan. Makes me almost look forward to winter.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Finlayson on October 22, 2010 at 2:29 AM

I'm not sure I could be any more jealous right now, this and your summer shot are both stunning images.

Registered on July 29, 2010, 26 Posts, 404 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on October 22, 2010 at 7:54 AM

Gotta love 1st snow, beautiful capture Stan. Love the warm morning light. The snow looks may a tad "too blue" in some areas, but that could be this monitor at work. Nice capture.

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Russello on October 22, 2010 at 7:58 AM

Stan,
you nailed it! Even without clouds this is so beautiful.

gio

Registered on January 21, 2007, 95 Posts, 1617 Comments

Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on October 26, 2010 at 4:09 AM

Great composition and i love the mix of cold blues and golden warmth... Truly nice work!

Registered on October 13, 2010, 27 Posts, 378 Comments