The Weight of Spring

Gallery: LandscapePosted March 5, 2012314 views21 comments

The snows in early spring heavy. When they melt, waters are high, washing away stream banks and making the trees tip.

We finally got some nice "sticky" snow this winter, but not until March. Snow was gently falling when I shot this at sunset. The snow in the air does not show at all with the long exposure, but I think I captured the stillness of the woods in the fading light.

Framing this shot, I was torn between a more dramatic composition with the foreground occupying a lot of the frame, versus a comp that concentrated on the subject of the snow on the trees. Two versions are here:
1) The thumbnail version (above) with more foreground showing; and
2) The Larger Version, which is cropped to better show the trees.

Which one is better?????

Canon 5DII
Canon 24-105
1/50 sec. @ f/13; ISO 160
Two shots focus-blended, since the original had very close FG snow.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on March 5, 2012 at 9:54 PM

I'd say the thumb Wayne. A better sense of depth. Nice winter scene! I see a bit of flare on the RH bank in the RH corner. It's especially noticeable in the large version.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 5, 2012 at 9:57 PM

I have switched back and forth between both images a few times and I think the larger version draws me a little more. I like both comps. I do think the larger image has a bit more of a blue cast then the smaller image. I really like fresh snow scenes.

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on March 5, 2012 at 10:00 PM

Beautiful scene Wayne! I like the original view.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on March 5, 2012 at 10:01 PM

Wayne, I would go with the thumbnail version too, and what a pretty winter scene. You made excellent use of that snowfall. This is very nice!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on March 5, 2012 at 10:03 PM

Personally I like the smaller version's comp better. Nice treatment of the water in both.

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on March 5, 2012 at 10:22 PM

Cool shot Wayne! I prefer the smaller one actually, it's a very beautiful scene.

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Gerald Liddelow on March 5, 2012 at 10:38 PM

I like the thumbnail version. Nice snow scene.

Registered on August 10, 2011, 30 Posts, 40 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on March 6, 2012 at 12:17 AM

Nice image that captures the essence of the snowy woods. I like the crop of the larger version a little better. Agree that it draws more attention to the snow on the trees. Suttle difference but effective. Nicely done.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on March 6, 2012 at 2:08 AM

Beautiful winter scene Wayne. The fact the larger view is larger(duh) influences things a little, but even so I prefer the larger, cropped version. Just enough foreground for a solid base, but the scene isn't about the foreground, it's simply about a lovely winter stream side scene. I like the flow of the comp created by the exposed stream and I like the hints of red in the trunks. Both version work very well of course, I just prefer the cropped one.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on March 6, 2012 at 9:02 AM

Easy, the smaller one--it shows better lines/flow in the stream. Beautiful scene, Wayne--i really like your low angle. Hope to get some of that here in the next few days.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 6, 2012 at 10:31 AM

You may call this a spring scene, but here in Florida it defintiely looks more like a winters scene!!

Whichever it is, it's a beautiful capture. Personally, I prefer the small version - I like the emphasis placed on the twisty FG stream more than the trees. Well done, as always.

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

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on March 6, 2012 at 11:39 AM

amazing comp

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on March 6, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Wayne, I prefer the crop of the larger version, it allows me a more immediate experience of the scene. The composition is very appealing for me, the creek in the foreground draws my attention and leads me into the depth. Exposure and processing are spot on in my opinion, and I enjoy all the delightful details.

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

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on March 6, 2012 at 12:22 PM

Very nice. I like the small version with more foreground also.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 6, 2012 at 5:05 PM

Beautiful winter scene. I love the long lead of the stream and how it takes you to all the snow clinging to the trees. Although both are fine pictures, I slightly prefer the original post with its added emphasis to the snow on the ground and the curve in the stream.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on March 6, 2012 at 5:08 PM

Thanks everyone! So far, the "overall comp" people are outnumbering the "focus on the details" people 10 to 4. (I wonder what the answers would be if I asked the same question of non-photographers.) I think the only way to have my cake and eat it too would be to make a really large print that shows the overall comp from a distance, but allows the viewer to concentrate on the details up close. Does that make sense?

Joe: Thanks for noticing that spot. I missed it, but I recognize what it is. A snowflake settled on the lens as I was shooting. Unlike some of my shots with water drops on the lens, this is fixable.

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

Comment posted by Florian Aubin on March 6, 2012 at 5:39 PM

pretty nice place with soft hues.
crop version for me, the foreground is IMO too heavy in the thumb one.

Registered on April 8, 2011, 8 Posts, 100 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on March 6, 2012 at 10:58 PM

Love the snow draped trees, Wayne and how the creek leads the eye into the forest so nicely. For me, the larger, cropped version works better as I prefer the greater emphasis placed on the trees and the nice patterns and contrast found in the snow covered branches. Both are very nice however.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on March 7, 2012 at 2:45 PM

Wayne, I think that I prefer the cropped version. For me it seems to emphasize the foreground a little better. It's a lovely winter scene.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on March 7, 2012 at 9:48 PM

This is really beautiful, Wayne, glad you were able to get out after the storm. The cropped version works for me.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on March 8, 2012 at 9:38 PM

Either image is effective, Wayne. I think it's the river that steers me through either frame. Nice light and I like the way the snow separates and enhances the textural chaos.

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