Ice Canyon

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 15, 2011239 views11 comments

5D II, 17-40L, ISO 200, F/11, Two exposures blended

Hey folks, I haven't posted for a couple months.. winter tends to be my down time as far a photography goes; not a lot of photographic opportunities here in the midwest this time of year. I ventured out over the weekend and found some interesting ice at Bell Smith Springs, which is a unique natural area full of sandstone canyons and bluffs.

I knew this ice would make the perfect foreground but I needed a good sunset to complete the photo. I waited around for what seemed like forever and it appeared to be a bust; the clouds were thin and puffy and had potential but they wouldn't light up. Winter sunsets are tricky to predict I've found, and just as I was about to pack up and leave it started glowing red for less than a minute, barely enough time to snap off a couple exposures. The light was dim enough that the ice naturally took on a very cool cast, which I like.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on February 15, 2011 at 7:44 PM

Strong photo, Taylor. Beautiful sky adds a lot.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 15, 2011 at 9:11 PM

Great depth to this image. Nice color.

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

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on February 15, 2011 at 9:40 PM

Taylor,

Your processing here is really impressive and the composition is strong too. I find the reflected light in the water a bit too bright in relation to the rest of the scene. Really nice work.

Michael

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on February 15, 2011 at 9:42 PM

I like the ice and sky textures. The amount of black in the trees seems a bit excessive, but not much you can do 'bout that.

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

Comment posted by Taylor Reed on February 15, 2011 at 10:01 PM

Thanks guys! Yeah, the trees on the left are Evergreen so they're pretty dark to begin with. It's hard to see at this size, but there is some detail/color there.

Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 15, 2011 at 10:20 PM

You should get out there more often! (I always head for the water too, looking for interestind scenes.) So glad you waited this one out. Gorgeous comp and excellent processing.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on February 15, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Cool shot Taylor, No pun. I like the color poking throught the branches and the fg is great. a definite keeper.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Rodrigo Sandoval on February 16, 2011 at 9:17 AM

The composition is just perfect and leaving the blue cast to the ice in the foreground certainly made the mood of the whole scene. Congratulations.

Registered on April 4, 2009, 13 Posts, 254 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on February 16, 2011 at 9:44 AM

I agree, take down the reflections a touch and you got a nice shot! Great foreground find!

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on February 16, 2011 at 1:37 PM

You made the most of the brief sunset color, that's for sure. Very nice shot . . . I don't see anything that you could improve. The higlights on the water seem very natural and do not bother me.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on February 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM

Well done Taylor and nice job sticking it out. The color reflected in the water really makes this for me.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments